EGU Blogs

Division blogs

Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrology & Volcanology

A little fracture can go a long way: How experiments illuminate our understanding of volcanic eruptions

December 1, 2017
A little fracture can go a long way: How experiments illuminate our understanding of volcanic eruptions

What controls how violently a volcano erupts? Stratovolcanoes like Mount St Helens (USA), Gunung Merapi (Indonesia), or Volcán de Colima (Mexico) tend to erupt in two distinct ways: effusively and/or explosively. Effusive eruptions are eruptions where lava is extruded without any major explosions. Although effusive eruptions can be dangerous, at stratovolcanoes they tend to be …[Read More]

CR
Cryospheric Sciences

Image of the Week – Antarctica Day

December 1, 2017
Image of the Week – Antarctica Day

Today, 1st December 2017, marks the 58th anniversary of the signing of the Antarctic Treaty in 1959. The Antarctic Treaty was motivated by international collaboration in Antarctica in the International Geophysical Year (IGY), 1957-1958. During the IGY over 50 new bases were established in and around Antarctica by 12 nations- including this one at Halley …[Read More]

GD
Geodynamics

On the influence of grain size in numerical modelling

and November 29, 2017
On the influence of grain size in numerical modelling

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. …[Read More]

CL
Climate: Past, Present & Future

Forams, the sea thermometers of the past!

and November 24, 2017
Forams, the sea thermometers of the past!

Name of proxy Mg/Ca-SST on planktonic foraminifera shell Type of record Sea Surface Temperature (SST) Paleoenvironment Marine environments Period of time investigated 55 Million years ago to recent times How does it work ? Foraminifera (or Forams) are single-celled organisms varying from less than 1 mm to several cm in size. They are very abundant …[Read More]

CR
Cryospheric Sciences

Image of the Week – Does size really matter? A story of ice floes and power laws

November 24, 2017
Image of the Week – Does size really matter? A story of ice floes and power laws

The retreating Arctic sea ice is one of the most well-known facets of Climate Change. Images of polar bears desperately swimming through polar seas searching for somewhere to rest and feed resonate strongly with the public. Beyond these headlines however, the Arctic Ocean is displaying a rapid transition from having mostly permanent ice cover to …[Read More]

SM
Seismology

Crowdsourcing in Europe: how to share macroseismic data of felt earthquakes ?

November 20, 2017
Crowdsourcing in Europe: how to share macroseismic data of felt earthquakes ?

“Did you feel the earthquake ?”     “Avez-vous ressenti un tremblement de Terre?”      “Erdbeben gespürt?”          ” Følte du siste jordskjelv?”            “Sentiu um Sismo?” “Ha sentido algún terremoto?”      “Pocítili ste zemetrasenie?”      “Hai Sentito il Terremoto?” “почувствахте ли земетресение?” Technical workshop on internet …[Read More]

CR
Cryospheric Sciences

Image of the Week – Ice Stupas: a solution for Himalayan water shortage?

November 17, 2017
Image of the Week – Ice Stupas: a solution for Himalayan water shortage?

As the world searches for practical innovations that can mitigate the impact of climate change, traditional methods of environmental management can offer inspiration. In Hindu Kush and Karakoram region, local people have been growing, or grafting, glaciers for at least 100 years. Legend has it that artificial glaciers were grown in mountain passes as early as the …[Read More]