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Pantelleria, Its Magma Chamber And Possible Impact On Global Climate

My friend has written a paper on Pantelleria (which I am a co-author of), and I thought it was...

The Rapid Timescales Of Caldera Volcanism

A new study in Nature shows that Santorini may have reactivated roughly a century before the Minoan...

A Geologist's Experience (Accretionary Wedge 41)

For the 41st Accretionary Wedge Ron Schott asked for "the most memorable or significant geological...

The Changing Composition Of The Eyjafjallajökull Eruption

As I have a long train journey and not much to do, I can use it to write about this recent open...

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Gareth FabbroRSS Feed of this column.

For those of you who are not geologists, a tuff is a volcanic rock, made up of solidified ash. Hence the pun as my blog title. Actually, my research involves very little tuffs. Lots of lavas,... Read More »

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Where on Google Earth #253

Where on Google Earth #253

Jan 18 2011 | comment(s)

As Where on Google Earth #252 was somewhere I know well, having studied a course that was almost entirely dedicated to the tectonics of the region (which included a fieldtrip), I'm quite glad I managed to work it out.  The fan delta in the centre of the coastline shown is just one of many in the region, formed due to the interaction of the faults uplifting the mountains to the south and the sea.  There are also some spectacular outcrops of faults planes exposed in quarries, where the fault surface has been preserved due to its burial.  Perhaps the most spectacular example of this is in a similar tectonic setting to the north on the Gulf of
What have we learnt from Eyjafjallajökull

What have we learnt from Eyjafjallajökull

Jan 11 2011 | comment(s)

The eruption of Eyjafjallajökull (here is Wikipedia's handy pronunciation file) last summer was widely covered in the media, generating some stunning images (and perhaps the most beautiful video of the year).  From a scientific point of view
Where on Google Earth #246

Where on Google Earth #246

Jan 03 2011 | comment(s)

Happy New Year, and welcome to the first "Where on Google Earth" (WoGE) of 2011.  I was shocked to find out that my guess at WoGE #245 was correct, (Plymouth, Montserrat being the most post-apocalyptic looking place I could think of) so it is with great pleasure that I present WoGE #246.

Santorini, An Explosive History Written In The Cliffs

Santorini, An Explosive History Written In The Cliffs

Dec 08 2010 | comment(s)

A little while ago, I had the pleasure of working on the Aegean island of Santorini.  Santorini was the subject of my first blog post, and now I would like to go into a little more detail.  I had meant to do it earlier, but recently I have been busy moving to another country...
Christchurch Vs L'Aquila Earthquake Revisited

Christchurch Vs L'Aquila Earthquake Revisited

Oct 04 2010 | comment(s)

UPDATE: This was written before the 22 February earthquake, and I realise that recent events show my arguments may be a little too simplistic.  My heart goes out to all thouse affected.

In hindsight, comparing Christchurch and L'Aquila to other earthquakes like Haiti and Sichuan would have better illustrated my point about building codes saving lives.
How To Escape From A Pyroclastic Flow

How To Escape From A Pyroclastic Flow

Sep 23 2010 | comment(s)

Simple answer: Just don't be there in the first place.

I am currently on fieldwork on Santorini, which does involve a fair bit of walking from outcrop to outcrop. Walking past deposits from the last big eruption, the Minoan, I can't help but be impressed by the size of some of the chunks of rock the eruption transported. To pass the time, I have been playing a game of "what would I do if the volcano erupted now", thinking about pyroclastic flows and trying to work out where would be safest. So just a quick post until I get back and can write up the trip in some more detail.