Publications

Geosciences Column: Thunderstorm asthma, the unexpected impact of lightning storms on pollen allergies.

Hazel Gibson June 26, 2020

Image credit: Michiel Baatsen, (distributed via imaggeo)

In October 2015 a series of massive thunderstorms rolled across the Eastern Mediterranean. In the hours and days that followed many people living along the Israeli coast had to go to their nearest medical centre because they were experiencing respiratory problems, which appeared very similar to asthma. But what could have caused these breathing problems? Well in research recently published in Natu ...[Read More]

EGU President Alberto Montanari introduces the new EGUsphere

Alberto Montanari March 17, 2020

The European Geosciences Union (EGU) just announced the launch of EGUsphere, a new online platform designed to promote global networking and open discussion within the Earth, planetary and space science community. EGUsphere will serve as a central repository for all contributions, presentations and manuscripts presented to EGU. In particular, EGUsphere will host abstracts and presentations from th ...[Read More]

Geosciences Column: How erupting African volcanoes impact the Amazon’s atmosphere

Olivia Trani July 12, 2019

An aerial view of the towering volcanic peak of Mt. Nyiragongo. Research suggests that its emissions can reach as far as South America, impacting the atmosphere of the Amazon Basin. (Credit: MONUSCO/Neil Wetmore via Wikimedia Commons)

When volcanoes erupt, they can release into the atmosphere a number of different gases initially stored in their magma, such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and sulfur dioxide. These kinds of gases can have a big influence on Earth’s atmosphere, even at distances hundreds to thousands of kilometres away. A team of researchers have found evidence that sulfur emissions from volcanic eruptions i ...[Read More]

Geosciences Column: Flooded by jargon

Rolf Hut March 28, 2019

Is it a river? A canal? A stream? And would experts and laypeople agree on what it is? Photo credit: Anna Nadolna (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu).

When hydrologists and people of the general public use simple water-related words, are they actually saying the same thing? While many don’t consider words like flood, river and groundwater to be very technical terms, also known as jargon, water scientists and the general public can actually have pretty different definitions. This is what a team of researchers have discovered in recent study, and ...[Read More]