With the aim of investigating volcanic and hydrogeological structures near the surface, a trip was made to the Vulkaneifel Geopark (https://www.geopark-vulkaneifel.de/, Rhineland-Palatinate) in early June 2026. The investigation focused on underground lava flows and the overlying sedimentary layers. The latter play a key role in the local drinking water supply for the villages of Gillenfeld and Strohn, as well as neighbouring communities. The field trip was led by Sabine Kummer, a member of staff at the Vulkaneifel Geopark and a former student at the University of Bonn. At various geological outcrops, she explained to the students the region’s geological and explosive history.
Using various geophysical methods, two sites in the vicinity of Gillenfeld and Strohn were investigated. Imaging geoelectric measurements using induced polarisation enable a hydrogeophysical characterisation of the deposited sedimentary layers. Interfaces between geological units can be investigated using seismic measurements. In this process, the students use a hammer to generate seismic waves in the subsurface, which propagate and are recorded by geophones some distance away. The recorded signals contain information about the various layers in the subsurface, thereby enabling conclusions to be drawn about their structure and properties.
After four informative days in the field, we returned to the dry offices at the University of Bonn, where the data collected is now being processed, analysed and interpreted.
We in the Geophysics Research Group are already looking forward to next year’s field trip – perhaps you’ll be joining us then?