| Part ofa series on |
| Geology |
|---|
 Science of the solid Earth |
Topics
|
Research |
Applications |
Military geology is the application ofgeologicaltheory to warfare and the peacetime practices of the military. The formal practice of military geology began during theNapoleonic Wars; however,geotechnical knowledge has been applied since the earliest days ofsiege warfare.[1][2][3] In modern warfare military geologists are used for terrain analysis, engineering, and the identification of resources. Military geologists have included both specially trained military personnel and civilians incorporated into the military. The peacetime application of military geology includes the building of infrastructure, typically during local emergencies or foreignpeacekeeping deployments.[1]
Warfare can change the physical geology. Examples of this include artillery shattering the bedrock on theWestern Front during World War I[4] and the detonation ofnuclear weapons creating new rock types.[5] Military research has also led to many important geological discoveries.
Geologists have been employed since theNapoleonic Wars to provide an analysis of terrain which was expected to become a war theater, both in case of an upcoming battle and to assess the difficulty of logistical supply.[3][7][8] Academically, it has been found that battles are likely to occur on rocks ofPermian,Triassic, orUpper Carboniferous age, possibly due to their typical relief and drainage.[9] More practically, geology has been used in identifying the bestAllied invasion sites during World War II, including those inNorth Africa, Italy, and France.[9] This included studying the properties of the sand ofNormandy beaches, the tolerance of the soil in the hinterland to bombardment, the sediment of the English Channel sea floor,[10] and the occurrence of landslides inSicily.[9] Likewise, German geologists created maps of southern England forOperation Sea Lion, identifying quarry locations and the suitability of rock types to excavate trenchers, etc.[11]
In theDemilitarized Zone betweenNorth andSouth Korea, very rugged terrain is due to the structure of metamorphic rocks, while the best flat land is underlain bygranite. During theKorean War, these flat areas were used as military staging grounds by the North Koreans. It has been suggested that an understanding of the fracture andfoliation patterns of the metamorphic rocks could help a field commander.[12]
This field partially overlaps withmilitary geography. For this reason theBritish Army employedgeographers in this role until the end of 1941, when it joined international common practice and started using geologists.[9]
Geologists have been involved in the construction offorts, tunnels, andbunkers both during military conflicts and in peacetime.[1][13] This included digging tunnels in northeastern Italy and Austria during the so-calledmine war in World War I. The rocks of theDolomites are different from those in other theaters and specialists were required in order to design the tunnels. Explosives were then put in the tunnels and detonated, to cause rock falls and undercut enemy troops.[13][14]
Geology is also used in determining the likely resistance of enemy defenses to shelling and bombing.[15] In World War II, this task was performed by the Allies as they advanced across German-occupied Europe, assessing the likely effect of bombing bridges and shelling defenses in light of the local geology.[9] During peacetime, similar methods have been used, such as the decision to locate the AmericanStrategic Petroleum Reserve in thesalt domes of theGulf Coast.[16]
Geologists are used to determine both the location and accessibility ofstrategic andtactical resources during war.[1][17] In the case of theD Day landings and the2003 invasion of Iraq,ground water and aggregate were the two most important geological resources to identify for the campaign. The aggregate was required both forroading metal and for the construction of airfields.[17][18] Since 1966, the German Army has also been using geologists to mitigate and predict the environmental effects of civilian resource extraction.[19]
 | Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. Updates on reimplementing the Graph extension, which will be known as the Chart extension, can be found onPhabricator and onMediaWiki.org. |
Geology has been used in manymilitary intelligence investigations. During World War II, the AmericanMilitary Geology Unit discovered the origin ofballoon bombs which had been dispatched towards North America from Japan. They accomplished this by determining from which beach the sand in the balloon's ballast originated.[20] Knowledge of rock types and seismic propagation also allows geologists to distinguish between natural andnuclear test initiated earthquakes.[3]
Military activity affects the physical geology. This was first noted through the intensive shelling on the Western Front during World War I, which caused the shattering of the bedrock and changed the rocks' permeability.[4] New minerals, rocks, andland-forms are also a byproduct of nuclear testing.[5]
Military research has led to many geological discoveries; however, secrecy has often delayed some of the possible progress.[21] TheAustrian Army of World War I included geologists calledKriegsgeologen who were allowed to carry out non-military scientific investigation during the war.[13][14] Discoveries have included new natural resource deposits[22] and the mapping ofmagnetic stripes on the ocean floor, leading to the idea ofplate tectonics.[21]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)