Eötvös Loránd Geophysical
Institute
of Hungary
At the present time, ELGI's status and the role of the state in geoscience are set forth by a Government Order. Section 5 of this Order presents a detailed description of those functions of geoscience, including geophysics, which require the involvement of the state for the sake of the nation's future and the participation in international scientific life to an extent according to Hungary's state of development. There are rarely any problems in raw material prospecting, the exploration of water reservoirs, waste disposal, or in the course of planning hydroelectric stations or a nuclear power plant which can be solved without applied geophysics.
The Geophysical Institute has been remaining true to its traditions and thus, it wishes to perform activities at an advanced professional level and utilizing the most developed technology available for the benefit of the nation. Accordingly, ELGI applies a great variety of methods that investigate a wide depth range for diverse exploration targets. Our Hungarian and foreign partners have always been attracted by this diversity and found it for their satisfaction. ELGI's recent goal is to maintain the complex integrity of theory, applied research, methodological and instrument development, and field application.
Basic geophysical exploration services have a broad market, besides the state there are other clients, as well. From the professional point of view, it is of secondary importance whether an order comes from a public administration body, a publicly financed institution, or a private business, the output is geophysical information which contributes to our over-all knowledge about Hungary and will sooner or later become public property. Therefore, in accordance to ELGI's traditions, services performed for the non-public sector have always had a significant role, and a remarkable part of the income generated by them is used up to improve the service of public customers. Survey activity in foreign countries and participation in international projects are opportunities for opening new horizons in research and creating international fame and recognition.
Domestic and international tenders must be taken advantage of more extensively in order to create additional funds for development purposes. Although the acquisition of such funds entails a certain modification of the basic research operation policy, there is no other choice as budget funds are not sufficient for even maintaining the current level of instrumentation.
The two systems - a hierarchic system of departments specialized in geophysical methods and a project system that allowed for flexible professional control - created an appropriate combination for several decades. Having the system of geological institutions restructured, the new situation, modified tasks, staff number, and the reduced state subvention all necessitated the restructuring of ELGI, as well. It consists of 5 departments today.
Its function is to utilize geophysics in geological and environmental problems set forth by the state exploration plan. These problems usually require several geophysical methods and measuring procedure, therefore, its staff includes multi-sided professionals.
Regarding nature and size of survey area, tasks greatly vary. Some takes methods - e.g. regional gravitational and magnetic surveys - that cover the whole area of Hungary, others use geoelectric, telluric, and magnetotelluric methods to investigate the deep geological structure of a region, seismic surveys providing detailed information also to be mentioned here, although these cover smaller areas.
The Department maintains the national gravitational and magnetic base network, and acts in international network development and data exchange projects. ELGI's observatories include the Tihany Observatory, the Mátyáshegy Geodynamic Station at Budapest and the Paleomagnetic Laboratory.
Tihany Observatory and its predecessors have produced a continuous record of magnetic data since the late 1940's. Tihany is a recognized member of the INTERMAGNET international network of observatories. Some of the instruments used by the Observatory and the data acquisition system are developed by ELGI (DIMARK) which are implemented by several other observatories around the world as well. Among other activities, the Mátyáshegy Geodynamic Station provides information on the relation of tide phenomenon and earthquakes, and it is an international station for the calibration of gravity meters. The Paleomagnetic Laboratory performs vitally important data series on the tectonics of the Alps and the Carpatian Mountains.
While the Geophysical Exploration Department re-interprets data by focusing on th particular problem, Data Management Department collects data and data series - maps, field records, and seismograms - all which have not been systematically stored in the past, and arranges same in its modern archives. Comparison of cost of data management and field surveys to obtain the same amount of information justifies the significance of archives.
Two facts necessitated the establishment of this Department. On the one hand, according to budget figures, 30 to 40 ELGI employees had been left without either a salary or a dismissal payment by the 1993 restructuring. On the other hand, it was obvious that neither public duties, nor field surveys that created part of ELGI's basic activity could have been performed with a staff of only 87 people. ELGI received no external support to overcome the problem, it undertook to maintain the simplest conditions of field surveys on its own. The task was given to the Geophysical Survey Department.
This Department has several administrative, human management, personnel and financial functions, although, due to its partial dependence on MGSz, these functions are mainly performed by the latter. The Scientific Documentary Division belongs to this Department, and further, it is responsible for the internationally published Geophysical Transactions, a quarterly in English language. Subscription rate for 1998 is US 90 post free per annual volume. All matters relating to orders and subscriptions and all communications should be sent to the editor in chief on the following address:
ELGI Geophysical Transactions
H-1440 Budapest, Pf. 35. Hungary
ELGI's Geophysical Library is the greatest of its kind in Hungary.
