IHME1500 - International Hydrogeological Map of Europe 1:1,500,000
Country / Region: Europe and parts of the Near East
Begin of project: January 1, 1960
End of project: December 31, 2012
Status of project: November 30, 2011
Special map mosaic of the IHME1500 sheets
Source: BGR, EGS, UNESCO
The International Hydrogeological Map of Europe, scale 1:1,500,000 is a series of general hydrogeological maps comprising 25 map sheets with explanatory notes, covering the whole European continent and parts of the Near East. The national contributions to this map series were compiled by hydrogeologists and experts in related sciences of the countries concerned under the auspices of the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH), Commission on Hydrogeological Maps (COHYM). The project is supported by the Commission for the Geological Map of the World (CGMW).
The scientific editorial work is supported financially by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany through the Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (BGR) and by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). These organizations are responsible for the cartography, printing and publication of the map sheets and explanatory notes.
The series of hydrogeological maps seeks to represent the hydrogeological setting of Europe as a whole without regard to political boundaries. Together with the information presented in the accompanying explanatory notes, the map can be used for scientific purposes, for large-scale regional planning and as a basis for detailed hydrogeological mapping.
The preparatory phase of this project began in 1960 during the XXI International Geological Congress in Copenhagen, when the IAH Commission on Hydrogeological Maps was appointed to prepare a small-scale European Hydrogeological Map project. This map series was intented to serve as a model for small scale hydrogeological maps in other parts of the world.
It was evident that first, a legend had to be developed by experts from different countries with the support of various organizations and institutions. The hydrogeological situation in all parts of Europe and its map representation was to be considered. An International Legend for Hydrogeological Maps was prepared and printed with the assistance of UNESCO (black & white preprint 1962, coloured print 1970). This was the basis for the General Legend for the International Hydrogeological Map of Europe (1974) and the preparation of the first sheet C5 Bern (printed in 1970). The aim of this General Legend was to ensure general conformity of representation throughout the work on the map.
The relatively small scale (1:1,500,000) made it possible to cover the whole European continent and parts of the Near East using 30 map sheets. lt was recognized that only by using this scale could the mapping work be achieved in reasonable time and at reasonable expense. Indeed, the necessary cooperation of 40 geological services and institutions could be foreseen for a period of only about 15-20 years. Moreover, the existence of a modern geological map for most of Europe and the Mediterranean region, scale 1:1,500,000, was a very useful basic document for the hydrogeological mapping work.
During the compilation of the first sheets, attempts were made to represent quantitative data an the map, e.g. specific capacity, well yield, transmissivity and groundwater recharge. However, this proved impracticable, since the knowledge of the hydrogeological parameters differed greatly from one area to another or from one country to another. This was recognized to be incompatible with the desire for general uniformity representation an all sheets. Therefore, more descriptive definitions have been used to classify and represent the hydrogeological data. These turned out to be very suitable and useful for the map series.
State of preparation of IHME1500
Source: BGR
The small scale of the map allows the representation of only a limited amount of hydrogeological information. Therefore, the sheets are accompanied by explanatory notes which contain additional information, e.g. on climate, chemical composition of groundwater and any geological features of significance to groundwater flow. Additional drawings, sections and photos are supplied, too. A map sheet and the corresponding explanatory notes are, thus, considered as one unit.
Of the 25 sheets of the International Hydrogeological Map of Europe, 23 have been published.
Printed map sheets and explanatory notes can be purchased from:
Download:
The scanned and georeferenced map sheets of the IHME1500 can be downloaded.
The map sheets of the International Hydrogeological Map of Europe can be visualized via a web map application and a web map service:
Literature:
- ANONYMOUS (1970): International Legend for Hydrogeological Maps. – UNESCO/IAHS/IAH/Institute of Geological Sciences, 101 pp., London.
- ANONYMOUS (1977): Hydrological Maps. A Contribution to the International Hydrological Decade. – Studies and Reports in Hydrology, 20:204 pp., UNESCO /WMO, Lausanne.
- ANONYMOUS (1983): International Legend for Hydrogeological Maps. – Revised edition ( UNESCO Technical Document, SC-84/WS/7, 51 pp., Paris).
- GILBRICH, W. H. (2000): International Hydrogeological Map of Europe. – Feature Article, Waterway No. 19, 11 pp., 1 fig. 1 tab.; Paris.
- GILBRICH, W. H., KRAMPE, K. & WINTER, P. (2001): Internationale Hydrogeologische Karte von Europa, 1:1.500.000. Bemerkungen zum Inhalt und Stand der Bearbeitung. – Hydrologie und Wasserbewirtschaftung 45, H. 3, S. 122 – 125, Koblenz.
- STRUCKMEIER, W. F. & MARGAT, J. (1995): Hydrogeological Maps - A Guide and a Standard Legend. – IAH Int. Contrib. to Hydrogeol. 17, Heise (Hannover).
Partner:
- UNESCO
- IAH-COHYM
- CGMW
- EuroGeoSurveys