This session focusses on large (> 10⁶ m³) Quaternary slope deformation and failure events, particularly DSGSD, rock avalanches, and rockslides in Alpine environments. Key aspects of presentations in this session encompass state-of-the-art research concerning causes and triggers, mechanical rock mass behaviour, and runout processes. We encourage innovative contributions on mechanisms, from destabilisation, to transport and deposition, monitoring, dating methods, and engineering aspects.

Rock falls are widespread processes in mountain areas and shallow landslides also sometimes occur in hilly terrain. Whilst their magnitude in terms of the involved volume is low in comparison to large deep-seated mass movements, their frequency in space and time is much higher. Anticipating rock fall and shallow landslide occurrence, magnitude, intensity and possible impact is essential as a basis for reducing the associated risk to people, property and infrastructures. In this sense, an improved understanding of the conditioning and triggering factors, and the characteristics of the underlying processes, and also of the values at risk, is necessary at various levels of spatial aggregation.

All research related to shallow landslides and rock falls is welcome. Contributions may cover, but are not limited to, topics such as: assessment of geological parameters determining rock-fall processes, investigations on the factors influencing the occurrence, and spatial and temporal distribution of shallow landslides, computer modelling, strategies to deal with uncertainties, standards for the design of mitigation measures, hazard zoning and risk analysis.

Contributions dealing with innovative approaches for quantitative hazard and risk analysis related to rock falls and shallow landslides are particularly welcome.

This session focusses on debris flows and debris floods as rapid mass movement processes in alpine environments. This session involves all aspects of disposition, triggering, mobilisation, and flow dynamics, as well as engineering aspects like interaction with structures, monitoring and warning issues. Besides state of the art contributions, novel approaches for a better understanding of debris flows are welcome.

The session welcomes contributions in the field of hydro(meterological) hazards, focusing on process assessment and risk management. The session focuses on hydrological topics (e.g. fluvial or pluvial flooding), encouraging the submission of contributions with a strong link to geological and soil sciences. Topics may comprise, but are not limited to, runoff generation (e.g. role of substrate) and associate processes such as sediment transport. Presentations may cover case studies as well as basic research focusing on extreme events.

Seismic tremors may not only pose a hazard to ordinary buildings, but also specifically to the operation of critical infrastructures. Usually only tectonic earthquakes are considered when a seismic hazard is to be estimated. Depending on the construction under consideration, different factors need to be considered, which describe the site, and the usage of the structure. The session deals with empirical ground motions, source mechanisms, site effects, historical earthquakes and general considerations regarding seismic hazard estimates. Besides tectonic earthquakes, induced events may also contribute to a local seismic hazard.

During the last years our understanding of Phanerozoic marine biodiversity development increased dramatically. More and more, extrinsic factors – such as climate, oceanography and palaeogeography – turn out to be key factors driving evolution. Within an increasingly better resolved stratigraphic framework, the impact of biotic processes, such as the evolution and spread of new taxa can be integrated in our picture of the marine world. Moreover, statistical re-evaluation of existing data allows damping sample bias and handling unequal temporal resolution. Another major step is the attempt to understand modern patterns by analyzing trends in the younger geologic history. Thus, all contributions trying to decipher marine Phanerozoic biodiversity – theoretically and pragmatically - are welcome in our session.

Although the study of marine ecosystems played a major role in the early development of palaeobiology, the rapidly increasing knowledge of fossil terrestrial biotas has opened the way for a better understanding of the evolution of life. However, the study of terrestrial ecosystems is still hampered by biases that characterise terrestrial associations such as selective preservation, poorly-understood taphonomic pathways, and the lack of precise dating for terrestrial fossils. This symposium highlights current research on terrestrial ecosystems with emphasis on new methods that transcend boundaries of individual disciplines. The range of topics will also include comparisons between fossil and extant ecosystems as well as ecosystem disruption. Theoretical perspectives and methodological contributions are welcome.

Session language: English

In Earth history the biosphere was affected by numerous short-term environmental perturbations at different geographical and ecological scales. Some of these processes included abrupt changes of extinction rates and (bio)geochemical cycles at larger regional and global scales and are thus also recorded as chemostratigraphical events. Over the last years improved geochemical and stratigraphical techniques have helped to decipher the timing and controlling processes of these major biotic changes. This session provides a platform for contributions from all geoscientific fields improving the understanding of the context and nature of such biotic and abiotic events.

Unravelling the nature of crustal growth and mountain-building processes across Earth’s dynamic history relies on integrated studies involving the reconstruction of pressure-temperature-time-deformation (P-T-t-d) paths from preserved metamorphic assemblages and their textures. Their characterization requires studying microscale compositional variations in textural context, and this session aims to deepen our understanding of petrogenetic processes preserved in metamorphic rocks from a diversity of tectonic settings. Therefore this session aims to highlight the progress in metamorphic petrology from microscale to mountain belts. For this reason we would like to invite a wide range of integrated field and petrological contributions, including research in metamorphic terrains from all metamorphic grades.

Based on steadily improving possibilities in experimentation, internally consistent sets of accurate thermodynamic data have been produced covering a wide range of phases of geological interest. This facilitates quantitative analysis of phase relations observed in rocks, a now well established and mature technique. Conventional geo-thermobarometry, as well as phase diagram calculations have contributed substantially to our understanding of metamorphic crystallization with far reaching implications for our understanding of global geodynamics. We are now in the position to critically evaluate the progress made through the analysis of phase equilibria and to further develop the available tools. This may occur by the extension and refinement of thermodynamic data and mixing models. Another avenue to pursue is the systematic study of non-equilibrium phenomena such as unmixing, second-phase precipitation, corona and symplectite formation, as well as re-equilibration through intra- and inter-crystalline diffusion. We invite contributions applying theoretical modelling and experimentation to constrain the conditions, rates and/or processes of metamorphic crystallization. In particular we invite any novel approach that helps to further develop and improve our ability to extract quantitative petrogenetic information from phase relations, reaction microstructures, textures and chemical or isotopic patterns in mineral and rock systems. The session is therefore open for all contributions concerning experimental approaches to quantify mineral reaction parameters, incipient melting, fluid compositions, reaction rates and kinetics such as grain growth, dissolution and diffusion.

A major part of the Alps is composed of the pre-Alpine basement units. Despite their metamorphic overprints, these units provide deep and fundamental insights to geodynamic processes, especially from Neoproterozoic to Permian times. We request contributions dealing with  stratigraphy, geochronology, geochemistry, metamorphism and structural  geology in these basement units, based on local and regional studies.  The pre-Alpine basement units were former parts of peri-Gondwanan  margins and terranes, of Pangea and its later breakup into microplates. Therefore, our appeal also concerns studies which  emphasize the important role of pre-Alpine basement in a larger  pre-Mesozoic geodynamic framework.

Ophiolites, or – in a broader sense – units that originate from oceanic lithosphere, form a substantial portion of orogens worldwide. These units occur in very different tectonic positions within an orogen, e.g. within internal parts forming a suture that might also be affected by high-pressure metamorphism, or at uppermost positions within the tectonostratigraphy, including within an external  position within an orogen. Additionally, these units may show a very contrasting geochemical evolution: many ophiolite nappes within the Alpine system show MORB signatures, many others within the Dinarides and Hellenides for example, are characterized by backarc or forearc properties. Accordingly, the mechanisms of emplacement of these units are very different, and can be either related to subduction and subsequent continent-continent collision or to obduction, and consequently, it is of great importance to discriminate subduction-related ophiolites from supra-subduction zone ophiolites. Units derived from oceanic lithosphere, as described above, have a fundamental role for evolution of orogens in terms of the reconstruction of the plate tectonic site and palaeogeography of ancient oceans. This session therefore intends to discuss the mechanims of ophiolite emplacement within different tectonic settings, particularly within the Tethys realm, and to discuss actual present settings that might be the birthplace of subduction zone and supra-subduction zone ophiolite units.

Mineral deposits are the backbone of our society. Both fundamental and applied research help to secure the supply of raw materials for future generations. We invite contributions that cover the wide field of raw materials and ore deposits including metal ores, industrial minerals and gemstones. A special focus will be put on exploration of critical raw materials as defined by the European Commission, and on raw materials from domestic sources. Papers covering the spectrum from exploration, characterization and genetic aspects, to mineral processing and process mineralogy are welcome. We also invite contributions focussing on prehistoric mining and metallurgical techniques.

Contributions are invited to various fields of mineralogy including modern analytical in-situ techniques of mineral analysis under various conditions, new minerals and their classification, crystal chemistry and crystal structure solution of minerals, their synthetic analogues, and mineral phases relevant to technology. Other topic may include health and environment, modelling and simulation or application of the fundamentals and methods of mineralogy exploration, mining, beneficiation and metallurgy, cement, ceramics and refractory materials, material sciences, waste and secondary raw materials, biomineralogy etc.

Continental rifting and passive margin formation are important geodynamic processes, and rapid progress in knowledge of rift processes in both recent settings and preserved in mountain belts has been during the last decade. This session aims to discuss all aspects of rift processes in both magma-rich and magma-poor passive margins, and of their analogues preserved in mountain belts. Particular attention is paid to the spatial and temporal development of rifts, the rift-to-drift transition, and the formation of oceanic crust from various perspectives including geophysics, structural geology, sedimentology  and petrology.

Based on their geodynamic settings, mountain belts have a high diversity of architectural types, with continent-continent collisional orogens and accretionary orogens representing endmembers. This session welcomes contributions from different disciplines including geophysics, structural geology, geochronology, magmatic and metamorphic petrology, and sedimentology with the main aim of revealing the large-scale structure and the geodynamic processes behind of all sorts of mountain belts, from Precambrian to young Alpine-type orogens. Further attention is paid to rates of tectonic processes and the linkage between intra-lithospheric processes and sedimentary basin evolution at the surface.

Squeezed between two converging large plates, the Alpine-Mediterranean mobile belt presents intriguing tectonic features that have been the focus of decades of geological studies. Over the years, the Alpine-Mediterranean has provided a unique and manifold geological instance to test, improve, and even challenge the foundations of plate tectonic theory representing a foremost region to investigate the connection between deep mantle and surface processes such as collision, back arc extension, delamination, subduction rollback and slab break-off.
The last years have seen the appearance of new data and techniques, and the establishment of large collaborative research projects in Earth Sciences. This session tries to bring together the expertise from the different disciplines to the study of the Alpine-Mediterranean, ranging from field studies to remote sensing disciplines such as geophysics, geodesy and to modelling. We invite contributions that provide new results on all scales of regional research in the Alps, and more in general, in the Mediterranean. Presentations can range from syntheses to detailed field studies, including tectonics, structural geology, petrology, geochronology, seismotectonics, gravimetry, geophysical imaging, geodesy and geodynamics modelling.
We are particularly interested in new constraints on larger-scale structure, e.g. from geophysics and geodynamic modelling, and from recent and current initiatives for collaborative research, hoping to stimulate discussion between geologists, geophysicists and geodynamists.

The coupling between tectonics, climate and surface processes fundamentally controls the dynamics of mountain belts and associated basins. Understanding how tectonics and climate affect topography involves the interactions and feedbacks among them, especially the various processes that may affect erosion rates. The session aims to present studies on all aspects of topography formation and erosion over different temporal and spatial scales.  Contributions for this session should focus on studies quantifying timing, rates and volumes of these earth surface processes and/or numerical models describing these processes over time.

Active Mountain belts have widely differing morphologies that are subject to dynamic changes related to orogenic processes. Foreland and intra-orogenic basins are affected by these processes directly and indirectly as rocks are eroded, and the material transported and stored in basins. We invite contributions on all aspects of the mountain belt to sedimentary basin system, from the large, orogen scale, to the small scale. We especially encourage field-based studies.

The fabric of geological bodies reflects the tectonometamorphic conditions under which they have been formed. Quantification of the orientation and shape of particles, grain size and size distribution as well as patterns of crystallographic orientations can help to derive kinematics and physical parameters of frictional and viscous rock deformation.
Since the seminal work of Bruno Sander about petrofabrics and orogenesis the methods for studying fabrics of geological bodies have been greatly developed over the last decades ranging from field-related strain and fabric measurements to high-resolution analytical techniques revealing important parameters for quantifying the kinematic and mechanic evolution of deformed rocks including feedback processes with chemical reactions. The recent advances in image acquisition and texture analysis enhanced by digital image processing significantly improved the processing and interpretation of large data sets.
Following the legacy of Bruno Sander we would like to invite in this session contributions that investigate all aspect of the formation of fabrics in geological bodies comprising field based studies, laboratory experiments, computational models and analytical methods.

The session is devoted to the interaction between tectonics and sedimentation at different scales ranging from the record of local tectonic events in e.g. alluvial fans, to the dynamics of entire mountain ranges as recorded in e.g. foreland basins. Sedimentary facies along with the full range of physical properties of clastic sediments faithfully reflect depositional setting and processes. Sediment composition and the chemical and isotopic properties of single sand grains record diverse characteristics of the source area and the sediment routing system, and their variations in space and time. The rates of sedimentation and erosion are intimately linked to the causes and mechanisms of sediment transfer from source to sink. Deciphering these processes at geologic time scales is often limited for reasons such as insufficient resolution in chronostratigraphy and unknown proportions of temporary sediment storage or recycling. We invite both conceptual studies of source to sink relations and case studies covering different scales of observation and various tectonic and climatic settings. Quantitative approaches to distinguish climatic from tectonic controls, techniques to estimate the degree of sediment recycling, or methodological developments in sedimentary provenance analysis are especially suited to contribute to the session.

Session language: English

The aim of this session is to bring together sedimentologists, geologists, (micro-)palaeontologists, stratigraphers, (bio-) geochemists, and palaeoceanographers, to better understand the evolution and linkages of the geosphere and biosphere systems, in particular to unravel major shifts and perturbations in the marine and terrestrial records of the Earth System, including oceanic anoxic events, extinction events, and climate change of Phanerozoic times. Using sedimentary records as archives of events and environments, we encourage contributions from an array of subdisciplines that aim to better understand how orogenesis, erosional history and climate are linked, and how opening and closing of oceanic gateways affect climate. Moreover, contributions on the geological consequences of biological evolution, and feedbacks of biomineralization and productivity in biogeochemical cycles are solicited.
We are looking forward to welcome your contributions to this session and especially encourage students and young scientists, who will as far as possible have the occasion to present new results orally.

Biological activity produces a broad variety of sediments, from microbialites to reefal limestones, from the terrestrial to the marine realm. In turn, theses sediments form valuable archives of biotic evolution and palaeoenvironmental changes. We invite contributions providing new insights into the interactions between organisms and sediments in present-day and fossil settings.

The organisers encourage submission of abstracts in all fields of sedimentology and sedimentary geology. The session aims at bringing together young researchers from various disciplines of sedimentary research in order to stimulate and promote discussion and exchange among the next generation of sedimentologists. The “Young Sedimentologists” session invites young scientists to present their completed or ongoing research work, i.e. results of their M.Sc. or PhD thesis. The session is sponsored by the SEPM-Central European Section and continues the tradition of the SEDIMENT meetings. Both poster presentations and oral talks are welcome. Oral presentations can be held either in German or in English. The most innovative and inspiring oral contribution will be awarded with the “Young Sedimentologists” presentation award in form of a book prize sponsored by Springer.

Civil engineering projects (e.g. infrastructure, dams, tunnels, natural hazard mitigation projects) require design principles like geometrical, mechanical and hydrogeological parameters. In order to obtain and estimate these parameters field investigations, laboratory and in-situ tests as well as back-calculations are performed and analysed. Combining results of these investigations and hereby putting numbers to geology is a challenging task often provided by the engineering geologist. Case studies showing practical applications and comprehensive methods focussing on the determination of relevant parameters are presented in this session.

Session language: German

High-speed railway lines and highways in rugged terrain require tunnel solutions. At the moment several such projects are planned or under construction in Central Europe. High overburden, extreme stress conditions, difficult groundwater situations or variable soil and rock conditions are great challenges for tunnel construction. New and interesting results focussing on shallow or deep tunnelling projects in soil or rock are presented in this session.

Session language: German

Data from field surveys, innovative monitoring methods, and analytical as well as numerical calculation procedures are presented in order to determine the stability of natural and artificial slopes. Furthermore, case studies focussing on extensively investigated and monitored slopes in soil and fractured rock masses complete this session.

Session language: German

This session act as a pool for themes related to the wide field of engineering geology not covered by the other session topics.

Session language: German

An open session which invites presentations on all aspect of geophysics.

This session provides presentations discussing recent developments and the state-of-the-art in understanding, measuring and monitoring, as well as modeling hydrogeological and environmental geological processes. The contributions may range from fundamental theoretical research to applied case studies, and they should cover qualitative and quantitative aspects of the natural hydrological cycle, the atmosphere and soil as well as interaction with anthropogenic influences. This includes topics such as groundwater in the hydrological cycle, consequences of mine exploration, soil contamination, exploration methods (e.g. hydrogeophysics, isotope methods, hydrogeochemistry, modeling approaches) or quantitative and qualitative evaluation and presentation of natural resources.

Remote sensing and close range sensing techniques are methods of measuring and mapping objects without making direct contact. Measurements are taken either by active sensors (e.g. topographic LiDAR and RADAR systems) or passive sensors (making use of e.g. sunlight and thermal radiation). Data can be collected from terrestrial, mobile, airborne and satellite-based platforms. Environmental phenomena such as geological and geomorphological processes, vegetational development, etc. occur in different spatial and temporal scales. Changes can be measured in frequencies of minutes up to years and decades. Depending on the surface and landscape, object type specific platforms and sensors are suitable for different monitoring tasks. Specific combinations of platforms and sensors might give new insights in natural process analysis, event trigger identification, and information extraction for geo-environmental monitoring.

Contributions to this sessions are welcome with a thematic focus on environmental geology, geological and geomorphological mapping, detection and mapping of mass movements, trigger identification, monitoring of erosion, shallow and deep-seated landslides. From a remote- and close-range-sensing perspective, contributions might cover topics such as automated information extraction, time series analysis, error assessment and quality studies, multispectral sensing, topographic LiDAR, RADAR and InSAR, thermography, unmanned aerial vehicles, photogrammetry, geosensor networks, data integration and data fusion techniques.

Session language: English

The focus of the GeoEnergy session is set to new geotechnical developments for sustainable use of subsurface energy and its storage. This includes geothermal energy for electricity and heating as well as safe subsurface oil, gas and heat storage for energy supply. Renewable energy supply from solar and wind energy plants, and waste heat recovery require diurnal and seasonal storage capabilities because of their irregular output due to e.g. weather conditions, economics. Subsurface energy production, as well as subsurface storage required profound knowledge of structural, reservoir and sealing properties, and mineral interactions.
We encourage researchers to submit abstracts on geothermal energy production and on underground storage of gas or heat, the relevant boundary conditions and processes.  Conceptual studies and case studies, including those on economic feasibility, are welcome.

Scientific drilling is the basis for cutting-edge research in earth sciences, most prominently represented by the IODP and ICDP programs. This session calls for contributions on drill-based research to strengthen scientific exchange and foster new collaborations between research groups in Germany, Austria and beyond. Contributions from all fields of earth sciences and all drilling programs are welcome.

Es gibt wohl kaum einen Bereich in der Geologie, der von LandesgeologInnen nicht abzudecken ist. Dies reicht von der wissenschaftlichen Grundlagenforschung, die die Basis für die Entscheidungen der LandesgeologInnen darstellt, bis hin zu allen angewandten Bereichen der Geologie, Hydrogeologie, Ingenieurgeologie, Rohstoffgeologie und den Naturgefahren und Naturkatastrophen. Von den Problemen durch den Klimawandel über den Schutz der Menschen und Infrastrukturen, sowie dem Schutz der Umwelt und unserer Rohstoffe einschließlich der Grundwässer sind die LandesgeologInnen maßgeblich für die positive Entwicklung unseres Lebensraumes tätig. Damit reicht diese Tätigkeit sozusagen von der Katastrophe bis zum Friedhof.

In this session we solicit contributions that are of general interest to the Earth Science community. The range is entirely open and topics could be thought to bridge disciplines or emphasize a specialist field. We will define sub-themes on the basis of abstracts that come in or assign contributions to other sessions. This is the session to place your unusual, interesting, not-in-the-box research!