The sediment cores were obtained using a specialized drilling rig from Mainz University, while a second team managed the packaging of the extracted sediment cores (Photo: D. Dallaserra, NIhK).

Joining Forces: University of Mainz and NIhK conduct a joint coring campaign

In mid-March, researchers and students from the University of Mainz, working group Geomorphology, travelled north to work together with the NIhK to recover sediment cores near Neuharlingersiel. The colleagues Antonia Reiß and Dr Timo Willershäuser from Mainz were on a field course with students, who had the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in conducting geological coring. Dr Ines Bruns also introduced the students to the geology of the Lower Saxony coast and the project CoastAdapt. The fact that the cores directly contributed to this NIhK-project - and thus to ongoing research - was, of course, a great motivation. 

Two sediment cores were successfully recovered, aiming to capture the complete sedimentary sequence of the coastal Holocene. This includes a peat horizon containing storm surge deposits, the so-called “klapklei”. These deposits are going to be dated in order to investigate the impact of storm surges on the landscape prior to dyke construction.

 

Students at work at the drill rig (Photo: I. Bruns, NIhK).
The sediments from the first metres were described directly on site. The drilling was then repeated twice, this time with core recovery in liners. (Photo: I. Bruns, NIhK)