The GfGD team are safely in Leh, having arrived yesterday morning. The flight from Delhi took us over some amazing landscapes and very visible geology. Upon arrival we were informed that the Dalai Lama would also be arriving soon – giving us a fascinating insight into some aspects of local culture. We’ll be starting our project in the local schools on Friday – with the GfGD team ...[Read More]
WaterUnderground
Two great science communication tools for conferences and teaching: smart screens and cell phones
A few weeks ago at the European Geosciences Union in Vienna I learned about two dead-easy and great science communication tools for conferences. These are great for any conference hall or meeting, but could be just as easily be used in the classroom to make a more exciting in class research presentations. For better or worse, most of us are carrying them (or looking at them!) right now: a smart s ...[Read More]
Geology for Global Development
GfGD in the Himalaya (3) – Tweet your questions!
This weekend two of the GfGD National Team will be travelling out to India to take part in a major international event on sustainable resource development in the Himalaya region. Joining others from around the UK, India and beyond, our focus will be on hazards education. We’ve written earlier this week about the work we’ll be doing and the booklet we have produced. We’d like to i ...[Read More]
Geology for Global Development
GfGD in the Himalaya (2) – Hazards Booklet
Many of you may remember that earlier this year we advertised an opportunity to help put together a small booklet on natural hazards relevant to the Himalaya. The book was to have a focus on disaster risk reduction and landslides (the earthquake section being written by the BGS School Seismology Programme). Here is the finished work – This 40 page booklet covers topics ranging from what is e ...[Read More]
Geology for Global Development
GfGD in the Himalaya (1) – Project Overview
This time next week, GfGD will be participating in a major international event and conference focused on sustainable resource development in the Himalaya. The event, composed of a conference, fieldtrips and educational project will examine aspects relating to water resources, environmental change, disaster risk reduction, geotourism, renewable energy and natural resource management. Background Our ...[Read More]
WaterUnderground
and we have a winner….Coolest Hydrogeology Paper of 2013 Winners announcement
From Matt Currell on Linkedin: It is with great pleasure that I can announce the winners of the first ever ‘coolest paper of the year’ competition, organised by the steering committee of the ECHN. Big congratulations to the authors of our winning paper: Şebnem Arslan et al: Environmental isotopes and noble gases in the deep aquifer system of Kazan Trona Ore Field, Ankara, central Turk ...[Read More]
WaterUnderground
One in four of world’s big cities water-stressed
From the McGill Newsroom As more people move to urban areas, cities around the world are experiencing increased water stress and looking for additional water supplies to support their continued grow. The first global database of urban water sources and stress, published online this week in Global Environmental Change, estimates that cities move 504 billion litres of water a distance of 27,000 kilo ...[Read More]
VolcanicDegassing
Looking ahead to the London Volcano and Universities UK Week, 2014
Over at http://LondonVolcano.com we are getting ready for Universities UK Week, and the launch of our ‘live’ volcano in front of London’s Natural History Museum
WaterUnderground
Groundwater extraction can move mountains
Contributed by Pascal Audet (webpage or email) Next time you eat food grown in the San Joaquin Valley of California, think about this: the water used for growing them probably came from under ground. Farmers do not really have a choice because the amount of water from rain and snow can’t keep up with the needs for growing food. Every year more water is drawn out of the ground for irrigation. ...[Read More]
VolcanicDegassing
Friday Field Photo – St Vincent, 1902
Today’s field photo is by Tempest Anderson, of the ‘Roseau Dry River flowing with Boiling Mud’, a picture taken in the aftermath of the May 1902 eruptions of the Soufrière of St Vincent. The full published caption explains the origins of this boiling mud – a phenomenon we now call a lahar: ‘This is a small stream in the Wallibu Basin. When the water undermines the ba ...[Read More]