Author Archives: Mika

Geophysics in the Tropics

Posted on 30 March 2012 by Mika

I’m packing up for a field stint in the tropics, trying not to zap zebras while imaging the subsurface. While chatting with colleagues over lunch, she advocated for packing evaporated milk to mix with boiling water when consuming antimalarial medication, … Continue reading →

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Polar Bear Day

Posted on 27 February 2012 by Mika

Polar bears are adorable and vicious; what’s not to love? Every February 27th I check on them; every year it’s a bit more grim. This year, I’m taking a break and just appreciating the adorableness that is Siku, a Danish … Continue reading →

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Vancouver for Visitors

Posted on 16 February 2012 by Mika

I know we have a huge number of scientists in town this weekend for AAAS 2012. If any of you visitors want to check out some local geoscience, here’s an introduction: Geological Context Fire and Ice are the local theme: … Continue reading →

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Why I Wear Pink in the Field

Posted on 19 January 2012 by Mika

My first crew chief, a man who radiated so much rugged masculinity he was promptly nicknamed “Stallone” or “Rambo” in every camp he worked, flagged all our radios in pink. This differentiated the company crew radios from the survey site’s … Continue reading →

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American and oppose the SOPA/PIPA copyright/internet censorship bills? Use this list to find out where your representatives stand, then give them a call to say “thanks” or lobby to change their mind.

Posted on 18 January 2012 by Mika | Leave a comment

Avalanche Awareness Days

Posted on 17 January 2012 by Mika

The third week in January is designated for Avalanche Awareness in Canada, just in time to give a reality check to all the new adventurers lured into the backcountry by spectacular weather. In recent decades, recreational users are more likely … Continue reading →

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Aerodynamics at LAX: discount flight terminal

Posted on 2 January 2012 by Mika

The domestic discount flight terminal at LAX features almost nothing at all, yet does have diagrams for Bernoulli’s Theorum, and shock waves at the transonic barrier.

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Scientists like to link to things. To finish off the year, the things I’ve been linking to on various social media platforms: Disasters Biology Space Science Geoscience Science & Art

Posted on 31 December 2011 by Mika | Leave a comment

Geoscience at YVR: domestic terminal

Posted on 30 December 2011 by Mika

“The Sea-to-Sky Wall” is located in the domestic terminal of the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) domestic terminal. The accompanying signage is a delightful tribute to our local geology. The Garibaldi Golden Granite is a coarse-grained granodiorite, and part of the … Continue reading →

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(non-disaster) Geoscience items I linked to on various social media platforms: It took getting stuck in the Terrace Airport for me to finally discover the Earth Science Picture of the Day Singing sand dunes, paired up with Martian sands in … Continue reading →

Posted on 29 December 2011 by Mika | Leave a comment