Internship | Can mining influence tectonic earthquakes?

Become an intern at TNO and investigate whether more than a century of coal mining and groundwater withdrawal influenced the timing of the 1992 Roermond earthquake, one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded in the Netherlands and Northwestern Europe.

This internship has direct scientific and societal relevance: understanding how human activities affect stresses in the Earth's crust can improve knowledge of earthquake hazards and subsurface management.

You will work with the Geological Survey of the Netherlands on quantifying how mining activities may have changed stresses on a major geological fault before the earthquake occurred. By combining geological, hydrogeological, geomechanical and geophysical data, you will contribute to research on interactions between human activities and natural tectonic processes.

You will be part of a multidisciplinary research environment where curiosity is encouraged and ideas are welcomed. You will have the opportunity to develop expertise in geosciences, numerical modelling, and earthquake mechanics, while deepening your understanding through meetings with an expert team working on after-mining effects in the south-Limburg district.

What will be your role?

During this internship, you will investigate whether historical coal mining and mine dewatering in the Lower Rhine Graben produced stress changes that may have influenced the occurrence of the 1992 Roermond earthquake.

You will work at the intersection of geology, hydrogeology, geomechanics and seismology to reconstruct the history of mining and groundwater extraction in the Lower Rhine Graben and assess how these human activities may have altered stresses in the subsurface. The project combines literature research, geological data analysis, GIS mapping and quantitative geomechanical modelling.

The project is structured in several phases. First, you will reconstruct the history of coal extraction, mine closure, groundwater pumping and mine dewatering in the Dutch and German coalfields. For this, you will compile and analyze spatial datasets describing fault geometry, mining extent, coal production, groundwater extraction and water-level changes through time, as well as tectonic information on the Lower Rhine Graben and the Peel Boundary Fault using GIS and geological datasets.

In the next phase, you will quantify mining-related stress changes using relatively simple but powerful elastic modelling approaches. This includes calculating stress perturbations caused by mass removal through coal extraction and groundwater withdrawal.

Finally, you will quantify how historical coal mining and groundwater extraction altered subsurface stress conditions in the Lower Rhine Graben by combining geomechanical and poroelastic modelling approaches, ultimately assessing whether these anthropogenic activities could have significantly influenced the timing of the 1992 Roermond earthquake through changes in Coulomb failure stress on the Peel Boundary Fault. These analyses form the core of the MSc thesis and are designed to result in a complete and scientifically valuable graduation project.

Depending on your interests and progress, this last phase can be extended with more advanced analyses, including comparisons with regional tectonic stressing rates or finite-element modelling of the Lower Rhine Graben basin structure.

Throughout the project you will use tools such as:

• Python (NumPy, SciPy, pandas, matplotlib)
• GIS software (QGIS or ArcGIS)
• Geological and hydrogeological databases
• Numerical modelling tools for stress calculations

You will translate your findings into geological interpretations, stress models, figures, maps, and ultimately an MSc thesis. There may also be opportunities to contribute to scientific publications and conference presentations.

During the internship you will develop skills in:

• Geomechanics
• Hydrogeology
• Numerical modelling
• Scientific programming
• GIS and spatial analysis
• Earthquake physics
• Scientific communication

You will work within the Geological Survey of the Netherlands and interact with researchers working on induced seismicity, subsurface processes, surface deformation, groundwater systems, and geomechanical modelling. You will also have the opportunity to contribute your own ideas within the after-mining effects team of the Advisory Group for Economic Affairs and Climate.

What we expect from you

For this internship, TNO is looking for a Master's student with a background in Geoscience, Applied Earth Sciences, Geophysics, Hydrogeology, Geological Engineering, Civil Engineering, Physics, or a related quantitative discipline, with an interest in topics such as earthquakes, fault mechanics, hydrogeology, geomechanics, numerical modelling, or induced seismicity.

It is helpful if you have basic experience with one or more of the following:

• Python or MATLAB
• GIS software (QGIS or ArcGIS)
• Data analysis and visualization
• Numerical modelling
• Geology, geophysics, hydrogeology, or mechanics

However, prior experience with advanced topics such as finite-element modelling, poroelasticity, Coulomb stress modelling, or earthquake mechanics is not required. The project is intentionally designed so that students can successfully complete the thesis while learning these methods during the internship.

It helps if you bring curiosity, analytical skills, and a willingness to explore complex scientific questions using quantitative methods. TNO is happy to support you in developing areas you want to learn more about.

The intended duration of the internship is approximately 6-9 months, depending on university requirements and the scope of the project. The exact duration and focus can also be tailored to your interests and background.

Most importantly, TNO is looking for someone who is excited to investigate a fascinating scientific question: Can more than a century of coal mining and groundwater withdrawal modify the stress field of the Lower Rhine Graben sufficiently to influence the timing of a tectonic earthquake?

What you'll get in return

An internship at TNO means working in an environment where substance and impact are central. You will become part of a knowledge organisation where research and practice come together, and where experts collaborate on solutions to current societal and technological challenges.

During your internship, you can discover what suits you, where your strengths lie and what you would like to learn next. You will be part of a professional working environment, gain insight into how things work in practice, and have the opportunity to build experience beyond the internship itself.

In addition, TNO offers:

• A professional and innovative internship environment in which you actively contribute to societal and technological challenges, working alongside leading experts in your field
• Personal and dedicated supervision, with focus on your learning objectives, development and study assignment
• Room to develop: you gain relevant work experience, develop both subject-specific and professional skills, and build a valuable network
• Use of a laptop and the facilities you need to perform your work effectively
• A monthly internship allowance of € 615 for a full-time internship, for MSc, BSc and vocational education (MBO) students
• Up to eight hours of leave per internship month for a full-time internship, allowing you to balance your internship with your studies and personal life
• A contribution towards travel expenses if you are not entitled to a student travel card
• A free membership to Jong TNO, the network for young colleagues, where you can meet other TNO colleagues and participate in sports activities, professional and personal development activities, and social events such as the annual ski trip

TNO as an employer

Our people are at the heart of TNO. Their curiosity, expertise and entrepreneurial mindset make it possible to deliver high-impact research and innovations that contribute to society’s sustainable wellbeing and prosperity.

Your talent and ambition have every opportunity to flourish at TNO. You work with experts within and beyond TNO, have access to advanced technology and the freedom to explore, experiment and innovate. TNO's strength lies in independence, reliability and collaboration.