If you Google Pineapple Express you’re likely to end-up with a stoner movie comedy, but for those who live on the West Coast of North America, it has an entirely different meaning. Pineapple Express is a weather phenomenon that refers to a strong atmospheric river that brings heavy rain and moisture to the region. Despite the shared name, the two Pineapple Expresses couldn’t be more di ...[Read More]
Cryospheric Sciences
Did you know about the dark secrets of Arctic sea ice?
Have you ever wondered what dark secrets the Arctic sea ice holds during the harsh winter months? Imagine total darkness in the central Arctic, making it almost impossible to gather scientific information. At this time of the year, usually only satellite observations are available. This changed in September 2019 when a team of scientists collected in situ and airborne data in the central Arctic as ...[Read More]
Solar-Terrestrial Sciences
Employing J burst observations made by LOFAR to determine the properties of large coronal loops
Large coronal loops around one solar radius in altitude are an important connection between the solar wind and the low solar corona. However, their plasma properties are not well studied, as standard X-ray and UV techniques are not suited to these low-density environments. How does temperature, pressure, and magnetic field strength evolve along these loops? Observable structures in radio emission ...[Read More]
Hydrological Sciences
Inter-journal Special Issue “Drought, Society and Ecosystems”
Are you a scientist, researcher, student, practitioner, or stakeholder with an interest in the complex phenomenon of drought and its impacts on societies and ecosystems? If so, we have exciting news for you! The IAHS Panta Rhei scientific decade (2013-2023) working group “Drought in the Anthropocene” (DitA) is advertising an inter-journal special issue entitled “Drought, Society and Ecosystems” to ...[Read More]
Geodynamics
Geodynamics 101 – Viscous anisotropy
We are living in an anisotropic world. From rock-building crystals, ice, and trees growing in your garden to your favourite slice of cake many materials or objects has some anisotropic behaviour. What does this mean? Anisotropy (non-isotropy) implies that a material property depends on the direction of the measurement. In geodynamics we often talk about seismic anisotropy, originating from microsc ...[Read More]
Nonlinear Processes in Geosciences
El Niño is back: What it Means for Global Warming?
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has just announced that the La Niña episode has officially ended, and from autumn onwards, it should give way to an El Niño phase. But what does that mean? And what is the influence of these weather phenomena on global warming?For those who have never heard of La Niña before, here’s an explanation of this phenomenon. The Earth rotates, so there are ...[Read More]
Geodesy
Women in Geodesy: Veronique Dehant
A few weeks ago we talked with Anny Cazenave, the first Vening-Meinesz medallist, about her view on being a women in science. But, she wasn’t the only influential women in Geodesy that received the Vening-Meinesz medal from the EGU. In 2003, Véronique Dehant was awarded with the Vening-Meinesz medal in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the study of nutations of the Earth ...[Read More]
Climate: Past, Present & Future
Lessons learnt from women in climate science campfire event
‘Women in Climate Science Campfire’ event On November 7th, 2022, the EGU Climate Division outreach team hosted a campfire event, a series of online presentations on ‘women in climate science,’ where we covered subjects from the current state of knowledge on women being affected by climate change to many of the challenges female scientists faced (or faces) in the current societal landscape. Followi ...[Read More]
Natural Hazards
Understanding and assessing hydrological extremes, a discussion with Alberto Viglione
Extreme hydrological events affect billions of people worldwide, and their negative impacts will likely increase due to climate change, urbanisation and ageing infrastructure. Further understanding of hydrological extremes and societal responses to floods is critical in mitigating flood risk and creating better urban environments. In today’s interview, we talk with Prof. Alberto Viglione. Al ...[Read More]
Cryospheric Sciences
Image of the Week – Receiving messages from the deep
The Weddell Seal pops his head up through the hole in the floor of the shipping container… for the fourth time today. The shipping container is one of several making up our field camp on sea ice, 40 km from Scott Base – situated on Ross Island, in the south-western Ross Sea. Today I talk about the sub-ice platelet layer, which provides the base for a rich marine environment. Generating super ...[Read More]