December 4th - Ocean Acidification

The Geological Record of Ocean Acidification
Professor Andy Ridgwell, Earth System Modelling, University of Bristol
Thursday December 4th, BRLSI, Bath, 7.30 p.m.
The future consequences of 'ocean acidification' (the chemical and pH changes induced by adding CO2 to seawater) for marine ecosystems are difficult to assess, in part because laboratory experiments are limited by their necessary short time-scales and reduced ecologic complexity. In contrast, the geological record is replete not only with a variety of global environmental perturbations that may include ocean acidification, but also associated biotic responses including adaptation and evolution. However, for the geological record to provide future-relevant information about potential species and ecosystem responses, qualitatively (and ideally quantitatively) similar changes in carbonate chemistry to those projected for the future, must have occurred.
In this talk Prof Ridgwell will address the questions: at what rate of atmospheric CO2 change does ocean acidification become qualitatively similar to current and future changes, and have any events in the geological past exhibited the characteristics of anthropogenic ocean acidification?
Everyone welcome - visitors £4 - free refreshments
Next year's lecture and field trip programmes can be seen on our website.

Shetland Caledonides July 2015 (GS)

December 2nd - Mountains under the Sea

Mountains under the Sea

Tuesday 2nd December, 8.00 p.m.

Professor Tony Watts FRS, Marine Geology and Geophysics in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Oxford.

One of the mysteries of the sea are the large number of seamounts that rise up on the seabed and, in a few cases, break surface to form oceanic islands. Volcanic in origin, seamounts are widely scattered throughout the world’s ocean basins, especially in the Pacific. Recent estimates suggest that there maybe as many as 200,000 seamounts with heights that range from 0.1 to 6.7 km above the surrounding seafloor. Seamounts are generally circular in shape, have pointed, star-shaped, curved, or flat tops, and are often capped by a coral reef. They are of geological interest because they record the motions of Earth’s tectonic plates and the magmatic ‘pulse’ of its deep interior. They are also significant as ocean ‘stirring rods’, biodiversity ‘hotspots’, and hazards for megathrust earthquakes, submarine landslides, and navigation. Statistical studies suggest that there are as many as 24,000 seamounts higher than 1 km still to be discovered. The charting of these seamounts and the determination of their morphology, structure, and evolution is one of the many challenges facing marine geologists in the future.

Venue: Ground Floor Lecture Theatre, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3AN.  

The entrance is set back 30m from the road and has disability access. As many of you are aware, parking can be a problem and expensive and you may wish to take advantage of Oxford's Park and Ride scheme.  

Doors open at 7.30 pm for a prompt start at 8.00 pm.
If you arrive late, phone 07900 675338 to be let in.
Cost: £2 per person to cover expenses. 

The talk will be followed by the Oxford Branch

Christmas Party

Please bring a plate of food to share. 

The branch will provide tea, coffee, soft drinks, 

wine and bread and cheese.

WEGA - new website

West of England Geologists' Association (WEGA) has recently launched its new website.
Details of all the lectures and the field meetings organised for 2015 are listed.

Teaching & Learning in Geoscience Education: Summer School 2015!

 Photo from very successful 2014 summer school

Teaching & Learning in Geoscience Education: summer school 2015!
If you know anyone that might be interested in attending:
- there are 11 bursary places available
- the dates are Saturday 18th–Friday 24th July 2015
- fieldwork focus module, 22nd–23rd August and 24th–25th October
Click here for further details and an application form
Applications for both modules are welcomed now.

Comet 67P

The comet 67P being investigated by the Rosetta and Philae space craft has this spectacular cliff-face with cobbles appparently sticking out of finer material.  The resolution of the original image is about 1-2 metres/pixel.  These boulders may be 10-20 metres across.  The similarity to boulder-clay inclusions, or Budleigh Salterton pebbles, though much, much bigger, poses questions as to how they formed in the comet.  They definitely look sub-rounded or ellipsoidal or oblate.  What erosion process could hew such large boulders? And then emplace them in the matrix.  They seem to have previously been internal to the matrix, but exposed now.  The comet may have originated as part of a much bigger planet with gravity and atmosphere to allow boulders to be formed.
Sent to the blog by Richard.

Winter 2015 Distance Learning Courses

Further details

Current Vacancy - Gloucestershire Geology Trust

Role: Head of Geology
Part time with possibility of going up to full time.
Self-employed basis
We require a person for 1-2 day a week to help run the office and lead on a few part time areas of work. The candidate will be someone who is both geologically competent, as well as a good organiser and self-motivated. They would need to be located in, or very close to the County and have some familiarity with the Geology of the local area.
The majority of the work would be independent but with the support and help of a dozen or so board members and volunteers. The role would be based in our office in Brockworth, Gloucester and from time to time would require outdoor work.
It has the potential to expand into a full time role if the person is successful in fundraising!
For further information please contact Mark Campbell

Main Responsibilities:
- Administrative tasks (updating memberships, responding to public queries, arranging postage of purchases of trail guides)
- Organising events and liaising with partner charities and organisations
-  Managing and directing volunteer help in the office and at events
- Attending conservation days at a range of sites
- Maintaining fossil collection with volunteer help
- Fundraising for projects
- Checking status of RIGS (Regionally Important Geological Sites), and maintaining the GIS database with volunteer help
- Arranging agendas and minutes for board meetings
- Keeping the SAGE financial information up to date
Key Skills Required
- Geological knowledge
- Excellent communication skills
- Organisation and self-motivation
- Ability to use Microsoft Office package
Desired Skills
- Experience leading group work / teaching
- Website maintenance
- Fundraising experience

19th November - Webinar: Recent Developments in the Regulation of Small-Scale Liquefaction Facilities

Van Ness Feldman LLP and B2Bwebinars.net are pleased to announce our upcoming interactive web conference, Recent Developments in the Regulation of Small-Scale Liquefaction Facilities . The webinar will be held on Wednesday, November 19, 2014 from 1:00 - 2:30 PM ET.The regulation of small-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities has taken on greater significance in recent months, primarily as a result of growing commercial interest in pursuing these projects to capitalize on abundant domestic shale gas supplies. Two experienced practitioners will discuss the role of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) in regulating these types of LNG facilities.
The topics covered will include the extent of FERC's jurisdiction, the applicability of PHMSA's minimum federal safety standards, and the potential impact of state safety requirements.

26th November - The Practice of Geology Fieldwork

The Practice of Geology Fieldwork
Dr. Mary Benton, University of Bristol Earth Sciences Department
Wednesday 26 November, 7.30 p.m.
Amongst other subjects, Dr. Mary Benton teaches the Introduction to Field Skills in Earth Sciences course, and it is on this aspect that she will speak to us. Please come along and hear this interesting talk, especially if geology is not your main interest. It should be a fascinating insight into this wonderful subject.
S H Reynolds Lecture Theatre, Wills Memorial Building, BS8 1RJEveryone welcome; bring a friend!
Further details