Six things I have learnt from my Namibian fieldwork

Posted on June 15, 2007 by Chris Rowan

1) Never let yourself be talked into using a Mahindra as a field vehicle. They may almost look the part:

Mahindra.jpg

but they’re about as tough as a chocolate teapot in a blast furnace.

Continue reading →

Categories: bloggery, fieldwork, geology, ranting

Philosophia Naturalis #11: second call for submissions

Posted on June 12, 2007 by Chris Rowan

I may be in a desert somewhere at the moment, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be e-mailing me the best and brightest physical science blogging you have read (or written) for inclusion in the upcoming edition of Philosophia Naturalis, due to appear right here on 21st June. E-mail submissions to c *dot* j *dot* rowan *at* gmail *dot* com.

Categories: bloggery

Still alive…

Posted on June 10, 2007 by Chris Rowan

In case you were wondering. My little trip to Namibia has also involved cars breaking (I wasn’t driving, before you start making scurrilous accusations) and difficult drilling, as well as lots of cool geology. Some good photos too, by the looks of it – I’d show you except it would probably exceed the net capacity of Namibia to download one from my camera. So you’ll have to wait until normal blogging service isl hopefully be resumed at the end of the week, when I’ll have plenty to talk about.

Categories: Uncategorized

Gone drillin’ (redux) and an open thread

Posted on May 26, 2007 by Chris Rowan

Yes, after a stupidly short turn around time I am once more off into the field, this time for three weeks in Namibia. The target this time is the Proterozoic-Cambrian boundary, with a possible side-visit to a Snowball Earth cap carbonate. I’m afraid that I haven’t had the time to schedule any reposts from ye olde blog, but I will post updates from the field if the chance presents itself. The geoblogospheric feed should hopefully keep alerting you to interesting things being written elsewhere.
In the meantime – consider this an open thread. Say hi. Stroke my ego by telling me what I’m doing right. Put me in my place by explaining what I could do better. Take me to task for giving my blog such a stupid name. Whatever.
See you in three weeks!

Categories: bloggery

Lusi: two methods of holding back the mud

Posted on May 25, 2007 by Chris Rowan

The latest from Lusi
The new, government approved method:

Under the new scheme proposed by Japanese scientists, double-walled cofferdams will be built to fence in the mud so it serves as a counterweight to the mudflow…

So that’s what “inverted pressure” means. Given that they’re having trouble holding in the mud at its current levels, one wonders how much more you need to have sitting over the vent to provide the appropriate pressure, and whether you can build dykes strong and durable enough to contain it.
But we also have distinctly unapproved method:

Magicians and others performing spiritual rites have been banned from throwing amulets and sacrificial animals into Indonesia’s massive “mud volcano” for fear of making the disaster worse./p>

Is this the Indonesian government taking a stand against woo? Or is it just that they’ve already tried this themselves?
If you want a better feel for the impact of this calamity on the surrounding towns and villages, the series of photos accompanying this New York Times Story (subscription possibly required), such as the one below, are pretty evocative.

lusieffects.jpg

Categories: geohazards, geology, Lusi