03.092024
The International Geological Workshop SvalGeoBase II will be held on board the Maritime University research vessel Horyzont II from 3rd to 9th September. The event was organised by the Institute of Geophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences in cooperation with Uppsala University. It is coordinated by Krzysztof Michalski and Piotr Głowacki from IG PAS and Jarosław Majka from Uppsala University.
SvalGeoBase II aims to summarise actual state of understanding of tectono-thermal evolution of Svalbard and precisely construct the strategies of investigations for the nearest future. Additional priorities of the workshop are preparation of detailed plans regarding collected data repository and coordinated plans for future fieldwork to maximize scientific outcome of expeditions and reduce impacts on the fragile Arctic ecosystems.
Fig. 1. Route of the geological workshops SvalGeoBase II 2024.
The field-based workshop aboard research vessel Horyzont II will be divided into three distinct thematic packages:
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The jigsaw puzzle of tectono-thermal provinces of Svalbard – spatial relations, paleogeographic positions, geotectonic context.
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From magmatic processes to climate change.
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At the edge of the continental platform – geothermal potential of Svalbard.
Fig. 2. Ny Alesund. Geoffery Manby (Natural History Museum of London - Wielka Brytania), Pierpaolo Guarnieri (Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland) i Karsten Piepjohn (ex - Federal Institute.of Geosciences and Natural Resources - Republika Federalna Niemiec) discuss the geological structure of the Broggerhalvoya peninsula. Photo credits: Szczepan Bal.
SvalGeoBase II will constitute the multidisciplinary international platform for critical evaluation of actual geotectonic and paleogeographic models, discussion of the tectono-thermal evolution of Svalbard and establish the frame for the nearest future scientific collaboration – shared projects, field campaigns and publications.
Fig 3. Blomesletta. Workshop SvalGeoBase II 2024 participants. Below groups of participants, contact between Permian sedimentary rocks and magmatic intrusions representing the Great Magmatic Province of the High Arctic. Photo credits: Anna Sartell, Rafael Kenji Horota (drone footage provided courtesy of The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) - Svalbox and VrSvalbard projects)
The workshop is attended by invited experts, representatives of the leading institutions involved in recent geological investigations of Svalbard: The University Centre in Svalbard – UNIS (Norway), University of Oslo – UiO (Norway), Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences – IG PAS (Poland), Uppsala University – UU (Sweden), AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow – AGH (Poland), Natural History Museum of London – NHM (Great Britain), University of Warsaw – UW (Poland).
Fig. 4. Ekmanfiord. Anna Sartell i Rafael Kenji Horota (UNIS) while working on the digital terrain model. Photo credits: Krzysztof Michalski
We also host representatives of the following institutions on board: Ministry of Climate and Environment (Poland), Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland – GEUS (Denmark), Curtin University (Australia), Stockholm University – SU (Sweden), University of Gothenburg – GU (Sweden), Museum of Natural History (Sweden).
The scientists invited to take a part in the workshop represent a wide range of geosciences: largescale geotectonic reconstructions, palaeogeography, metamorphic petrology, mineralogy and mineral resources, structural geology, geochemistry, palaeomagnetism and digital geology.
We wish good luck in achieving the goals and keep our fingers crossed that the weather won't spoil your plans.
