As
Where on Google Earth #252 was somewhere I know well, having studied a course that was almost entirely dedicated to the tectonics of the region (which included a fieldtrip), I'm quite glad I managed to work it out. The fan delta in the centre of the coastline shown is just one of many in the region, formed due to the interaction of the faults uplifting the mountains to the south and the sea. There are also some spectacular outcrops of faults planes exposed in quarries, where the fault surface has been preserved due to its burial. Perhaps the most spectacular example of this is in a similar tectonic setting to the north on the Gulf of
The eruption of
Eyjafjallajökull (here is Wikipedia's handy pronunciation file) last summer was widely covered in the media, generating some stunning images (and perhaps the most beautiful video of the year). From a scientific point of view
Happy New Year, and welcome to the first "Where on Google Earth" (WoGE) of 2011. I was shocked to find out that my guess at WoGE #245 was correct, (Plymouth, Montserrat being the most post-apocalyptic looking place I could think of) so it is with great pleasure that I present WoGE #246.
A little while ago, I had the pleasure of working on the Aegean island of
Santorini. Santorini was the subject of my
first blog post, and now I would like to go into a little more detail. I had meant to do it earlier, but recently I have been busy moving to another country...
UPDATE: This was written before the 22 February earthquake, and I realise that recent events show my arguments may be a little too simplistic. My heart goes out to all thouse affected.
In hindsight, comparing Christchurch and L'Aquila to other earthquakes like Haiti and Sichuan would have better illustrated my point about building codes saving lives.
Simple answer: Just don't be there in the first place.
I am currently on fieldwork on Santorini, which does involve a fair bit of walking from outcrop to outcrop. Walking past deposits from the last big eruption, the Minoan, I can't help but be impressed by the size of some of the chunks of rock the eruption transported. To pass the time, I have been playing a game of "what would I do if the volcano erupted now", thinking about pyroclastic flows and trying to work out where would be safest. So just a quick post until I get back and can write up the trip in some more detail.
Pantelleria, Its Magma Chamber And Possible Impact On Global Climate
The Rapid Timescales Of Caldera Volcanism
A Geologist's Experience (Accretionary Wedge 41)
The Changing Composition Of The Eyjafjallajökull Eruption
