The thing that makes mountains so beautiful and fascinating,is not so much their height as their steepness. Climbers and trekkers flock to the High Himalaya, not to get altitude sickness but for the grandeur of the landscape, the experience of seeing views that require you to lift your head up. Mountains are created by deep-seated… Continue reading Erosion makes mountains beautiful
Seasonal flow of geological learning
‘Big data’ is the idea that the Internet provides organisations with an unprecedented amount of data that deserves new forms of analysis. The more general idea that sophisticated analysis of big data sets is important is quite topical, just ask Nate Silver. Google have always been good at this sort of thing. They make (some)… Continue reading Seasonal flow of geological learning
Earth, moon and Mars: connected by meteorites
The time immediately after earth’s formation is known as the Hadean Eon. It was a time when earth suffered a heavy bombardment from space. Rocks this age on earth are extremely rare, mostly they have been destroyed by later events – eroded, dissolved, melted or smashed. Scientists searching for rocks formed during these hellish times… Continue reading Earth, moon and Mars: connected by meteorites
Mantle support of topography – a swell idea
Why are some bits of the earth higher than others? Finding mountains near plate boundaries is easy to explain – various forms of plate collision cause the crust to thicken and the surface to rise. What about Southern Africa? Reaching a high point of 3473m, most of Southern Africa is a high plateau. It is… Continue reading Mantle support of topography – a swell idea