Chemical data and modelling results provided evidence for a complex interaction of hydrostatically driven flow and thermohaline convection in the North East German Basin. A fundamental feature of this deep-fluid circulation process will be to understand how it interacts with the shallow aquifer and to which degree the young processes affecting the basin (i.e. faults, active salt tectonics, anthropogenic impacts and sea water intrusions) are related to it. A detailed understanding of the mentioned interactions will provide new insights on the origins and formation of near surface brine patterns.

For investigating these aspects, the Schleswig-Holstein basin is the most suitable study area The main points to be studied are

• The interaction of thermohaline driven deep reaching fluid flow and the shallow aquifers including recharge and discharge.
• The role of salt dissolution from a shallow salt structure in comparison with rising water from deeper levels.
• The impact of rather young, perhaps, still active faults and unconformities cutting through the upper sedimentary sequence, as provided by the glacial channel structures.
• The impact of the anthropogenic activity, especially due to water management, with regard to foreseeable salinization of shallow aquifers.
• Possible additional effects due to the influence of the Baltic Sea.

These goals will be achieved in collaboration with the Freie Universität Berlin (FU) and the Landesamt für Naturschutz und Umwelt Schleswig-Holstein (LANU).

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