GeoLog

Atmospheric Sciences

Imaggeo on Mondays: Measuring the wind direction

October 2, 2017
Imaggeo on Mondays: Measuring the wind direction
Measuring the wind direction. Credit: Andrew Moss (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu).

Remote, rugged, raw and beautiful beyond measure, the island of South Georgia rises from the wild waters of the South Atlantic, 1300 km south east of the Falkland Islands. The Allardyce Range rises imposingly, south of Cumberland Bay, dominating the central part of the island. At its highest, it towers 2935 m (Mount Paget) above the surrounding landscape. In the region of 150 glaciers carve their ...[Read More]

September GeoRoundUp: the best of the Earth sciences from around the web

September 29, 2017
September GeoRoundUp: the best of the Earth sciences from around the web
Partially collapsed building as a result of the 2017 Puebla earthquake (Mexico). Credit: AntoFran. Distributed via Wikimedia Commons.

Drawing inspiration from popular stories on our social media channels, as well as unique and quirky research news, this monthly column aims to bring you the best of the Earth and planetary sciences from around the web. Major story and what you might have missed This month has been an onslaught of  Earth and space science news; the majority focusing on natural hazards. Hurricanes, earthquakes and v ...[Read More]

Record-setting forest fires in 2017 – what is to blame?

September 28, 2017
Record-setting forest fires in 2017 – what is to blame?
Styggkärret reserve burning fire . Credit: Ylvers , distributed via Pixabay .

Forest fires have once again seized the public consciousness in both Europe and North America. Extreme drought and temperatures contributed to a tinderbox in many forests, and have led to deadly fires across Europe and record-breaking, highly disruptive fires in the USA and Canada, from where I’m currently writing. A simple way to understand fire is by thinking about the fire triangle – the three ...[Read More]

Is it an earthquake, a nuclear test or a hurricane? How seismometers help us understand the world we live in

September 8, 2017
Is it an earthquake, a nuclear test or a hurricane? How seismometers help us understand the world we live in
Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Jose (R) and Hurricane Katia (L) are pictured in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Nexico in this September 7, 2017 NOAA satellite handout photo. Credit: NOAA

Although traditionally used to study earthquakes, like today’s M 8.1 in Mexico,  seismometers have now become so sophisticated they are able to detect the slightest ground movements; whether they come from deep within the bowels of the planet or are triggered by events at the surface. But how, exactly, do earthquake scientists decipher the signals picked up by seismometers across the world? And mo ...[Read More]