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Women in Geoblogging II: Zombies! Plus Kittehs, Water, and Plants!

There are so many great geoblogs by women, and we’re working our way down the list. There’s quite a diverse collection today! GeoMika and SpaceMika by Mika McKinnon These two blogs by Mika McKinnon cover a huge variety of geoscience topics, and definitely put the science in science fiction!

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American


There are so many great geoblogs by women, and we're working our way down the list. There's quite a diverse collection today!

GeoMika and SpaceMika by Mika McKinnon

These two blogs by Mika McKinnon cover a huge variety of geoscience topics, and definitely put the science in science fiction!


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Zombies: A Seismic Defense

As trained geophysicists, we’ve kept the office mercifully zombie-free since the Apocalypse, even maintaining a rigorous field schedule. A global catastrophe of undead hordes roaming the streets is no excuse to fall behind on contracts, after all.

Spotting Meteoroids while Skydiving?

You’ve seen the footage of a rock falling past a skydiver. It looks like this particular object was an accidentally chute-packed rock. But, what are the chances of a skydiver eventually seeing a meteoroid?

Georneys and Geokittehs by Evelyn Mervine

I've introduced you to Evelyn Mervine before. An ex-pat American geologist living in South Africa, she blogs some of the most interesting scenery on Earth - and plenty of kittehs!

Sutherland Sky: Part VI – Dwyka Diamictite

On the drive to Sutherland, we stopped at some fantastic roadcut exposures of Dwyka Group glacial sedimentary rock. Specifically, we stopped to look at some Dwyka diamictite, a term used to describe a poorly sorted sedimentary rock, commonly one deposited by a glacier. Dwyka glacial sediments are often referred to as “Dwyka tillite”. However, tillite is a specific term that refers to poorly-sorted sediments deposited directly underneath a glacier. Since there is evidence that many of the Dwyka glacial sediments were deposited in a glaciomarine environment, the term “Dwyka diamictite” is more accurate… and also has pleasing alliteration! Dwyka diamictite is Carboniferous in age and was left behind by a large glacier that covered southern Gondwana. Thus, Dwyka diamictite can be found on several continents and provides evidence that the supercontinent of Gondwana once existed.

Catvection

Marisa's adorable geokitteh Archibald seems to be showing interest in mantle convection, which is the slow, creeping movement of the Earth's solid silicate mantle caused by convection currents generated by the transfer of heat from Earth's interior to Earth's surface. An intellegent geokitteh, Archibald knows that the Earth's mantle is not molten (liquid) but rather is a slow moving solid, like toothpaste or tar but much, much more viscous ("thick" or resistant to flow) and slow moving. Archibald also knows that mantle convection is responsible for the movement of Earth's tectonic plates, which are carried along by the slow movement of the mantle. Not only does Archibald understand mantle convection, he seems to be imitating it by slowly creeping around the side of the book. Or perhaps that's just catvection, which is the very slow movement of a cat into different positions during napping.

Highly Allochthonous by Anne Jefferson

If you want a little hydrogeology with your earthquakes, visit Anne Jefferson and partner Chris Rowan at Highly Allochthonous. She ties "hydrology, geomorphology, geology, and climate change" together in one exceptional package.

Mountaintop removal mining: what it looks like and what it does to Appalachian streams

This semester I’m teaching Environmental Earth Science to a fantastic group of students at Kent State. In tomorrow’s class about fossil fuels, we’ll be talking about coal formation, use, and environmental consequences. A big one I think they should be aware of is the practice of mountaintop removal mining in West Virginia.

One year ago today: Antarctic bases old and new, and the most mind-blowing scenery in the world

Christmas Eve in Antarctica involved our first look at how people live and work in this harsh environment – both today and in the early days of exploration – and possibly the most fabulous scenery yet.

In the Company of Plants and Rocks by Hollis Marriot

Do you love botany and geology? Hollis Marriot will satisfy all of your cravings with science and utterly luscious photography.

Geology in the Abstract

Geology can supply a playground for the abstract photographer, especially where there’s minimal vegetation. Curves, lines, forms, shapes, patterns and texture abound. Cliffs, spires, rocks, fractures, water, ice, and landforms at all scales are material for the creative eye … opportunities for new ways of looking.

The sandstone that fooled the great geologists (but the younger generation needs to understand)

After the Civil War ended in 1865, American eyes looked west toward the country’s unknown territory – from the Rocky Mountains to the east side of the Sierra Nevada. Government, commercial interests and individuals all hoped it was a land of riches; rumors, some grossly inflated, fueled the fire. But no one really knew what was out there.

Previously: Maps, Science Education, and Geology in Space