PlanetBye

Extreme Geohazards – what are they?In December 2004, we all learned one Japanese word; tsunami  (津波, lit. "harbor wave"). Japan has seen a number of tsunamis through out times, situated right there on the Ring of Fire, and when the Sumatran earthquake hit the ocean floor in the Indian ocean in 2004 creating the monster waves killing some 300 000 people, tsunami became a household Japanese word, included in many languages.

Planet Earth: Extreme Beauty – Extreme Danger

Every night I have certain rituals that must be executed, or else. Not sure what else really, but I fear that it involves my hospitalization. Let us say that in order to avoid nervous breakdowns, I visit a handful of science sites, particularly looking for the latest satellite images, winding down in controlled forms and then I hit the hay. Science Before Bed

According to a press release from Climatic Research Unit (CRU) at the University of East Anglia, a UK ruling forces the release of other nations property, in this case climate data. We are talking about some legal left-overs in the so-called Climategate case where scientists were wrongfully accused of refusing to share data (national and international).

Astronomers tend to suffer from gigantomania; we relate to and prefer astronomical dimensions. Always. I, being not only an astronomer but also a sucker for celebrations, will not miss this opportunity to congratulate the American nation with its Independence Day 4th of July accordingly. With a celebration of astronomical proportions that, obviously, suits a superpower!

In 2010 volcanic ash from Eyjafjallajökull clouded Europe for days. It opened up a discussion about how science is used in risk management. Europe had just finished its first volcanic ash crisis exercise validating changes and improvements to the volcanic ash contingency plan and procedures, when a new eruption on Iceland, the Grímsvötn volcano beneath the vast Vatnajökull glacier, threatened air travel and ultimately our economy once more just over a year after Eyjafjallajökull.

Anyone who have been working in a multidisciplinary science project knows how hard it is to establish coherent dialogs that make sense and are productive for all participants. Scientists from each discipline tend to form their own 'head' creating an unmanageable n-headed troll. Implementation of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) is such a project. In this article I discuss how we can use new media to facilitate an effective dialog that connects all GEOSS science and technology stakeholders, the citizens that will both build and use GEOSS.

Have you noticed that whenever a [natural]disaster strikes we quickly look around to find a guilty party? The first place we look is among politicians. The politicians are not to blame for the natural disaster of course, at least not the nature part of it. The dimensions of the disaster can however fairly easily be tracked back to humans, more specifically to the political leadership who are responsible for managing both natural and human resources.

At the Top of the World.The massive 9.0 M earthquake at Tohoku, Japan, 11. March 2011 literally shook the entire planet. The signals were read even at the top of the world, close to the north pole. Read on to learn about earthquake and tsunami observations in general before you take a look at the unique earthquake recordings from the high-north.by Bente Lilja Bye and Ove Christian Dahl OmangNy-Ålesund Geodetic Laboratory, Svalbard, Norway. Credit: Ove Christian Dahl Omang

Human presence in space enable us to do more than just observe Earth from a far. We develop space technology that come in handy here on Earth in numerous applications. Or, as is so touchingly demonstrated in the Chilean miners rescue 'miracle', we learn more about the human species (medical and psychological) so that we can literally help save human lives under extreme conditions here on Earth.The San Jose mine in Chile as seen from space. Credit: NASA

The debate on hard and soft science seems to still be on – also here on Science2.0. As a representative of several hard sciences (mathematics, physics, theoretical astrophysics, geodesy...) I have always been annoyed by variations over the statement 'no, I want to save lives, therefore not do [hard]science' often presented with a moral indignation as toppings.

This week is World Water Week. The big event takes place in Stockholm Sweden where Stockholm International Water Institute SIWI is organizing this yearly event. The World Water Week is an unique forum for the exchange of views and experiences between scientific, business, policy and civic sectors from around the globe.