Geophysical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences – history: The Institute was established
in the year 1953 at the beginning of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, although its fundamental part,
the Geomagnetic Observatory at Hurbanovo (Ógyala) was active since the year 1885. The fundamental
objectives for the scientific work of GPI is the basic research of the geophysical fields and
phenomena with special regard to the Western Carpathians structure. Since the year 1975 there was
also linked the study of the selected meteorological phenomena in the lower atmosphere. The personal
staff and instrumental equipment was gradually increased till the present status: about 42 graduated
scientists, 5 doctorands and 18 technicians. At present the Institute consists of 4 scientific departments:
Department of Geomagnetism, Department of Gravimetry and Geodynamics, Department of Seismology and Department of Atmospheric Physics.
Theoretical
work in a frame of scientific projects, solved at the institute is focused on mathematical modeling
of seismic processes and deformations of the earth's body, on solving the direct and inverse problems
in geomagnetism & geoelectricity and in gravimetry. Experimental research is carried out at observatories
buildings at various places of Slovakia, that are parts of individual departments. These are: Geomagnetic
Observatory in Hurbanovo, the Radon emanation station in Modra-Piesok, the Impulse magnetic field laboratory
in Trenčín, the Meteorological Observatory in Stará Lesná,
the Meteorological Observatory at Skalnaté Pleso and Tide Station in Vyhne. The Department
of Seismology operates the National Network of Seismic Stations (equiped by digital seismographs) comprises
the following stations: Bratislava - Železná studnička, Modra, Vyhne, Šrobárová, Iža & Moča, Hurbanovo,
Kečovo, Kolonické sedlo, Likavka, Stebnická Huta. It participates in monitoring two local networks from nuclear
plants in Jaslovské Bohunice and in Mochovce. Telemetric signals from this network are processed in the real
time regine at the central node established in the Institute.
The GPI SAS is the seat of the National Committee of the IUGG, since the year 1970 it publishes the international scientific journal Contribution to Geophysics and Geodesy. Present research programm and its possible application: monitoring and analysis of earthquakes with macroseismic impacts in the territory of Slovakia, monitoring of distant earthquakes in the framework of worldwide monitoring, analysis of seismic hazard at selected sites of interest and on the entire Slovak territory, development of methods for computing seismic wave propagation and seismic movements in structurally complex media, numerical modeling of seismic movement and local earthquake phenomena, measurement and interpretation of spatial-temporal changes of the geomagnetic field in a frame of INTERMAGNET programme, paleomagnetic research, magnetotelluric research of the Earth´s crust and upper mantle, study of the Sun-Earth physical interactions, mathematical modelling of geoelectric phenomena, qualitative and quantitative interpretation of the earth´s gravity field, gravimetric investigations of the deep structure and geodynamics of the Earth´s crust and the lithosphere of the Western Carpathians, study of tides, modelling deformations, strain, and temporal variations in gravity field caused by anomalous heat flow sources, energy balance of the atmosphere, investigation of radiation processes in the atmosphere, regional and local climate changes, mathematical modelling of the soil-vegetation-atmosphere interactions, mathematical modelling of air pollution by car traffic. The scientists of the Institute are for many years active as lecturers of geophysical topics at the Comenius University, for students and also doctorands.