About Institute
The Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences (Instytut Geofizyki Polskiej Akademii Nauk, IGF PAN) is a scientific institution representing the main stream of Polish basic research in Earth sciences. It is the only institution in Poland that performs monitoring of geophysical fields in seismology, geomagnetism, and selected areas of atmospheric physics.
The Institute’s research broadly covers the following scientific fields:
- Seismology: analysis of earthquakes and mining-induced tremors; seismicity of Poland; structure and geodynamics of the Earth’s crust and upper mantle derived from deep seismic sounding and natural seismicity.
- Geomagnetism: development of magnetotelluric research methods; numerical modelling of geomagnetic induction processes within the Earth; regional studies of the Earth’s crust; palaeomagnetic investigations and the study of the magnetic properties of intrusive and sedimentary rocks.
- Earth’s interior dynamics: physics of seismically active regions; analysis of stress fields in the Earth’s crust and upper mantle; theory of generation and propagation of seismic waves.
- Physics of the atmosphere: analysis of the variability of ozone layer and solar radiation on various time scales; atmospheric transparency; atmospheric electricity; structure of thunderclouds and lightning flashes.
- Hydrology and environmental hydraulics: transport and mixing of contaminants in surface waters; modelling of flood wave transformation with the use of hydraulic and hydrological models; flood risk modelling by implementing the newest results of extreme events theory; climate change.
- Polar and marine research: organization of polar expeditions; analysis of data from the Polish Polar Station in Spitsbergen; study of abiotic natural environment changes in polar regions with the use of new geophysical and satellite methods.
Another central activity of the Institute is related to its statutory obligation to record global geophysical phenomena, whose results are transmitted to World Data Centres. The Institute manages ten observatories in Poland and one in Spitsbergen. It should be emphasized that some of these observatories are among the world leaders. Complementary to this activity is the designing of unique and innovative geophysical instruments.
The Institute carries out extensive editorial activity. The main publication is the quarterly Acta Geophysica, issued continuously since 1953 (until 2006 as Acta Geophysica Polonica) and covered by the Science Citation Index-Expanded.
Another editorial series is entitled Publications of the Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences.
The Institute takes an active part in international research projects and enjoys lively cooperations with scientific institutions abroad.
The Institute has the status of a Centre of Excellence (Centre of Geophysical Methods and Observations for Sustainable Development, GEODEV).
The Institute cooperates with the media in promotion and popularization of geophysics, our aim being to inspire a creative approach to the sciences among adults and young people. For example, our staff give lectures and presentations and provide workshops for students of lower and upper secondary schools. Academic tutors share their knowledge and present their accomplishments and skills using language friendly to non-specialists and young people. The Institute builds strong links with educational institutions and organizations in Poland and around the world.
The Institute is authorized to confer the academic degrees of doctor and doctor habilitatus of the Earth sciences in geophysics. It also conducts four-year Ph.D. studies.
