Polar research of the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources

The ice-covered and remote polar regions are still insufficiently known. The exploration of the Antarctic continent and the ice-covered Arctic Ocean and the surrounding continental margins are however necessary to understand the interactions of solid earth, oceans, glaciations, atmosphere, and biosphere. Geoscientists of the BGR systematically contribute to the knowledge of the geological and structural edifice of the polar regions, which involves also the application of geophysical methods particularly in unexposed areas.

Source: Antarctic / Arctic Bathymetry Basemap (IBCAO/GEBCO_08)

The main tasks of polar research activities of the BGR are:

• Consultation of the German Federal Government and participation in national and international polar research panels;
  
• Research carried out as part of the Federal Government’s polar research program, which focuses on the study of the Antarctic crust including its continental margins;
  
• Participation in ensuring the supply of mineral resources to the Federal Republic of Germany by exploring the margins of the Arctic Ocean and evaluating their resource potential;
  
• Planning, organization and implementation of expeditions into the Antarctic and Arctic regions in national and international cooperation;
  
• Development of special measuring systems for the use in the polar regions.

The polar activities of the BGR are a major contribution to the maintenance of the consultative status of the Federal Republic of Germany within the Antarctic Treaty system and to strengthen Germany’s participation in economic, environmental and research policy decisions for the Arctic.

BGR’s polar research activities can look back on a more than 40-year tradition. By the end of the Antarctic season 2018/19, 20 marine geophysical and 68 geoscientific land-based expeditions to the polar regions have been organized and carried out. The BGR cooperates with German and foreign universities, geological surveys and polar research institutions. Funding of polar research activities at German universities is provided by the German Research Foundation (DFG).