@article{EiblRosskopfSciottoetal.2022, author = {Eibl, Eva P. S. and Rosskopf, Martina and Sciotto, Mariangela and Currenti, Gilda and Di Grazia, Giuseppe and Jousset, Philippe and Kr{\"u}ger, Frank and Weber, Michael}, title = {Performance of a rotational sensor to decipher volcano seismic signals on Etna, Italy}, series = {Journal of geophysical research : Solid earth}, volume = {127}, journal = {Journal of geophysical research : Solid earth}, number = {6}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken, NJ}, issn = {0148-0227}, doi = {10.1029/2021JB023617}, pages = {22}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Volcano-seismic signals such as long-period events and tremor are important indicators for volcanic activity and unrest. However, their wavefield is complex and characterization and location using traditional seismological instrumentation is often difficult. In 2019 we recorded the full seismic wavefield using a newly developed 3C rotational sensor co-located with a 3C traditional seismometer on Etna, Italy. We compare the performance of the rotational sensor, the seismometer and the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia-Osservatorio Etneo (INGV-OE) seismic network with respect to the analysis of complex volcano-seismic signals. We create event catalogs for volcano-tectonic (VT) and long-period (LP) events combining a STA/LTA algorithm and cross-correlations. The event detection based on the rotational sensor is as reliable as the seismometer-based detection. The LP events are dominated by SH-type waves. Derived SH phase velocities range from 500 to 1,000 m/s for LP events and 300-400 m/s for volcanic tremor. SH-waves compose the tremor during weak volcanic activity and SH- and SV-waves during sustained strombolian activity. We derive back azimuths using (a) horizontal rotational components and (b) vertical rotation rate and transverse acceleration. The estimated back azimuths are consistent with the INGV-OE event location for (a) VT events with an epicentral distance larger than 3 km and some closer events, (b) LP events and tremor in the main crater area. Measuring the full wavefield we can reliably analyze the back azimuths, phase velocities and wavefield composition for VT, LP events and tremor in regions that are difficult to access such as volcanoes.}, language = {en} } @article{SarrazinKumarBasuetal.2022, author = {Sarrazin, Fanny J. and Kumar, Rohini and Basu, Nandita B. and Musolff, Andreas and Weber, Michael and Van Meter, Kimberly J. and Attinger, Sabine}, title = {Characterizing catchment-scale nitrogen legacies and constraining their uncertainties}, series = {Water resources research}, volume = {58}, journal = {Water resources research}, number = {4}, publisher = {American Geophysical Union}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0043-1397}, doi = {10.1029/2021WR031587}, pages = {32}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Improving nitrogen (N) status in European water bodies is a pressing issue. N levels depend not only on current but also past N inputs to the landscape, that have accumulated through time in legacy stores (e.g., soil, groundwater). Catchment-scale N models, that are commonly used to investigate in-stream N levels, rarely examine the magnitude and dynamics of legacy components. This study aims to gain a better understanding of the long-term fate of the N inputs and its uncertainties, using a legacy-driven N model (ELEMeNT) in Germany's largest national river basin (Weser; 38,450 km(2)) over the period 1960-2015. We estimate the nine model parameters based on a progressive constraining strategy, to assess the value of different observational data sets. We demonstrate that beyond in-stream N loading, soil N content and in-stream N concentration allow to reduce the equifinality in model parameterizations. We find that more than 50\% of the N surplus denitrifies (1480-2210 kg ha(-1)) and the stream export amounts to around 18\% (410-640 kg ha(-1)), leaving behind as much as around 230-780 kg ha(-1) of N in the (soil) source zone and 10-105 kg ha(-1) in the subsurface. A sensitivity analysis reveals the importance of different factors affecting the residual uncertainties in simulated N legacies, namely hydrologic travel time, denitrification rates, a coefficient characterizing the protection of organic N in source zone and N surplus input. Our study calls for proper consideration of uncertainties in N legacy characterization, and discusses possible avenues to further reduce the equifinality in water quality modeling.}, language = {en} } @article{JoziNajafabadiHaberlandLeBretonetal.2022, author = {Jozi Najafabadi, Azam and Haberland, Christian and Le Breton, Eline and Handy, Mark R. and Verwater, Vincent F. and Heit, Benjamin and Weber, Michael}, title = {Constraints on crustal structure in the vicinity of the adriatic indenter (European Alps) from Vp and Vp/Vs local earthquake tomography}, series = {Journal of geophysical research : Solid earth}, volume = {127}, journal = {Journal of geophysical research : Solid earth}, number = {2}, publisher = {American Geophysical Union}, address = {Washington}, issn = {2169-9313}, doi = {10.1029/2021JB023160}, pages = {22}, year = {2022}, abstract = {In this study, 3-D models of P-wave velocity (Vp) and P-wave and S-wave ratio (Vp/Vs) of the crust and upper mantle in the Eastern and eastern Southern Alps (northern Italy and southern Austria) were calculated using local earthquake tomography (LET). The data set includes high-quality arrival times from well-constrained hypocenters observed by the dense, temporary seismic networks of the AlpArray AASN and SWATH-D. The resolution of the LET was checked by synthetic tests and analysis of the model resolution matrix. The small inter-station spacing (average of similar to 15 km within the SWATH-D network) allowed us to image crustal structure at unprecedented resolution across a key part of the Alps. The derived P velocity model revealed a highly heterogeneous crustal structure in the target area. One of the main findings is that the lower crust is thickened, forming a bulge at 30-50 km depth just south of and beneath the Periadriatic Fault and the Tauern Window. This indicates that the lower crust decoupled both from its mantle substratum as well as from its upper crust. The Moho, taken to be the iso-velocity contour of Vp = 7.25 km/s, agrees with the Moho depth from previous studies in the European and Adriatic forelands. It is shallower on the Adriatic side than on the European side. This is interpreted to indicate that the European Plate is subducted beneath the Adriatic Plate in the Eastern and eastern Southern Alps.}, language = {en} } @article{JoziNajafabadiHaberlandRybergetal.2021, author = {Jozi Najafabadi, Azam and Haberland, Christian and Ryberg, Trond and Verwater, Vincent F. and Breton, Eline le and Handy, Mark R. and Weber, Michael}, title = {Relocation of earthquakes in the southern and eastern Alps (Austria, Italy) recorded by the dense, temporary SWATH-D network using a Markov chain Monte Carlo inversion}, series = {Solid earth : SE ; an interaktive open access journal of the European Geosciences Union}, volume = {12}, journal = {Solid earth : SE ; an interaktive open access journal of the European Geosciences Union}, number = {5}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, organization = {AlpArray Working Grp, AlpArray SWATH-D Working Grp}, issn = {1869-9529}, doi = {10.5194/se-12-1087-2021}, pages = {1087 -- 1109}, year = {2021}, abstract = {In this study, we analyzed a large seismological dataset from temporary and permanent networks in the southern and eastern Alps to establish high-precision hypocenters and 1-D V-P and V-P/V-S models. The waveform data of a subset of local earthquakes with magnitudes in the range of 1-4.2 M-L were recorded by the dense, temporary SWATH-D network and selected stations of the AlpArray network between September 2017 and the end of 2018. The first arrival times of P and S waves of earthquakes are determined by a semi-automatic procedure. We applied a Markov chain Monte Carlo inversion method to simultaneously calculate robust hypocenters, a 1-D velocity model, and station corrections without prior assumptions, such as initial velocity models or earthquake locations. A further advantage of this method is the derivation of the model parameter uncertainties and noise levels of the data. The precision estimates of the localization procedure is checked by inverting a synthetic travel time dataset from a complex 3-D velocity model and by using the real stations and earthquakes geometry. The location accuracy is further investigated by a quarry blast test. The average uncertainties of the locations of the earthquakes are below 500m in their epicenter and similar to 1.7 km in depth. The earthquake distribution reveals seismicity in the upper crust (0-20 km), which is characterized by pronounced clusters along the Alpine frontal thrust, e.g., the Friuli-Venetia (FV) region, the Giudicarie-Lessini (GL) and Schio-Vicenza domains, the Austroalpine nappes, and the Inntal area. Some seismicity also occurs along the Periadriatic Fault. The general pattern of seismicity reflects head-on convergence of the Adriatic indenter with the Alpine orogenic crust. The seismicity in the FV and GL regions is deeper than the modeled frontal thrusts, which we interpret as indication for southward propagation of the southern Alpine deformation front (blind thrusts).}, language = {en} } @article{DahmStillerMechieetal.2020, author = {Dahm, Torsten and Stiller, Manfred and Mechie, James and Heimann, Sebastian and Hensch, Martin and Woith, Heiko and Schmidt, Bernd and Gabriel, Gerald and Weber, Michael}, title = {Seismological and geophysical signatures of the deep crustal magma systems of the cenozoic volcanic fields Beneath the Eifel, Germany}, series = {Geochemistry, geophysics, geosystems}, volume = {21}, journal = {Geochemistry, geophysics, geosystems}, number = {9}, publisher = {American Geophysical Union}, address = {Washington}, issn = {1525-2027}, doi = {10.1029/2020GC009062}, pages = {21}, year = {2020}, abstract = {The Quaternary volcanic fields of the Eifel (Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany) had their last eruptions less than 13,000 years ago. Recently, deep low-frequency (DLF) earthquakes were detected beneath one of the volcanic fields showing evidence of ongoing magmatic activity in the lower crust and upper mantle. In this work, seismic wide- and steep-angle experiments from 1978/1979 and 1987/1988 are compiled, partially reprocessed and interpreted, together with other data to better determine the location, size, shape, and state of magmatic reservoirs in the Eifel region near the crust-mantle boundary. We discuss seismic evidence for a low-velocity gradient layer from 30-36 km depth, which has developed over a large region under all Quaternary volcanic fields of the Rhenish Massif and can be explained by the presence of partial melts. We show that the DLF earthquakes connect the postulated upper mantle reservoir with the upper crust at a depth of about 8 km, directly below one of the youngest phonolitic volcanic centers in the Eifel, where CO(2)originating from the mantle is massively outgassing. A bright spot in the West Eifel between 6 and 10 km depth represents a Tertiary magma reservoir and is seen as a model for a differentiated reservoir beneath the young phonolitic center today. We find that the distribution of volcanic fields is controlled by the Variscan lithospheric structures and terrane boundaries as a whole, which is reflected by an offset of the Moho depth, a wedge-shaped transparent zone in the lower crust and the system of thrusts over about 120 km length.}, language = {en} } @misc{HetenyiMolinariClintonetal.2018, author = {Hetenyi, Gyorgy and Molinari, Irene and Clinton, John and Bokelmann, Gotz and Bondar, Istvan and Crawford, Wayne C. and Dessa, Jean-Xavier and Doubre, Cecile and Friederich, Wolfgang and Fuchs, Florian and Giardini, Domenico and Graczer, Zoltan and Handy, Mark R. and Herak, Marijan and Jia, Yan and Kissling, Edi and Kopp, Heidrun and Korn, Michael and Margheriti, Lucia and Meier, Thomas and Mucciarelli, Marco and Paul, Anne and Pesaresi, Damiano and Piromallo, Claudia and Plenefisch, Thomas and Plomerova, Jaroslava and Ritter, Joachim and Rumpker, Georg and Sipka, Vesna and Spallarossa, Daniele and Thomas, Christine and Tilmann, Frederik and Wassermann, Joachim and Weber, Michael and Weber, Zoltan and Wesztergom, Viktor and Zivcic, Mladen and Abreu, Rafael and Allegretti, Ivo and Apoloner, Maria-Theresia and Aubert, Coralie and Besancon, Simon and de Berc, Maxime Bes and Brunel, Didier and Capello, Marco and Carman, Martina and Cavaliere, Adriano and Cheze, Jerome and Chiarabba, Claudio and Cougoulat, Glenn and Cristiano, Luigia and Czifra, Tibor and Danesi, Stefania and Daniel, Romuald and Dannowski, Anke and Dasovic, Iva and Deschamps, Anne and Egdorf, Sven and Fiket, Tomislav and Fischer, Kasper and Funke, Sigward and Govoni, Aladino and Groschl, Gidera and Heimers, Stefan and Heit, Ben and Herak, Davorka and Huber, Johann and Jaric, Dejan and Jedlicka, Petr and Jund, Helene and Klingen, Stefan and Klotz, Bernhard and Kolinsky, Petr and Kotek, Josef and Kuhne, Lothar and Kuk, Kreso and Lange, Dietrich and Loos, Jurgen and Lovati, Sara and Malengros, Deny and Maron, Christophe and Martin, Xavier and Massa, Marco and Mazzarini, Francesco and Metral, Laurent and Moretti, Milena and Munzarova, Helena and Nardi, Anna and Pahor, Jurij and Pequegnat, Catherine and Petersen, Florian and Piccinini, Davide and Pondrelli, Silvia and Prevolnik, Snjezan and Racine, Roman and Regnier, Marc and Reiss, Miriam and Salimbeni, Simone and Santulin, Marco and Scherer, Werner and Schippkus, Sven and Schulte-Kortnack, Detlef and Solarino, Stefano and Spieker, Kathrin and Stipcevic, Josip and Strollo, Angelo and Sule, Balint and Szanyi, Gyongyver and Szucs, Eszter and Thorwart, Martin and Ueding, Stefan and Vallocchia, Massimiliano and Vecsey, Ludek and Voigt, Rene and Weidle, Christian and Weyland, Gauthier and Wiemer, Stefan and Wolf, Felix and Wolyniec, David and Zieke, Thomas}, title = {The AlpArray seismic network}, series = {Surveys in Geophysics}, volume = {39}, journal = {Surveys in Geophysics}, number = {5}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Dordrecht}, organization = {ETHZ SED Elect Lab AlpArray Seismic Network Team AlpArray OBS Cruise Crew AlpArray Working Grp}, issn = {0169-3298}, doi = {10.1007/s10712-018-9472-4}, pages = {1009 -- 1033}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The AlpArray programme is a multinational, European consortium to advance our understanding of orogenesis and its relationship to mantle dynamics, plate reorganizations, surface processes and seismic hazard in the Alps-Apennines-Carpathians-Dinarides orogenic system. The AlpArray Seismic Network has been deployed with contributions from 36 institutions from 11 countries to map physical properties of the lithosphere and asthenosphere in 3D and thus to obtain new, high-resolution geophysical images of structures from the surface down to the base of the mantle transition zone. With over 600 broadband stations operated for 2 years, this seismic experiment is one of the largest simultaneously operated seismological networks in the academic domain, employing hexagonal coverage with station spacing at less than 52 km. This dense and regularly spaced experiment is made possible by the coordinated coeval deployment of temporary stations from numerous national pools, including ocean-bottom seismometers, which were funded by different national agencies. They combine with permanent networks, which also required the cooperation of many different operators. Together these stations ultimately fill coverage gaps. Following a short overview of previous large-scale seismological experiments in the Alpine region, we here present the goals, construction, deployment, characteristics and data management of the AlpArray Seismic Network, which will provide data that is expected to be unprecedented in quality to image the complex Alpine mountains at depth.}, language = {en} } @article{FrommJokatRybergetal.2017, author = {Fromm, T. and Jokat, W. and Ryberg, T. and Behrmann, Jan H. and Haberland, C. and Weber, Michael}, title = {The onset of Walvis Ridge: Plume influence at the continental margin}, series = {Tectonophysics : international journal of geotectonics and the geology and physics of the interior of the earth}, volume = {716}, journal = {Tectonophysics : international journal of geotectonics and the geology and physics of the interior of the earth}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0040-1951}, doi = {10.1016/j.tecto.2017.03.011}, pages = {90 -- 107}, year = {2017}, abstract = {The opening of the South Atlantic is a classical example for a plume related continental breakup. Flood basalts are present on both conjugate margins as well as aseismic ridges connecting them with the current plume location at Tristan da Cunha. To determine the effect of the proposed plume head on the continental crust, we acquired wide-angle seismic data at the junction of the Walvis Ridge with the African continent and modelled the P-wave velocity structure in a forward approach. The profile extends 430 km along the ridge and continues onshore to a length of 720 km. Crustal velocities beneath the Walvis Ridge vary between 5.5 km/s and 7.0 km/s, a typical range for oceanic crust. The crustal thickness of 22 km, however, is approximately three times larger than of normal oceanic crust. The continent-ocean transition is characterized by 30 km thick crust with strong lateral velocity variations in the upper crust and a high-velocity lower crust (HVLC), where velocities reach up to 7.5 km/s. The HVLC is 100 to 130 km wider at the Walvis Ridge than it is farther south, and impinges onto the continental crust of the Kaoko fold belt. Such high seismic velocities indicate Mg-rich igneous material intruded into the continental crust during the initial rifting stage. However, the remaining continental crust seems unaffected by intrusions and the root of the 40 km-thick crust of the Kaoko belt is not thermally abraded. We conclude that the plume head did not modify the continental crust on a large scale, but caused rather local effects. Thus, it seems unlikely that a plume drove or initiated the breakup process. We further propose that the plume already existed underneath the continent prior to the breakup, and ponded melt erupted at emerging rift structures providing the magma for continental flood basalts. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.}, language = {en} } @article{RybergBraeuerWeber2017, author = {Ryberg, Trond and Braeuer, Benjamin and Weber, Michael}, title = {Upper mantle structure at Walvis Ridge from P-n tomography}, series = {Tectonophysics : international journal of geotectonics and the geology and physics of the interior of the earth}, volume = {716}, journal = {Tectonophysics : international journal of geotectonics and the geology and physics of the interior of the earth}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0040-1951}, doi = {10.1016/j.tecto.2016.08.009}, pages = {121 -- 129}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Passive continental margins offer the unique opportunity to study the processes involved in continental extension and break-up. Within the LISPWAL (Llthospheric Structure of the Namibian continental Passive margin at the intersection with the Walvis Ridge from amphibious seismic investigations) project, combined on- and offshore seismic experiments were designed to characterize the Southern African passive margin at the Walvis Ridge in northern Namibia. In addition to extensive analysis of the crustal structures, we carried out seismic investigations targeting the velocity structure of the upper mantle in the landfall region of the Walvis Ridge with the Namibian coast. Upper mantle P-n travel time tomography from controlled source, amphibious seismic data was used to investigate the sub-Moho upper mantle seismic velocity. We succeeded in imaging upper mantle structures potentially associated with continental break-up and/or the Tristan da Cunha hotspot track. We found mostly coast-parallel sub-Moho velocity anomalies, interpreted as structures which were created during Gondwana break-up. (C)2016 Published by Elsevier B.V.}, language = {en} } @article{KastleWeberKrueger2017, author = {Kastle, Emanuel D. and Weber, Michael and Kr{\"u}ger, Frank}, title = {Complex Deep Structure of the African Low-Velocity Zone}, series = {Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America}, volume = {107}, journal = {Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America}, publisher = {Seismological Society of America}, address = {Albany}, issn = {0037-1106}, doi = {10.1785/0120160215}, pages = {1688 -- 1703}, year = {2017}, abstract = {We use recently deployed seismological arrays in Africa to sample a 2D cross section through the mantle down to the core-mantle boundary (CMB). By making use of travel-time residuals of S, ScS, and SKS phases, a new shear-velocity model of the African low-velocity zone (ALVZ) is derived. Our model suggests between 1.2\% shear-velocity reduction at the top and 5\% at the bottom with respect to 1D reference models. The average reduction over the whole low-velocity zone (LVZ) amounts to 2\% in the presented model and is therefore about twice as strong as values found in global tomographic models. The top of the LVZ reaches up to 1200-km depth, and its lateral extent at the CMB is about 35 degrees. We propose the existence of a gap of 300 km, splitting the structure into two blocks. Our results are based on remarkable differences in SK(K) S travel-time residuals over a few degrees distance. The complexity of the structure could provide a key to an improved understanding of the deep-mantle LVZ dynamics and composition by comparison to geodynamic models. The gap in the model might suggest that the 2D cross section is cutting through a 3D indentation in the boundary of the ALVZ but may also be interpreted as a sign of two individual plumes, rather than one large homogeneous upwelling.}, language = {en} } @article{PlanertBehrmannJokatetal.2017, author = {Planert, Lars and Behrmann, Jan H. and Jokat, Wilfried and Fromm, Tanja and Ryberg, Trond and Weber, Michael and Haberland, Christian}, title = {The wide-angle seismic image of a complex rifted margin, offshore North Namibia: Implications for the tectonics of continental breakup}, series = {Tectonophysics : international journal of geotectonics and the geology and physics of the interior of the earth}, volume = {716}, journal = {Tectonophysics : international journal of geotectonics and the geology and physics of the interior of the earth}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0040-1951}, doi = {10.1016/j.tecto.2016.06.024}, pages = {130 -- 148}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Voluminous magmatism during the South Atlantic opening has been considered as a classical example for plume related continental breakup. We present a study of the crustal structure around Walvis Ridge, near the intersection with the African margin. Two wide-angle seismic profiles were acquired. One is oriented NNW-SSE, following the continent-ocean transition and crossing Walvis Ridge. A second amphibious profile runs NW-SE from the Angola Basin into continental Namibia. At the continent-ocean boundary (COB) the mafic crust beneath Walvis Ridge is up to 33 km thick, with a pronounced high-velocity lower crustal body. Towards the south there is a smooth transition to 20-25 km thick crust underlying the COB in the Walvis Basin, with a similar velocity structure, indicating a gabbroic lower crust with associated cumulates at the base. The northern boundary of Walvis Ridge towards the Angola Basin shows a sudden change to oceanic crust only 4-6 km thick, coincident with the projection of the Florianopolis Fracture Zone, one of the most prominent tectonic features of the South Atlantic ocean basin. In the amphibious profile the COB is defined by a sharp transition from oceanic to rifted continental crust, with a magmatic overprint landward of the intersection of Walvis Ridge with the Namibian margin. The continental crust beneath the Congo Craton is 40 km thick, shoaling to 35 km further SE. The velocity models show that massive high-velocity gabbroic intrusives are restricted to a narrow zone directly underneath Walvis Ridge and the COB in the south. This distribution of rift-related magmatism is not easily reconciled with models of continental breakup following the establishment of a large, axially symmetric plume in the Earth's mantle. Rift-related lithospheric stretching and associated transform faulting play an overriding role in locating magmatism, dividing the margin in a magma-dominated southern and an essentially amagmatic northern segment.}, language = {en} } @article{KottmeierAgnonAlHalbounietal.2016, author = {Kottmeier, Christoph and Agnon, Amotz and Al-Halbouni, Djamil and Alpert, Pinhas and Corsmeier, Ulrich and Dahm, Torsten and Eshel, Adam and Geyer, Stefan and Haas, Michael and Holohan, Eoghan and Kalthoff, Norbert and Kishcha, Pavel and Krawczyk, Charlotte and Lati, Joseph and Laronne, Jonathan B. and Lott, Friederike and Mallast, Ulf and Merz, Ralf and Metzger, Jutta and Mohsen, Ayman and Morin, Efrat and Nied, Manuela and Roediger, Tino and Salameh, Elias and Sawarieh, Ali and Shannak, Benbella and Siebert, Christian and Weber, Michael}, title = {New perspectives on interdisciplinary earth science at the Dead Sea: The DESERVE project}, series = {The science of the total environment : an international journal for scientific research into the environment and its relationship with man}, volume = {544}, journal = {The science of the total environment : an international journal for scientific research into the environment and its relationship with man}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0048-9697}, doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.12.003}, pages = {1045 -- 1058}, year = {2016}, abstract = {The Dead Sea region has faced substantial environmental challenges in recent decades, including water resource scarcity, similar to 1 m annual decreases in the water level, sinkhole development, ascending-brine freshwater pollution, and seismic disturbance risks. Natural processes are significantly affected by human interference as well as by climate change and tectonic developments over the long term. To get a deep understanding of processes and their interactions, innovative scientific approaches that integrate disciplinary research and education are required. The research project DESERVE (Helmholtz Virtual Institute Dead Sea Research Venue) addresses these challenges in an interdisciplinary approach that includes geophysics, hydrology, and meteorology. The project is implemented by a consortium of scientific institutions in neighboring countries of the Dead Sea (Israel, Jordan, Palestine Territories) and participating German Helmholtz Centres (KIT, GFZ, UFZ). A new monitoring network of meteorological, hydrological, and seismic/geodynamic stations has been established, and extensive field research and numerical simulations have been undertaken. For the first time, innovative measurement and modeling techniques have been applied to the extreme conditions of the Dead Sea and its surroundings. The preliminary results show the potential of these methods. First time ever performed eddy covariance measurements give insight into the governing factors of Dead Sea evaporation. High-resolution bathymetric investigations reveal a strong correlation between submarine springs and neo-tectonic patterns. Based on detailed studies of stratigraphy and borehole information, the extension of the subsurface drainage basin of the Dead Sea is now reliably estimated. Originality has been achieved in monitoring flash floods in an arid basin at its outlet and simultaneously in tributaries, supplemented by spatio-temporal rainfall data. Low-altitude, high resolution photogrammetry, allied to satellite image analysis and to geophysical surveys (e.g. shear-wave reflections) has enabled a more detailed characterization of sinkhole morphology and temporal development and the possible subsurface controls thereon. All the above listed efforts and scientific results take place with the interdisciplinary education of young scientists. They are invited to attend joint thematic workshops and winter schools as well as to participate in field experiments. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.}, language = {en} } @article{MohsenKindSobolevetal.2006, author = {Mohsen, Ayman and Kind, Rainer and Sobolev, Stephan Vladimir and Weber, Michael}, title = {Thickness of the lithosphere east of the Dead Sea Transform}, series = {Geophysical journal international}, volume = {167}, journal = {Geophysical journal international}, number = {2}, publisher = {Blackwell}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0956-540X}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-246X.2006.03185.x}, pages = {845 -- 852}, year = {2006}, abstract = {We use the S receiver function method to study the lithosphere at the Dead Sea Transform (DST). A temporary network of 22 seismic broad-band stations was operated on both sides of the DST from 2000 to 2001 as part of the DESERT project. We also used data from six additional permanent broad-band seismic stations at the DST and in the surrounding area, that is, in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Cyprus. Clear S-to-P converted phases from the crust-mantle boundary (Moho) and a deeper discontinuity, which we interpret as lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB) have been observed. The Moho depth (30-38 km) obtained from S receiver functions agrees well with the results from P receiver functions and other geophysical data. We observe thinning of the lithosphere on the eastern side of the DST from 80 km in the north of the Dead Sea to about 65 km at the Gulf of Aqaba. On the western side of the DST, the few data indicate a thin LAB of about 65 km. For comparison, we found a 90-km-thick lithosphere in eastern Turkey and a 160-km-thick lithosphere under the Arabian shield, respectively. These observations support previous suggestions, based on xenolith data, heat flow observations, regional uplift history and geodynamic modelling, that the lithosphere around DST has been significantly thinned in the Late Cenozoic, likely following rifting and spreading of the Red Sea.}, language = {en} }