For many, the theory of continental drift is a proven and understood concept. Few are aware that the debate has been decades-long process. A recently published, multi-volume book is re-going through the whole story on how the theory evolved, detailing the views of how scientist perceived it over time. The debate is between fixism and mobilism which the …[Read More]
Seismology
Feedback to EGU
The EGU General Assembly 2014 was again a great success with 4,829 oral, 9,583 poster, and 483 PICO presentations as well as 12,437 scientists attending from 106 countries. Please find more details at: http://www.egu2014.eu A special survey has been set up to give everyone the chance to report back their feedback about this year’s EGU. For those who …[Read More]
Animation comparing earthquake magnitude and energy release
Seismologists sometimes find it hard to explain to the general public the significance of the earthquake magnitude scale with relation to the energy release. Here is a very nice animation comparing the relative energy release of some 20th and 21st century earthquakes by their moment magnitudes.
AGU journal content to be made freely available
In case you have missed the news, “Starting 1 May, all AGU journal content from 1997 to content published 24 months ago will be freely available“. Below is the announcement sent out to the AGU members. Dear Colleagues, I am pleased to let you know that we are announcing a major step forward in making …[Read More]
What a GA
The Euroepan Geoscience Union General Assembly has come and gone, lets hope that this was a great experience to all especially those attending for first time. This year EGU saw as many as 12,000+ scientists attending from over 100 countries. Scientific contributions consisted of 4,800+ oral, 9,500+ poster, and 483 PICO presentations. Here is a small gallery showing …[Read More]
Less than a week to EGU2014. What’s on?
The European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2014 is less than a week away. Here are some information you might find useful. REGISTRATION: Pick up your name badge from Hall Z (from the forecourt of the congress centre Austria Centre Vienna – ACV) by simply providing your Copernicus Office User ID at the Name Badge Pickup counters. Remember …[Read More]
A small tribute to the pioneers of plate tectonics
The Geological Society has prepared an interactive website that pays a small tribute to the pioneers of plate tectonics: Alfred Lothar Wegener Harry Hammond Hess Frederick Vine and Drummond Matthews John Tuzo-Wilson Dan McKenzie The website also features a Teacher Zone with good teaching material, a Glossary for nicely explained geological terms, and a Test Your Knowledge section …[Read More]
125 years since the first recorded seismogram
17th April marks the 125 anniversary of the first ever recorded seismogram from a distant earthquake. The widely recognised first teleseismic seismogram was recorded on April 17, 1889, in Potsdam, Germany by E. von Rebeur-Pacshwitz (Nature, 1889). The earthquake was in Japan and had a magnitude of about 5.8. Ironically the instrument was originally installed for astronomical …[Read More]
Molding seismic surface waves
Following each major earthquake that occurs close to nearby cities many people wonder what scientist and engineers can do to minimise the seismic hazard on society. Whilst scientist try to understand the mechanism of each fault system on the globe, engineers try to find solutions for buildings to be more safe. One interesting experiment I …[Read More]
Earthquake shakes Twitter users and geeks do some science (oh, and celebrities said they felt it too)
The ever increasing use of mobile phones constantly connected to the internet is bring on a new era in scientific research called crowdsourcing. On Wikipedia crowdsourcing is the defined as the practice of obtaining needed services, ideas, or content by soliciting contributions from a large group of people, and especially from an online community. In recent …[Read More]