Abstract
The so-called North German conductivity anomaly has been mapped extensively in recent years from Western Germany to Poland. The revealed spatial structure of geomagnetic rapid variations, the results from different magnetotelluric traverses, and earth current observations with electrode spacings up to 120km together with theoretical calculations show the overwhelming importance of the extraordinarily well conducting sedimentary layers within this region. On the other hand there still seem to be indications in favour of an additional deep-seated conductivity anomaly. Pronounced earth current and magnetic variation anomalies have been found in connection with graben structures in Western Germany. Over the Molasse basin of Bavaria magnetic variations are normal even though there is strong concentration of earth currents. The situation within the Carpathian basin of Hungary seems to bear some resemblance to that one found in Northern Germany and in Poland. Observations on Sardinia and Corsica point towards a strong concentration of induced currents within the Bonofacio Street between these islands. Magnetic investigations of various kinds seem to indicate that large conductivity anomalies are present also in France and in Spain.
