EGU Blogs

Divisions

CR
Cryospheric Sciences

Image of the Week – Of comparing oranges and apples in the sea-ice context

October 27, 2017
Image of the Week – Of comparing oranges and apples in the sea-ice context

In the last fifty years, models and observations have enabled us to better understand sea-ice processes. On the one hand, global climate models have been developed, accounting for the sea-ice component in the climate system. On the other hand, satellite instruments have been developed to monitor the “real” sea-ice evolution. These satellite observations are often used to evaluate climate models. H ...[Read More]

GM
Geomorphology

Time to travel – the ERASMUS program turns 30 this year

October 27, 2017
Time to travel – the ERASMUS program turns 30 this year

The mobility program of the European Union, named after Erasmus of Rotterdam who studied in different places all over Europe, turns 30 this year. I wanted to take this opportunity to promote this great possibility for gathering international experience and getting insights into the teaching and research skills of our European colleagues. The ERASMUS program, named ERASMUS+ since 2014, is most famo ...[Read More]

GD
Geodynamics

Going with the toroidal mantle flow

October 25, 2017
Going with the toroidal mantle flow

Subduction zones host one of the most complex and fascinating tectonic systems on the planet. Numerical models by Király and colleagues recently published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters reveal that the strength of the toroidal flow depends on the mantle viscosity and the magnitude of the slab pull force while the characteristic size of the toroidal cells mainly depends on the size of the c ...[Read More]

CR
Cryospheric Sciences

Image of the Week — Think ‘tank’: oceanography in a rotating pool

October 20, 2017
Image of the Week — Think ‘tank’: oceanography in a rotating pool

To study how the ocean behaves in the glacial fjords of Antarctica and Greenland, we normally have to go there on big icebreaker campaigns. Or we rely on modelling results, especially so to determine what happens when the wind or ocean properties change. But there is also a third option that we tend to forget about: we can recreate the ocean in a lab. This is exactly what our Bergen-Gothenburg tea ...[Read More]

GD
Geodynamics

Planting seeds of deformation in numerical models

October 18, 2017
Planting seeds of deformation in numerical models

The Geodynamics 101 series serves to showcase the diversity of research topics and methods in the geodynamics community in an understandable manner. We welcome all researchers – PhD students to Professors – to introduce their area of expertise in a lighthearted, entertaining manner and touch upon some of the outstanding questions and problems related to their fields. This month we continue the con ...[Read More]

CL
Climate: Past, Present & Future

Decomposing algae have not said their last word yet!

October 17, 2017
Decomposing algae have not said their last word yet!

Name of proxy Phytane, a compound resulting from the degradation of Chlorophyll-a (Chl a), a green pigment in plants and algae that is involved in photosynthesis Type of record Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations Paleoenvironment Marine sediments and oils Period of time investigated Phanerozoic (last 540 million years) How it works Before we can start predicting the potential impact of human ...[Read More]

Earth and Space Science Informatics

Strengthening Early Career Scientists (ECS) in EGU ESSI

October 16, 2017
Strengthening Early Career Scientists (ECS) in EGU ESSI

The number of presentations from ECS in the ESSI sessions has been low during recent EGU General Assemblies. We are hence currently trying to get greater involvement and recognition for the ECS in the ESSI Division. How to get involved as ECS in the ESSI division? Join the ESSI ECS mailing list We have a dedicated ESSI ECS mailing list that can be used for discussion between the ESSI ECSs. It is a ...[Read More]

TS
Tectonics and Structural Geology

Cargèse Earthquake Summer School 2017

October 13, 2017
Cargèse Earthquake Summer School 2017

Earthquakes: nucleation, triggering, rupture, and relationships to aseismic processes – 2-6 October 2017, Cargèse (Corsica) A summer school in October, isn’t that a bit late? Well, not if it is held in Cargèse, a small town at the coast of Corsica! After a successful first edition in 2014, scientists from all over the world gathered again last week at the beautifully located ‘Institut d̵ ...[Read More]

CR
Cryospheric Sciences

Image of the Week – Karthaus Summer School 2017

October 13, 2017
Image of the Week – Karthaus Summer School 2017

Glaciologists often undertake fieldwork in remote and difficult to access locations, which perhaps explains why they happily travel to similar locations to attend meetings and workshops. The Karthaus Summer School, which focuses on Ice Sheets and Glaciers in the Climate System, is no exception. The idyllic village of Karthaus, located in the narrow Schnalstal valley in Südtirol (Italy), has been h ...[Read More]

AS
Atmospheric Sciences

Buckle up! Its about to get bumpy on the plane.

October 12, 2017
Buckle up! Its about to get bumpy on the plane.

Clear-Air Turbulence (CAT) is a major hazard to the aviation industry. If you have ever been on a plane you have probably heard the pilots warn that clear-air turbulence could occur at any time so always wear your seatbelt. Most people will have experienced it for themselves and wanted to grip their seat. However, severe turbulence capable of causing serious passengers injuries is rare. It is defi ...[Read More]