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GTK Policy Brief: Locating Natural Resources Within the Earth Depends on Geophysics
The importance of geophysics is rapidly growing. Better images of deeper subsurface layers are needed to find critical raw materials, geothermal energy sources, and groundwater. Only geophysics can look into the Earth beyond the reach of our hands and eyes in a non-invasive manner. Finland must have strong geophysical research and modern geophysical datasets.
Strategic investment in geophysics for societal benefit
With continuously improving geophysical technology, more accurate knowledge from deeper parts of the Earth becomes available. This underpins societally relevant research, from natural resources – such as minerals, geo-thermal heat – over infrastructure and construction safety, and environmental and groundwater management, to soils for agriculture and forestry.
Finnish geophysics has traditionally been at the forefront of development but in the last two decades investment in the field has declined so that geophysical datasets and skills have started to age. Worldwide developments like three-dimensional and multimethod geophysics are being adopted relatively late.
Forward-looking investment in the following actions is advised as strategic and low-cost measures with significant societal and economic benefits:
- Continuous state-of-the-art geophysical base data collection
- Development of cutting-edge geophysical measurement technologies and capacities
- Development of modern geophysical data integration capabilities including supercomputing and machine learning applications
Continuous systematic collection and maintenance of state-of-the-art geophysical base data
Continuous collection of data in a structured manner that is supported with long-term plans is the only way to achieve comprehensive coverage that is accessible to all stakeholders. The high-quality base data attracts investments that facilitate the investigation of nation-scale issues, such as the creation of natural resource inventories.
Maintenance and renewal of geophysical technology and capacity
Key geophysical capabilities for targeted deep exploration (e.g., minerals, geothermal research, tectonics, and deep aquifers) as well as near-surface studies (on, e.g., the environment, groundwater, and soil) need to be maintained in Finland.
This should encompass the entire workflow, from instrumentation, surveying, data processing, and integrated interpretation with advanced modelling and computational tools. This also entails more focus on the education and training of young geophysicists with pertinent skills in cooperation with universities.
This should encompass the entire workflow, from instrumentation, surveying, data processing, and integrated interpretation with advanced modelling and computational tools. This also entails more focus on the education and training of young geophysicists with pertinent skills in cooperation with universities.
Develop data integration technology
Data science and data integration are critical frontiers of geoscience. Data from various geophysical measurement methods at different scales must be reasonably integrated with other geoscientific data to enable optimal information extraction. This reduces the ambiguity of results and increases resolution as well as the depth from which data can be interpreted.
Modern advances in computation, such as supercomputers, are leveraged increasingly for these purposes. They are used for physics simulation, inverse problem solution and the training of machine-learning models.
Modern advances in computation, such as supercomputers, are leveraged increasingly for these purposes. They are used for physics simulation, inverse problem solution and the training of machine-learning models.
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Geophysical Applications
Geophysics is needed in all our research areas, from critical raw materials to sustainable water resources and energy transition. Our research focuses on applied geophysics that promotes the availability of raw materials and the sustainable use of the environment.
