German Alpine Foreland Research Articles

The importance of stream interstitial conditions for the early‐life‐stage development of the European nase (Chondrostoma nasus L.)

AbstractRheophilic cyprinid populations are in decline in many European rivers and have become target species of conservation and river restoration. This is especially true for the European nase (Chondrostoma nasus), a lithophilic species for which the early life stages pose the first bottlenecks in successful population development. In this study, egg dispersal at the substrate surface as well as within the stream interstitial was evaluated and the development of nase eggs was tested at three spawning grounds in the German Alpine Foreland. New incubation systems for cyprinid eggs as well as reference incubation boxes were developed. A significantly higher number of nase eggs (95.5%) were deposited within the stream interstitial compared to eggs sticking to the substrate surface (4.5%). Most eggs successfully developed within the stream interstitial, and hatched larvae moved deeper into the stream substrate. Higher fine sediment accumulation rates in incubation systems had a negative impact on hatching rates. Our results suggest that a permeable, well‐oxygenated stream interstitial at spawning grounds can greatly enhance hatching rates and successful development of nase, as previously found for other taxa such as salmonids. Furthermore, movements of hatched larvae into deeper layers of the stream interstitial underline its importance not only for egg development, but also as shelter for early life stages. Future conservation and restoration efforts should thus consider more intensively stream interstitial conditions on spawning grounds, including evaluating physical characteristics, fine sediment accumulation as well as bioindication with suitable incubation systems for cyprinids.

Initiation and development of normal faults within the German alpine foreland basin: The inconspicuous role of basement structures

In a large seismic cube within the German Alpine Molasse Basin, we recognize large normal faults with lateral alternating dips that displace the Molasse sediments. They are disconnected but strike parallel to fault lineaments of the underlying carbonate platform. This raises the question how such faults could independently develop. Structural analysis suggests that the faults grew both upward and downward from the middle of the Molasse package, i.e., they newly initiated within the Molasse sediments and were not caused by reactivation of the faults in the carbonate platform and/or crystalline basement. Numerical modeling of the basin proves that temporarily and spatially confined extensional stresses existed within the Molasse sediments but not in the carbonate platform and basement during lithospheric bending. The workflow shown here gives a new and as yet undocumented insight in the tectonic and structural processes within a foreland basin that was affected by buckling and bending in front of the orogen.

Hydrochemical properties of deep carbonate aquifers in the SW German Molasse basin

The Upper Jurassic (Malm) limestone and the Middle Triassic Muschelkalk limestone 18 are the major thermal aquifers in the southwest German alpine foreland. The aquifers 19 are of interest for production of geothermal energy and for balneological purposes. Hydrochemical data from several hundred wells within two deep limestone aquifers in the Molasse basin of SW Germany have been compiled, examined, validated, and analyzed with the aim to characterize the fluids and to investigate the origin of the fluid properties. The hydrochemical properties of the two aquifers differ in several aspects. The total amounts of dissolved solids (TDS) are much higher within the Upper Muschelkalk aquifer than within the Upper Jurassic. Water composition data reflect the origin and hydrochemical evolution of deep water. Rocks and their minerals control the chemical signature of the water. With increasing depth, the total of dissolved solids increases. In both aquifers, the water evolves to a NaCl-dominated fluid regardless of the aquifer rock. The salinity of the aquifers has different sources. In the case of the Upper Muschelkalk, it is linked to deep circulation systems, while the hydrochemical properties in the Upper Jurassic developed due to changing overburden and hydraulic potential.

The effect of fluvial environments on sediment bleaching and Holocene luminescence ages — A case study from the German Alpine Foreland

This study investigates the potential of luminescence to date deposits from different fluvial sedimentary environments; namely point bar deposits, sandy and silty channel fills and floodplain sediments. Samples were taken from Holocene (<5 ka) terraces of the Lech and Danube rivers, for which independent age constraint is available through 14C ages, archaeological data and historical maps. OSL-ages were obtained using small aliquots of coarse grain quartz for the majority of samples. Two further samples were dated by the IRSL-signals of polymineral fine grain extracts, as no sufficient number of coarse grains could be extracted from these sediments. In order to detect and ac-count for incomplete bleaching, we used the decision process suggested by Bailey and Arnold [Statistical modelling of single grain quartz De distributions and an assessment of procedures for estimating burial dose. Quaternary Science Reviews 25, 2475–2502, 2006]. Although their model was designed for single grains of quartz, our study shows that it is also applicable to multiple grains of quartz, pro-vided that a low number of luminescent grains is present on one aliquot. Luminescence ages of point bar deposits and a sandy channel fill correspond most closely to the independent age control. In the floodplain, sand-striped floodplain channel deposits were incompletely bleached to a moderate degree, yielding ages with acceptable overestimations, while fine-grained floodplain deposits were worst bleached. One crevasse splay deposit was so severely incompletely bleached that none of the age models was able to yield accurate ages.

The orographic impact on patterns of embedded convection during the August 2005 Alpine flood

AbstractConvective precipitation structures during an Alpine heavy precipitation event in August 2005 are investigated utilising a mesoscale non‐hydrostatic numerical model and observational data. The focus is on the mechanisms of convective initiation during the very beginning of the event, when organised cellular updraughts enhanced the precipitation over the southern German Alpine foreland. A set of sensitivity experiments with systematically modified topography is conducted in order to investigate the role of single topographic obstacles in initiating and arranging convection.A reference simulation proves to be capable of qualitatively reproducing the development of two distinct, flow‐parallel aligned, non‐stationary, convective precipitation bands, which are observed by radar and surface measurements. The simulations reveal the presence of two low‐level convergence lines that provide a primary mechanism for both initiating and aligning convective cells during the analysed period. Mountains embedded in the Alpine foreland are not decisive for triggering and aligning the convective cells in this case, since the primary mechanism provides a consistent forcing for the convective precipitation bands. However, the experiments demonstrate a dependence of the alignment and intensity of one of the precipitation bands upon the position of the pre‐existing convergence line relative to a flow‐parallel aligned mountain ridge. Enhancement (weakening) of the existing banded structure and convective intensity is achieved if the convergence line is located upstream (downstream) of the ridge with respect to a cross‐ridge low‐level inflow. The ‘weakening’ mode is characterised by a subsiding cross‐ridge inflow into the convergence line that stabilises the atmosphere and therefore inhibits the formation of a continuous convective precipitation band. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society

The Quaternary of the southwest German Alpine Foreland (Bodensee-Oberschwaben, Baden-Württemberg, Southwest Germany)

Abstract. Das Quartär der Bodensee-Region besteht aus Schottern frühpleistozäner alpiner Flusssysteme (Deckenschotter) sowie aus glazialen und Schmelzwasser-Ablagerungen der mittel- und spätpleistozänen Eiszeiten. Sie belegen den landschaftlichen Wandel von einer Art Rampe aus Vorbergen hin zur heutigen Topographie mit ineinander greifenden, übertieften Becken, sodass sich eine Art Amphitheater ergibt. Die Deckenschotter als älteste Ablagerungen dokumentieren einerseits die Eintiefung der alpinen Flüsse in diversen Terrassenstufen im Sedimentationsgebiet, andererseits durch deutliche Unterschiede im Geröllspektrum die Vergrößerung des Liefergebiets des sich entwickelnden alpinen Rheins. Der älteste Till kommt vor in Kontakt mit Mindel-Deckenschottern, es gibt jedoch keine Hinweise auf eine glaziale Übertiefung in dieser Zeit. Die meisten glazialen und Schmelzwasser-Ablagerungen werden drei großen Vergletscherungen des Rheingletschers zugeordnet. Diese Vorlandvergletscherungen sind mit drei Generationen glazialer Becken verknüpft. Die ältesten Becken sind zur Donau orientiert, die aus der letzten Vereisung entwässern zum Rhein. Diese Reorientierung bewirkte die hervorragende räumliche Auflösung der Sedimente und Formen. Traditionell wurden die Sedimente in einem chronostratigraphischen System aus glazialen und interglazialen Stufen beschrieben. Unsere Ziele in dieser Arbeit sind, eine Aktualisierung des chronostratigraphischen Systems vorzustellen, das neue, beim geologischen Dienst von Baden-Württemberg angewandte, lithostratigraphische Schema zu erklären und die wichtigsten neuen Einheiten kurz zu beschreiben.

Stratigraphie und Morphogenese von frühpleistozänen Ablagerungen zwischen Bodensee und Klettgau

Abstract. The stratigraphy and paleogeography of the Deckenschotter (“cover gravels”) of the Rhine glacier system between Lake Constance, the city of Schaffhausen and the Klettgau area (Switzerland, Germany) was revised. This was achieved by means of new surveying and mapping, petrographical analysis und a systematic evaluation of available literature and borehole data. Within the Deckenschotter three morphostratigraphic units can be discerned: (a) Höhere (higher) Deckenschotter, (b) Tiefere (lower) Deckenschotter and (c) Tiefere Deckenschotter, unteres Niveau (lower level). The topographically highest unit, the Höhere Deckenschotter, cannot be subdivided into lithostratigrafic units. The gravels classified as Tiefere Deckenschotter are grouped into two morphostratigraphical units; the altitude difference of the bases of both units is minor. They are, however, separated by an erosional discontinuity caused by a signifi cant rearrangement of the hydrographic network.The older one of the two units (Tiefere Deckenschotter) comprises sediments of at least two depositional phases, separated from each other by a hiatus. There are signs of temperate climatic conditions during the period of non-deposition. The tectonic analysis of the study area showed that in general the altitude of the Deckenschotter was not affected by post-depositional tectonic activity. A tectonic displacement of the Deckenschotter occurrences in the Hegau cannot be ruled out as their topographic position is unusually high compared to equivalent deposits further paleo-downstream. However, this does not affect the proposed morphostratigraphic subdivision. The Upper Rhine Graben system (tectonic lowering) controlled the hydraulic base level and the morphogenesis for both the Deckenschotter occurrences discussed here and those in central northern Switzerland. Therefore, the morphostratigraphic units of both regions can be correlated, even though the number of lithostratigraphic units does not match. In the Höhere Deckenschotter this could be ascribed to an incomplete sedimentary record or a lack of data; on the other hand, this might indicate that the connection Lake Constance – Upper Rhine Graben was established later than the connection Lake Walen – Upper Rhine Graben. In contrast, there is no simple morpho- or lithostratigrafic correlation with the early pleistocene deposits of the German Alpine Foreland, since they are oriented towards and controlled by the Donau river system.

Stratigraphische Begriffe für das Quartär des süddeutschen Alpenvorlandes

Abstract. This description of the Quaternary of the south German Alpine Foreland focuses on the classic morphostratigraphical terminology sensu PENCK & BRÜCKNER, with a methodological introduction by K.A. HABBE. These definitions correspond to the nomenclature used in the Quaternary literature of southern Germany mainly between 1950 and 2000. The manuscripts left by K.A. HABBE at his death in 2003 were edited by D. ELLWANGER, and the definitions were supplemented and commented by D. ELLWANGER and R. BECKER-HAUMANN. HABBE’s ideas and definitions illustrate that morphostratigraphy can still be a modern and meaningful approach to subdividing the Quaternary, not just to describe Quaternary (especially glacial) landforms on earth science maps, but also as a tool for soil scientists, regional planners, etc. However, morphostratigraphy is less appropriate for describing and characterising lithological units (in economic geology or hydrogeology, for instance). This is initially the province of lithostratigraphy. The two methods complement each other as regards sequence stratigraphy because discontinuities and sequences are considered together (ELLWANGER et al. 2003). It should be noted that morphostratigraphical units and lithostratigraphical formations are distinguished according to different criteria. Difficulties always arise when morphostratigraphical and lithostratigraphical procedures yield different chronostratigraphical classifications. A second problem of traditional morphostratigraphy is its strong focus on the terrace stratigraphy of the ice marginal to periglacial valleys. Morphogenetic processes primarily occurred not in these valleys, but in areas of glaciation, in glacial basins, overdeepened valleys, and lake regions. These are the main locations of major discontinuities that could form the basis for a spatial morphostratigraphical subdivision. By contrast, erosion and accumulation dynamics of different ages are often indistinguishable within the terrace layers, especially in main valleys. Third, some critical comments are necessary about the use of the glacial series, again with special reference to classic morphostratigraphy. It is applicable almost everywhere for Würmian sediments and is a good tool for correlating Riss deposits and for describing the third-last major glaciation (“Mindel” and “Hosskirch” to the east and west of the Lech, respectively). Problems arise, however, when it is applied to (older) cover gravels to postulate pre-glacial cycles of cold and warm stages. This tends to inhibit clarification of whether processes were controlled by climate (glaciation) or tectonics (orogeny): an essential question with regard to the glaciation of mountain regions like the Alps.

Flood history of the Danube tributaries Lech and Isar in the Alpine foreland of Germany

The flood history of the German Alpine foreland has not previously been examined in detail, even though reliable historical data up to the 13th century are available. The rivers Isar and Lech were chosen for the current investigation because their neighbouring catchments are typical of the Alpine foreland. More than 85 historical floods were recorded for each river by means of written documents. Continuous water-level records from 1826 up to the present were made available by the Bavarian Environmental Authority. The water-level records were combined with the documentary flood record by means of statistics. The 31-year running frequencies of the historical floods on the Lech and Isar show similarities, but also unexpected differences. These differences can be explained by the regional distribution of rainfall and by different morphological features of the catchments. Most of the floods on the Lech and Isar occurred during the summer season due to heavy rainfall lasting a couple of days. Long-lasting orographic rainfall in the Alpine foreland is mostly due to a low pressure system, moving northeastward from the Adriatic to the Baltic region. Therefore, the flood history of the Alpine foreland of Germany can be seen as a history of this far-reaching pressure configuration, leading to a better understanding of the summer conditions in Central Europe.

Über glaziale Erosion und Übertiefung

Abstract. Glacial erosion and overdeepening is - as can be shown by the longitudinal profile of every valley formed by glaciers - not a process active on the whole longitudinal extension of the glacier in the same way, but is characterized by marked discontinuities. The reasons have been discussed for nearly a century, but the problem remained unsolved until now. It can - as H. Louis (1952) has demonstrated - be solved only when the motion mechanism of the glaciers is known. The present paper demonstrates on the base of observations in the area of the Iller glacier of the last glaciation that Pleniglacial glaciers with positive mass budget (advancing glaciers) have moved in another way than present-day glaciers with their - mostly - negative mass budget. Furthermore it is demonstrated that this particular motion mechanism can actually be observed at advancing outlet glaciers of the Vatnajökull in Iceland. It is characterized by a summation of numerous push movements of flat ice-shields on shear-planes over stagnant-ice of preceding advances, all of them of relatively short duration and range. They originated in precipitation-caused mass surpluses in the feeding area. This motion mechanism implies that an impact on the underground is possible only where (and when) the glacier advances beyond its stagnant-ice basement, i. e. immediately behind the front of the advancing glacier. A larger amount of glacial erosion can be expected only when the glacier after the advance remained in the maximum position reached for a longer time and, additionally, (snow)meltwater under hydrostatic pressure could affect the underground. Further observations on meltwater movement within the glacier are presented from Iceland, on meltwater impact on the underground (mainly) from the German Alpine Foreland. To sum up, the discontinuities of glacial erosion and overdeepening can be explained by the motion mechanism of advancing glaciers described, the protective effect of the overridden stagnant-ice basement of preceding advances, and the characteristic movement of (snow)meltwater in, below and along the glacier. Because the erosion processes described take place (mainly) immediately behind the front of the advancing glacier, they are a phenomenon restricted in space as well as in time, but therefore must be of extraordinary intensity.

La structure géomorphologique et géologique des fonds de vallées dans les domaines subalpin et hercynien d'Allemagne

The morphologie and géologie différenciation of some valley floors in the German Alpine foreland and the Central Uplands. — In the larger valley floors of the German Alpine foreland like the Isar and Danube and also in valleys of the Central Uplands as shown by the rivers Weser, Main and Rhine, the same sequence of terraces has been formed by fluvial activity since the maximum of the Würmian glaciation (fig. 8). Stratigraphically they can be divided into the Wûrmian « Niederterrassen » (lower terraces) and the Holocene « Auenterrassen » (floodplain terraces). The Niederterrassen (NT) are composed by a terracing of three single terraces : from the highest NT1 (Wùrm/Weichsel Pleniglacial), over the NT2 (post-Pleniglacial — pre-Bölling) to the lowest NT3 (Bölling - pre-Holocene). In many valley floors (Isar, Danube, Hier, Weser, Main, Enz) exists another higher « Niederterrasse », which is covered by lœss. Morphologically seen, this terrace forms the transition from the valley bottom to the higher level of the Middle Pleistocene terraces. Because of this it is named « Ûbergangsterrasse » (transitional terrace, Schellmann, 1988). It is older than the Würm Pleniglacial, perhaps of Middle or Early Würmian âge, but a Riss âge may also be possible. The greater parts of the valley floor are mostly built up by the Würm Pleniglacial and/or Lateglacial Niederterrassen. In contrast to them the Holocene floodplain terraces follow the present river course in a mosaic of small dimensioned terrace surfaces. They are composed of up to seven single terraces (Hl to H7 ; H = Holocene). Three of them were deposited during the Prebo- real/Boreal, Atlantic and Subboreal, but four of them during the Subat- lantic (fig. 8). In ail valleys the Holocene terraces were formed by latéral accretion of a meandering river. The oldest Wûrm Pleniglacial Niederterrasse originated from vertical sédiment aggradation. The change from a braided to a meandering channel pattern occurred in the Isar valley near Munich, in the Weser and Main valleys during the early Lateglacial period (pre-Bôlling/Allerôd) and in the lower Isar and Danube valley at the transition from Younger Dryas to Holocene. Therefore this change is strongly influenced by local factors. As shown for the Isar, Danube, Weser, Main and Rhine, valleys this Wùrmian and Holocene terrace sequence is not of local or régional nature. Because of this, climatic changes and fluctuations seem to control the fluvial activity. But local and régional factors, and since the Subatlantic period, also the human activities strongly influence the individual features of local terraces. That is the reason why each valley floor has its spécifie morphological, pedological and geological individuality.

Lithology and stratigraphy of some Rhine glacier drumlins (South German Alpine Foreland)

Various exposures and core drillings in drumlins of the southwestern part of the Bodanrück drumlin field were examined. Sequences start with fine-grained till and lake deposits, followed by marginal gravels and end upwards with an upper till which is often deformed and sheared. The whole sequence is of Würm age, gravels and upper till are deposits of the last major re-advance of the piedmont glacier (Innere Jungendmoräne, IJE), which is also the time of drumlin formation. Clastic dykes within the gravels also date from this time. They are younger than gravels but older than the upper till. Thickness of permafrost during dyke intrusion is estimated to be 50 m. Drumlins consisting of gravel and till are described. An early erosional phase of drumlin formation is contemporaneous to the erosion of the Mindelsee glacial basin. Also upper parts of one of the clastic dykes were deformed, indicating that the permafrost surface may have started to sink down during deformation. Facies transitions of till drumlins may reflect ongoing erosion of the Mindelsee basin or local paleotopography of the gravel surface.

On the origin of the drumlins of the South German Alpine Foreland (II): The sediments underneath

The drumlins of the South German Alpine Foreland have certain characteristics: a distinctly limited occurrence within the formerly glaciated areas, a well defined time of formation and a typical, rather compact shape. The character of the sediments of which they are composed, and the relation between drumlin sediments and drumlin form have been a matter of discussion for more than 80 years due to the rareness of good exposures in drumlins. A few individual drumlins have become better known during the past decades, because they overlie interglacial deposits. The observations made at these sites allow the following statements: 1. (1) The drumlins normally consist of sediments of the last (Würm) glaciation. Only in exceptional cases do older Pleistocene strata or the pre-Pleistocene substratum (Molasse sandstone) form part of the drumlin body. These exceptions are important in so far as they prove that drumlin formation in principle was an erosional process in the area. 2. (2) The sediments are mainly till, but also a gravel/till sequence is not uncommon. The rare interglacial beds are mainly lake deposits. 3. (3) The thickness of the sediments on top of the interglacial deposits varies considerably: from some metres to several decametres. Even underneath a thin cover of younger sediments the fine-grained (and therefore in principle easily deformable) interglacial deposits are glaciotectonically undisturbed. Altogether these observations allow the conclusion, that (1) the process of drumlin formation shaped the glacier bed by highly selective, but locally vigorous, glacial erosion, and (2) this process did obviously not (or only poorly) affect the sediments below the ice/sediment interface even though it was composed of readily deformable material. Therefore the question is not, whether there was erosion or not but why there was not much more erosion and disturbance. It is suggested that the answer is likely to be found in the unevenness of the decaying permafrost table at the end of the Würm Pleniglacial.

On the origin of the drumlins of the South German Alpine Foreland

The drumlins formed during the last (Würmian) glaciation in the South German Alpine Foreland are situated in distinct topographic positions. These drumlins are found on the gently ascending Molasse socles between the glacially incised basins, and behind the terminal moraines of the (in the Rhein glacier area so-called) Inner Young Terminal Moraines. The former position has been explained as a result of differential ice thicknesses between the basins and the Molasse interfluves. The latter position remained problematical. Recent investigations in the frontal area of the past Iller glacier indicate that: (1) the formation of the drumlins date from one distinct glacier re-advance (the Luiblings Phase), and (2) the permafrost table within near-surface sediments, at the time of drumlin formation, was at a sufficient depth not to have any influence upon the formative processes at surface level. The drumlins, therefore, formed because the glacier re-advanced over decaying permafrost within non-lithified Pleistocene sediments, whereas in the past the ice had advanced over frozen ground and later over unfrozen ground. This situation, as found in front of the Iller glacier, is not an exceptional case. In comparing three other areas—the western Rhein glacier area, the Inn-Chiemsee area and the eastern flank of the Iller glacier—a general conformity of both landforms and glacial processes was found to exist. However, where slight variations do occur adequate explanations can be made.

Temperature in the subsurface of the Swiss and German Alpine Foreland

The mean temperature gradient maps from surface down to top basement and down to base Tertiary correspond to the boundaries and internal features of the basin. The Landshut-Neuötting High in Eastern Bavaria is an area of relatively high temperature. The German Eastmolasse part west of this high shows extremely low temperature gradients. In the German Westmolasse area, in addition to a normal Tertiary gradient of about 25°C/km which is assumed to be the Tertiary paleogradient a steep near-surface gradient down to 500–800 m depth is deduced from the present interpretation of the measurements so that due to the southward increasing sediment thickness of the Tertiary in the flat northern margin of the basin there results a higher Tertiary mean gradient than in the south. The intramesozoic gradients are somewhat irregular, but generally tend to increase from north to south. Thus far they compensate to a certain degree the regional trend of the Tertiary gradients so that the mean gradients from surface down to top basement show smaller differences than the mean Tertiary gradients. A slight increase of the Mesozoic temperature gradients as compared with the Tertiary gradients is interpreted by both the lower heat conductivity of the consolidated and carbonate-rich Mesozoic and the northward directed water flow in the Malm karst transporting heat from the deeper southern part of the basin within the Malm karst northward at least since Pliocene time.

Distribution of trace elements in crude oils from southern Germany

The concentrations of the elements S, V, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Se, Br, I, Ag and Hg were determined in 45 crude oil samples of 17 oilfields originating from nine different Mesozoic or Tertiary reservoir rock formations in the southern German Alpine Foreland. Furthermore, the elements Na, Mg, S, Cl, Ca, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Br, Sr and I were determined in 15 oilfield water samples. The analytical technique was mainly instrumental neutron-activation analysis; to a minor degree X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, atomic absorption and emission spectrometry as well as titrimetric methods were applied.The amounts of S, V, Ni and Se are relatively constant in the different oilfields; therefore they are suitable for distinguishing between different classes of oil. The crudes can be divided into the following three significant groups by their concentrations of S, V and Ni: 1.(A) Triassic and Lower Jurassic crudes of the Western Molasse Basin.2.>(B) Crudes from the Bausteinschichten (Lower Chattian) in the Western Molasse (except the one from Aitingen). In the Eastern Molasse crudes from Priabonian sands, Malm and Lower Cretaceous.3.(C) Secondary altered crudes of the “Ampfinger Schichten” in the Eastern Molasse Basin.The crudes of Aitingen are exceptional with their high content of S and V, being enhanced three and twenty times, respectively.Relations between trace-element distributions in crudes and in accompanying oilfield waters could not be found. Only the amounts of I in crudes are significantly correlated with those from the corresponding oil field waters.

DIE SEISMISCHEN GESCHWINDIGKEITEN DER JUNGEREN MOLASSE IM OSTSCHWEIZERISCHEN UND DEUTSCHEN ALPENVORLAND*

AbstractAccording to a study of seismic velocities in the Alpine Foreland of Eastern Switzerland, the initial velocity is rather high in comparison with other Tertiary basins and shows an exceptionally high increase rate. When analysing the average and the interval velocities, especially of Tertiary strata, and when comparing them with velocities of strata of the same age and a very similar facies of the Northern Rheintalgraben, it has been found that the increase of velocity is closely related to the distance to the Subalpine Molasse. The conclusion is that the velocity of the Tertiary strata is strongly influenced by the folding pressure of the Subalpine Molasse or of the Alps. The same method has been applied to a relatively large number of wells in the area of the “German Molasse”. Not only the results in Eastern Switzerland have been confirmed, but also it has been proved that the diagenesis of the Tertiary strata and, hence, their velocities are influenced only partially by the specific depth of the basin. Velocities increase towards the Folded Molasse or the Alps. Consequently they depend on lateral folding pressure, which decreases from west to east with the increasing width of the basin. The tertiary strata of the basin have been affected by lateral folding pressurefrom south to north. However, structures with lateral compression have not been discovered yet in the German Alpine Foreland.