Category Archives: society

The intrusion of nature

This morning, I found myself mesmerised by this astounding video of an avalanche in the French Alps, courtesy of Kyle House: Avalanches de printemps An appropriate demonstration on this Earth Day of the power of our planet. But it’s also … Continue reading

Categories: geohazards, society

Combined sewer overflows: Solving a 19th century problem in the 21st century

Combined sewers are pipes that catch both sewage and stormwater and route it to a waste water treatment plant. In dry weather, it’s all sewage in the pipes. In small rain storms, the pipes carry sewage mixed with stormwater and … Continue reading

Categories: by Anne, hydrology, society

Scenic Saturday: The Thames at London

When in London, I find I’m drawn to the Thames. It’s a big river, and one that is inextricably tied to the history and heart of the city through which it flows. Unlike many of the Thames’s smaller tributaries, which … Continue reading

Categories: by Anne, hydrology, photos, society

On the L’Aquila trial verdict: earthquake safety is about door locks, not fire alarms

Imagine that one day, an apartment block in a major city catches fire. The fire brigade arrive too late, and the whole block burns down with people still trapped inside. An investigation reveals that the building’s fire alarm system was … Continue reading

Categories: earthquakes, geohazards, public science, society

Where tsunamis and nuclear power could meet

Out of all the devastation wrought by the Tohuku earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, the escalating disaster at the Fukushima nuclear plant has ended up having the biggest global impact. A catastrophic loss of cooling led to meltdowns, explosions … Continue reading

Categories: geohazards, society