A sinkhole workshop as part of WP1 was performed at the GFZ - German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam on 19. August 2014. Project partners from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (Jordan), UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (Leipzig, Germany), LIAG - Leibniz Institute for Applied Geophysics (Hanover, Germany), the GFZ - German Research Centre for Geosciences (Potsdam, Germany), and various other scientists have successfully contributed to a day full of highly interesting presentations, fruitful discussions and equipment demonstration.

Presentations on the following topics were given:

  • Discrete Element Modeling of sinkhole formation,
  • UAV and USV application for sinkhole and submarine spring characterization,
  • Helikite application for photogrammetry,
  • New results on S-wave reflection seismics study from 2013 at Ghor Haditha,
  • Georadar, Geoelectrics, Seismics and TDEM results at Ghor Haditha prior to 2013.

The discussion was vivid and efficient, addressing various topics such as the field campaign planning in autumn this year at Ghor Haditha (Jordan), customs and security issues, the sinkhole development at the Jordanian side, the possible existence of new boreholes at Ghor Haditha (Jordan), as well as the interpretation and comparison of new results and primary knowledge. The workshop was concluded with a discussion on sinkhole hazard and risk at the Dead Sea and made the workshop beneficial to all participants.