EGU Blogs

Biogeosciences

Coffee break biogeosciences–high resolution δ18O record from bivalves

Rachael Moore December 9, 2016

Much like trees, clam shells have growth rings. The chemistry of these rings can be used as a proxy for ocean chemistry. Recently, an international team of scientists used the growth rings found in shells of Arctica islandica to produce an annual absolutely dated marine δ18O record for the last millennium which was published in Nature Communications. The record represents the first fine scale arch ...[Read More]

GfGD

Geology for Global Development

Friday Photo: Tensional cracks from Kaikoura earthquake

Rosalie Tostevin December 9, 2016

This photo was taken by Jack Williams from the University of Otago during mapping of the surface rupture from the recent Kaikoura earthquake. Birds eye view of tensional cracks in ground adjacent to fault trace.

GeoLog

EGU 2017: Registration open & townhall and splinter meeting requests

Laura Roberts-Artal December 8, 2016

The EGU General Assembly brings together geoscientists from all over the world to one meeting that covers all disciplines of the Earth, planetary and space sciences. The conference is taking place in Vienna on 23–28 April 2017, providing an opportunity for both established scientists and early career researchers to present their work and discuss their ideas with experts in all fields of the geosci ...[Read More]

GeoLog

AGU Fall Meeting 2016: Come meet the EGU!

Laura Roberts-Artal December 7, 2016

Are you attending the AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco next week (12th-16th December?) If so come and visit the EGU booth! You’ll find us in the Exhibition Hall in Booth 1231, just opposite the Recharge Lounge (top right of the exhibition hall). You can find us on the map of the exhibition hall online. In attendance will be the EGU’s Executive Secretary (Philippe) and the Communications Officer ( ...[Read More]

TS

Tectonics and Structural Geology

Minds over Methods: studying dike propagation in the lab

Stefano Urbani December 7, 2016

Have you ever thought of using gelatin in the lab to simulate the brittle-elastic properties of the Earth’s crust? Stefano Urbani, PhD student at the university Roma Tre (Italy), uses it for his analogue experiments, in which he studies the controlling factors on dike propagation in the Earth’s crust. Although we share this topic with our sister division ‘Geochemistry, Mineralogy ...[Read More]

GeoLog

Imaggeo on Mondays: The shrinking of Earth’s saltiest lake

Laura Roberts-Artal December 5, 2016

One of the consequences of the rapid fall of the water level (>1 m per year), is that vast areas of salt-rich ground of the shrunken Dead Sea are prone to strong dissolution and mechanical erosion of the subsurface processes.

The Dead Sea is one of the saltiest lakes on Earth, located at the lowest point of the globe. For centuries it has been known for the restorative powers of its muds and waters. Their hypersalinity means it is possible to easily float on the lake’s surface. Bordering Israel, the West Bank and Jordan, it is a unique environment in an otherwise arid region. Changing climate, which is seeing tempera ...[Read More]

GfGD

Geology for Global Development

Guest Blog (GfGD Liverpool): Reflections on the GfGD Annual Conference 2016

Dr Joel C. Gill December 5, 2016

GfGD were delighted to support Clare Spink and Taryn Freeman (University of Liverpool) to attend the recent GfGD Annual Conference. As the new leaders of the GfGD Liverpool University Group they were eager to learn more about GfGD and take that back to Liverpool. On our guest blog today, they share some of those reflections… As we only recently took over organisation of GfGD Liverpool, it wa ...[Read More]

CR

Cryospheric Sciences

Image of the Week – Sea Ice Floes!

Chris Horvat December 2, 2016

The polar regions are covered by a thin sheet of sea ice – frozen water that forms out of the same ocean water it floats on. Often, portrayals of Earth’s sea ice cover show it as a great, white, sheet. Looking more closely, however reveals the sea ice cover to be a varied and jumbled collection of floating pieces of ice, known as floes. The distribution and size of these floes is vitally imp ...[Read More]

GeoLog

Geosciences Column: The complex links between shrinking sea ice and cloud cover

Laura Roberts-Artal December 2, 2016

Sea ice breaking on the Chukchi Sea, Barrow, July 2014

The global climate system is complex. It is composed of, and governed by, a plethora of interconnect factors. Solar radiation, land surface, ice cover, the atmosphere and living things, as well as wind and ocean currents, play a crucial role in the climate system. These factors are intricately connected; changes to some can have significant effects on others, leading to overall consequences for th ...[Read More]

GfGD

Geology for Global Development

Mapping the Kaikoura earthquake, New Zealand

Rosalie Tostevin December 1, 2016

Jack Williams is a PhD Student at the University of Otago, New Zealand, where he is studying the Alpine Fault. Jack was part of a team of experts that went into the field immediately following the Kaikoura earthquake to map the surface ruptures. Here he explains what they were up to and shares some photos of the damage. The Mw 7.8 Kaikoura Earthquake was an incredibly complex event involving sever ...[Read More]