Volcanoes are one of the most spectacular landforms and eruptions one of the most powerful natural events. Volcanologists recognize two different types of eruptions: effusive, in which lava steadily flows out of a volcano; and explosive, much more violent and rapid. Explosive eruptions are measured through the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI), which is based on…
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This time I’m gonna speak about… golf! I’m not an expert or fan of this sport, but I do love landscapes and how they form. I must admit I enjoy more the scenery rather than swings or golfer’s technical gestures! Since I’m not an English native speaker, I always double-check for slang. So, I just…
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It has been a busy end of July here at the Insubria Environmental Geology research group! The 20th Inqua congress has just been held in Dublin, with over 2500 delegates from 75 countries. This congress takes place every 4 years and is home of the Inqua (International Union for Quaternary Research). We presented a talk…
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Surface faulting is the rupture of the Earth’s surface caused by an earthquake. It occurs along the surface projection of faults and can involve different rocks and materials (loose soils, roads…). Surface faulting forms actual scarps on the topographic surface and (on geological timescales) is how mountain grow… here’s some example – and comparison with…
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While waiting for the FIFA World Cup Final, here’s another #Geolympics post on football! Intensity measures the effects of an earthquake on humans, the built environment and nature (earthquake-induced effects, such as landslides, liquefaction, tsunamis). Commonly adopted macroseismic scales (MM: Modified Mercalli, EMS: European Macroseismic Scale) comprise 12 degrees, from the lowest (perceived by seismometers…
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The football Women’s World Cup has come to the round of 16. I decided to purchase a ticket for a match; my choice was for the 1st match of the round of 16 in Grenoble. It happened to be Germany vs Nigeria – but at the time of my booking, I didn’t know. Here’s my…
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Today let’s speak about football! – I mean, the “real” football… Why? Female World Cup and Under 21 Championships are ongoing and football it’s my favorite because formerly I used to be a (quite bad) player. It happened that I was watching a game on TV, while thinking to a project I’m working on. I…
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Cyclist at the Giro d’Italia are climbing the Alps for the last few stages before the arrival in Verona. As in other cycling tours, colored jerseys represent the leader in different categories… minerals are colored, too! Some can even occur in different colors, due to the presence of impurities or microscopic inclusions of other minerals…
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I love Earth Sciences and I’m a sport-addicted. Why not to combine these 2 passions for communicating science to a non-technical audience? Here’s Geolympics! The project was selected by AGU (American Geophysical Union) in the framework of the AGU Centennial Grants. Here you can find all the selected projects. Geolympics aims at conveying scientific messages…
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