Professor Mike Kendall Professor in Earth Sciences School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol PhD (1992) “Contributions to the theory and modelling of seismic waves in anisotropic inhomogeneous media” Supervisor: Prof. C.J. Thomson 1) The Twitter challenge: Describe your PhD in 140 characters (if you can remember it) Developed theory and numerical methods to track seismic waves th ...[Read More]
Four Degrees
Melting, microbes and methane: Are we about to face a carbon apocalypse?
Marion Ferrat takes a look under the frozen layers of Arctic permafrost and discusses how these soils may come back to haunt us. The vast plains of Siberian or Canadian permafrost are a sight to behold. Hundreds, sometimes thousands of miles of frozen soils cover these lands, a cold and barren environment. In places, however, this permafrost is slowly melting away as a result of rising temperature ...[Read More]
Geology for Global Development
Friday Photo (92): Working on Mount Etna
GPS and leveling on Mt Etna with Dr John Murray from the Open University. Credit: Rick Wall (c) Geology for Global Development 2013
Polluting the Internet
Sweeping soot out of the atmosphere
Efforts to slow the rate of global temperature rise in the 21st Century have for some time focussed on non-CO2 species or so-called ‘short-lived forcers’. As far as aerosols are concerned, black carbon (often referred to as soot) has been the main avenue to explore due to its capacity to warm the atmosphere by absorbing sunlight. Black carbon contrasts with most other aerosol species w ...[Read More]
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Science snaps (1): Africa’s Ups and Downs
Each week we’ll be featuring our favourite ‘science snaps’ on the blog. These posts will showcase images, photos, films and figures that we encounter on a day-to-day basis, as well as things which we simply think are cool and should be gawped at. All of the contributors to Between a Rock work in various veins of volcanology and so the upcoming images will be quite diverse… ...[Read More]
Geology for Global Development
GfGD News and Updates
The summer is a busy period for many people and it can be hard to keep track of all that is going on. We’re taking the opportunity today to give you an update on GfGD’s work, and key ways in which YOU can get involved… Blog & Image Competition There is still time (just!) to apply for our 2013 blog and image competition, full details can be found here. The deadline is midday t ...[Read More]
Geology for Global Development
Guest Blog: A Summer of Volcanic Observation in Ecuador (3)
David Litchfield completed a second undergraduate degree in Geosciences with the Open University and is currently studying part-time for an MSc in Geophysical Hazards at UCL. He has a broad interest in hazard monitoring methods and how geoscientists communicate their findings with those who need it, and retains a strong connection with the Andean highlands of Ecuador. This summer, David is volunte ...[Read More]
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Feeling blue: A lesson in perseverance
Mel Auker is a PhD student in the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol and is a regular contributor to Between a rock and hard place. In her own words, she’s an “applied mathematician bumbling my way through a geology PhD”. Here she provides us all with some Monday afternoon inspiration. Read the Original BBC article or watch the BBC interview with Peter Harrison ...[Read More]
Four Degrees
Murky waters – what counts as good water quality?
Flo Bullough discusses the meaning of good and bad water quality, what’s in our tap water and what policies control the content of drinking water. Pressure on water supply and quality has been high on the public and media agenda over the last 18 months. The widely publicised drought in early 2012, recent reports that we are due to run out of clean water in this generation and the controversy aroun ...[Read More]
Geology for Global Development
Sustainable Development in the Himalayas – GfGD’s Role in a Major Upcoming Conference
In June 2014 a conference will take place in Leh (Ladahk Region, India) with a focus on sustainable resource development in the Himalayas. The conference is being organised by the Geological Society of London, in collaboration with the Institute of Energy Research and Training at the University of Jammu, India and many other stakeholders. It will examine a range of issues, including geohazards, ac ...[Read More]