The main part of the Earth's magnetic field is generated by convection currents in the Earth's core. These processes are subject to very slow changes, which also result in slow changes in declination. These occur on timescales ranging from a few years to a few million years. In Europe, they currently manifest themselves mainly as a slow westward drift of the isogonic lines by more than 20 km per year.

The service that shows the magnetic declination in Austria (GeoSphere Maps) has now been updated with the latest data (2026).

This data publication by Schuberth G. et al. (https://doi.org/10.24341/tethys.256) provides a freely accessible geochronological database of Austrian geological units. The dataset offers a uniform, citable overview of published age data without evaluating the quality of individual studies. Each dataset includes the sample name, coordinates harmonized to a single coordinate reference system, the dated material, the geochronometer used, the calculated central age along with its margin of error in years, and a reference to the original literature.

The data published in this publication (https://doi.org/10.24341/tethys.255) are based on the "Metallogenetic Map of Austria Including Industrial Minerals and Energy Raw Materials 1:500,000" (Weber, 1997).

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These are the analytical results from the 2003 and 2006 sampling campaigns on basic rocks from the Waldviertel region. Data and their descriptions are available here: https://doi.org/10.24341/tethys.254.

Between 1982 and 2009, GeoSphere Austria (formerly the Federal Geological Survey) conducted aerogeophysical measurements throughout Austria in collaboration with the Austrian Armed Forces. The resulting data have now been published in four thematically structured sub-publications covering various regions of the country.

The data can be found at: https://doi.org/10.24341/tethys.250 (Upper and Lower Austria), https://doi.org/10.24341/tethys.251 (Burgenland, Styria), https://doi.org/10.24341/tethys.252 (Carinthia), https://doi.org/10.24341/tethys.253 (Tyrol, Vorarlberg)

This data publication https://doi.org/10.24341/tethys.248 contains the supporting data sets of the Terra Nova publication "P-T-t-d Evolution of Low-Grade Metamorphic Xenotime, Eastern Alps (Austria)" by Hollinetz et al. (in press). Two metasedimentary samples from the low-grade metamorphic Präbichl Formation south of the Dachstein and Hochschwab massifs (Norian Nappe, Eastern Alpine Unit) were examined.

This data publication https://doi.org/10.24341/tethys.249 contains Raman spectra of 87 graphite and metasediment samples from 37 localities in the Bohemian Massif (Austria, Czech Republic, and Germany), including methodological metadata. The samples originate from abandoned mines, field outcrops, and collections from GeoSphere Austria and the Natural History Museum Vienna. The dataset describes the microstructural state of the carbonaceous material studied, which depends on the metamorphic grade of the host rocks.

Eight SKOS vocabularies from the GBA Thesaurus are now available on GeoSphere Tethys. These include the following subject areas: Geological Units, Geological Structures, Geological Timescales, Lithologies, Lithotectonic Units, Minerals and Raw Material Geology.

They can be found under the DOI https://doi.org/10.24341/tethys.241 to https://doi.org/10.24341/tethys.247
The vocabularies can be downloaded directly from Tethys or referenced in your own applications.

Eight SKOS vocabularies from the GBA Thesaurus are now available on GeoSphere Tethys. These include the following subject areas: Geological Units, Geological Structures, Geological Timescales, Lithologies, Lithotectonic Units, Minerals and Raw Material Geology.

They can be found under the DOI https://doi.org/10.24341/tethys.241 to https://doi.org/10.24341/tethys.247
The vocabularies can be downloaded directly from Tethys or referenced in your own applications.

The vector geological data of the Geological Map of the Republic of Austria 1:50,000 sheets 201-210 Villach - Assling have been added and can now be queried.

The geodata was derived from the GK50 map series "Geological Map of the Republic of Austria 1:50,000." The data is based on a comprehensive data collection as part of the legally enshrined geological survey of Austria, which includes extensive literature research, terrain mapping, and sampling with scientific analyses and measurements. The geodata published in the BMN sheet section reflects the current state of knowledge at the time of printing and may differ slightly from the originals. As a special edition to the previously published data publications in the GK50 series, the dataset includes BMN sheets 202-Klagenfurt and 203-Maria Saal.
The data and metadata can be accessed or downloaded at https://doi.org/10.24341/tethys.240

The completely redesigned frontend not only offers a significantly better overview of published data publications, but also more intuitive operation and easier navigation through the content. A highlight of the current release is the new preview function: For many formats published in Tethys, additional information or simple data tables can now be displayed directly in the browser – a direct download is no longer necessary in these cases.
The filter functions have also been extensively expanded and made more user-friendly. This makes it possible to find the data you're looking for even faster and more precisely.

As part of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) project GeoEN-Inntal (2022-2025), the University of Innsbruck created a simplified 3D geological-tectonic model of the deep subsurface. The data and associated metadata can be found using the following DOI: https://doi.org/10.24341/tethys.239

The map for Magnetic Declination shows the angular difference between the north direction indicated by the magnetic compass and the geographic north direction for Austria for 2025. The map is recalculated and created annually.

Shortlink to the Declination layer in GeoSphere Maps