1995 - 2008
The research institute investigated recent tectonic stresses in the Earth's lithosphere (consisting of the Earth's crust and upper mantle). The dataset of the World Stress Map was continuously expanded through the critical evaluation of newly received data. Information on the stress field was obtained from focal mechanism solutions of earthquakes, borehole geometry data (borehole wall fractures, hydraulically induced fractures), geological indicators (arrangement of volcanoes, faults), and over-drilling methods. In the intermediate depth range (1–5 km), the tectonic stress field was determined from borehole measurements in collaboration with international research institutions and industry.
The database and the stress maps are available online in their current form to all interested parties. (http://www.world-stress-map.org).
The research focus of the academy project was on the interpretation and numerical simulation of stress data with regard to stress sources, as well as regional and local stress fields. In particular, mechanisms of stress transfer and concentration were to be investigated. Tectonic stresses are responsible both for large-scale and slow plate tectonic movements, and for local and short-term phenomena such as earthquakes. The application of stress maps ranges from fundamental geoscientific research to the control of the arrangement of injection and production wells in the petroleum industry and geothermal energy extraction.
Chairman of the Commission
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. h.c. Helmut Kipphan
Head of Research Centre
Prof. Dr. Friedemann Wenzel
Deputy Head of the Research Institute
Dr. Oliver Heidbach
Employees
- Dipl.-Geophys. Andreas Barth
- Dr. Birgit Müller
- Johannes Altmann
Advisor
Dr. Karl Fuchs, Prof. em.
Contact
Geophysikalisches Institut der Universität Karlsruhe
Hertzstraße 16
76187 Karlsruhe
Telefon 07 21/6 08 45 58
Telefax 07 21/7 11 73
E-Mail-Link: friedemann.wenzel@gpi.uni-karlsruhe.de