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A Scientific Stroll Across the Telegrafenberg Potsdam A Scientific Stroll across the Telegrafenberg Potsdam Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz-Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), Potsdam Research Unit Helmholtz Centre Potsdam GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) Germany´s National Meteorological Service Potsdam (DWD) Photo: L. Hannemann A warm Welcome to the “Albert Einstein Science Park” on the Te- Research (AWI) investigates the physical and legrafenberg in Potsdam, one of the most his- chemical processes of the polar atmosphere toric scientific sites in Germany! For 140 years together with the climate history and current this site has been home to research institutions environmental changes in permafrost areas in whose work has a worldwide impact. It was Siberia, North America and the Antarctic. The here that the world’s first Astrophysical Ob- Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research servatory was built and that the scientific field (PIK) investigates the ecological, economic and of geodesy and the systematic measurement societal impacts of global climate change and of the Earth’s magnetic field were established. its risks and opportunities in order to provide Moreover, it is also one of the birthplaces of society, politicians and economists with sound German meteorology. Up to 1990 the Telegra- information for decision making for sustainable fenberg was also the site of the Central Institute development. of Physics of the Earth, which was founded in These three research institutions form the 1969, and today over 1 400 people are emplo- “Albert Einstein Science Park”. The Leibniz In- yed here in research institutions with a global stitute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) is based standing. As the national research centre for in Babelsberg and its key areas of research geosciences and a member of the Helmholtz are cosmic magnetic fields and extragalactic Association, the GFZ German Research Cen- astrophysics. It also develops and builds astro- tre for Geosciences combines all disciplines of nomical instruments and partners international Earth sciences including geodesy and geoengi- astrophysical observatories and satellite pro- neering under one roof. The focus of research jects. The AIP is responsible for the historically at the GFZ is “System Earth”, i.e. the overall significant Great Refractor telescope and the understanding of our planet with its interac- Einstein Tower solar observatory on the Tele- ting component parts as well as the physical, grafenberg. Finally Germany’s National Meteo- chemical and dynamic processes taking place rological Service (DWD) also has a radioactivity both within its interior and on its surface. The measurement station located here. Potsdam Research Unit of the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine 3 The Telegrafenberg (“Telegraph Hill”) recei- the Vistula Ice Age (115 000 – 11 700 years ved its name in 1832, when the fourth of ago). At that time Scandinavia, the Baltic a total of 62 stations that comprised the Sea, parts of northern Germany and the Prussian Semaphore telegraphic commu- Alps and their northern foothills were co- nications system between Berlin and Ko- vered by glacier masses. A glacier tongue blenz was erected here. However, this sys- advanced across Potsdam through the tem was rendered obsolete in 1849 by the Havel alluvial plain to the level of where the introduction of electric telegraphy. village of Ferch stands today. A much wider The historic buildings on the Telegrafen- glacier also lay east of the Brauhausberg berg were built from 1874 as scientific buil- and the Telegrafenberg, which piled up dings based on designs by the architect stony sand as it advanced to form what Paul Emanuel Spieker. Spieker provided is today the Saarmund push moraine with the historic functional buildings with many the Telegrafenberg and the Brauhausberg. distinctive architectural features including The ice on both sides of this end moraine two-tone facade walls, star friezes created was several hundred metres thick. It did from glazed tiles and pillars with Corinthian not stand still but advanced and retrea- sandstone capitals. The multicolour faca- ted, pushing up the deposited sand du- des and their strong structure bear witness ring advances. Today the Telegrafenberg to the influence of Karl Friedrich Schinkel is 94 metres high and the entrance to the and elements of traditional gothic architec- Science Park stands 72 metres above ture built in bricks. sea level. In the 1990s buildings were erected on the We invite you to take a scientific stroll Telegrafenberg that both satisfy the requi- through the “Albert Einstein Science Park” rements of modern scientific constructions during which we will inform you about the whilst at the same time blend with the continuation of the scientific tradition in historic architecture and the surrounding state-of-the-art research facilities. landscape. Likewise the historic scientific You will find a map in the centre of this buildings were completely renovated and brochure. now house contemporary research infra- structure. The Telegrafenberg evolved into its current form around 20 000 years before present during the Brandenburg stage of 4 Historic map of the Telegrafenberg around 1890 around Historic map of the Telegrafenberg 5 Station 1 The “Albert Einstein Science Park” Immediately after the decision of 1874 to station and gas supply followed, which al- establish scientific observatories on the Te- lowed for a self-sufficient operation of the legrafenberg construction work got under- campus. The park grounds, in an English way. One of the first buildings erected was landscape garden style, also had vegetable the pump room, located to the left of the garden areas. These were particularly im- main path on the site of the former service portant for supplying food after the Second yard. This well supplied the science park World War, and remained in existence until with drinking water. Later a separate power the 1980s. Historic entrance to the Science Park, 6 photo: GFZ The pillar forum in front of the main entrance of the GFZ German Research Center for Geosciences, designed and created by the Kubach- Wilmsen team, photo: GFZ Station 2 Pillar Forum, Helmholtz Centre Potsdam GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences The pillar forum is located between the main The pillars themselves are made of different building of the GFZ German Research Centre types of rock from five continents. They sym- for Geosciences and the lecture hall (House bolise the cores drilled from the underground. H). It was designed in 1998 by artists from These cores are indispensable for geoscientific the Kubach-Wilmsen team from Bad Münster. investigations and also offer an insight into the This work of art incorporates different types of deep layers of the Earth. rock from five continents, and represents the The tree, a robinia, symbolises living nature. It center’s worldwide activities. stands as a witness to past eras, unveiling e.g. The floor comprises blackened dolerite slabs. processes of climate development. The square These symbolise the Earth’s crust: scientists is an artistic representation of a structured at the GFZ study the movement of the Earth’s rock. The rock configuration provides informa- crust within the research topic “plate tectonics”. tion about the early magnetic field of the Earth The joinings between the slabs indicate measu- – a focus of palaeomagnetism research at the rement lines. At the GFZ the research field “ge- GFZ. The corner which stands separately sym- odesy” deals with measuring the planet Earth. bolises a recovered soil sample. 7 Aerial photograph of the GFZ buildings B-G, photo: JokeAir Station 3 GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences As the largest non-university research instituti- interactive touchable screen that allows planet on in Brandenburg, the GFZ currently employs Earth to appear in a new light through a modern more than 1200 people. Some 500 employees visualization of Earthquake data. work in the main building complex while other The buildings were designed by the “Architek- GFZ scientists are based in other buildings on tenpartner Frankfurt”. Construction work was the Telegrafenberg. A wide range of experimental completed and the buildings occupied in 1998. research is conducted across 5000 square met- The characteristic style elements (yellow clinker, res of state-of-the-art laboratory space. In addi- red decorative strips, grey roofs) are inspired tion, the GFZ avails of over 4500 square metres by construction features of the historic institute of office space.The entire complex comprises of buildings. At the same time, the building com- six buildings linked with a glass bridge structure. plex blends into the natural environment: at no At the western end a laser satellite observation point do the eaves rise above the treetops. Just station measures satellites’ orbits. In the foyer of opposite the main entrance is the lecture hall the eastern building (House G) a small exhibition complex, comprised of conference rooms, a of historic instruments is located along with an canteen and a 300-seat lecture hall. 8 Station 4 Süring House, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and National Meteorological Service (DWD) The Royal Meteorological Observatory, as it was Süring. Together with his colleague Arthur Ber- then known, was built between 1890 and 1893. son, the cloud and radiation researcher achie- Since 2007 Süring House has been used by the ved a record balloon ascent of 10 800 metres Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in 1901. However, it was only possible to prove (PIK) and Germany´s National Meteorological an ascent of 10 500 metres because their re- Service (DWD), which continues to carry out cording ink froze so the barograph record was meteorological measurements. In addition to the considered unreliable. At 8000 metres, however, long-term measurement site (station 5), the em- the men made a key discovery for research: that ployees here also use a measurement platform from around 8000 metres the air temperature on the 32-metre-high tower in the north-west rises again and the atmosphere is divided.
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