I came across this video, which very clearly explains how the Earth’s magnetic field protects us from Solar Storms. It then goes on to explain the link of these phenomena to our planet’s climate. The added bonus is that the images are very cool and I think the voice over is done by Liam Neeson…. Does anyone else think so? Anyway, I digress… For a written account of what i ...[Read More]
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GeoLog
Imaggeo on Mondays: Pitter-patter of little paws in Patomsky crater
This week’s Imaggeo on Mondays is brought to you by Dmitry Demezhko, who describes how Patomsky crater may have formed and why it keeps scientists puzzling… Patomsky crater, also known as Patomskiy crater or the Patom cone, sits in the Irkutsk Region of Eastern Siberia. The site is a curious cone with a crater at the top and a small mound in the center. The cone totals some 39 metres in height and ...[Read More]
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Life and death, and money
Mel Auker is an Earth Sciences PhD student in the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol. A mathematician by trade, Mel’s PhD uses numerical approaches to better understand past, present, and future global volcanic hazard and risk. The recent tragedy at Sinabung volcano, Indonesia, bought some interesting thoughts to light amongst some members of the volcanology group at Brist ...[Read More]
Geology for Global Development
Guest Blog: Softer on the curves
Siân Hodgkins graduated from Cardiff University with a Master’s degree in Environmental Geoscience. Siân took part in a Geology for Global Development placement over Christmas, writing a literature review on landslides in the Ladakh region of the Himalayas. The report will soon by published on our website (open access). Here, Siân writes about her own trip to Ladakh last year, and the effect ...[Read More]
Seismology
The unexpected seismic hazard
Public places such as airports are often designed to withstand strong earthquakes particularly in modern cities that are prone to earthquakes. When the ground shakes people have to be careful from objects falling off walls … or eagles falling from the roof! Two large eagles each having a wingspan of 15 meters and weighing 2 tonnes were suspended from the roof of Wellington Airport to promote ...[Read More]
Soil System Sciences
Monday paper: Soil organic carbon dynamics of black locust plantations in the middle Loess Plateau area of China
Lu, N., Liski, J., Chang, R. Y., Akujärvi, A., Wu, X., Jin, T. T., Wang, Y. F., Fu, B. J. 2013. Soil organic carbon dynamics of black locust plantations in the middle Loess Plateau area of China. Biogeosciences 10, 7053-7063. DOI: 10.5194/bg-10-7053-2013 Abstract Soil organic carbon (SOC) is the largest terrestrial carbon pool and sensitive to land use and cover change; its dynamics are critical f ...[Read More]
Geology for Global Development
Friday Photo (114) – Aggregate Mining
Aggregate Mining in Rio San Francisco (Panajachel, Guatemala) The Rio San Francisco flows through Panajachel, one of the largest towns around Lake Atitlan, into the lake. In the current dry season, there is very little water, and you can see mining for aggregates occurring. Credit: Joel Gill (2014)
Geology Jenga
10 Minute Interview – Finding the right path
It turns out, I’m not so great at keep the promises I make our blog readers… I AM working on the next post for the Making the most of your PhD series. In the mean time, this 10 minute interview actually fits the theme of the Making the most of your PhD series quite well. This week, I bring you Hayley Dunning, of the Natural History Museum, London. Whilst Hayley’s current role is ...[Read More]
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Science Snap (#18): Tragic Sinabung Eruption
James Hickey is a PhD student in the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol. A geophysicist and volcanologist by trade, his PhD project is focussed on attempting to place constraints on volcanic unrest using integrated geodetic modelling. Last Saturday (1st February 2014) an eruption at Sinabung volcano in Indonesia claimed the lives of 14 people. That death toll has since risen to ...[Read More]
GeoLog
Geosciences Column: Using tall trees to tot up tropical carbon
Forests in the tropics account for about half the above-ground carbon on Earth and as the trees grow older they are capable of storing more and more. In fact, their carbon-storing potential is so large that they are increasingly being viewed as a means of mitigating climate change. Take, for example, the United Nations effort to reduce degradation and deforestation by assigning value to forest car ...[Read More]