The 2022 European summer was governed by the presence of a persistent cold drop (low pressure area) located between Portugal and France. The change in its position has determined the alternation between hot conditions (low pressure center over Portugal) and stormy conditions (cold drop over France). The warming of the Mediterranean Sea (up to +6°C compared to the period 1990-2020) has largely cont ...[Read More]
Geodynamics
LLSVPs: Mysteries in the Deep Mantle
Did you know that there are big, blob-like anomalies in the deep mantle which are larger than a continent and rise up to hundreds of kilometers from the core-mantle boundary? Today’s post is all about those blobs and what we know and do not know about them. If you want to know more about why these blobs are so interesting to study, check out this other cool blog post by Jamie Ward. If you look at ...[Read More]
Geodynamics
The Sassy Scientist – Happy Perspectives
Anybody that has read at least one post of my weekly column, knows I am not shy about giving to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. Or in this case clearly pointing at the problems in the academic world. Alba seems to have taken this one step further and asks: Why is no one in academia happy? Dear Alba, Believe me, I see where this is coming from, but this might be taking things a tiny bit too far, don ...[Read More]
Cryospheric Sciences
Cryo Adventures – Installing a weather station on the Greenland Ice Sheet
Soaking up the sun and recharging batteries on a peaceful and quiet summer day, or fighting to stay upright during extreme snow storms in the middle of winter, while continuously recording valuable air temperature, pressure, wind-speed and so much more – such is the life of an automatic weather station on the Greenland ice sheet. Even though they are so remote, sitting by themselves surround ...[Read More]
Nonlinear Processes in Geosciences
NP Interviews: Davide Faranda (CNRS) on the topic “global warming and extreme events in Europe”
Davide Faranda is a physicist at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). His main interests are devoted to the construction of a statistical mechanical and dynamical systems framework for the study of atmospheric motions. In particular, his works aim at the characterization of the metastable states of the atmospheric circulation with simple mathematical and statistical tools, an ...[Read More]
Stratigraphy, Sedimentology and Palaeontology
Tapping into commercial datasets – a woefully underutilized resource
Tapping into commercial datasets Over the last two years, I have had the opportunity to work on a variety of construction related projects across Alberta, both as a palaeontologist and as geologist. They have included pipeline lays and inspections, bridge and highway remediation, building projects, quarrying and dam construction. Each of the projects has offered the chance to examine brand new exp ...[Read More]
Geodynamics
Why do seismic images vary beneath different ocean floors?
Mantle flow and deformation beneath tectonic plates
Geodynamics
101 about Ada Lovelace Workshop on Modelling of Mantle and Lithosphere Dynamics
2022 Ada Lovelace Workshop on Numerical Modelling of Mantle and Lithosphere Dynamics is finally coming! Have you got started packing for travelling to Hungary? I got you something to read about on your way to the workshop. Who is Ada Lovelace? The workshop, previously known as the ‘International Workshops on Mantle and Lithosphere Dynamics’, was renamed in 2018 by the EGU Topical Events Committee ...[Read More]
Geodynamics
The Sassy Scientist – Proposing Stardom
Whether you’re just starting out in academia or have been around the block a few times so speak, setting out a new proposal is daunting. Whether it’s coming up with the research topic or fieldwork idea, figuring out how to get the support you need or submitting it to whoever you need approval from, none of it is easy. That’s why Jasper has asked us: What is the secret for an amaz ...[Read More]
Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrology & Volcanology
Is garnet going to be your best date?
For geochronologists it is all about precision and accuracy. For petrochronologists it is more about precise positioning of those ages to trace back the evolution of a rock. For many, it is not just about getting a crystallisation or metamorphic age, it is about knowing when and at what conditions a given rock experienced certain petrogenetic processes. As we progressed from geochronology to petro ...[Read More]