Tag Archives: current events

Talk: Earthquakes & Tsunami: Current Events & Local Hazards

Posted on 23 March 2011 by Mika

If you’re in the Vancouver region and have questions about the recent hazards and any implications for us, I’m giving an open-to-the-public talk. The events will run about 20 minutes followed by unlimited time for questions. Title: Earthquakes & Tsunami: … Continue reading →

Posted in Geoscience | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

An Introduction to Tsunami

Posted on 11 March 2011 by Mika

The 11 March 2011 earthquake near Honshu, Japan triggered a tsunami that spread across the Pacific Ocean. The tsunami arrived an hour before I gave the first tsunami lecture for the Natural Catastrophes class. In that context, it seems an … Continue reading →

Posted in Geoscience | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Will Katla Erupt?

Posted on 29 May 2010 by Mika

You’ve probably heard of Katla, Eyjafjoell’s more-pronounceable Big Sister. If you’ve seen any of the popnews in response to a press release about a report I haven’t gotten my paws on yet, you’ve probably heard of their history of Eyjafjoell … Continue reading →

Posted in Geoscience | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Everyone’s Explaining Eyjafjallajokull

Posted on 20 April 2010 by Mika

I haven’t said any more about Iceland’s eruptions since everyone else is already explaining everything you need to know. If you want to hear about the Worst Case Scenario, that’s covered (and I still peg Yellowstone as a more likely … Continue reading →

Posted in Geoscience | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Glaciers & Volcanism

Posted on 21 March 2010 by Mika

One of my favourite stops on the first-year disasters field trip is near Whistler, where columnar basalts curve to a central point. Since columnar basalts crack into pentagons perpendicular to the lava’s cooling surface, the standing theory is that this … Continue reading →

Posted in Geoscience | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Melbourne: a disaster-movie trailer

Posted on 7 March 2010 by Mika

This week Melbourne, Australia had an intense, sudden storm, with huge hailstones (up to 10cm diameter observed) and enough rain to flood the downtown core. Although rare, this is not a unique event for Melbourne. The cold southern oceans have … Continue reading →

Posted in Geoscience | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Chile’s Earthquake

Posted on 27 February 2010 by Mika

My first response during disasters is to immediately begin teaching those around me, providing context for interpreting the news stories of far-away horror. I am nervous of over-representing myself as an expert. I am in training as a Master of … Continue reading →

Posted in Geoscience | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A currently unidentified probably-organic blob is drifting around off the coast of Alaska. Um… Update: the blob is algea scum. Ah well, the real-life scifi was fun while it lasted.

Posted on 16 July 2009 by Mika | Leave a comment

In Ideas, Friendship, and Things that go Bang in the Dark

Posted on 10 September 2008 by Mika

One of my cousins pulled me aside to interrogate me on CERN, particle physics, and why on earth people are making doomsday predictions. (In response to all doomsday predictions: Has the Large Hadron Collider destroyed the earth?) I need to … Continue reading →

Posted in Physics | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment