Conrad Observatory
| Conrad Observatory | |
|---|---|
 Tunnel system of the Conrad Observatory |
|
| founding | 2002 |
| Type | Meteorological observation facility |
| height | 1088 m above sea level A. |
| Coordinates | 47 ° 55 '38.6 " N , 15 ° 51' 32.2" E |
| place | Trafelberg near Muggendorf , in Lower Austria |
| operator | ZAMG |
| Website | Homepage Conrad Observatory |
The Conrad Observatory is an underground geophysical research facility of the Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics (ZAMG).
The fundamental task of the observatory is to observe relevant physical parameters that are of decisive importance for our understanding of processes on and below the earth. At the Conrad Observatory, earthquake activities (seismology), earth gravity variations and changes in mass (gravimetry), magnetic field variations, geodetic parameters, atmospheric waves and meteorological data are continuously monitored.
The Conrad Observatory includes two main areas:
- The seismic - gravimetric observatory (SGO) was opened in 2002.
- The geomagnetic observatory (GMO) went into operation in May 2014.
history
It is the only observatory of its kind and is located on the Trafelberg ( 1146 m above sea level , ⊙ ) in Muggendorf , in Lower Austria, approx. 45 km southwest of Vienna .
It is named after the seismologist and climatologist Victor Conrad (1876–1962), who was employed at the Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics for many years. In addition to financial support from the federal government and the state of Lower Austria, the establishment was made possible by a legacy from Conrad's widow, Ida F. Conrad. The inheritance that ZAMG received from Ida F. Conrad with the stipulation that “a building for scientific research be erected” had grown to 1.2 million by 2002, so that more than half of the first construction phase could be built with it.
In 2008 the Ministry of Science and the State of Lower Austria decided to expand the observatory.
The geomagnetic part of the observatory was opened on May 21, 2014 and thus succeeded the Cobenzl observatory . From May 2014 to April 2016, the two observatories were operated in parallel in order to ensure the smooth, continuous transition of operations. The parallel operation was also used to precisely determine the electromagnetic interference in a large city (Vienna) for the first time.
In 2016 the observatory became a member of the international Intermagnet measurement network, in which the earth's magnetic field is examined.
The tasks
seismology
Seismological recordings of minor ground movements, e.g. For example, they are triggered by distant earthquakes, require a worldwide measuring network with quiet locations and the most sensitive measuring devices for interpretation.
The observatory is part of both the national and international network and is currently used, among other things, for
- Observation of global seismicity,
- Recording of nuclear weapons tests,
- Calibration of seismometers,
- Development and testing of new measuring systems,
- to compare different measuring instruments.
The station is the main station of the seismological network of the Austrian Seismological Service at ZAMG. The worldwide seismicity can be perceived from a strength of 4.
Gravimetry
Changes in the earth's gravitational field due to tidal forces and geodynamic processes can be recorded with high-precision measuring devices.
One of these devices - a superconducting GWR C025 gravimeter , of which around 30 exist worldwide - is operated by the ZAMG Geophysics Department together with the University's Institute for Meteorology and Geophysics.
The current measurement results are used in the Global Geodynamical Project (GGP).
Magnetics
The geomagnetic part of the Conrad Observatory, opened in 2014, is used to record and research the geomagnetic field and to develop measuring devices.
The subject areas include the change in the earth's magnetic field over time and its effects, e.g. B. Navigation, climate. Geomagnetic storms, triggered by solar wind and solar flares ( protuberances ) are also of great interest, as these events affect telecommunications, navigation systems, power supply systems and security systems.
Nuclear Weapons Test Ban Surveillance
In addition to these research tasks, the observatory has a direct connection to the CTBTO (Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization) , a specialized agency of the United Nations .
At the Conrad Observatory there are test facilities of the CTBTO for two different monitoring methods, infrasound and seismology. The observatory also serves as a training facility for the station supervisors of the International Monitoring System (IMS).
The construction
The location is characterized by extremely low ground unrest. The fact that the observatory is entirely underground, where disturbances of this type are further reduced, also contributes to this. The almost constant temperature in the measuring tunnel and the boreholes of the observatory over the year contributes to the high quality of the measurements.
The observatory is equipped with an uninterruptible power supply and connected to the ZAMG in Vienna with data lines. With a remote monitoring system, all instruments, power supply, temperature etc. can be controlled and regulated.
The SGO of the Conrad Observatory includes, among other things, a 150-meter-long measuring tunnel equipped with several bases, four boreholes, three of which are 100 m deep and one 50 m deep, and laboratories.
A VSAT system is used to transmit data via satellite to the International Data Center (IDC) of the CTBTO. A 1000 meter long measuring tunnel is the heart of the GMO, to which several laboratories and technical facilities are connected.
In order not to disturb the recording of the measurement series, the observatory is not open to the public.
literature
- Christa Hammerl , Wolfgang Lenhardt, Reinhold Steinacker, Peter Steinhauser (eds.): The Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics 1851–2001. Leykam, Graz 2001, ISBN 3-7011-7437-7 .
- Christa Hammerl, Wolfgang Lenhardt, Roman Leonhardt, Harry Granser: Austria's new earth observatory dedicated to Victor Conrad . EAGE. First Break 2011, p. 31-32.
Individual evidence
- ↑ The observatory. Conrad Observatory. zamg.ac.at, accessed on April 6, 2018 .
- ↑ On the pulse of the planet ( Memento from May 4, 2011 in the web archive archive.today ) in the pfm magazine for infrastructure and technology from December 2008 / Olivera Stajic accessed on March 22, 2010
- ↑ Press release of the Federal Real Estate Company from May 19, 2014, accessed on April 12, 2016
- ↑ Kompein, N., Egli, R., Leichter, B., Leonhardt, R .: Anthropogenic disturbances on geomagnetic observatories: A comparison between Vienna Cobenzl and the new Conrad Observatory . In: 26th IUGG, General Assembly 2015, Prague . 2015.
- ↑ Local measuring station among the best in the world on ORF from October 23, 2016, accessed on October 24, 2016
- ↑ Earthquake in Austria recorded in Today in Austria , ORF, March 15, 2011, 5:05 pm