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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, Potsdam Research Unit (AWI) 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) A warm Welcome to the „Albert Einstein Science Park” on the Te- ne Research (AWI), also a member of the Helm- legrafenberg in Potsdam, one of the most his- holtz Association, investigates the physical and toric scientific sites in Germany! chemical processes of the polar atmosphere For almost 140 years this site has been home together with the climate history and current to research institutions whose work has a environmental changes in permafrost areas in worldwide impact. It was here that the world‘s Siberia, North America and the Antarctic. first Astrophysical Observatory was built and The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Re- that the scientific field of geodesy and the sys- search (PIK) investigates the ecological, eco- tematic measurement of the Earth‘s magnetic nomic and societal impacts of global climate field were established. Moreover, it is also one change and its risks and opportunities in order of the birthplaces of German meteorology. to provide society, politicians and economists Up to 1990 the Telegrafenberg was also the site with sound information for decision making for of the Central Institute of Physics of the Earth, sustainable development. which was founded in 1969, and today over These three research institutions form the 1 400 people are employed here in research in- „Albert Einstein Science Park“. stitutions with a global standing. The Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam As the national research centre for geosciences (AIP) is based in Babelsberg and its key areas and a member of the Helmholtz Association, the of research are cosmic magnetic fields and ex- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences tragalactic astrophysics. It also develops and combines all disciplines of Earth sciences inclu- builds astronomical instruments and partners ding geodesy and geoengineering under one international astrophysical observatories and roof. The focus of research at the GFZ is “Sys- satellites projects. tem Earth”, i.e. the overall understanding of our The AIP is responsible for the historically signifi- planet with its interacting component parts as cant Great Refractor telescope and the Einstein well as the physical, chemical and dynamic pro- Tower solar observatory on the Telegrafenberg, cesses taking place both within its interior and Finally Germany‘s National Meteorological Ser- on its surface. The Potsdam Research Unit of vice (DWD) also has a radioactivity measure- the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Mari- ment station located here. 3 The Telegrafenberg („Telegraph Hill“) recei- The Telegrafenberg evolved into its current ved its name in 1832, when the fourth of form around 20 000 years before present a total of 62 stations that comprised the during the Brandenburg stage of the Vis- Prussian Semaphore telegraphic commu- tula Ice Age (115 000 – 11 700 years ago). nications system between Berlin and Ko- At that time Scandinavia, the Baltic Sea, blenz was erected here. However, this sys- parts of northern Germany and the Alps tem was rendered obsolete in 1849 by the and their northern foothills were covered by introduction of electric telegraphy. glacier masses. A glacier tongue advanced The historic buildings on the Telegrafen- across Potsdam through the Havel alluvi- berg were built from 1874 as scientific buil- al plain to the level of where the village of dings based on designs by the architect Ferch stands today. A much wider glacier Paul Emanuel Spieker. Spieker provided also lay east of the Brauhausberg and the the historic functional buildings with many Telegrafenberg, which piled up stony sand distinctive architectural features including as it advanced to form what is today the two-tone facade walls, star friezes created Saarmund push moraine with the Telegra- from glazed tiles and pillars with Corinthian fenberg and the Brauhausberg. The ice on sandstone capitals. The multicolour faca- both sides of this end moraine was several des and their strong structure bear witness hundred metres thick. It did not stand still to the influence of Karl Friedrich Schinkel but advanced and retreated, pushing up and elements of traditional gothic architec- the deposited sand during advances. To- ture built in bricks. day the Telegrafenberg is 94 metres high In the 1990s buildings were erected on and the entrance to the Science Park the Telegrafenberg that both satisfy the stands 72 metres above sea level. requirements of modern scientific con- We invite you to take a scientific stroll structions whilst at the same time blend through the „Albert Einstein Science Park“ with the historic architecture and the sur- during which we will inform you about the rounding landscape. Likewise the historic continuation of the scientific tradition in scientific buildings were completely reno- state-of-the-art research facilities. vated and now house contemporary re- You will find a map on the back of this search infrastructure. brochure. 4 Historic map of the Telegrafenberg around 1890 around Historic map of the Telegrafenberg 5 Station 1 Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz- Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Potsdam Research Unit (AWI) Building A43 was inaugurated in 1964 to the 1980s it served as the headquarters of mark the 75th anniversary of the Potsdam the management of the Earth and Cosmic Geomagnetic Institute and was mainly Sciences research area of the Academy of used by the administration and theoretical Sciences of the GDR. scientists. In 1992 the Potsdam Research Unit of the From 1969 the building was used by the Alfred Wegener Institute moved into the Central Institute of Physics of the Earth. In building. Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, 65 Potsdam Research Unit, A43, photo: AWI The pillar forum in front of the main entrance of the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam, designed and created by the Kubach-Wilmsen team, House G-B, photo: GFZ Station 2 GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences As the largest non-university research instituti- The pillar forum outside the main entrance, on in Brandenburg, the GFZ currently employs designed by the „Architektenpartner Frank- around 1 180 people. Some 500 employees furt“ features diff erent types of rock found in work in the main building complex while other the Earth‘s continental crust and symbolises GFZ scientists are based in other buildings on the worldwide activities of the GFZ German the Telegrafenberg. Research Centre for Geosciences. The cha- A wide range of experimental research is con- racteristic style elements (yellow clinker, red ducted across 5 000 square metres of state- decorative strips, grey roofs) are inspired by of-the-art laboratory space. In addition, is the construction features of the historic institute GFZ avails of over 4 500 square metres of of- buildings. At the same time, the building com- fi ce space. plex blends into the natural environment: at no The entire complex comprises of six buildings point do the eaves rise above the treetops. Just linked with a glass bridge structure. At the wes- opposite the main entrance is the lecture hall tern end a laser satellite observation station mea- complex, comprised of conference rooms, a sures satellites‘ orbits. Construction work was canteen and a 300-seat lecture hall. completed and the buildings occupied in 1998. 76 Station The historic 3 Meteorological Observatory, A62, Süring House, PIK and Climatological- photo: PIK Meteorological Measurement site, DWD The Royal Meteorological Observatory, as it lity and radiation are measured here. However, was then known, was built between 1890 and environmental scientists from the PIK, in par- 1893. Since 1893 meteorological measure- ticular from the „Earth System Analysis“ and ments have been continuously performed on „Climate Impacts & Vulnerabilities“ research an hourly basis here at this site (station 3a, also fi elds, work in most of the rooms in this house. called the long-term meteorological station). Süring House is named after the former Direc- This measurement series is one of the longest tor of the Meteorological Observatory, Reinhard in the world taking measurements at such short Süring. Together with his colleague Arthur Ber- intervals, some still observed by the eye. The son, the cloud and radiation researcher achie- practice of taking measurements of ground ved a record balloon ascent of 10 800 metres temperature at ten diff erent depths between 2 in 1901. However, it was only possible to prove centimetres and 12 metres is unique. In addi- an ascent of 10 500 metres because their re- tion to conventional methods, measurements cording ink froze so the barograph record was are also taken using an automatic weather sta- considered unreliable. At 8 000 metres, howe- tion. The Potsdam weather station is one of 12 ver, the men made a key discovery for research: reference stations operated by the Germany’s that from around 8 000 metres the air tempera- National Meteorological Service (DWD). ture rises again and the atmosphere is divided: Süring House has been used since 2007 by the The transition between the troposphere and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research stratosphere had been discovered. (PIK) and the DWD, which continues to carry In a neighbouring building (the former laundry) is out the meteorological measurements. In ad- a small museum of the history of the Telegrafen- dition to the measurement site, the employees berg, Süring House and meteorology in general. here also use a measurement platform on the Visits to the museum, which evolved from a PIK 32-metre-high tower in the north-west corner school project, can be booked in advance by of the building. Wind, sunshine duration, visibi- groups and, in particular, by school classes.
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