Occasional musings on meteorology and other bits of Earth science
Author: hcpThere is a tradition in some circles of writing up the ascent of “classic lumps”, that is, hills which are far too small for the ascent to be considered much of an achievement. My classic lump from this year’s summer holiday is Tenerife’s Monaña Chayofita, one of the many basaltic scoria cones that dot theContinue reading Montaña Chayofita: A “classic lump” in the Canaries
I had to get a replacement work laptop when my old Dell died suddenly. I went for the ThinkPad X230, not after any prolonged research, but because the Scottish Government have a bulk deal on that model which seems to extend to Universities. As I usually do with computers, my first act was to putContinue reading Debian on the ThinkPad X230
Two days ago I posted a picture of a bit of East Lothian from the brand new Landsat 8 satellite. At that time all of the available images of Edinburgh itself were obscured by cloud. Checking back today, it turns out that it was nice and sunny yesterday when the satellite flew past. So hereContinue reading Landsat 8: first clear view of Edinburgh
Well, OK, it has been going for a number of weeks now. But it went operational last week and the data are now available. Here is the best image so far of the Edinburgh Area, taken on Sunday 26 May. Unfortunately, the city is under those clouds at the bottom left corner, but there isContinue reading Landsat 8 is go
The 2013 noctilucent cloud (NLC) season has definitely kicked off; I staggered out of the pub last night to find the twilight arch full of this splendid display. For readers who have not heard of these clouds before, they are at an altitude of 82km, on the edge of space, and several times higher upContinue reading Noctilucent cloud season begins
It isn’t often that you see a sign which effectively says “Beware! Geophysicists!” A GPR is an interesting toy which I have never had a chance to play with. (Our students get to use one on the final-year geophysics field course but it is supplied by the French university with whom we share the trip.)Continue reading Warning! Avoid these people!
I’m working at home today, plugging away at a paper on the MLS measurements of sulphur dioxide from volcanos. But it is too nice outside to stay out of the garden entirely. Gooseberry bushes look particularly attractive about now, with their fresh new leaves and the tiny flowers hidden among them. But this is, ofContinue reading Spring is here, and the invaders with it
We’re all supposed to be keen on blogging, they keep telling me. So I’m experimenting with it, in the all-too-short hiatus after teaching has finished, while the students are doing exams, and before a vast pile of those exams lands on my desk to be marked. And the most exciting thing to happen in thatContinue reading The joys of internet shopping
