Stratigraphy, Sedimentology and Palaeontology

Tropical conditions in southern Germany: Investigating the sedimentation of Middle Jurassic shallow marine environments in the South German Basin by cyclostratigraphy

Katharina Leu March 31, 2023

Most people would not relate Central Europe to a tropical environment today. During the Middle Jurassic (174-163 Ma ago), however, such conditions prevailed in most parts of the nowadays landmass that was almost completely covered by a shallow epicontinental sea (estimated 0-100 m water depth) except for several emerged areas and islands. During this time, …[Read More]

The study of sedimentary architecture and topography to reduce Earthquake damages: a sedimentological perspective on the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes

Ramon Lopez February 28, 2023

The area were most collapses occurred is a former alluvial outlet for the drainage of water and sediment from the upper parts of the Ahir Mountain When it comes to earthquakes, the nature of the Earth surface geology and its geometry is critical to understand the intensity and type of motion of the ground where …[Read More]

Outcrop analogues to Carbon Sequestration Targets: the Gog Quartzite of Alberta – including a short virtual field trip!

Jon Noad January 12, 2023

Introduction In 2022 I was asked to put together a virtual field trip looking at carbon sequestration (CCS). We are particularly lucky in Alberta in having three excellent Cambrian targets for CCS including the Basal Cambrian Sandstone, currently being used for CCS in Shell’s QUEST project, quartzites of the Deadwood Formation (being utilized for a …[Read More]

Towards a better understanding of 500,000-years climate history in central Mexico

Mehrdad Sardar Abadi November 25, 2022

The effects of climate change on tropical regions are in parts still poorly understood, although the tropics include some of the most populated areas in the world. Now we created an age-depth model and a moisture reconstruction of the last 500,000 years from one of the oldest lakes in central Mexico, Lake Chalco. Central …[Read More]

International Continental Scientific Drilling Program Workshops – How they work and why they provide fascinating experiences and perspectives, especially for early career scientists

Marta Marchegiano October 24, 2022

Thanks to the novelty and potential of my research focus (a paleothermometer for lacustrine environments based on the application of the carbonate clumped isotope technique on small crustacea shells (ostracods)) that provides insights into atmospheric temperatures of the past, I was selected by the committees of three International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) workshops. The …[Read More]

The digitalization of sedimentary outcrops

Ramon Lopez September 22, 2022

From sketches to first photos Knowledge of geology and, in particular of sedimentology, has successfully been transferred and shared for hundreds of years through sketches. Like a botanist or zoologist, a geologist is able to record data from the field with just a paper and a pencil in the form of drawings (see one of …[Read More]

Tapping into commercial datasets – a woefully underutilized resource

Jon Noad August 30, 2022

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 …[Read More]

The Deep Dust project continues!

Christian Zeeden, Lynn Soreghan and Sylvie Bourquin July 22, 2022

In 2019, the EGU SSP blog reported from a workshop exploring Paleozoic dust. By now, the Deep Dust initiative is supported by the International Continental Scientific Drilling program, which is an important step. It is planned to drill in the US in a first project phase. The Deep Dust Drilling Project (DEEP DUST) is focused …[Read More]

Winning a modern war is much about sedimentology

Ramon Lopez June 3, 2022

Russia has invaded Ukraine. We have been reading and watching in the news how some pieces of high-tech equipment and weapons are being determinant for Ukraine to push back Russia’s invasion. Guided missiles, drones or new generation satellites heavily relie on rare-earth elements for development and production. The aggressor and the invaded country crave for …[Read More]

Does half-precession influence European climate?

Arne Ulfers May 4, 2022

What is half-precession? In the first half of the 20th century, the Serbian researcher Milutin Milanković described the periodic changes of the Earth’s orbit around the Sun. In recent decades, changes in these Milanković cycles have been shown to have an impact on global climate, and information about this is preserved in geologic records through …[Read More]