[Geoinfo] [Fwd: GLACIER WATCH: announcement]

[Rubén Somoza]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Giorgio Pennacchioni" <giorgio.pennacchioni en UNIPD.IT>
To: <GEO-TECTONICS en JISCMAIL.AC.UK>
Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2012 7:20 PM
Subject: GLACIER WATCH: announcement


Dear Colleagues,
we are pleased to announce the new project of TecTask: Glacier Watch. You
can find the details of the project at the following link:

http://www.tectonique.net/tectask/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27&Itemid=73

or directly linking from the front page menu of TecTask.

In recent years, the rapid glacier retreat, as an evident consequence of
global warming, has resulted in the exposure of large areas of perfectly
polished outcrops, providing a unique opportunity for field study of 
geological structures.  Unfortunately glaciated outcrops are not
everlasting. After exposure, these glacier-polished areas eventually
deteriorate, in most cases in a few tens of years at most, due to surface
weathering, lichen growth, mechanical damage and accumulation of cover. It
would be indeed unfortunate if the short-term opportunity provided by the
exposure of such nearly perfect polished exposures is not fully utilized.
It is clearly impossible to study and record the worldwide exposures
cleared from ice every year, but an effort should be made focusing on
those areas with the most valuable (scientific and /or educational)
geological interest.  It is therefore the core aim of project Glacier
Watch of TecTask to:

* identify and select areas worldwide of recent exposure at the front of
glaciers exposing relevant geological structures;
* promote the formation of research groups for mapping, studying and
recording these unique outcrops;
* develop an efficient protocol for quantitative mapping through the
feedback from, and interaction between, different research groups, loosely
coordinated through Glacier Watch;
* select easily accessible areas that can provide natural laboratories for
teaching structural geology thanks to the unique exposure of structures;

The web site illustrates three of such spectacular areas with some
photographs of nice deformation structures that can be observed directly
in the field and where details down to the grain scale can be seen. Take a
look and enjoy.
Please email me (giorgio.pennacchioni en unipd.it) any suggestion of
glaciated areas exposing spectacular geological structures to you repute
worth to be mapped and studied. A description of the locality should
include:

        * the exposed structures, with a short description and photos
        * the accessibility and logistics of the area
        * the educational potential of the area
        * the scientific potential (why we should not miss those outcrops)
        * the approximate surface area of exposure
        * relevant bibliography and geological maps (if existing)

The database of localities will be published on the Glacier Watch website.
This will allows the aggregation of researchers willing to collaborate on
the study of those selected areas. The Tectask committee will also try to
support the study of those areas reputed as exceptional ones. Please, in
submitting your suggestions to Glacier Watch, consider the feasibility of
a geological campaign plan.

On behalf of the Tectask group
Best regards
Giorgio Pennacchioni

 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Prof. Giorgio Pennacchioni
Dipartimento di Geoscienze
Università di Padova
Via Gradenigo 6
35131 Padova
Italy
phone: +39 049 827 9106 (office)
       +39 3386718488 (mobile)




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Rubén Somoza
Dpto. Ciencias Geológicas, FCEyN, UBA
Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón 2
C1428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina


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