The wonders of LIDAR

LIDAR as a Tool for Geologists

The Geological Survey of Washington State in the USA has produced a wonderful survey of how LIDAR (light detection and ranging) is used by them. They tell all HERE. They use LIDAR to look at landslides, volcanoes, faults, glaciers, rivers, surficial and bedrock geology and to predict tsunami susceptible areas.

The whole web site is well worth looking at - the more you look the more you will find!

One LIDAR image which has intrigued me is this:-

The multiple lava flows of West Crater in Gifford Pinchot National Forest are separated into distinct layers.

And here is the same area taken from Google Maps.

I think LIDAR would make geological mapping rather easier than I remember it being!

For the worried volcano neighbour

How a Volcano is Likely to Kill You

This article enumerates the relative dangers of volcano related phenomena. During an eruption, a volcano can produce pyroclastic flows, ashfall, volcanic bombs, lava-flows, mass-wasting events and sometimes tsunami. Pyroclastic flows are hot avalanches of debris and gases. Landslides and rock-avalanches can occur during an eruption or after it when the slopes of the volcano collapse. A lahar is a type of mudflow or debris flow, made from volcanic debris and water, flowing down from a volcano. Lahars can occur during an eruption or also years later when volcanic deposits are remobilized during intense rainfall. A tsunami can be the result of the complete or partial collapse of the volcano.

The one that gives me the willies are pyroclastic density currents. The video below illustrates why.

But all is not doom and gloom. The second video shows that, in favourable circumstances, precautions can be taken and they do work.

Tales from the K/Pg boundary (Used to be K/T!)

Visiting the Mesozoic/Cenozoic Boundary

This Blog entry is a very personal description of a visit to the place where Alvarez and Alvarez discovered a clay layer extraordinarily enriched in iridium and from which they posited a meteorite impact and the death of the dinosaurs. For the author it has a more personal meaning which has no great geological importance but is rather charming. And the Osteria gets very good reviews - seems a very good place to visit.

Beginners Guide to the Bali Volcano

Mount Agung: Bali volcano eruption photos explained

The BBC has, on THIS PAGE, given a very good guide to what is happening within the Angung volcano in Bali. It is good to have this information easily available in such an approachable fashion.

Next week 27th November to 3rd December 2017

NEXT WEEKS EVENTS

27th November to 3rd December 2017

The following is an extract from Bristol Geology Calendar

More details can be found in the Calendar and on the web sites of the relevant Society or organisation.

All Week (except Monday)

10:00

 Bristol City Museum - Pliosaurus!

WhenSun, 13 August, 10:00 – 17:00

WhereBristol Museum & Art Gallery (map)

DescriptionTravel back in time 150 million years and dive into Bristol’s Jurassic seas.

  

Monday 27th

Dave Green - The Devonian Period

When

Mon, 20 November, 19:30 – 21:30

Where

Wynstones School, Stroud Road, Whaddon, Gloucester (map)

Description

The Devonian Period 419 to 358 million years ago, this period (whose existence was hotly disputed by Sedgwick and Murchison in the 1820s and 30s) saw the amalgamation of two parts of Britain (but strangely not including Devon!), the emergence of widespread land vegetation, closely followed by insects and terrestrial tetrapods. A major extinction, of disputed origin, wiped out a large proportion of life towards the end of the period. Half the world consisted of a vast ocean (Panthalassa), which, like the modern Pacific, was gradually being destroyed by subduction, in favour of the Rheic and PalaeoTethyian Oceans. Starts Mon 18th September for 10 weeks (not 16th or 23rd Oct), until 4th December Held at Wynstones School, Stroud Road, Whaddon, Gloucester from 7.30-9.30pm on Mondays. Cost £70 (including tea, coffee etc at breaktime!).

Contact Dave Green, Joys Green Farm, Forge Hill, Lydbrook, Glos GL17 9QU Tel 01594 860858

davegeostudies@gmail.com

Tuesday 28th

Wednesday 29th

19:30

 

Bristol Nats Lecture

When

Wed, 29 November, 19:30 – 20:30

Where

Lecture meetings take place in room G8, Wills Memorial Building, University of Bristol, BS8 1RJ. ight.For those unfamiliar with this venue: Enter the Wills Building via main entrance and walk ahead between the two staircases. Turn left when you reach some display cases and follow the corridor round. Room G8 is on your right. (map)

Description

Dr Aaron Hunter

Dr Aaron Hunter is a Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge Department of Earth Sciences. He has worked extensively on the origins of both the Asteroidea (Starfish) and the Ophiuroidea (Brittle Stars) relating their development to the seas in which they lived.

The following is a summary of the talk supplied by Dr Aaron Hunter

New fossil discoveries from France and Morocco shed light on the origin of starfish and brittle stars in the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event.

Asterozoans including starfish (asteroids) and their close relatives the brittle stars (ophiuroids) are amongst the most instantly recognisable and iconic marine animals. They are a dominant and successful group of living echinoderms based on their diversity, abundance, and biogeographic distribution. Despite their ecological success and a fossil record spanning more than 480 million years, the early evolution of asterozoans and their echinoderm cousins more generally, remains a mystery. In-fact, they seem to appear suddenly in the early Ordovician with no apparent ancestor in the Cambrian.  New discoveries from France and Morocco have begun to resolve this mystery. Exceptionally preserved fossils, combined with an understanding of the developmental biology have allowed us to reconstruct the sequence of evolution of the asterozoans (with a comprehensive phylogenetic framework). We explore the earliest common ancestors the somasteroids and their Cambrian echinoderm relatives, including a fossil, which is the earliest starfish like animal so far recorded in the fossil record. We then follow these exceptional fossils through the Ordovician as true ophiuroids and asteroids appear and show how they rapidly diversified during the biotic revolution we call the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event. We demonstrate that these animals survived until the Permian, with some of their descendants still found in the oceans today. 

Thursday 30th

OU Geol Soc Wessex - Ocean Cores

When

Thursday, 30 Nov 2017

Where

NOC, Southampton (map)

Description

British Ocean Sediment Core Research Facility, NOC, Southampton

Leader: Millie Watts

Contact  Jeremy Cranmer

wessexdaytrips@ougs.org

tel.  01305 267133

Friday 1st

Field Course: The Devonian Geology of Devon

When

1 – 4 Dec 2017

Where

Devon! (map)

Description

A long weekend course (1st-4th December) to examine the record left in the “type” area. Hopefully we will visit both north and south Devon (and maybe stray into Cornwall) to look at evidence for environmental conditions and change, so different to the Old Red Sandstone continent lying to the north of what is now the Bristol Channel.

Contact Dave Green, Joys Green Farm, Forge Hill, Lydbrook, Glos GL17 9QU Tel 01594 860858

davegeostudies@gmail.com

Saturday 2nd

Field Course: The Devonian Geology of Devon

When

1 – 4 Dec 2017

Where

Devon! (map)

Description

A long weekend course (1st-4th December) to examine the record left in the “type” area. Hopefully we will visit both north and south Devon (and maybe stray into Cornwall) to look at evidence for environmental conditions and change, so different to the Old Red Sandstone continent lying to the north of what is now the Bristol Channel.

Contact Dave Green, Joys Green Farm, Forge Hill, Lydbrook, Glos GL17 9QU Tel 01594 860858

davegeostudies@gmail.com

Sunday 3rd

Field Course: The Devonian Geology of Devon

When

1 – 4 Dec 2017

Where

Devon! (map)

Description

A long weekend course (1st-4th December) to examine the record left in the “type” area. Hopefully we will visit both north and south Devon (and maybe stray into Cornwall) to look at evidence for environmental conditions and change, so different to the Old Red Sandstone continent lying to the north of what is now the Bristol Channel.

Contact Dave Green, Joys Green Farm, Forge Hill, Lydbrook, Glos GL17 9QU Tel 01594 860858

davegeostudies@gmail.com

10:30

 

Oxford Mineral & Fossil Show

When

Sun, 3 December, 10:30 – 16:00

Where

Exeter Hall, Kidlington, OX5 1AB. (map)

Description

Free entry after 10:30.

Underwater Volcanoes

Studying Underwater Volcanoes Near Tonga

This article introduces a study of the volcanoes of this very active area. It is taking place now and videos are being posted frequently. Some are interesting and you can find them HERE.

Composite image showing an oblique view of ultra-high resolution AUB bathymetry from West Mata Volcano, the collection of the world’s first molten lava sample in the deep sea, and an electron microprobe element map of a thin section of rock from that eruption, showing the types of crystals and bubbles found in those rare and unusual boninite lavas. Image is a mix of published and unpublished data as indicated.

Finding Faults

Looking for Faults in NW Washington

This article discusses looking for faults in the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State. These are not the faults of the offshore Cascadia fault zone but they are associated with structural damage and some deaths. Because of the terrain and the abundant vegetation, faults are difficult to find but LIDAR is proving very useful.

The Toe Jam Hill fault scarp - a normal aerial photo

The Toe Jam Hill fault scarp - as seen by LIDAR

This is not a particularly geological article but is very interesting.

Next week 20th to 26th November 2017

NEXT WEEKS EVENTS

20th to 26th November 2017

The following is an extract from Bristol Geology Calendar

More details can be found in the Calendar and on the web sites of the relevant Society or organisation.

All Week (except Monday)

10:00

 Bristol City Museum - Pliosaurus!

WhenSun, 13 August, 10:00 – 17:00

WhereBristol Museum & Art Gallery (map)

DescriptionTravel back in time 150 million years and dive into Bristol’s Jurassic seas.

  

Monday 20th

Dave Green - The Devonian Period

When

Mon, 20 November, 19:30 – 21:30

Where

Wynstones School, Stroud Road, Whaddon, Gloucester (map)

Description

The Devonian Period 419 to 358 million years ago, this period (whose existence was hotly disputed by Sedgwick and Murchison in the 1820s and 30s) saw the amalgamation of two parts of Britain (but strangely not including Devon!), the emergence of widespread land vegetation, closely followed by insects and terrestrial tetrapods. A major extinction, of disputed origin, wiped out a large proportion of life towards the end of the period. Half the world consisted of a vast ocean (Panthalassa), which, like the modern Pacific, was gradually being destroyed by subduction, in favour of the Rheic and PalaeoTethyian Oceans. Starts Mon 18th September for 10 weeks (not 16th or 23rd Oct), until 4th December Held at Wynstones School, Stroud Road, Whaddon, Gloucester from 7.30-9.30pm on Mondays. Cost £70 (including tea, coffee etc at breaktime!).

Contact Dave Green, Joys Green Farm, Forge Hill, Lydbrook, Glos GL17 9QU Tel 01594 860858

davegeostudies@gmail.com

Tuesday 21st

Geol Soc Western

When

Tue, 21 November, 18:00 – 21:00

Where

The Hub, Aztec West (map)

Description

Malcolm Brown, President of the Geological Society

Risk and Uncertainty in the Exploration for Oil and Gas

"18:00 to 18:30 - networking and refreshments

18:30 to 19:30 - Lecture

19:30 - Questions"

SMFS Evening Meeting

When

Tue, 21 November, 19:30 – 22:00

Where

Friends’ Meeting House, Ordnance Road, Southampton, SO15 2AZ (map)

Description

 “Mining Emeralds – where to go and how to find them” Presentation by Rob Bowell.

Members’ Display Table: Precious and semi-precious minerals.

Wednesday 22nd

Thursday 23rd

Friday 24th

Saturday 25th

OUGS Severnside - Day of Lectures

When

Saturday, 25 Nov 2017

Where

National Museum of Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NP (map)

Description

Day of Lectures

Leader: Jan Ashton-Jones

Venue: National Museum of Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NP

Date: November 25th 2017 (Saturday)

Type: Day of Talks

Summary: Our annual Day of Lectures will be held in the Oriel Suite of the museum.

Amateur Geological Society - Mineral Gem and Fossil Show

When

Sat, 25 November, 10:00 – 16:00

Where

Trinity Church, 15 Nether St, London N12 7NN, UK (map)

Description

Full details at https://amgeosoc.wordpress.com

Sunday 26th

Serendipitous palaeontology

Finding Ediacaran Fossils

This article describes fossil hunting for Ediacaran fossils and also gives an introduction to their importance. Apparently Ediacaran fossil hunting depends mainly on luck and having the sun low in the sky! If you have access you can read the full academic paper HERE.

The image of a rock from Nevada shows several fossil casts and moulds, marked by white arrows. All are examples of the elusive Ediacaran biota. Scale bar is 5 centimeters. Credit: Emmy Smith

Some of the specimens are, shall we say, unspectacular - see below. 

Next week 13th to 19th November 2017

NEXT WEEKS EVENTS

13th to 19th November 2017

The following is an extract from Bristol Geology Calendar

More details can be found in the Calendar and on the web sites of the relevant Society or organisation.

All Week (except Monday)

10:00

 Bristol City Museum - Pliosaurus!

WhenSun, 13 August, 10:00 – 17:00

WhereBristol Museum & Art Gallery (map)

DescriptionTravel back in time 150 million years and dive into Bristol’s Jurassic seas. We dare you to come face to face with one very special creature – an eight metre long Pliosaurus called Doris. She’s the ultimate predator and you’ll be awestruck as you touch her skin, listen to her heartbeat and smell her disgusting breath! Then travel forward to the present day to find out more about this amazing beast. See her actual fossil – one of the world’s most complete – and play games to discover more about her life and death. All the family can have fun investigating the science that helped us bring her back to life. Ideal for children aged 3-11 years old. Discovered in Westbury, Wiltshire in 1994, our internationally significant specimen is the world’s only example of a new species of pliosaur – Pliosaurus carpenteri – and will be on public display for the first time. Pliosaurs are so big that it took ten years to prepare all the fossils that were found. Bristol Museum & Art Gallery opening times: Tue-Sun: 10am-5pm Closed Mondays except Bank Holiday Mondays and Mondays during Bristol school holidays: 10am-5pm

  

Monday 13th

Teme Valley Geological Society Lecture - The Coal Measures of Martley and Newent

When

Mon, 13 November, 10:00 – 11:00

Where

Martley Memorial Hall B4197 by Sports Ground (map)

Description

The Coal Measures of Martley and

Newent, by Dr Bernard Besly

Contact Janet 01886 821061 for the correct time

Dave Green - The Devonian Period

When

Mon, 13 November, 19:30 – 21:30

Where

Wynstones School, Stroud Road, Whaddon, Gloucester (map)

Description

The Devonian Period 419 to 358 million years ago, this period (whose existence was hotly disputed by Sedgwick and Murchison in the 1820s and 30s) saw the amalgamation of two parts of Britain (but strangely not including Devon!), the emergence of widespread land vegetation, closely followed by insects and terrestrial tetrapods. A major extinction, of disputed origin, wiped out a large proportion of life towards the end of the period. Half the world consisted of a vast ocean (Panthalassa), which, like the modern Pacific, was gradually being destroyed by subduction, in favour of the Rheic and PalaeoTethyian Oceans. Starts Mon 18th September for 10 weeks (not 16th or 23rd Oct), until 4th December Held at Wynstones School, Stroud Road, Whaddon, Gloucester from 7.30-9.30pm on Mondays. Cost £70 (including tea, coffee etc at breaktime!).

Contact Dave Green, Joys Green Farm, Forge Hill, Lydbrook, Glos GL17 9QU Tel 01594 860858

davegeostudies@gmail.com

Tuesday 14th

Note that the WEGA Lecture is TOMORROW!

Wednesday 15th

WEGA Lecture

When

Wed, 15 November, 19:30 – 21:00

Where

Earth Sciences Lecture Theatre, Wills Memorial Building, University of Bristol. (map)

Description

Italian Volcanoes, Lecture by Dr. Lidia Lonergan (Imperial College)

The Geology and Scenery of Italy: the Role of Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Tectonic Plates

Lidia Lonergan, Department of Earth Sciences, Imperial College London

This talk will illustrate how the theory of plate tectonics allows us to understand the main elements of the geology of Italy. The collision between the African and European plates, which started about 100 million years ago, is responsible for the growth of the impressive Alpine mountain chain and the Apennines that form the modern backbone of the Italian peninsula. The formation and evolution of these mountain chains is intimately related to the their adjacent low-lying Po and Adriatic plains. The subduction of an ancient ocean- Tethys (of which today’s Mediterranean is partly a remnant) also plays a role in tectonic history and can explain the volcanoes of the Aeolian Islands and Mount Etna. The active geological history continues today; Italy still lies along the African-Eurasian plate boundary. Africa continues to move closer to Europe at a rate of 8 mm per year closing the Mediterranean in its grip.  As a result Italy is subject to ongoing earthquake and volcanic activity. I hope to show how an appreciation of the tectonics and internal forces of our planet may enrich your appreciation of the spectacular and varied scenery of Italy from the majestic pinnacles of the Dolomites to the barren lunar landscape of Vesuvius or Etna.

Thursday 16th

Thornbury Geology Group meeting

When

Thu, 16 November, 19:30 – 20:30

Description

 Thornbury Geology Group, The Chantry, Thornbury, 7.30pm, contact 01454 416882

The group is is an offshoot of Thornbury and District Museum and we welcome new members. 

Previous geological knowledge can be helpful but is not necessary as members are very willing to share their own knowledge with anyone keen to learn more about Earth Science. 

The group is loosely following a pre-recorded lecture series which is supplemented by use of other material and geological specimens. On occasions a guest speaker will talk on their specialist topic. 

Costs are met from attending members' monthly contributions and the group does not have membership subscriptions or a committee

Friday 17th

Saturday 18th

Sussex Mineral Show

When

Sat, 18 November, 10:00 – 16:30

Where

Clair Hall, Haywards Heath, West Sussex. (map)

Sunday 19th

Unlucky dinosaurs

Where the Asteroid Struck was the Worst Possible Place

This article discusses the after affects of the asteroid impact 66m years ago, near the Yucatan Peninsula. The dust and soot cloud was the killer. It was previously thought that much of the soot came from forest fires. But the rocks struck were particularly rich in hydrocarbons (and sulphate containing gypsum). Thus the soot was very fine and hydrocarbon rich. The result was "nuclear winter" and acid rain. And the extinction of the dinosaurs and an opportunity for mammals.

Much of this was known before but the authors suggest that if the asteroid had struck elsewhere the results would have been less catastrophic. 

Obligatory dinosaur picture

Geomagnetic spike

What does a 3,000 year old "Geomagnetic Spike" tell us?

Studies of ancient slag heaps show that the magnetic field varied in strength by 100% over a 30 year period. But only in a small area centred on Jordan.

Strength of Earth's magnetic field in 2010 (left) and 1000BCE (right)

This article discusses this and speculates about what was happening in the core and whether it could happen again and the likely consequences. 

Next week 6th to 12th November 2017

NEXT WEEKS EVENTS

6th to 12th November 2017

The following is an extract from Bristol Geology Calendar

More details can be found in the Calendar and on the web sites of the relevant Society or organisation.

All Week (except Monday)

10:00

 Bristol City Museum - Pliosaurus!

WhenSun, 13 August, 10:00 – 17:00

WhereBristol Museum & Art Gallery (map)

DescriptionTravel back in time 150 million years and dive into Bristol’s Jurassic seas. We dare you to come face to face with one very special creature – an eight metre long Pliosaurus called Doris. She’s the ultimate predator and you’ll be awestruck as you touch her skin, listen to her heartbeat and smell her disgusting breath! Then travel forward to the present day to find out more about this amazing beast. See her actual fossil – one of the world’s most complete – and play games to discover more about her life and death. All the family can have fun investigating the science that helped us bring her back to life. Ideal for children aged 3-11 years old. Discovered in Westbury, Wiltshire in 1994, our internationally significant specimen is the world’s only example of a new species of pliosaur – Pliosaurus carpenteri – and will be on public display for the first time. Pliosaurs are so big that it took ten years to prepare all the fossils that were found. Bristol Museum & Art Gallery opening times: Tue-Sun: 10am-5pm Closed Mondays except Bank Holiday Mondays and Mondays during Bristol school holidays: 10am-5pm

  

Monday 6th

Dave Green - The Devonian Period

When

Mon, 6 November, 19:30 – 21:30

Where

Wynstones School, Stroud Road, Whaddon, Gloucester (map)

Description

The Devonian Period 419 to 358 million years ago, this period (whose existence was hotly disputed by Sedgwick and Murchison in the 1820s and 30s) saw the amalgamation of two parts of Britain (but strangely not including Devon!), the emergence of widespread land vegetation, closely followed by insects and terrestrial tetrapods. A major extinction, of disputed origin, wiped out a large proportion of life towards the end of the period. Half the world consisted of a vast ocean (Panthalassa), which, like the modern Pacific, was gradually being destroyed by subduction, in favour of the Rheic and PalaeoTethyian Oceans. Starts Mon 18th September for 10 weeks (not 16th or 23rd Oct), until 4th December Held at Wynstones School, Stroud Road, Whaddon, Gloucester from 7.30-9.30pm on Mondays. Cost £70 (including tea, coffee etc at breaktime!).

Contact Dave Green, Joys Green Farm, Forge Hill, Lydbrook, Glos GL17 9QU Tel 01594 860858

davegeostudies@gmail.com

Tuesday 7th

Wednesday 8th

Thursday 9th

Friday 10th

When

Fri, 10 November, 18:00 – 19:00

Where

Anson Rooms, Students Union, Queens Road, Bristol, United Kingdom (map)

Description

Richmond Lectures: Richard Fortey

***This event is being hosted in collaboration with DinoSoc***

 

Richard Fortey tells of the adventures and misadventures he experienced during his working life at The Natural History Museum, as he travelled the world in search of long-extinct trilobites. His books and television series draw on a long life as a naturalist and palaeontologist.

Book now (free tickets): https://www.bristolsu.org.uk/events/richmond-lectures-richard-fortey/buy_ticket

Saturday 11th

Sunday 12th