Among the different Earth Sciences, I find geology the most attractive. Being a geologist myself, I might be more biased toward my subject, but I have many reasons to say that this field of natural science involves a lot of excitement and adventures!
In whichever specialization of Geology one is involved, one goes on field trips to collect samples that can be rocks, soils, river or seawater, or deep sea sediments.
A large steam ring that formed above the Bocca Nova Crater of Mt. Etna, Sicily. Being a rare sight, this process happens when a sudden pulse of gas leaves a circular vent during intense volcanic activity. The volcano erupted a few days after our visit.
I collect different types of rock samples of different ages of formation from different kinds of topographies.
Pretty solidified pahoehoe lava flows as part of an eruption of Mauna Loa in the Main Island of Hawai'i in the 1990s.
Volcanic activities have happened throughout Earth's history. Apart from the volcanoes that are still active today and emitting lava flows, there are many extinct volcanoes that were active sometime in the past and led to the formation of really cool lava rocks.
Large basaltic columns that make up the northern coastline of Northern Ireland. These columns make up the Giant's Causeway, a UNESCO Heritage Site in Northern Ireland. These are products of a volcanic fissure eruption that happened around 60 million years ago.
Dangerous sulfide-chloride gas emissions that come from deep within the Earth are present around even less-active (dormant) volcanoes.
On top of Vulcano, one of the Aeolian Islands is the Fossa stratovolcano cone that last erupted in the 19th century.
Geology is involved not only in volcanic activities! All mountains, plains, beaches, meandering rivers...all involve geological processes!
Sedimentary rock layers stacked stratigraphically on a rock exposure near one of the prettiest beaches in Corsica
It is also important to know that most of the spots from where we collect samples are not the easiest to reach. Field trips normally involve hiking that can also be on unrecognized hiking trails. We make unexpected stops (most of the time) when we come across really interesting rock outcrops! ⚒⚒
On one of the flanks of the actively erupting Kīlauea volcano, Main Island, Hawai'i, it was possible to get so close to the glowing lava.
There are many words in this post that might sound less familiar to you, which will be explained in the upcoming posts. Keep tuned!
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