Welcome to the very first GeoLifestyle! I’m Cate, and you’re pretty special for getting on board early enough to get the first edition in your inbox 😉
I hope this newsletter inspires you to enjoy the geology around you, and if you’re ever looking to connect, you can drop me a line anytime at editorial@aapg.org.
The Great American Eclipse Approaches!
On Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse is set to ‘WOW!’ Americans from Texas to Maine. I’ll be watching from western New York, after giving a talk on the geology of the moon at the Rochester Museum and Science Center on Sunday.
If you’re looking for a grounded way to witness this once-in-a-lifetime astronomical experience, I’ve compiled some unique geological sites in the path of totality.
Known for its stunning limestone cliffs overlooking the Amistad Reservoir, this oasis provides wide-open skies to view the eclipse against a unique backdrop of clear water, rocks, and desert flora.
In addition to its 47 geothermal springs, the park is host to an eclipse festival complete with presentations, interactive demonstrations, and official viewing sites.
Nestled within the Shawnee National Forest, the Midwest’s own Garden of the Gods boasts striking sandstone hoodoos among the trees, making it a top scenic spot in the state.
The park’s unique landscape is characterized by mud spires overlooking Lake Ontario, providing a panoramic, sci-fi-like view of this otherworldly event.
Dive deeper: Want to find even more viewing locations? I put together this searchable Google Map of the eclipse path using NASA-compiled shapefiles. I really enjoyed making this; GIS is so fun to me!
A message from AAPG’s Women's Network, AWG Lonestar Chapter, and Midwest GeoSciences Group
Register Now: Geology of Pigments Webinar
The next installment of AAPGWN’s 'Geology of' webinar series will examine geological facts around pigments.
You’ll learn about:
Which unique earth system factors influence the chemistry of pigments
The history and chemical evolution of mineral-based pigments
Sourcing of pigments from geologic ores
Environmentally sustainable innovations in pigments
If you’re a moviegoer, you may have seen the long-anticipated sequel to the modern adaptation of Frank Herbert’s novel Dune.
While I’m personally a bigger fan of the 1984 version, I must admit these new movies are much more geologically exciting. The new film had several accurate, and several other inaccurate—or otherwise improbable—portrayals of geoscience.
About Dune:
The ‘Dune’ movies take place on the desert planet Arrakis, known to the locals as Dune—probably because it’s covered in sand dunes.
Arrakis is extensively mined for an orange, powdery substance called Spice. Roving machines extract it from the sand, a risky process due to the gigantic sand worms that dominate the planet.
Filming locations:
Scenes featuring rocky canyons and wind-carved caves were filmed at Wadi Rum in southern Jordan, a popular spot for many sci-fi movies.
Most of the famous dunes were shot in the United Arab Emirates at Abu Dhabi, the largest uninterrupted desert in the world.
A single scene showing dunes meeting the sea was no feat of special effects; it was filmed onsite in Africa’s Namib desert.
Geological hits and misses:
Hit: When worms approach, dust stirs and sand ripples from surface wave vibrations.
Miss: A small device called a Sand Thumper attracts worms through vibration; however, loose, dry sand poorly conducts these weak seismic waves.
Hit: The planet’s surface and atmosphere lack water, resulting in only erosion. The existence of sandstones confirms the mentioned presence of rivers and oceans in the planet’s distant past.
Miss: A single-biome desert planet like Arrakis is improbable due to the usual diversity in planetary conditions which create varied climates and landscapes.
The importance of “Dune” it right:
When real geology is included in films, it’s a learning opportunity for an audience that otherwise may never have sought out that information.
Prioritizing fundamental facts over illogical nonsense curbs the spread of misinformation among viewers who can’t tell science fact from science fiction.
Incorporating real science in sci-fi, like in 'The Martian' or 'Interstellar', can enhance the genre’s whimsicality, not lessen it.
Go deeper: If you’re really interested in the portrayal of science in the ‘Dune’ series, read this book calledThe Science of Dune.
Thank you so much for subscribing! I’ll be back every Thursday morning with more fun ways to combine geoscience and everyday life. Until then, cheers!
Cate Larsen
Editor, GeoLifestyle
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