Trying something new and thinking outside the box is always challenging, both within and outside academia. Exploring alternative paths outside academia can be daunting, but you can also have a great time seizing every opportunity available. To shed a bit of light on this quest, it is my pleasure to interview Dr Alka Tripathy-Lang. Thank you, Alka, for accepting this interview! Alka received her Ph ...[Read More]
Lessons learnt, and to be learnt from the Uttarakhand, Himalaya 2021 catastrophic event.
Google Earth image showing the location of the Ronti peak glacier, source of the 7th February 2021 landslide-induced flooding event, in Uttarakhand, western Himalaya, India
Rising global temperature and melting of glaciers in the Himalaya are changing the Himalayan cryospheric dynamics and causing a dramatic increase in the frequency and magnitude of the natural and anthropogenic hazards. One such example was the 7th February 2021 Uttarakhand landslide-induced floods, which killed almost 200 people and washed away two hydropower dams, amidst when India was dealing wi ...[Read More]
A look into the life of a volcanologist in Japan, one of the most hazardous countries for volcanoes
Microscopic rock art. Chemical and textural features of olivine (ol) and orthopyroxene (opx) crystals in a lava flow from Ruapehu are revealed in these backscattered electrons (BSE) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) images. On the left, the grayscale intensity reflects the iron and magnesium contents of the minerals (brighter = higher iron (Fe); darker = higher magnesium (Mg)). On the right, unique colours correspond to the different orientations of the crystals in this cluster. Photo Credit: Chris Conway.
In this interview, I talk with Chris Conway about his experience as a volcanologist in Japan, which is one of the countries with the highest volcanic threat in the world. You will read how studying crystals found within erupted lava flows can help hazard mitigation at active volcanoes and how volcanic hazard is managed in Japan. Hi Chris!! Thank you for accepting this interview, first and foremo ...[Read More]