Institute profile of Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland The Geological survey of Denmark and Greenland is a scientific research institute under the Danish Ministry of Environment and Energy. GEUS was created in 1995 by the amalgamation of the Geological Survey of Denmark (established 1888) and the Geological Survey of Greenland (established 1946). The Survey’s primary function is to provide the essential geological service for the utilisation and protection of Denmark’s, Greenland’s and Faeroe Island’s natural resources. This involves on and offshore mapping, data collection and basic research, in addition to providing impartial advice and presenting geological results to both the general public and the scientific community. Within the environmental sphere, the Survey has both a research and advisory role with respect to environmental protection, water supply, exploitation of raw materials and nature conservation. Similarly, the Survey assists the Ministry in its administration of the utilisation of deposits in the subsurface, including the supervision of exploration for and exploitation of oil, natural gas, geothermal energy, etc. In addition, the Survey undertakes numerous contract assignments for private firms. Groundwater, Surface waters, environment and climate variation Advisory services concerning water supplies and the environment have been provided to both public and private organisations in Denmark for more than 100 years. Although concern for the environment has only come to the fore in the last 40 years. The systematic studies carried out by the Survey over its more than 100 years history have provided the insight and vast store of data that are necessary to meet present-day demands for advice concerning the environmental impact of industrial, constructional and agricultural activities, and prevention of pollution. Mineral resources, construction materials, civil engineering projects In the last three decades the need for raw materials in the construction and building industries in Denmark has increased enormously with the expansion of the motorway network and the initiation of several major bridge and barrier projects. Thus increasing demands have been made on the Survey to locate sand and gravel deposits, both onshore and offshore. The applications of clay in industry are becoming increasingly diversified, stimulating a need for sophisticated research in clay deposits and clay mineralogy, fields in which the Survey is experienced and fully equipped. With its experience and laboratory facilities in the field of raw materials and construction, the Survey can provide services in the following: Geological mapping, including mapping of surficial deposits. Geochemical mapping; regional geochemical surveys. Airborne geophysical mapping; regional geophysical surveys. Marine geology; high-resolution studies of the sea bed and shallow seismic surveys. Geotechnical geology. The excavation of resources such as sand, gravel and clay, and the undertaking of large construction projects involving both surface and underground (tunnel) activities can give rise to environmental problems. The Survey plays an active role in investigating the environmental consequences of such activities and in advising on preventative or remedial action, including landscape restoration. Data Banks The National Centres for data on groundwater and drinking water and for subsurface data are located at the Survey. Groundwater data include data from wells and test pumping. Subsurface data comprise extensive deep and shallow seismic data, data from hydrocarbon exploration wells, deep stratigraphic wells, rawmaterial exploration short cores and some environmental monitoring samples. Deep cores, cuttings, petrophysical logs, and chemical data on rock samples, fluids and gasses are all stored in the Subsurface Data Archive. Sediment and chemical data from rawmaterial cores and environmental monitoring samples are for a large part still not stored in the Subsurface Data Archive but exists in other formats. GEUS Website: http://www.geus.dk