Device for monitoring temperature distribution on the basis of distributed fiber-optic sensing, and use of same

1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a method and a device for monitoring, also permanently and automatically, temperature distributions and/or temperature anomalies on the basis of distributed fiber-optic temperature sensing as well as to the use of such methods. According to the invention the detection of local temperature extremes, i.e. minimums or maximums, in view of the evaluation is performed by an evaluation without numeric derivations. With the device for monitoring ascending and supply pipes surrounded by an annular space it is possible to check the safety of pressurized installations, particularly in the field of low-pressure gas storage, in a cost-efficient manner. Moreover, the position of an underground watershed or respectively the direction and flow rate of the flows in flooded drift sections can be determined on the basis of fiber-optic temperature measurements. The defined arrangement of preferably vertical sensor cables inserted into the bores also makes it possible to examine the tightness of base sole and lateral walls in building excavations. Finally, the virtually horizontal, meander-shaped arrangement of fiber-optic cables situated in several levels makes it possible to evaluate and control the efficacy and homogeneity of leaching processes in leaching dumps and fills.