Rock Blog

The Geological Socieity of America has a nice Series of biographies of notable geologists in history called Rock Stars (*sigh*). This entry by Charles H. Smith, a retired geologist from the Geological Survey of Canada, covers Sir William Edmond Logan:

Sir William Edmond Logan, Father of Canadian Geology: His Passion Was Precision.

This is an Adobe Acrobat File.

For any of my EOSC 311 students – this entry is relevant to Module 2.

Very nice overview of the methodology and applications of ice core research can be found in this short overview article on NASA’s Earth Observatory site:

Frozen in Time: the Ice Core Record
by Holli Riebeek· design by Robert Simmon· December 19, 2005.

This version has the glossary turned on….

Nice to have someone else keep an up-to-date list of Geo-Cams…

About Geology.com keeps a good list at http://geology.about.com/od/cams/ .

The geocams are arranged by major geographic area. Make sure you scroll down on each page to see the entire list.

Note, once you have clicked on a specific camera, you can turn off the containing frame by clicking on “turn off this top frame”.

Even though its July, I know that teaching is just ’round the corner…

From About Geology.com comes a link to an excellent overview article in Physics Today by David Stevenson about tsunamis and earthquakes:

Tsunamis and Earthquakes: What Physics is Interesting?

Nice article from Wired News, Carbon-Dating Cloc Reset that outlines work to extend the useful range of carbon-14 dating from from 21 ka max to 23,000. The article provides a good overview of the limitations and strengths of the method.

This will also be posted on Online Learning Freakout Party Zone…

From Andrew Alden’s Geology about.com site comes a link to a personal account of the tsunami by Chris Chapman, scientific advisor at Schlumberger Cambridge Research.

The Asian Tsunami in Sri Lanka: A Personal Experience

When I read this, my geologist and educators lives come together…

It’s fascinating to read how a professional geologist viewed the series of events that comprise the tsunami — I was again struck by the fact the “tsunami” was not a singular event. The earth’s bell was rung. What happens as a bell tone rings out? The sound bounces all over the place and slowly fades way. That comes through in his description.

The animations at the bottom of the page are very good as well.. I’ll need to look at those for my next teaching experience…

I also think of “reflection” (the e-portfolio side of my brain) when I read his account. He describes the event, but also reflects on the experience – integrating his personal and professional lives in a compelling way.

It’s really interesting to see how the scientist “lens”/”viewpoint” comes through in this account. Our disciplines do affect how we see the world…

My husband (also a geologist) and I have more than once wondered how we would have reacted had we noticed the odd behaviour of the oceans, or felt the original quake…

He claims that I would have had the laptop with me on the beach and would have checked my RSS feeds for an earthquake. I’m not sure of I am being complimented or insulted with that one… Am I really THAT geeky? Sigh.. don’t answer that…

I only hope that we would have reacted as courageously as Dr. Graham and his wife did….

BTW… the technical/physics account is available on the EOS site, http://www.agu.org/eos_elec/000929e1.html.

Thanks for the excellent link, Andrew!

British Isles, A Naturual History is a good overview site for people interested in UK Geology, and general geology.

http://www.open2.net/naturalhistory/toolkit.html

The Flash Based Toolkit is particularly notable… for the visual leaner…

Some absolutely lovely photos of one of my favorties places anywhere …. UTAH.

The American Southwest – Photographs of Utah

This place is a geological wonderland..

This link was put forward by one of the students in EOSC 311 – and is relevant to Module 5: Knowledge Network – Knowledge Tools.

In the lower left of the screen is a link to “Landslides” – a very well done module for BC residents.

Geological Survey of Canada – Landslides.

Good comprehensive site that allows one to research landlsides in Canada:

• Landslides in the News
• Interactive Landslide Information
• Landslide Reseachers
• About Landslides
• About the Canada Landslide Project
• Landslide Research outside the GSC
• Canadian Lansdslide Database