A Geologist's Experience (Accretionary Wedge 41)

Dec 27 2011 | 1 comment(s)

For the 41st Accretionary Wedge Ron Schott asked for "the most memorable or significant geological event that you've directly experienced." I had to think long and hard about this, because I haven't been lucky enough to witness anything truly exciting first hand. True, I once felt my bed shake in a hostel in Chile during a rather small earthquake, but that's hardly a significant event. The day Eyjafjallajökull erupted we were supposed to be flying back from a field trip

How Old Is Water? Krypton Analysis Helps Scientists Unravel H20′s Life Story

Dec 20 2011 | 3 comment(s)

How old is the water in your drinking glass? What about the ice cubes floating in it? Any answer is bound to make reference to the water cycle (evaporate, rain, repeat). Still, for most practical purposes, water is both eternal and constantly replenished.

The Changing Composition Of The Eyjafjallajökull Eruption

Dec 20 2011 | 6 comment(s)

As I have a long train journey and not much to do, I can use it to write about this recent open access paper on Eyjafjallajökull written by a couple of my colleagues in the lab. As it is open access you can go and read it for yourself if you wish, but I thought I would first explain a few of the key concepts discussed in the paper.

First, a quick reminder on the eruption itself. The timings of the various eruptive phases are important, as the researchers were looking not just at the eruption as a whole, but on how the magma changed during the eruption.

Sunday Photo: Aberystwyth Castle

Dec 18 2011 | 1 comment(s)

There isn't really much geologically significant about this photo, other than that the castle is Made of stone. However, I wanted to finish this week of photos instigated by Evelyn in Wales, and earlier today I was in Aberystwyth and I snapped this photo.

This week has been fun, looking through my photos has brought back quite a few memories. I will get back to science soon, I have a post on Eyjafjallajörkull already lined up.

Earlier photos:

Saturday Geophoto: L'escargot

Dec 17 2011 | 0 comment(s)

A photo from France today, the penultimate day of Evelyn's photo a day week. I apologise if this is a little late, I am writing this from the first train of my 13 hour epic journey home for Christmas, and I am somewhat lacking in internet. At least this year there is little snow to cause “travel chaos”...

Friday Geophoto: Iguazú Falls

Dec 16 2011 | 3 comment(s)

I'm getting my geophoto today in early, as it is the lab's Christmas party tonight...

Today's photo is of Iguazú Falls, which straddle the Argentina/Brazil border (spelt Iguaçu on the Brazilian side).

Thursday Geophoto: Isle of Skye

Dec 15 2011 | 1 comment(s)

For Thursday's contribution to Evelyn's photo meme, I present the Isle of Skye.

Wednesday Geophoto: Greek Fault

Dec 14 2011 | 0 comment(s)

Day three of Evelyn's geophoto a day, and today we are in Greece.

This photo was taken early one winters day as we were preparing to head out into the field. At first glance, the geology in this picture is not obvious, unless you know a little of the geology of mainland Greece. Greece is being stretched, and this leads to a series of normal faults. One side of these faults is raised up, the other drops down. The Gulf of Evia, pictured below, was formed by one of these faults. It is still growing today, slowly.

Tuesday's Geology Photo: Ngauruhoe

Dec 13 2011 | 3 comment(s)

Day two of Evelyn Mervine's photo meme, and today I have a picture of Ngauruhoe, New Zealand. Ngauruhoe makes almost a perfect cone, broken only at the top by a small crater. This photo was taken from the summit, looking north. A small amount of steam can be seen rising from Ngauruhoe itself, showing this volcano is far from dead. Further in the background is part of Tongariro, the larger volcanic complex that Ngauruhoe is just one vent of. In the distance is lake Taupo, which is itself a large, volcanic caldera

Monday Geology Picture: Tilted ripples in the Pyrenees

Dec 12 2011 | 1 comment(s)

Like Evelyn Mervine over at the Georneys blog, I have been neglecting this blog a little this past week (although I don't have as good an excuse as she does, I was just having fun...). I do like the idea of posting a geology photo each day this week, so I have accepted her invitation to join her.

Geology