Receding glaciers in Bolivia leave communities at risk Press release 20 October 2016 A new study published in The Cryosphere, an European Geosciences Union journal, has found that Bolivian glaciers shrunk by 43% between 1986 and 2014, and will continue to diminish if temperatures in the region continue to increase. “On top of that, glacier recession is leaving lakes that could burst and wash away villages or infrastructure downstream,” says lead-author Simon Cook, a lecturer at the Manchester Metropolitan University in the UK. Read more
El retroceso de los glaciares bolivianos pone en peligro a comunidades Press release 20 October 2016 Un nuevo estudio publicado en The Cryosphere, una revista de la Unión Europea de Geólogos, ha descubierto que entre 1986 y 2014 los glaciares de Bolivia han encogido un 43% y continuarán a hacerlo si las temperaturas en la región siguen incrementando. “Además, el retroceso deja tras de si lagunas que pueden desbordarse llevándose por delante pueblos e infraestructuras situados aguas abajo,” dice el coordinador del estudio Simon Cook, catedrático en la Universidad Metropolitana de Manchester, en el Reino Unido. Read more
Οι κοινότητες της Βολιβίας σε κίνδυνο λόγο της υποχώρησης των πάγων. Press release 20 October 2016 Μία νέα μελέτη η οποία δημοσιεύθηκε στην επιθεώρηση The Cryosphere (Κρυόσφαιρα), της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης Γεωεπιστημών, κατέδειξε ότι οι πάγοι της Βολιβίας έχουν μειωθεί κατά 43% μεταξύ του 1986 και του 1914, θα συνεχίσουν δε μειούμενοι εάν οι θερμοκρασίες στην περιοχή συνεχίσουν ν’ ανεβαίνουν. «Εξάλλου, η τήξη των πάγων καταλείπει λίμνες οι οποίες θα μπορούσαν να υποστούν αιφνίδια εκκένωση, να καταστρέψουν δε τα χωριά και τις υποδομές στα κατάντη» λέει ο επικεφαλής συγγραφέας Simon Cook (Σάιμον Κούκ), λέκτορας στο Μητροπολιτικό Πανεπιστήμιο του Μάντσεστερ στο Ην. Βασίλειο. Read more
Les communautés Boliviennes en danger à cause du recul des glaciers Press release 20 October 2016 Une nouvelle étude publiée dans ”The Cryosphere“, la revue des géosciences de l’union européenne, a démontré que les glaciers Boliviens ont reculé de 43% entre 1986 et 2014, et ils vont continuer de diminuer si l’augmentation des températures dans la région continue. ‘’En outre, le recul des glaciers fait apparaitre des lacs qui peuvent connaitre une vidange brutale susceptible de détruire des villages et tout type d’infrastructure en aval,’’ a souligné l’auteur principal Simon Cook, Maitre de conférences à l’Université Métropolitaine de Manchester au Royaume-Uni. Read more
Celebrating Earth Science Week 6 October 2016 Earth Science Week, an international annual celebration founded by the American Geosciences Institute in 1998, aims to change the public’s perception of the geosciences. In 2016, Earth Science Week takes place between 8 and 16 October. For the first time, the EGU will run events to mark the special date, all of which we invite you to take part in. Read more
News from the EGU: polar bears, PICO, weathering in landslides (September 2016) 4 October 2016 The September 2016 edition of the EGU email newsletter, the monthly information service for Union members, is now available. Read more
Educators: apply now to take part in the 2017 GIFT workshop! 27 September 2016 The Geosciences Information For Teachers (GIFT) workshop is taking place on April 24–26 2017 at the EGU General Assembly in Vienna, Austria. The topic of the 2017 edition of GIFT is The Mediterranean. Read more
All polar bears across the Arctic face shorter sea ice season Press release 14 September 2016 New research published in The Cryosphere finds a trend toward earlier sea ice melt in the spring and later ice growth in the autumn across all 19 polar bear populations, which can negatively impact the feeding and breeding capabilities of the bears. Read more
Register on the EGU Database of Expertise 5 September 2016 As part of its ‘science for policy’ programme, the EGU is creating a database to identify expertise within the Union that can be used in policy-related events of geoscientific relevance. Read more
News from the EGU: Italy earthquake, new papers (August 2016) 1 September 2016 The August 2016 edition of the EGU email newsletter, the monthly information service for Union members, is now available. Read more
Magnitude 6.2 earthquake in central Italy 24 August 2016 Early today, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake hit central Italy at 03:36 am local time (CEST). The epicentre of the earthquake was at (42.71 N, 13.22 E), according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre. This is about 110 km northeast of Rome and about 35 km north of the deadly magnitude 6.3 earthquake that hit L’Aquila in 2009. Read more
News from the EGU: elections, EGU17 call for sessions (July 2016) 2 August 2016 The July 2016 edition of the EGU email newsletter, the monthly information service for Union members, is now available. Read more
New study reveals where MH370 debris more likely to be found Press release 27 July 2016 A team of researchers in Italy has used the location of confirmed debris from MH370 to determine where the airliner might have crashed, and where further debris could be found. The study is published today (27 July) in Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, an open access journal of the European Geosciences Union (EGU). Read more
Fire clues in cave dripwater – researchers find wildfire signatures in cave formations for the first time Press release 21 July 2016 When mineral-rich water drips from a cave’s ceiling over centuries and millennia, it forms rocky cones that hold clues to the Earth’s past climate. Now, researchers in Australia and the UK have found that these structures can also help trace past wildfires that burned above the cave. Their research is published today in Hydrology and Earth System Sciences. Read more
EGU Autumn 2016 elections: call for candidates 18 July 2016 The EGU Election Autumn 2016 for the the Treasurer and Division Presidents will take place between 1 and 30 November. You are kindly asked to propose a candidate to any of these vacancies by 15 September 2016. You are welcome and encouraged to nominate yourself. Read more
EGU 2017 call for sessions 7 July 2016 The call for session proposals for the EGU 2017 General Assembly is now open. Until 9 September you can suggest new sessions with conveners and description, or you can propose modifications to current ones. The next EGU General Assembly is taking place in Vienna, Austria from 23 to 28 April 2017. Read more
News from the EGU: apply for funding to organise a meeting (June 2016) 30 June 2016 The June 2016 edition of the EGU email newsletter, the monthly information service for Union members, is now available. Read more
New technique settles old debate on highest peaks in US Arctic Press release 23 June 2016 Finding out which is the highest mountain in the US Arctic may be the last thing on your mind, unless you are an explorer who skis from the tallest peaks around the globe. Ski mountaineer Kit DesLauriers joined forces with glaciologist Matt Nolan to settle a debate of more than 50 years, while testing a new, affordable mapping technique in a steep mountainous region. Their research is published today in The Cryosphere. Read more
Policy-related science pages completed on the EGU website 20 June 2016 The EGU is developing its engagement with science-for-policy activities. This comes after the appointment of a Science Policy Fellow last autumn and includes an updated policy section on the EGU website. Read more
ESurf and GI receive their first impact factors 16 June 2016 The new impact factors for all EGU/Copernicus journals are now available from the journals’ websites. Two journals – Earth Surface Dynamics (ESurf) and Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and Data Systems (GI) – have received their first impact factors. Read more
EGU co-sponsored meetings: support request 1 June 2016 Do you need support from the EGU to organise a meeting in the Earth, planetary or space sciences? Up until 31 July 2016, we welcome proposals for topical meetings, training schools and workshops, as well as applications for EGU sponsorship of external meetings, for the year 2017. Read more
News from the EGU: Awards & medals nominations, EGU 2016 highlights (May 2016) 31 May 2016 The May 2016 edition of the EGU email newsletter, the monthly information service for Union members, is now available. Read more
Policy-relevant papers 24 May 2016 The Policy section of the EGU website now includes a page featuring research of policy relevance published in EGU journals. Read more
Review time in EGU publications 13 May 2016 All EGU/Copernicus journals now include a widget that tracks the median time from article submission to final publication. The widget updates monthly and takes all manuscripts of the last 12 months into account. Click on the link for an example. Read more
Nominate candidates for EGU awards and medals by 15 June 9 May 2016 Every year, the EGU honours individuals for their contributions to the Earth, planetary and space sciences. EGU members are kindly asked to submit their nominations for all EGU 2017 medals and awards by 15 June 2016. Read more
News from the EGU: EGU 2016, Nepal landslides, outreach grants (April 2016) 29 April 2016 The April 2016 edition of the EGU email newsletter, the monthly information service for Union members, is now available. Read more
Obituary: Roland Schlich (1932–2016) 29 April 2016 Roland Schlich, executive secretary (2002–2004), treasurer (2005–2015), and one of the founders of the European Geosciences Union, passed away on 28 April 2016 of illness. Read more
EGU 2016 Public Engagement Grants awarded to Miguel Gomez-Heras and Solmaz Mohadjer 22 April 2016 The EGU Outreach Committee has named Miguel Gomez-Heras and Solmaz Mohadjer as the winners of the first EGU Public Engagement Grants competition. Read more
EGU and Copernicus celebrate 15 years of interactive open-access publishing 22 April 2016 It has been 15 years since Copernicus and the EGU started their journey towards open science. Today, EGU publishes, through Copernicus Publications, 17 open access journals, most of which with public, interactive peer review. Read more
1.5°C vs 2°C global warming – new study shows why half a degree matters Press release 21 April 2016 European researchers have found substantially different climate change impacts for a global warming of 1.5°C and 2°C by 2100, the two temperature limits included in the Paris climate agreement. The additional 0.5°C would mean a 10-cm-higher global sea-level rise by 2100, longer heat waves, and would result in virtually all tropical coral reefs being at risk. The research is published today (21 April) in Earth System Dynamics, an open access journal of the European Geosciences Union (EGU), and is presented at the EGU General Assembly. Read more
EGU 2016 General Assembly media advisory 4 – Press conferences live stream, on-site registration Press release 12 April 2016 Next week (17–22 April), some 13,000 scientists will gather in Vienna for the 2016 General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU), a meeting that provides an opportunity for journalists to hear about the latest research in the Earth and space sciences and to talk to scientists from all over the world. The press conference programme includes presentations on the latest results on sea ice decline in the Arctic and on detecting nuclear explosions, among others. Interested journalists can register on-site, free of charge, during the meeting. Those who cannot make it to Vienna can watch press conferences remotely through a live streaming link. Read more
News from the EGU: EGU 2016 tips & tricks, Open Access 2020 (March 2016) 31 March 2016 The March 2016 edition of the EGU email newsletter, the monthly information service for Union members, is now available. Read more
EGU now a signatory to Open Access 2020, a new initiative to boost open access 23 March 2016 Open Access 2020 (OA2020) is an international initiative to promote the transition of today’s scholarly journals from subscription to open access publishing. EGU President Hans Thybo signed the mission’s expression of interest yesterday, adding the Union to the list of over 30 supporters of OA2020. Read more
EGU 2016 General Assembly media advisory 3 – Press conference schedule, online registration closing tomorrow Press release 16 March 2016 The schedule of press conferences at the General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU) is now available. It includes presentations on methane release from the Arctic seafloor, on finding out how ancient organisms moved and fed, and on the latest developments from ESA’s Asteroid Impact Mission, among other topics. The EGU General Assembly will also feature a debate on economic growth and climate change, a session on the Anthropocene, and a talk by astronaut André Kuipers. The meeting is taking place on 17–22 April at the Austria Center Vienna and is expected to attract some 13,000 scientists from around the world. Journalists interested in attending should register online by tomorrow. Read more
EGU 2016 General Assembly media advisory 2 – Meeting programme online, provisional press conference topics Press release 3 March 2016 The programme for the 2016 General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU) is now online. The meeting, which attracts some 13,000 scientists, provides an opportunity for journalists to hear about the latest research in the Earth and space sciences and to talk to scientists from all over the world. This year’s conference features debates on sustainable development in the Arctic and on economic growth and climate change. Press conferences include presentations on detecting nuclear explosions, on finding out how ancient organisms moved and fed, and on the latest developments from ESA’s Asteroid Impact Mission, among other topics. The meeting is taking place on 17–22 April in Vienna, Austria, at the Austria Center Vienna. Read more
News from the EGU: EGU 2016 programme, great debates, waders and smartphones (February 2016) 1 March 2016 The February 2016 edition of the EGU email newsletter, the monthly information service for Union members, is now available. Read more
Fishing meets science with waders and smartphones Press release 29 February 2016 Dutch and American researchers have developed waders equipped with temperature sensors that enable fly-fishers to find the best fishing locations while collecting data to help scientists study streams. The research is published today (29 February) in Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and Data Systems (GI), an open access journal of the European Geosciences Union. Read more
Screening truffles for radioactivity 30 years from Chernobyl Press release 25 February 2016 Swiss and German researchers have analysed Burgundy truffles collected in central Europe and found they contain only negligible amounts of radioactive caesium, being safe for consumption. The results are published today (25 February) in Biogeosciences. Read more
Terri Cook and Phil McKenna awarded EGU Science Journalism Fellowship Press release 23 February 2016 The European Geosciences Union (EGU) has named journalists Terri Cook and Phil McKenna as the winners of its 2016 Science Journalism Fellowship. The support will allow Cook to look into how artificial floods are used to support sustainable water development, while McKenna will report on how trees and buildings can weaken seismic vibrations. Read more
EGU Great Debates set the trend 18 February 2016 Nicholas Arndt, EGU Outreach Committee Chair, and John Ludden, EGU President 2005–2007, write about the Great Debates in the geosciences, which were first held at the EGU General Assembly in 2005 and are now being adopted by geoscience unions across the world. Read more
Policy-related science 1 February 2016 The policy branch of the EGU website continues to be updated with a new policy-related science subsection. Each scientific topic highlights its importance for policy development, current legislation, and recent EGU papers of relevance. Read more
News from the EGU: General Assembly call for papers, EGU awards, ECS definition changed (January 2016) 29 January 2016 The January 2016 edition of the EGU email newsletter, the monthly information service for Union members, is now available. Read more
Apply to be an EGU division early career scientist representative 25 January 2016 Early career scientist representatives are a crucial link between the EGU and the early career scientist community. A few EGU divisions are looking to appoint new representatives. Read more
Imaggeo Photo Competition 25 January 2016 The seventh annual EGU photo competition opens on 1 February. Up until 1 March, every participant pre-registered for the General Assembly can submit up three original photos and one moving image on any broad theme related to the Earth, planetary, and space sciences. This year, in line with the theme of the EGU 2016 General Assembly, we particularly encourage submissions representing an Active Planet. Read more
Communicate Your Science Video Competition 20 January 2016 Want to communicate your research to a wider audience and try your hand at video production? Now’s your chance! Early career scientists pre-registered for the EGU General Assembly are invited to take part in the EGU’s Communicate Your Science Video Competition. The deadline is 4 March. Read more
Nominate candidates for EGU awards and medals 20 January 2016 Every year, the EGU honours individuals for their contributions to the Earth, planetary and space sciences. EGU members are kindly asked to submit their nominations for all EGU 2017 medals and awards by 15 June 2016. Read more
Submit your abstract and register for the EGU 2016 General Assembly 8 January 2016 The EGU 2016 General Assembly (17–22 April, Vienna, Austria) will bring together geoscientists from all over the world to one meeting covering all disciplines of the Earth, planetary and space sciences. Read more
Applications open for EGU 2016 Science Journalism Fellowships (up to €5k) Press release 5 January 2016 The second call for applications to the 2016 European Geosciences Union (EGU) Science Journalism Fellowship competition is now open. The fellowships enable journalists to follow scientists on location to report on ongoing research in the Earth, planetary or space sciences. Successful applicants receive up to €5000 to cover expenses related to their projects. The deadline for applications is 31 January. Read more
Workflow of interactive journals reorganised 10 December 2015 A couple of months ago, we announced changes for EGU interactive journals, which our publisher Copernicus will be implementing over the next few weeks. Such a significant modification to the workflow combined with the launch of a new library layout will be accompanied by some constraints in the next three to four weeks. Read more
Results of the EGU Autumn 2015 elections 7 December 2015 The EGU election for the next EGU president/vice-president and general secretary closed on 4 December. The results are now available on the Elections page of this website. The EGU is thankful to all those who used their voting right. Active participation in elections ensures continuation of the well-established bottom-up structure of our Union! Read more