Potential-field maps

The Leibniz Institute for Applied Geophysics maintains and complements gravimetric and magnetic datasets from Germany. Based on all available data, a set of two maps on a scale of 1:1,000,000 was created, which is used to work on basic and applied geoscientific questions: (1) map of the anomalies of the Earth's total magnetic field, (2) map of the Bouguer gravity anomalies. In doing this, the institute provides for the first time homogenous potential field maps for the entire country, which meet modern international standards. Significant contributions to the available database were made by the company Geophysik GGD on behalf of the geological surveys of Eastern Germany.

The magnetic anomaly map depicts anomalies of the Earth’s total magnetic field throughout Germany. The raw data consists of 67 individual shipborne, ground, and airborne field campaigns carried out between 1961 and 2008. The new compilation shows the anomalies on a uniform 100 m grid at a height of 1000 m above sea level based on the Definitive Geomagnetic Reference Field 1980, epoch 1980.0.

The gravity map displays detailed and concise Bouguer anomalies in Germany and adjacent areas on one map sheet. The raw data comprises approx. 350.000 observed gravity points which come mainly from our Geophysics Information System. The compilation is supplemented by information from abroad, provided by individual partner agencies and the Bureau Gravimétrique International. The main goal of the revision was the removal of discrepancies and artefacts caused by input errors and uniform processing guidelines for data originating from multiple sources. All corrections were recalculated according to current international standards; the determination of terrain corrections involves high resolution digital terrain models.