WCS Earth Blog: April 2014

Foraminifera are one of the most diverse and abundant marine organisms. Ranging from the Cambrian to the modern day, their abundance and complexity in test structure makes them invaluable in biostratigraphy and palaeoenvironmental analysis. They are also increasingly used in the modern environment as indicators of global change, pollution, and in recolonisation studies.
This talk will introduce foraminifera, how these amazing micro-organisms have lived through geological time to the modern day, and look at how they can be utilised to answer some of the biggest geological questions. Firstly, we shall look at the Cretaceous, and the oceanic anoxic events that led to extinction and global change in the world's oceans. We will then explore how foraminifera can be used as indicators of ocean chemistry, correlators of the event across the globe, and as indicators of both extinction and recolonisation. The talk will show how these same techniques can be used in a more modern environment; specifically in dating volcanic events in the Caribbean, and in looking at the effect of these volcanic events on what is living in the oceans.
Although small, foraminifera are a key component of life in the oceans and through their study we can utilise them as ocean recorders, both today and in the geological past.

Sign up if you can come, google doc 'Geog and Geol lecture sign up'

I appreciate that this may be a bad time for some of you as you have lots of exam preparation to do, but it is an A2 fossil topic and I will be going so the offer is there!

Wednesday, 23 April 2014

PLYMOUTH UNIVERSITY GEOLOGY CONFERENCE

Plymouth Uni are taking bookings now for FEMALE year 12 geography or geology students who may be interested in degrees and careers in the earth Sciences. This event is FREE and will include lunch, refreshments and goodies for all attendees and should be a really fun and exciting day.

Running from 10:00-15:00 on the 16^th July the morning will consist of short talks form inspiring woman in geoscience careers, who will be talking about what they do and how they got there. Companies coming include Oil industry giant BP and geotechnical experts URS.

In the afternoon we will have a more research flavour with short workshops to showcase aspects of current research in Earth Sciences.

If you are interested please see Mr R.

It is in the summer holidays, but looks really good!

Thursday, 17 April 2014

Aurora Iceland

If anyone has photos from Iceland to be included in the 2014 Iceland photobook, please could you email them to Mr R

or let him have them on a memory stick/cd?

The Great Geobake-off

The Geol Soc are having 'The Great Geo Bake off' (closing date 9th May)

http://blog.geolsoc.org.uk/2014/04/09/the-great-geobake-off/

Watch the video at the end of the above page about the Pinnacle of Cake Evolution (or click below to see it on Youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3vn_5FLees

How to save the planet: Moon mining, iron filings and fake volcanoes

Climate change experts will today set out new plans for tackling global warming in the event that countries cannot reduce their carbon emissions in time.

Dubbed ‘Plan B’ the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has looked at the possibility of sucking carbon dioxide out of the air and reflecting sunlight into space.

The document is important because it will be used as scientific guidance for governments as they negotiate a new global climate pact, set to be adopted in 2015

However some environmental activists watching the talks in Berlin believe geoengineering should not be attempted.

GEOENGINEERING IS DISCUSSED IN THIS BBC RADIO 4 PROGRAMME:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03ktz14

Such technologies could be ineffective, possibly harmful and delay efforts to shift the world’s energy system from oil and coal to low-carbon energy sources like wind and solar power.

For more information click here.

Methane hydrate: Dirty fuel or energy saviour?

The world is addicted to hydrocarbons, and it's easy to see why - cheap, plentiful and easy to mine, they represent an abundant energy source to fuel industrial development the world over.

The side-effects, however, are potentially devastating; burning fossil fuels emits the CO2 linked to global warming.

And as reserves of oil, coal and gas are becoming tougher to access, governments are looking ever harder for alternatives, not just to produce energy, but to help achieve the holy grail of all sovereign states - energy independence.

Some have discovered a potential saviour, locked away under deep ocean beds and vast swathes of permafrost. The problem is it's a hydrocarbon, but unlike any other we know.

For more information click here.

Earthquake noticed by Austin Healey

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/10771821/Earthquake-strikes-in-Rutland.html

GEOLOGY OF MARS IN DEVON

Prof Iain Stewart appears on the 'Sky at Night' on BBC2 to explain the Geology of the surface of the Red Planet.

WELL WORTH WATCHING!!

Watch him grin like a child at Christmas at a supersize iPad!!

His bit is from about 7 mins 30secs to about 16 mins.

Good for Fluvial Facies too!

BBC iPlayer link:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b040yyh2/The_Sky_at_Night_Mysterious_Mars/

Future broadcasts:

WCS Earth Blog

Monday, 28 April 2014

A LEVEL EARTH SCIENCE RESOURCES

Friday, 25 April 2014

Microfossils

Foraminiferal facts: from Cretaceous palaeoclimates to Caribbean tephrochronology

Dr. Jodie Fisher, School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Plymouth University