EGU Scientific Divisions

Imaggeo on Mondays: How do Earth’s Northern Lights form?

Konstantina Nakoudi September 16, 2019

Aurora Borealis in Ny Ålesund, Svalbard. Credit: Konstantina Nakoudi (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu)

Aurora Borealis, which means Northern Lights are caused by electrically charged particles from the sun, which enter the Earth’s atmosphere and collide with gases such as oxygen and nitrogen. When the charged particles are blown towards the Earth by the solar wind, they are largely deflected by the Earth’s magnetic field. However, the Earth’s magnetic field is weaker at the poles and therefore some ...[Read More]

Imaggeo on Mondays: A lifeline between light and shadow

Florian Konrad September 9, 2019

A Lifeline Between Light and Shadow. Credit: Florian Konrad (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu)

The Rapaälven making its way through the Rapadalen valley in Northern Sweden. After over a week of hiking through pure wilderness I reached the summit of Skierffe together with three friends. We were just blown away by the view and completely in awe for the beautiful shape of the rivers course… little lakes in between river channels of different sizes as well as dense vegetation forming a ha ...[Read More]

Cities of the future

Sara Mynott September 6, 2019

Blooming marvelous! Vertical gardens bring heaps of aesthetic appeal. Credit: Visal Kolluri

Over half the world’s population lives in cities. Many a metropolis rises high above carpets of concrete and tarmac, vibrant, bustling, and prosperous. But this urban environment comes with many a problem. From poor air quality to hazardous temperatures, there are several dangers present in urban environments. Scientists speaking at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly in Vienna earlier ...[Read More]

Imaggeo on Mondays: how short-term storms can impact our landscapes

Olivia Trani September 2, 2019

Storm over the Sierra de Aconquija. Credit: Mitch D'Arcy (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu)

In the Sierra de Aconquija, a mountain range in the southern Central Andes of Argentina, strong storms often come and go at a moment’s notice, but they can have a long-lasting impact on the Earth’s surface. The thunderstorm cell featured in this photo formed in less than half an hour, giving all those nearby only a few minutes to take cover. Mitch D’Arcy, a geomorphologist and postdoctoral researc ...[Read More]