News

Two of the articles ("Water Crisis: Inevitable or Preventable?" and "Dowsing") in this issue of Wat On Earth were written by Dr. Robert Farvolden, Professor Emeritus, former Chairman of Earth Sciences and Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Waterloo. He formed the first major program of groundwater teaching and research in Canada at the University of Waterloo in 1971. Bob was concerned with the lack of adequate water supplies in developing countries and advised governments in Central and South- America and Africa.

Part of a display which appeared at the Ontario Legislature from July 15 to October 15, 1995

JOCELYNE LEGAULT, B.Sc., M.Sc. (University of Ottawa); Ph.D. (University of Oklahoma)

Associate Professor, Department of Earth Sciences

Global atmospheric pollution dates back to Roman and Greek times - long before the Industrial Revolution - according to scientists who have detected lead fallout in samples of ancient Greenland ice.

The researchers have detected small but significant quantities of lead particles in ice cores drilled to a depth of more than a kilometre - covering a timespan of nearly 8,000 years.

Guy Morgan was annoyed that the hosepipe ban imposed by his local water company was ruining his garden. So he drilled a borehole and now has unlimited free water gushing up from groundwater lying 20 metres below his driveway.

The hole in the ozone layer has more to do with politics than deodorants, a French scientist tells Ian Phillips.

If there is one thing Haroun Tazieff believes in, it is speaking his mind. "When I've got something to say, I say it," he asserts. In the past, France's most famous volcano expert has raged about everything from the Mafia to television presenters, but in recent years he has found a new hobby-horse - the ecological lies he believes Green politicians have invented to scare the electorate into voting for them.

Integrated Recycling Plant for non-toxic Urban Wastes schematic

Due to the great variety of recycling plants in Ontario and to avoid confusion in our schools, I will describe the layout of such a facility and the problems that may result when operators are inadequately trained in the principles of metallurgy, biology, physics and chemistry.

St. F.X. geologist enjoys natural laboratory of local geology

As a child, Mike Melchin, St. F.X. geology professor, was an avid collector and a member of a rock club in his hometown of Kitchener, Ontario. The youngest in a family of four, Mike decided to pursue a career in physics upon completing high school, but soon realized it wasn't for him.

People everywhere are concerned about future water resources - and rightly so. Many surface sources are contaminated or over-used. Tales of groundwater contamination and lowering of water levels are common, and citizens feel threatened. But is the situation as bad as it looks?

For water well drillers, and the scientists and engineers who make a living in the groundwater industry, "dowsing" or "witching" for water is akin to astrology or witch craft or faith healing - that is, something rather appealing to certain people but which is entirely unsupported by scientific evidence and professional experience.

Every year in my introductory geology course I cover topics on volcanic activity and on earthquakes, and every year, almost without exception, nature obliges me with some excellent practical examples. This term was no exception. The academic year had barely commenced when Mt. Ruhapehu, a volcano in the central volcanic belt of North Island, New Zealand, erupted with some spectacular phreatic explosions.

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Editorial

Women in earth sciences

Ice pack reveals Romans' air pollution

Market for bore holes flooded

Telling little green lies?

The integrated recycling plant for non-toxic urban wastes

Once a collector always a collector

St. F.X. geologist enjoys natural laboratory of local geology

Water crisis: inevitable or preventable?

Dowsing

Things that go bump in the night!