It all started with pebbles

Forget Planetesimals, Think Pebbles

This article in The Atlantic magazine describes how theories on planet formation are moving away from the merging of planetesimals to the accretion of pebbles. Apparently this explains why Uranus and Neptune are ice giants while Jupiter and Saturn are gas giants.

My qualifications are rather absent in this subject, so read the article and come to your own conclusions.

An artist's rendition of a star surrounded by a protoplanetary disk

Down to Earth Extra - May

Down to Earth Extra - May

You can download this from HERE. Or read it on this page below.

30th April to 6th May 2018

NEXT WEEKS EVents

30th April to 6th may 2018

The following is an extract from Bristol and West Country Geology Calendars

More details can be found in the Bristol and the West Country Calendars and on the web sites of the relevant Society or organisation.

Monday 30th

Dave Green - Planetary Geology

When

Mon, 30 April, 19:30 – 21:30

Description

Planetary Geology. Monday 16th April, for 10 weeks, until 9th July (not 7th nor 28th May). The state of knowledge of the planets of the solar system has improved vastly in the past 40 years as a result of space missions and improved technology for observation and analysis. The course will examine the results of this activity and evidence for these interpretations in terms of the internal structure, magnetism and geophysics of these bodies; their tectonics and volcanism, the effects of impacting bodies, and the surface conditions –atmospheres, oceans, sedimentary features and biology. Held at Wynstones School, Stroud Road, Whaddon, Gloucester from 7.30-9.30pm on Mondays. Cost £70.

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

davegeostudies@gmail.com

Tuesday 1st

Wednesday 2nd

Thursday 3rd

Bath Geol Soc - Lecture

When

Thu, 3 May, 19:30 – 21:00

Where

Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, 16 Queen Square, Bath (map)

Description

'Unlocking the Archive': Antarctic Peninsula Glacial change

Dr Lucy Clarke, University of Gloucestershire

The Antarctic Peninsula is a mountain glacier system comprised of over 400 glaciers, and is an important contributor to historical and future sea level rise. Assessment and monitoring of Antarctic Peninsula glaciers is crucial for understanding sensitivity to climate change. Changes to glacier fronts and ice shelves and glacier acceleration are well documented, but there are almost no data on mass changes on the Antarctic Peninsula. Satellite data have been used to calculate change over the last 3 decades, but methods to quantify this over longer timescales have eluded researchers. However, there is an archive of aerial photography dating back to the 1940s, this has been largely ignored due to the range of technical problems associated with deriving quantitative data from historic imagery and the lack of ground control data. This talk will introduce some of the early expeditions that collected aerial photography of the Antarctic Peninsula and then demonstrate how advances in image processing and capture of modern aerial photography has allowed this archive to be ’unlocked’. The spatial and temporal changes that have occurred on the glaciers over the period of record will then be explored.

Friday 4th

Saturday 5th

OUGS Oxford - Field Meeting, Hawaii

When

5 – 18 May 2018

Where

Hawaii (map)

Description

How About Hawaii 2018? 

Leader: Prof. Dave Rothery 

Date: May 5th–18th, 2018 

Type: Longer Trip 

Summary: Visit to the world-famous geological sites of the Hawaiian Islands led by the OU’s Professor of Planetary Geosciences and Number-One Volcanologist. 

More info:

This is an outline proposal for a trip to Hawaii in May 2018. The programme and provisional costings are provided to enable members to contact Oxford Branch to register serious interest in joining this trip. As you will appreciate, costings to individual participants are very much dependent on numbers. We are planning the trip to cater for up to a maximum of 18 participants. If numbers are less than this, costs to individuals for their share of the onsite costs start to rise until the trip is no longer viable. This is an excellent opportunity to visit the world-renowned site. Transport will be provided by minibus across the islands and to and from the localities. There will be some hikes of up to two hours, mostly on trails to take in the interesting bits, but many stops will be roadside. If, after reviewing the provisional programme, you are interested in joining, please contact Sally Munnings as soon as possible to help us gauge the level of interest in the trip.

The trip starts and finishes in Honolulu and participants will be responsible for making their travel arrangements to get there and back. The current estimated cost to each individual on a shared room basis is £2900. If you do not wish to share please discuss as single occupancy costs will be around £4000. This includes all accommodation, internal flights, minibus hire and leaders' costs. It excludes all travel costs between UK and Honolulu, flights currently estimated at about £850 return; and food for the 14 days.

Dave has uploaded a couple of YouTube videos, one of a trek across Kilauea Iki crater (rather wind-noisy): https://youtu.be/UR5rtgve0jw and one of a visit to Diamond head with the last OUGS trip in 2014: https://youtu.be/Af8HLNRdQLE

Provisional Itinerary – May 2018

Sat 5 May: Arrive Honolulu around 21:00. Transfer will be arranged from airport to hotel (Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel or similar).

Sun 6 May: Collect minivans 10:00. Easy drive or walk tour to Diamond Head (led by DAR). Evening: Introductory Lecture at University of Hawaii (by Pete Mouginis-Mark). [Stay at Waikiki]

Mon 7 May: Honolulu Volcanic series (including Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, Koko and Makapu'u). [Stay Waikiki]

Tue 8 May: Waianai (west Oahu) [Stay at Waikiki]

Wed 9 May: Drop off minivans 09:00. Morning flight to Hilo (Big Island) Stay in Hilo. Optional helicopter overflights of Kilauea. [Stay at Castle Hilo Hawaiian Hotel or similar]

Thu 10 May: Kilauea NE rift zone. Kapoho, tree moulds [Stay at Hilo]

Fri 11 May: Kilauea summit - Kilauea Iki (hike), Thurston lava tube [Stay at KMC ‘Kilauea Military Camp']

Sat 12 May: Halemaumau, Chain of craters road, Devil's throat, Mauna Ulu (hike) [Stay at KMC]

Sun 13 May: Time on the new lava at end of Chain of Craters road (depends on current activity) [Stay at KMC]

Mon 14 May: Saddle road. Side trips for geology and visit to Mauna Kea visitors centre. [Stay Kona]

Tue 15 May: Morning flight to Lihu'e (on Kaua'i) There are rare direct flights (58 mins), others requiring a change in Honolulu (2 hrs). Settle in, take it easy? [stay Lihu'e/Kapaa]

Wed 16 May: Explore Kaua'i, including Highway 550 (Waimea Canyon Drive) to the interior [stay Libu'e/Kapaa]

Thu 17 May: Take it easy/explore. Afternoon transfer to Honolulu ready for homeward flight tomorrow. Stay Honolulu/Waikiki.

Fri 18 May: Morning flight from Honolulu - LA - UK, take off 07:20 (arrive next day). Or follow own alternative personal arrangements.

To express serious interest in joining this trip please contact Oxford Branch organiser Sally Munnings.                                     Post: 79 Kingsley Close, Shaw, NEWBURY, Berkshire, RG14 2EB

Once we have sufficient interest for a viable trip we will request a non-returnable deposit of £700 to guarantee flights and hotel bookings.

-------------------------------------

GeoWeek - Building Stones of Wells

When

Sat, 5 May, 11:30 – 13:30

Where

Outside the front of the Wells and Mendip Museum at 11.30 am (map)

Description

Free Events in the Mendips for Geo Week 2018

A story in stone – the building stone heritage of the city of Wells

Event activity details

Join Doug Robinson and Chris King to visit some buildings displaying the wonderful building stones of Wells, all from the immediate Mendip AONB on the city’s doorstep. These building stones tell amazing geological stories of the region’s 200 million year journey from the southern tropics across the equator into northern latitudes. A journey through tropical climates, deserts, shallow seas, mountainous terrain and flash floods before being invaded by Jurassic seas. We will begin our free-of-charge GeoWeek walk meeting outside the front of the Wells and Mendip Museum at 11.30 am on Saturday 5th May and will continue until around 1.30 – but you are welcome to drop in and drop out of the tour during that time. We need to limit numbers for safety reasons, so please email Chris to book a place (chrisjhking36@gmail.com). 

Event details             Free, Easy walking on pavement, No special clothing required

Date                            Saturday 5 May 2018 

Start time                  11:30am – 13.30 

Type of event           Guided fieldtrip

Contact to book       chrisjhking36@gmail.com

Sunday 6th

The eyes have it

Palaeontologists Need a Good Eye!

A recent article in the Guardian reiterates an old argument that a good eye is the best means of finding fossils. Once you have the fossil, technology can be of invaluable help but there are few technological means of helping the fossil finder.

 A cast of the dinosaur Linheraptor - the original was found when part of a single claw was exposed in a hillside. Photograph: David Hone

And some people have the knack of finding fossils. I wish I had it! On a recent trip to Morocco I managed to find a few scraps, scarcely worth picking up, while others were finding whole trilobites. And the professionals were finding and preparing magnificent specimens. You can get a flavour of the trip HERE. I intend to do a full write up soon. 

Events in the Mendips for Geo Week

Events in the Mendips for Geo Week

23rd to 29th April 2018

NEXT WEEKS EVENTS

23rd to 29th April 2018

The following is an extract from Bristol and West Country Geology Calendars

More details can be found in the Bristol and the West Country Calendars and on the web sites of the relevant Society or organisation.

  

Monday 23rd

Dave Green - Planetary Geology

When

Mon, 23 April, 19:30 – 21:30

Description

Planetary Geology. Monday 16th April, for 10 weeks, until 9th July (not 7th nor 28th May). The state of knowledge of the planets of the solar system has improved vastly in the past 40 years as a result of space missions and improved technology for observation and analysis. The course will examine the results of this activity and evidence for these interpretations in terms of the internal structure, magnetism and geophysics of these bodies; their tectonics and volcanism, the effects of impacting bodies, and the surface conditions –atmospheres, oceans, sedimentary features and biology. Held at Wynstones School, Stroud Road, Whaddon, Gloucester from 7.30-9.30pm on Mondays. Cost £70.

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

davegeostudies@gmail.com

Tuesday 24th

WEGA AGM at Wills Memorial Building at 7:30 PM

The agenda is as follows:- 

Apologies 

Adoption of the minutes of the last Annual General Meeting and Special General Meeting 

Chair’s Report 

Field Secretary’s Report

(This group does not have a Field Secretary and so the Chair covered the report) 

 Secretary’s Report 

Membership Secretary’s report

The Membership Secretary’s duties are being covered by the Treasurer and the Secretary. 

Treasurer’s report 

Election of the New Committee 

Please send nominations to Secretary by post or at the AGM

2017 -2018 Committee – some overlap with previous year due to AGM being non-quorate and the need for an SGM

Doug Robinson / Mary Lee                  Chair

Judy Hible                                         Treasurer

Bobby Oliver / Flyff McLaren              Secretary

Vacancy                                             Field Secretary

Graeme Churchard                             Newsletter / Blog

Doug Robinson                                   Webmaster

John McLellan                                   Co-opted Member

Janice Theis                                     ‘Down to Earth’ distributor

 

Any Other Business.

In addition there will be a short presentation of a recent fossil hunting trip to Morocco and some rather nice trilobites!

Wednesday 25th

Thursday 26th

Friday 27th

Saturday 28th

OUGS Severnside - Field Meeting

When

Saturday, 28 Apr 2018

Where

Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales (map)

Description

Coastal Geology at Ogmore and Southerndown 

Leader: Dr Geraint Owen 

Location: Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales 

Date: April 28th 2018 (Saturday) 

Type: Day Trip 

Summary: We shall investigate the sedimentary rocks that were laid down during the Carboniferous, Triassic and Jurassic periods along this scenic part of the South Wales coast.

Sunday 29th

OU Geol Soc Wessex - Excursion

When

Sunday, 29 Apr 2018

Where

Selsey, West Sussex (map)

Description

Geology, fossils and coastal change around Selsey, West Sussex

Leader David Bone

Jeremy Cranmer

wessexdaytrips@ougs.org

tel.  01305 267133

The Carnian Pluvial Episode and dinosaurs

Fossil Tracks and the Rise of the Dinosaurs

The Economist reports on a period when dinosaurs became the prevalent animal group. You will all, of course, be familiar with the Carnian Pluvial Episode (234 to 232m years ago in the Triassic). In this period the climate went from dry, to wet, to dry again four times over the course of 2m years. The best evidence for this period is found in marine rocks and, of course, dinosaurs are land animals.

The authors of the paper which has inspired The Economist's article use the peculiar geology of the Dolomites. Here there are deposits with fossil tracks which can be precisely dated. There are three groups of tracks (grouped by age) and these straddle the Carnian Pluvial Episode.

The earliest group had no dinosaur tracks, the middle ones were 40% dinosaur and the youngest 90%. 

it would seem that the stress caused by the pluvial episode was good for the dinosaurs, less so for the dicynodonts and rhynchosaurs. But the stress at the end of the Cretaceous was enough to kill off the dinosaurs. Which makes a nice story.

Fossil tracks from the Dolomites

Bath Geol Soc's event for GeoWeek

Bath Geological Society have an event for GeoWeek!

Bath Geol Soc have sent me the following:-

Geo-week event

Saturday 5^th May 2018

10.30am

Brown’s Folly car park

ST79864

Minor road between Monkton Farleigh and Bathford

Geological guided tour, fossils and geocaching

Free event

Visitors welcome: all ages with sturdy footwear

Further details on the website

www.bathgeolsoc.org.uk

More details of WEGA's trip to Seaton

Trip to Seaton in June

More details are emerging of WEGA's trip to Seaton on the 28th June. 

John McLellan writes:-

This is a visit to Seaton Jurassic Visitor Centre on Thurs 28 June 2018.  The event starts at Seaton Jurassic (parking adjacent) at 10.15 (2 hour drive from Bristol) with a guided tour of the exhibit.  After an hour or so, we will have coffee/tea in their meeting room and be joined by Jurassic Coast Ambassador Mike Green.  He and I will give a talk about the geology of the Jurassic Coast.  

At c.12.30, we can walk a half-mile onto the sea front promenade and cliff-top gardens.  There is a geology trail here and a good viewpoint – and a place to have a packed lunch.  There are also places to buy ice-creams.  Then we walk along the prom’ a bit more, look at some greensand fossiliferous boulders on the beach (maybe) via Triassic red cliffs  up some steps (a faultline) alongside the Cretaceous and then a gently rising path towards Beer.  We can either descend to Beer and/or turn back.  But Beer is worth the effort to see the massive chalk cliffs.  The whole round trip is 3-4 miles. 

We will aim to be back at the carpark for a 4pm departure.  Back in Bristol c.6pm. 

Currently I have drawn a blank on getting a mini-bus, so we may need to do car shares and I can certainly take 3 people.  I will keep trying re bus but can discuss at the AGM. 

The guided tour and coffee/biscuits will be £10 per head.

GeoWeek Events

Have You an Event for Geoweek?

GeoWeek is the 5th to 13th May but there is still time to submit an event. You can get the submission form HERE. The page about the events is HERE.

Map of GeoWeek events

Click on a pin to find out more

Postgraduate Diploma in the Geology of Northern England

Postgraduate Diploma in the Geology of Northern England

I recently received this - it sounds pretty good. You can find the details HERE.

*Applications are now being taken for September 2018 for the part-time, online Postgraduate Diploma in the Geology of Northern England from the University of York – find out more here.*

 

‘We are so lucky in the UK to have a great diversity of rocks and spectacular landscapes on our very own doorstep, and northern England in particular has an abundance of world-famous and classic geological sites. This exciting and unique postgraduate diploma utilises the geological wealth of northern England and explores the main principles of geology through a regional examination of the area. Students on the programme also assess the role of the area’s importance with respect to current controversies in the Earth sciences, from fracking to climate change, whilst also reflecting upon the region's vital role in the history of Geology. We go on to examine human interactions with the region’s rocks and landscapes, from the Palaeolithic to the present day, so all in all a fascinating journey overall!’ - Dr Annette McGrath, Associate Lecturer leading the programme. 

 

The programme is taught online part time, over two years for maximum flexibility of learning, yet it is extremely interactive where you will be part of an active online community. Each Autumn term includes a mandatory five day residential week in York, including practical sessions and field trips as well as the opportunity to meet your fellow students and staff, engage in discussion and share your knowledge of Geology. 

16th to 22nd April 2018

NEXT WEEKS EVENTS

16th to 22nd April 2018

The following is an extract from Bristol and West Country Geology Calendars

More details can be found in the Bristol and the West Country Calendars and on the web sites of the relevant Society or organisation.

  

Monday 16th

Dave Green - Planetary Geology

When

Mon, 16 April, 19:30 – 21:30

Description

Planetary Geology. Monday 16th April, for 10 weeks, until 9th July (not 7th nor 28th May). The state of knowledge of the planets of the solar system has improved vastly in the past 40 years as a result of space missions and improved technology for observation and analysis. The course will examine the results of this activity and evidence for these interpretations in terms of the internal structure, magnetism and geophysics of these bodies; their tectonics and volcanism, the effects of impacting bodies, and the surface conditions –atmospheres, oceans, sedimentary features and biology. Held at Wynstones School, Stroud Road, Whaddon, Gloucester from 7.30-9.30pm on Mondays. Cost £70.

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

davegeostudies@gmail.com

-----------------------------

Teme Valley Geol Soc - Lecture

When

Mon, 16 April, 19:30 – 21:00

Where

Martley Memorial Hall B4197 by Sports Ground (map)

Description

 Impact Earth with Dr Paul Olver

Contact Janet 07968379330

Cost £3/£1

Tuesday 17th

Geol Soc Western - Lecture

When

Tue, 17 April, 18:00 – 20:00

Where

The Hub, Aztec West (map)

Description

Rory Mortimore

Phosphatic Chalk, A303 Stonehenge

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

18:30 to 19:30 - Lecture

19:30 - Questions"

Wednesday 18th

Thursday 19th

Thornbury Geology Group, 7.30pm, The Chantry, Thornbury

When

Thu, 19 April, 19:00 – 21:30

Description

Thornbury Geology Group, 7.30pm at The Chantry, Thornbury, and every 3rd Thursday in the month.  

Friday 20th

Saturday 21st

OU Geol Soc - AGM

When

Saturday, 21 Apr 2018

Where

Shap Wells Hotel Cumbria (map)

Description

OUGS AGM

Shap Wells Hotel

Cumbria

Contact Maggie Deytrikh, agm@ougs.org 

or 

John Gooch, agm.bookings@ougs.org 

01257 266288

-----------------------------

SWGA Excursion - The Two Ridges, Cefn Onn, Cardiff, with Stephen Howe

When

Sat, 21 April, 10:00 – 16:00

Where

Meet at 10.00am in the car park at Cefn Onn Country Park, Cardiff (ST 179 837 / CF14 0EP) (map)

Description

Saturday 21st April: The Two Ridges, Cefn Onn, Cardiff: a geological ramble

Leader: Stephen Howe

Meet at 10.00am in the car park at Cefn Onn Country Park, Cardiff (ST 179 837 / CF14 0EP), which is located just north of the Lisvane/Thornhill railway station in north Cardiff. There are toilets in the car park but none afterwards until our return.

On this ramble we will walk up the southern rim of the South Wales Coalfield, along the two ridges and back down to Cefn Onn along paths that are a combination of tarmac, gravel, and earth. The ascent to the top of the ridges, which will be at a gentle pace, involves a vertical climb of 170 m (550 feet) and, on the return leg, the path is quite steep at first and, depending upon the time and weather, may involve negotiating a long flight of steps.

We will be looking at the structure and stratigraphy of the southern rim of the coalfield where the rocks range in age from the St. Maughan's Group of the Old Red Sandstone up to the top of the Carboniferous Limestone, which here is heavily dolomitised. We will also look at the remains of the industrial history of the area. There are extensive 360-degree views from the ridge top that allow the geology of the surrounding area and coalfield to be appreciated - weather permitting! The

total walking distance is approximately 5 kms

Sunday 22nd

Something not found in your tide tables

Today's Tides are Unusually High

In THIS ARTICLE the author argues that plate tectonics affects tides. This is not particularly surprising but he goes on to argue that, because of its size, the Atlantic has larger tides than would otherwise occur. So the amount of energy in tides is a maximum at present and stirs the oceans greatly. The subsequent movement of heat and salts has profound effects on ocean currents and biological production. Fortunately for us the present high energy regime will persist for the next 18 million years.

The Earth 200 million years ago

Stonehenge speculation (continued)

Stonehenge 

A reader of this blog sent me this link.

It suggests that the largest sarsen stones were not moved but were found at the site.

More on the September meeting in Bath

Celebrate the South West

Expressions of interest in submitting a presentation must be made by the end of this month, so get cracking!

The Geol Soc of London has sent out the following:-

Celebrate the South West by sarah From Roman Baths to building stones, fossil finds to mineral mines, the geology and industrial history of South West Britain is full of interest. Amateur, professional and academic geologists and collectors alike played key roles in unravelling the fascinating geology and revealing the resources of this complex area. Many of their names and achievements are now forgotten. Map of Cornwall, Devon and W Somerset from the first Geological Survey Memoir, Report on the Geology of Cornwall, Devon and West Somerset by Henry de la Beche, published in 1839 (courtesy of Nineteenth Century Geological Maps, http://www.geolmaps.com) A meeting about Collectors, Collections and the Geology of South West Britain, jointly organised by the History of Geology Group (HoGG) and the Geological Curators Group (GCG) on 18 – 19 September aims to set this omission right. Hosted by the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI) in their elegant premises in the centre of Bath, the meeting will include a day of talks followed by a day of optional field trips. The event will be open to all. The registration fee will be kept below £20 to encourage a wide participation, and speakers will be exempt from paying to attend the talks. We're now seeking offers of talks or posters covering: Collectors who worked in the South West, contributing to the development of geological science. The role of more modern or even contemporary collectors should not be forgotten. Collections from the South West which are poorly known, or which have been returned to prominence with recent projects. These may be rock, fossil, mineral or archival collections. Field geologists whose work and observations were important to the development of the science, without necessarily having made significant collections. Self portrait of Henry de la Beche from his description of an unconformity at Portishead. (courtesy of Nineteenth Century Geological Maps, http://www.geolmaps.com) Please save any papers about William Smith for another occasion. The 250th anniversary of his birth is coming up in 2019, and further opportunities to discuss his life, times and achievements will certainly be available then. The deadline for expressions of interest is 30 April, and abstracts (maximum of 350 words) must be completed before 18 May. To discuss your ideas or to find out more about plans for the meeting contact: Nina Morgan (HoGG) nina.morgan@cooptel.net Matthew Parkes (GCG) mparkes@museum.ie To submit an abstract please email: swmeeting@geocurator.org Whether you're a professional, academic, or amateur geologist – or simply someone with a story to tell about the geological or industrial history of the South West – we look forward to hearing from you.