Fluorometers measure concentrations of fluorescent markers in water. The liquid to be analyzed absorbs light of a certain wavelength, which is generated by the fluorometer. The resulting emission of light of a certain higher wavelength (lower energy) can be used to quantitatively determine fluorescent tracers down to extremely low detection limits.
In hydrogeology, the fluorescence tracer method is used to determine flow paths and residence times of water in the subsurface, for example in karst areas, glaciers and rock glaciers.
In addition to the laboratory fluorometer, the institute has four field fluorometers for on-site measurements at springs or surface channels (two flow and two fiber optic fluorometers; the latter together with Graz University of Technology as part of the NAWI Graz cooperation (NAWI Graz Geozentrum). With the combination of field and laboratory equipment, many hydrogeological questions can be answered.