One research region of the GeoMetEr research project is the municipality of Harsefeld. Here, the high-resolution image of the overburden above the Harsefeld salt dome is of scientific interest. The local infrastructure and information from previous measurements are particularly suitable for methodological work. The GeoMetEr research team began conducting geophysical measurements with vibration vehicles – known as seismic measurements – between Harsefeld and Klein Hollenbeck in mid-March 2025. Now, helicopter measurement flights are to provide further data.
Start near Glückstadt: helicopter flies over a measurement area of approximately 50 km²
The planned measurement flights cover a measurement area of approximately 50 km² in the Harsefeld joint municipality in the district of Stade. Two to three flights per day will take off from Sommerland, a municipality east of Glückstadt, depending on weather conditions. A total of eight flights are planned.
The researchers are combining electromagnetic and magnetic methods in the measurement campaign. The helicopter tows a probe on a cable over the measurement area. The magnetic measurements record geologically induced spatial variations in the natural Earth's magnetic field. In semi-airborne electromagnetics, the researchers also set up ground stations in the measurement area. Signals are generated underground using a dipole transmitter – cables with electrodes laid on the ground. The probe on the helicopter measures the induced electromagnetic field over a large area, enabling conclusions to be drawn about the distribution of electrical resistance and thus about the structures of the subsurface.
Further measurements planned for later
Following the measurement flights, further measurements with drones and vibration trucks are planned from mid-October 2025 and in spring 2026 to improve the geophysical methods. The small-scale measurements will be carried out outside urban areas. There are also plans to verify the results obtained by means of a research borehole by the end of the project in 2028.
Research funding by the Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal (BGE)
The GeoMetEr project is funded by the BGE. In preparation for future site investigations, it is financing various research projects, among other things to obtain improved images of the subsurface in the future. The research regions in which GeoMetEr is being carried out have been excluded from the search for a final repository due to the exclusion criteria specified in the Site Selection Act and will not be considered in the further process. The BGE excluded the measurement area in the district of Stade from the site selection process due to the exclusion criterion of ‘mining activity’. Another research region is the Langenweißbach region in the district of Zwickau. This region is also excluded from final storage. The reason for this is the Roter Kamm fault zone.
Project partners in the GeoMetEr research project:
- LIAG Institute for Applied Geophysics (scientific management)
- Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg (administrative management)
- University of Münster
- Leibniz Institute for Photonic Technologies
- DMT GmbH & Co. KG
- Terratec geophysical services GmbH & Co. KG
- Supracon AG
- Solexperts AG
- Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources
Background information
Further information is available on the website www.liag-institut.de/geometer.
Scientific management of the GeoMetEr research project:
Prof. Dr. Gerald Gabriel (LIAG),
Tel.: +49 (0)511 643 3510