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]
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Geology for Global Development
GfGD Conferences – Help Us!
Do you remember our National Conference, in October 2013? It was a great event, gathering over 150 people from across the UK and beyond to explore how geologists can help fight global poverty. Don’t forget, you can find a series of photographs from the event on our Facebook page. Whether you attended this event or not, we’re keen to gather some information that will help us shape and p ...[Read More]
Four Degrees
The Water-Energy Nexus
Flo Bullough writes on the concept of the water-energy nexus; its implications for energy and water security and the impact of climate change and future planning and regulation. I first came across the concept of the water-energy nexus when the former UK Chief Scientific Advisor John Beddington discussed the interdependence of food, water and energy as part of his tenure at government: something ...[Read More]
GeoLog
Imaggeo on Mondays: A fly by some fantastic farming
This week’s Imaggeo on Mondays is brought to you by Kristof Van Oost, a scientist from the Georges Lemaître Centre for Earth and Climate Research (UCL) in Belgium. He tells us how local organic farms are being managed to ensure a lot of carbon stays in the soil… This is a picture of the organic farm Het Open Veld in Leuven, Belgium. The farm is built around an alternative agriculture model in whic ...[Read More]
Geology for Global Development
Eruption of Mount Sinabung and Poverty Reduction
Last week Mount Sinabung, an active volcano on the island of Sumatra (Indonesia), erupted killing at least 16 people. It is reported that a number of the deaths were people going back into the evacuated zone to see the eruption up close and to check on properties and land. This is a sad reminder of the power of volcanic processes and their lethal potential (see the images on the BBC News), partic ...[Read More]
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Supervisor profile #4: Dr Frances Cooper
Dr Frances Cooper BHP Billiton Lecturer PhD (2008) “Exhumation of the northern Snake Range metamorphic core complex, Nevada” 1) The Twitter challenge: Describe your PhD in 140 characters (if you can remember it) I tested different models for how the metamorphic rocks of the northern Snake Range were brought to the surface from the middle-lower crust.
Seismology
The EGU photo contest
Are you out and about taking photos during fieldwork? Or, simply good at taking interesting photos? The EGU runs a photo contest for all the participant pre-registered for the EGU General Assembly. Submissions are open up until 1 March. All finalists will receive a book of their choice from the EGU library, and the winners get to win a free registration to next year’s General Assembly. Check out a ...[Read More]
GeoLog
GeoTalk: Connecting geoscience and archaeology with Sophie Gangl
This week in GeoTalk, we’re talking to Sophie Gangl, a masters student from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna. Sophie tells us about the intersecting fields of geoscience and archaeology, and shares the benefits of presenting postgraduate projects at an international conference. Hi Sophie, can you tell us a little about yourself and what you’ve been investigating ...[Read More]
Geology for Global Development
Friday Photo (113) – Wall Art in San Pablo la Laguna, Guatemala
San Pablo La Laguna is a small town on the edge of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. This wall art shows local opposition to mining activities. At the time of writing I’m not sure about the background context to the image, but it raises some interesting questions about what is occurring or has occurred in this area in the past. Credit: Joel Gill (2014)
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Science Snap (#17): Ailsa Craig
Ailsa Craig is an uninhabited island off the west coast of Scotland. Formed from the plug of a Paleogene volcano, the landmass reaches over 330 m height and ~ 3 km length, and can easily be seen from the Scottish mainland. The island comprises three types of granite: Ailsa Craig Common Green, Ailsa Craig Red Hone and Ailsa Craig Blue Hone (pictured below). The distinctive colouration of the latter ...[Read More]