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The Conrad Observatory in Austria
Front view
The Conrad Observatory
is named after the famous seismologist and climatologist
Victor Conrad (1876 - 1962), who worked at the Central Institute
for Meteorology and Geodynamics in Vienna for many years. The
observatory is situated about 50 km SW of Vienna, within an
nature reserve at the outskirts of the Eastern Alps, at the
so-called "Trafelberg" in Lower Austria at 1000 m above sea
level. The remoteness of the location and the undisturbed
surrounding of the underground-observatory allows special
investigations and long term research projects to be
conducted. These tasks will gain importance in the near
future.
It is the only observatory of this type being
situated in the Alpine region. The site is characterized by
extreme low background noise - natural as well as
technological ones. In addition, the design as underground
observatory reduces surface vibrations once more. An almost
constant temperature in the tunnel and in the adjacent
boreholes contribute to the high quality of measurements. No
ventilation system is required, which would result in unwanted
vibrations.
The underground building-compound of the
Observatory has its own power-supply and is connected via
data-transmission lines with the Department of Geophysics at
the Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics in
Vienna. Via a remote control system, the operations of all
instruments, power-supply, temperature, access to the
facilities, etc. can be checked and regulated if
necessary.
The observatory serves different geophysical
disciplines. One of them is seismology. Understandably,
research results in seismology are very strongly influenced by
the quality of the seismic system, which is employed to
monitor extreme small movements of the ground. A variety of
such instruments is available today on the market. Currently,
the observatory can be used to
- monitor the world-wide seismicity with its seismic
stations
- monitor underground nuclear tests
- calibrate seismometers
- develop and test new systems
- compare the performance of different instruments
under controlled conditions. These comparisons are
necessary to ensure correct long-term observations of changes
in the Earth crust, which can only be accomplished with
monitoring systems, which perform extremely reliable during
the total period of observation.
In addition, the direct
comparison of monitoring the ground movement in a borehole and
on several piers in the tunnel lends itself to develop or
calibrate new systems and to improve their performance. In
combination with an on-line connection with other research
institutions, international development experiments can be
carried out. The CTBTO - Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
Organization in Vienna - is already using this facility for
tests and experimental purposes and the training of station
operators of the International Monitoring System - IMS, in
connection with the Global Communication Infrastructure - GCI
System.
The other discipline concerns gravimetry, the
science of gravity measurements. Changes of the gravitational
field of the Earth are due to tidal forces exerted by the
moon, sun and the planets but also uplift or subduction of
parts of the Earth's crust, and hence express geodynamical
processes which can be monitored with highly sensitive
devices. One of these devices, a supra-conducting gravimeter
GWR C025 of which only 20 exist world-wide, is used by the
Department of Geophysics and the University of Vienna to
measure these gravitational forces. The device - which is
planned to be transferred from Vienna to the observatory in
2006 - exhibits only an extreme small drift and the accuracy
of the measurements is outstanding. Results from this
equipment are already used in the Global Geodynamical Project
- GGP. The combination of measurements at different places
from several international institutions allows us to study the
resonance period of the Earth, which depends on the complete
structure of the Earth. In addition, non-periodic signals due
to atmospheric and environmental changes - such as rain clouds
or ground water variations or changes of the sea level - are
also monitored.
The current observatory consists of a 150 m long
tunnel with several piers for seismometers, and four
boreholes, of which three are 100 m deep and one reaches a
depth of 50 m. The facility includes laboratory rooms, an
office, a kitchen, toilet and a bathroom. A VSAT System is
used to transfer data via satellite to the International Data
Centre - IDC at the CTBTO, and a GPS-timing system guarantees
correct timing.
Tunnel
The third part of the
Conrad Observatory is a Geomagnetic Observatory for research
and development, currently in the final planning stage. Within
the scope of geomagnetism, the development of new observation
methods and systems for the 4D - (X, Y, Z and time)
determination of the geomagnetic field originating from
natural and industrial sources can be studied. In addition,
smallest changes of the earth-magnetic field prior and after
earthquakes can be verified. Since the biosphere gained
increasing importance during the past decades, the research of
the static and alternating magnetic field can be investigated,
as well as the physics of the high atmosphere. In the latter
case, disturbances of the Earth's magnetic field due to
effects from sun-storms on telecommunications, navigation
systems, power supplies and security-systems have attracted
increased attention recently.
Due to the combination of
seismological, gravity and geomagnetic research, the Conrad
Observatory near Vienna constitutes a unique laboratory for
national and international research and development tasks
within Austria.
In order not to disturb the measurements
of the high sensitive instruments, the Conrad Observatory is
not open to the public.
For more information contact
conrad.observatory@zamg.ac.at.
Press
release on the occasion of the official opening on May 23,
2002
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Network of Research Infrastructures for European Seismology
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The Conrad Observatory is part of the Network of Research Infrastructures for
European Seismology (NERIES), within the 6th EU framework. EC Contract Number 026130.
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