In order to support the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive (EU-WFD), the German State Geological Surveys (SGD) and the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) agreed in 2000 to compile a digital hydrogeological map at the scale of 1:200,000 (HÜK200), providing a harmonised survey of the upper groundwater bodies in Germany. The HÜK200 captures hydrogeologically relevant attributes such as consolidation, type of porosity, permeability, type of rock and geochemical classification to describe the hydrogeological characteristics of the rocks of the uppermost aquifers. The geological information on lithology, stratigraphy and genesis of the geological map of Germany 1:200,000 (GÜK200) provided the basic data. This information was evaluated and hydrogeologically interpreted by regional experts of the SGD or replaced and completed by other regional geological and hydrogeological maps and data where necessary. 2019, HÜK200 was migrated to a scale of 1:250.000 (now HÜK250).
Small-scale soil maps at scales of 1:200,000 to 1:5,000,000 are usually compiled from large- or medium-scale soil maps by summarizing the soil units depicted there. A uniform pedoregional classification is required to ensure a comparable approach across regions. The presented data set at the aggregation level of the soil landscapes covers the 36 most important soil-relevant lithogenetic units in Germany and is based on the map of the soil landscapes at a scale of 1:250,000, version 1.4, which in turn was derived from the BUEK200/BUEK250. For the map scale 1:5,000,000 the units were generalized. More detailed information on the soil regions and soil landscapes of the Federal Republic of Germany can be found in the Soil Mapping Guide (KA5), Chapter 6.5 from page 335.
The map series General Geological Map of the Federal Republic of Germany 1:200,000 (GÜK200) is the result of cooperation between the State Geological Surveys of the Federal Republic of Germany (SGD), the Geological Surveys of neighbouring countries and the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR). The GÜK200 displays the surface geology of Germany and adjacent areas of neighbouring countries on 55 map sheets. The map sheets show the regional dissemination of more than 3800 geological units. The geological units contain information on stratigraphy (age), genesis and petrography (composition) of the rocks.
Web Map Service (WMS) of the BUEK3000. The BUEK3000 is prepared by the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) for the National Atlas of Germany. Based on the generalized and aggregated soil map 1:2,000,000, it shows 43 mapping units with information about soil texture, parent material, dominant and associated soils.
Web Map Service (WMS) of the BUEK1000. The first country wide soil map at a scale of 1:1,000,000 (BUEK1000) has been compiled on the basis of published soil maps of the former German Democratic Republic and the pre 1990 federal states of Germany. To do this, it was necessary to match the soil systems used in East and West Germany and to develop standardized descriptions of soil units. A relatively homogeneous map has resulted, which permits uniform assessment of the soils throughout Germany. The map shows 71 soil mapping units, described in the legend on the basis of the German and FAO soil systems. Each soil unit has been assigned a characteristic soil profile (Leitprofil) as an aid to map interpretation. For the first time the subdivision of the country into 12 soil regions has been represented on the map. This subdivision was coordinated with the state Geological Surveys. These soil regions will represent the highest hierarchic level of nation wide soil maps in future. The colours of soil units correspond to the standards of the 'Bodenkundliche Kartieranleitung' (KA 3; Guidelines for Soil Mapping). The various hues characterize differences in relief or soil humidity. The BUEK1000 was produced digitally. It is an important part of the spatial database integrated in the Soil Information System currently being established at the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (FISBo BGR). It can be used together with the characteristic soil profiles to derive thematic maps related to nation wide soil protection. The scale of the BUEK1000 makes it especially suitable for small scale evaluations at federal or EU level.
The IHME1500 v1.2 is a vector dataset resulting from the digitisation of the 25 published map sheets of the International Hydrogeological Map of Europe at the of scale 1:1,500,000 (IHME1500). The dataset was extended for five unpublished, digitised IHME1500 map sheets to achieve full map coverage. It consists of selected features of the IHME1500 with the following content: - Aquifer types (area): Distinction of six types of aquifers according to their productivity and void types. - Lithology (area): Lithological classification of the aquifers at five aggregation levels. - Seawater intrusion (area): Areas with salination of groundwater caused by sea water intrusion. - Tectonic fractures (line): Geological lineaments assigned to the five classes of known or supposed faults or overthrusts and boundaries of fractured belts in Iceland. The IHME1500 v1.2 includes a correction of inconsistencies of the printed map sheets and was spatially adjusted to an up-to-date topographic base. The IHME1500 is a hydrogeological map series consisting of 25 published map sheets with explanatory notes that covers the European continent and parts of the Near East. The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) are the project coordinators, supported by the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) and the Commission for the Geological Map of the World (CGMW). Each sheet consists of contributions by the respective countries represented in the map, which were harmonised across borders. The map series including the explanatory notes can be used for scientific purposes, for large-scale regional planning and as a framework for detailed hydrogeological mapping.
In the map, all strata are first classified in the four main types “pore aquifers”, “combined pore and fractured aquifers”, “fractured and karst aquifers” and “aquitards and aquicludes”. Further differentiation is made depending on the areal extent and productivity of the aquifers according to the classification of the Standard Legend for Hydrogeological Maps (SLHyM). The productivity classes have been derived from permeability values. In addition, the surface strata are divided into 19 different types of consolidated or unconsolidated rocks and four types of covering layers. Furthermore, the map shows salinity zones of near-surface groundwater in inland areas, as well as zones of saltwater intrusions along the coast. Areas in which groundwater is affected by mining are also shown. The map “Hydrogeology” is based on the digital Geological Map of Germany 1:1,000,000 (GK1000) published by BGR in 1993. The digital GK1000 contains attributes for the stratigraphy, lithology and genesis of the rocks.
Four marine geophysical and marine geological expeditions were carried out within the PANORAMA project. 2013: Panorama1 with research vessel RV OGS Explora, northern Barents Sea and Eurasian Basin; 2015: Panorama2 with RV OGS Explora, northern Barents Sea, Olga Basin; 2017 SEGMENT with RV Maria S. Merian, northeastern continental margin Greenland; 2018 GREENMATE with RV Polarstern, northeastern and northern continental margin Greenland. Geophysical data include 2D reflection seismic data and refraction seismic data (with OBS and sonar buoy, respectively. In addition, hydroacoustic data were recorded with the onboard multibeam echosounders and sediment echosounders, respectively. Furthermore, gravimetric and magnetic data were recorded. Geological and geochemical data were acquired using gravity corer and multi-corer. In the framework of the project Greenmate (2018) specimens were collected from the shore of NE Greenland using helicopters. Results are available to date in the following publications: Berglar Kai, Franke Dieter, Lutz Rüdiger, Schreckenberger Bernd, Damm Volkmar; Initial Opening of the Eurasian Basin, Arctic Ocean; Frontiers in Earth Science; 2016; DOI=10.3389/feart.2016.00091 Rüdiger Lutz, Dieter Franke, Kai Berglar, Ingo Heyde, Bernd Schreckenberger, Peter Klitzke, Wolfram H. Geissler; Evidence for mantle exhumation since the early evolution of the slow-spreading Gakkel Ridge, Arctic Ocean; Journal of Geodynamics; 2018; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jog.2018.01.014 Philipp Weniger, Martin Blumenberg, Kai Berglar, Axel Ehrhardt, Peter Klitzke, Martin Krüger, Rüdiger Lutz; Origin of near-surface hydrocarbon gases bound in northern Barents Sea sediments; Marine and Petroleum Geology; 2019 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2018.12.036 P. Klitzke, D. Franke, A. Ehrhardt, R. Lutz, L. Reinhardt, I. Heyde, J.I. Faleide; The paleozoic evolution of the Olga Basin region, northern Barents Sea – a link to the timanian orogeny; G-cubed, 20 (2) (2019); 10.1029/2018GC007814 Rüdiger Lutz, Peter Klitzke, Philipp Weniger, Martin Blumenberg, Dieter Franke, Lutz Reinhardt, Axel Ehrhardt, Kai Berglar; Basin and petroleum systems modelling in the northern Norwegian Barents Sea; Marine and Petroleum Geology; 2021; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2021.105128. Franke, D., Klitzke, P., Barckhausen, U., Berglar, K., Berndt, C., Damm, V., Dannowski, A., Ehrhardt, A., Engels, M., Funck, T., Geissler, W., Schnabel, M., Thorwart, M. & Trinhammer, P. (2019): Polyphase Magmatism During the Formation of the Northern East Greenland Continental Margin. - Tectonics, 38, 8: 2961–2982, DOI: 10.1029/2019tc005552.
GEMAS (Geochemical Mapping of Agricultural and Grazing Land Soil in Europe) is a cooperative project between the Geochemistry Expert Group of EuroGeoSurveys and Eurometeaux. In total, more than 60 international organisations and institutions worldwide were involved in the implementation of the project. During 2008 and 2009, a total of 2219 samples of agricultural (arable land soils, 0 – 20 cm, Ap samples) and 2127 samples of grazing land (pasture land soils, 0 – 10 cm, Gr samples) soil were collected at a density of 1 site/2 500 km² each from 33 European countries, covering an area of 5,600,000 km². All samples were analysed for 52 chemical elements after an aqua regia extraction, 41 by XRF (total), TC and TOC. In the agricultural soil samples, 57 elements in a mobile metal ion (MMI®) extraction and Pb isotopes ratios were also analysed. In addition to the chemical element contents, soil properties and soil parameters such as pH, particle size distribution, effective cation exchange capacity (CEC), MIR spectra and magnetic susceptibility were investigated and some coefficients were calculated. All analytical results were subject to tight external quality control procedures. The GEMAS project thus provides for the first time fully harmonised data for element concentrations and bioavailability of the elements at the continental (European) scale. The geochemical maps provided in the WMS “GEMAS - Single element maps” and “GEMAS - Parameters and indices” show an unbiased representation of the distribution patterns of the investigated elements and parameters. The WMS “GEMAS - Supporting information” provides additional information to support the interpretation of these geochemical maps.
In the former GDR, investigations were carried out between 1980 and 1990 to estimate the raw material potential in the pre-Upper Permian bedrock units (Flechtingen-Rosslau Hills, Harz Mountains, Saxon Granulite Mountains, Thuringian Forest, Thuringian-Vogtlandian Slate Mountains, Ore Mountains, Elbe Valley Region/Lusatia), which lie at the earth's surface or are slightly covered by the Cenozoic. Part of these investigations was a geochemical prospection in the area of the above-mentioned bedrock units. Approximately 18,000 water and 17,500 stream sediment samples were taken and geochemically analysed over an area of almost 15,000 km². The results of these investigations were documented in sub-reports on the individual bedrock units as well as in the "Final Report on the Comparative Evaluation of the Raw Material Potential in the Bedrock Units of the GDR" (Röllig et al., 1990; in German). These data from the bedrock units in the southern part of the former GDR are unique in their high sampling density (more than 1 sample/km²) and provide a comprehensive geochemical survey of these areas. All later geochemical investigations (Geochemical Atlas 2000 as well as within the framework of GEMAS and FOREGS) were carried out with a much lower sampling density. These valuable and irretrievable data are now made generally available via the BGR geoportal. In addition to the digital provision of the original data material, area-wide distribution maps are made available for the first time, which were generated using modern computer-assisted methods. The WMS shows the distribution of the measured element concentrations and parameters in stream waters and stream sediments in four different coloured point and colour shaded contour maps for each element or parameter.