GeoLog

Energy, Resources and the Environment

GeoSciences Column: Catch of the day – what seabirds can tell us about the marine environment

September 22, 2017
GeoSciences Column: Catch of the day – what seabirds can tell us about the marine environment
An adult northern gannet mid-flight . Credit: Andreas Trepte , distributed via Wikimedia Commons .

Off the coast of Germany, a male northern gannet (for ease, we’ll call him Pete) soars above the cold waters of the North Sea. He’s on the hunt for a shoal of fish. Some 40km due south east, Pete’s mate and chick await, patiently, for him to return to the nest with a belly full of food. Glints of silver just below the waves; the fish have arrived. Pete readies himself. Body rigid, wings tucked in ...[Read More]

Imaggeo on Mondays: What happens to mines when they become redundant?

September 18, 2017
Imaggeo on Mondays: What happens to mines when they become redundant?
Ore processing plant, Messida, El Kala, Algeria . Credit: Issaad Mouloud (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu)

When the minerals run out, or it is no longer profitable to extract the resources, mines shut down. Prior to issuing a permit for the exploitation of a resource, most regulators require assurance that once the mine closes it, or the activities carried out at the site, will not present a risk to human health or the environment. Ongoing monitoring of a mine once it is decommissioned is required to e ...[Read More]

Imaggeo on Mondays: Breath from the underground

June 26, 2017
Imaggeo on Mondays: Breath from the underground
Breath of the underground . Credit: Néstor Campos (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu).

The heat seeping from the geothermal area which is part of the Krafla volcanic system in Iceland, ‘powers’ the steaming vent at Hverir (Hverarönd). The area is well known for its mud pots and sulphuric gas fumaroles, complete with pungent eggy smell. Some of the vents are in fact boreholes drilled in the 50’s for sulphur exploration which have been turned into fumaroles, the steam is a resul ...[Read More]

Light years from home – a geologist’s tale

June 21, 2017
Light years from home – a geologist’s tale
Sunrise seen from space . Illustration inspired by the opening scene of Stanley Kubricks film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Credit: Grafiker61 (Own work), distributed via Wikimedia Commons .

In a departure from the usual posts we feature on the blog, today Conor Purcell (a freelance science writer) brings you a thought provoking science fiction piece. Grab a drink and dive into this geology inspired adventure! “It’s typical geology for a rocky planet” K reported. “Captured beneath the ocean at its northern pole, the core is a mix of metamorphic and sedimentary rock, with sand an ...[Read More]