The New Year is here folks with a bang and a pop! Hopefully this will be a very prosperous and happy new year for us all and in particular, I’m hoping that the Mayans made an error regarding the end of the world taking place in 2012. With the onset of a new year, renewed resolutions have been made, gyms have been joined, diets are being followed and attempts at the learning of languages have commenced. In the world of earth sciences on the other hand, gyms are replaced with laboratories, diets with diagrams and the only language that needs to be learned is that of FORTRAN!

Upon my return to the ‘Fortress of Solitude’ (a rather lofty and slightly cold office on the 2nd floor of the Geography Building in QUB) I once again commence work on the cores collected from the Sundarbans in November 2010.

Since the project I am working on involves determining the source of sediments within the Sundarbans, examination of the mineralogical constituents from these cores has been one of my most predominant and challenging activities in recent times. I don’t think the Cambridge physicists William Lawrence Bragg and his father William Henry Bragg would ever have conceived of the fact that the breakthrough they had one hundred years ago (i.e. Bragg’s Law of X-ray diffraction) with Laue diffraction would be employed with such trepidation and excitement as to elucidate late-Quaternary sedimentary provenance of the Indian Sundarbans. X-ray diffraction (XRD for short) is a non-destructive analytical technique for determining crystalline structures of materials, and since minerals are crystals this method works a treat for investigating which ones may be present in the material being examined.

Taking some poetic licence regarding the laborious details of the XRD process, sediments are dried and ground down to a powder, placed on a sample holder, left to sit spin while a powerful light bulb shines incandescently to illuminate the mineralogy at different angles… In a manner of speaking! However, as Dr. Eldon Tyrell, the eponymous character from “Blade Runner” opines “The candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long”, and running sample after sample through the instrument, can and I say this with some regret, lose part of its lustre!

This drop in enthusiasm is readily reversed once the XRD results are processed with the aid of the XRD computer program and one can get back to the job of science and interpreting the data.

As I finish off editing some of the data and start the process of powering down my computer for the night with the dark winter sky drawing closer and each day getting ever so slightly longer with the pensive anticipation of the onset of Spring, I am reminded by the American poet Robert Frost and a particular passage from “The Road Not Taken”:

“I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I –
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”

Till next time folks!

At my age, birthdays are an occasion for commiseration rather than felicitations and yet it touched me that a birthday cake had been ordered for me by my fellow travellers during the second sampling expedition to the Sunderbans: the world’s largest  mangrove forest which spans the deltas of the Ganges in Bangladesh and the Hugli in West Bengal. It is in the latter region that we were taking undisturbed sediment samples.

I’ve written briefly about last year’s exploits and you can find that blog archived for November 2010.

Access to the various habited and uninhabited islands in the Sunderbans is by boat and the primitive existence on board in a confined space with few basic facilities leads to getting to know your fellow passengers fairly intimately. As last year I was part of the team from Queen’s University Belfast (GAP) : http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/gap/

Professor Julian Orford, larger than life and sometimes reputed to be a teeny bit gruff is in truth a pussycat, continually mindful and concerned about the wellbeing of those under his care. His love of Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier surely gives him away?

Professor Keith Bennett, bird lover with a razor sharp mind and coring expert : why did they need me when they had Keith?

Dr Satish Kumar, fixer extraordinaire with an eye for the girls and an even better one for photography (his many pictures will be viewable soon) is an asset to any voyager in remote places.

Rory Flood, PhD student:  Irish, red headed, pale skinned going to translucent  at the sight of a little cockroach (well perhaps not so little) yet brave and tenacious with never a complaint even when afflicted by Kolkata tummy his standard answer to “how are you doing Rory” … “ah just grand” even as he leaned over the railing… Since October 2010 Rory has been working on his PhD project at the School of Geography, Archaeology and Palaeoecology at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) regarding the late-Holocene and contemporary sedimentary provenance and processes of sedimentation in the Sundarbans.

Neelambari Phalkey, vivacious and courageous:  another QUB PhD student who will be spending quite some time living in a village in the Sunderbans.

Part of the team from the Institute of Environmental Studies and Wetland Management in Kolkata: http://www.ieswm.org/ : Senior Scientist Somenath Battacharryya and Ms. Kakoli Sen Sarma who worked so hard to procure permissions to carry out the work.

To you all a heartfelt thanks for your cooperation and generosity.

I’ve prepared a gallery of pictures viewable here: http://rdubois.zenfolio.com/p574705449 best viewed by clicking on the first image and then on slideshow on the upper right hand corner. A particular highlight for me was the visit to the village officially called L-Plot. More pictures will be added over the next few weeks; not least those of Satish. More pictures are also available on the QUB facebook site:

http://www.facebook.com/QUBGAP

A special thanks goes to Kakoli’s 8-year old daughter Riya for the beautiful picture she made for me.

Vincent van Walt

December 2011

To say that groundwater is vital is understating its importance. Groundwater accounts for almost 70% of the world’s freshwater supply and as rivers and lakes tend to be supported by groundwater it is no exaggeration to say that almost all the water used in agriculture, industry and for drinking is, or has been, groundwater at some point.

It is easy to relate the impact of groundwater on our environment but less so the effect on our economy. Water has long been recognised as a major source of wealth and agriculture is made possible due to the abundant use of water and, historically, towns and cities around the world have been built on the banks of rivers.

There are many reasons why it is important to monitor groundwater levels: for consistency of supply, protection of the environment from extremes like floods and droughts and also to monitor groundwater quality for pollutants. Rising groundwater can bring pollution problems to the surface, flushing it into local rivers and waterways, affecting wildlife and impacting on the water supply. Rising groundwater can also lead to flooding which is estimated to cost the UK around £2.2 billion every year. We spend around £800 million per annum on defences and even with these flood defences in place it costs the economy an average of £1,400 million in damages, so monitoring groundwater is environmentally, economically and politically important.

Water level logging techniques have developed over the years and the data collected from this activity shapes almost everything we do when it comes to water security, commercial and domestic design and planning, so it is vital that the data collected is consistent and correct.

Water level logging with a dip meter or water level meter measures the depth of water in wells, boreholes and standpipes at a moment in time. These instruments are accurate, reliable, easy to use and collect data from up to 1000m, and some have a bottom sensor to measure the depth of the well being monitored. However they are not intended for continuous use hence the water level data logger was born.

A data logger is an electronic device that records data at predetermined intervals, based on a digital processor they are generally small, battery powered, portable and equipped with an internal memory for data storage. Water level loggers interface with computers and utilize software logger to view and analyse the collected information.

Water level data loggers record water level, temperature, conductivity and other parameters automatically 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Upon activation a water level logger will typically be deployed and left unattended to measure and record information for the duration of a monitoring period. This allows for a comprehensive and accurate picture of the groundwater being monitored. We have known of water level loggers deployed in the field, successfully collecting data for more than six years.

These smart and easy to use data loggers have changed over the years to become far more reliable and accurate and some now have the option of telemetry. Originally however, a water level logger was placed down-well and readings regularly collected on site directly from the instrument. Historically these were stand-alone level logging devices with large onboard memories capable of storing data collected over many days or months of unattended recording. The data was collected and typically recorded at a specific date and time to produce a sequence of events. Today level loggers range from simple single-channel input devices to complex multi-channel instruments that allow for many computations and alarms based on predetermined conditions. The newest water level loggers can populate web pages, allowing numerous people to monitor a system remotely.

Most water level loggers have to work in field conditions that dictate that they must be extremely robust and reliable as they need to operate for long periods nonstop with little or no human supervision, and may be installed in harsh or remote locations, so it is imperative that as long as they have power, they will not fail to log data for any reason. Manufacturers go to great lengths to ensure that their water level loggers can be depended upon. In addition there are now water level loggers manufactured with ceramic casings to allow for accurate logging in more corrosive conditions to monitor saltwater intrusion, injected wastewater and contaminated waste from chemical or landfill sites for example. Even in these conditions you can expect a typical accuracy of +/- 0.05% and a memory for 48,000 measurements and to sample at variable intervals of between 0.5 seconds to 99 hours.

See the example below of a water level logging system set-up using various methods of communication including Read-Out Units, Onsite Data Store and cable links to a PC/Laptop. Additionally there is the telemetry option using a Well Modem linked to the water level logger via a cable.

Most groundwater level logging systems can be added to a complete data acquisition system that may include a rain gauge, soil/MCT sensor, weather station, evaporation ring and telemetry system as seen in the second illustration.

For more information regarding one of the most well respected names in water level logging technology, with tens of thousands of units in place worldwide – Diver® by Schlumberger Water Services call Van Walt on +44 (0)1428 661 660 or email john.bolton@vanwalt.com.

Tracey Daley

I’ve done this before and yet need to write about it again. For a start, I didn’t need to reset my watch: noon means it’s midnight. That’s the easy part but the cherry trees are in blossom, the tulips and daffodils are in their full glory and lambs are being born. That just seems wrong because 28 hours ago I saw the leaves falling from the trees as quickly as autumn steamed in. What hasn’t changed is the cleanliness of the Queenstown air as I finally terminate my long journey and am able to stretch my legs, the deep blue of the sky and of course wonderful Wanaka where the easy going Kiwis are still enjoying life as much as possible.

It was good to see my granddaughter Eva and her parents. They look well and content and I understand why they want to live here. Eva a little wary for the first week but now accepting that Pops is not really as big a rival as she might at first have thought.

A fortnight passes quickly despite full days, including  the demolishment of a house, the making and selling of toys, a journey with the old Alfa to Haast and the best breakfast in the world served outside in the café at Tarras.  The visit would not have been complete without a final dinner at the White House. I’ve been wondering why I like the place so much. The food is excellent but I’ve had better, and so with the wine but it must be the owner Peter and Liz, our hostess for the night, who have the ability to make you feel as if you are a guest in their own home.

And I reflect, as I sit in yet another airport lounge, about how lucky I am to have such great colleagues who keep my business running smoothly and efficiently so that I’m able to travel to these amazing places, secure in the knowledge that things back home are all in order and my customers, on whom my company relies, are in safe and experienced hands. Thanks guys!

So onwards.  In 24 hours I shall be back in Surrey and while I shall miss my children in Wanaka I will see them soon again. I can’t wait.

Vincent van Walt

Auckland, 8^th November 2011

Those who know me know, no: I’m no sceptic; nor a cynic, disparager or pessimist.  I like to think of myself as a realist, that’s why I know things happen: the only thing that’s certain is uncertainty and sometimes we make mistakes (we’re only human) and from time to time equipment breaks or doesn’t work.

I want to air this subject because those who know me or work with me know I don’t like mistakes, they cost time, money and customer loyalty.  That’s why we have put in place processes and procedures to ensure we pick up our mistakes before equipment leaves our premises.  I like to think that more times than not we get it right, but I know sometimes we don’t, every now and then our equipment fails and we have to do something about it quickly so minimising the impact on you.  When this happens I hope it’s how we deal with it that sets us apart from other suppliers.

Not only do we take it personally when things go wrong we understand ‘time is money’, if you’re onsite and not working that costs you money and impacts negatively on your own customer’s fidelity.  That’s why as soon as you identify there’s a problem and let us know we try and resolve the issue immediately, over the phone if we can. If we can’t, we aim to get a replacement piece of kit to you as soon as possible and repair or replace the item in question.  If you’ve experienced Van Walt equipment failure you should have received a feedback form from us, your opportunity to air your feelings on how we dealt with the problem – did we salvage the situation?

Completed forms – however much we don’t like what you might tell us – are used to help us improve and as a result we’ve introduced new initiatives.  If you hire water quality meters from us you will have received a post rental certificate as a confirmation your results were within defined parameters – it’s another tool for you to use to validate your results.

Other things are in the pipeline like the concept of data redundancy, additional staff training to allow us to repair more equipment onsite rather than the delay of returning equipment to suppliers and using technology and social media to get more information to you via smart phones so you can access it onsite.  

How are we making our service different? Take a look at our new brochure to understand more about our philosophy or the new introduction on our website.

If you know me you’ll know I’m impatient.  I want improvements in place immediately – this is something I can control. What isn’t is the imminent birth of my third grandchild – come on Rosie we’ve been waiting nine months now!

Vincent van Walt

The sun is just rising over the crests of the Tolentino Hills, its rays cutting through the morning chill. There is a promise of a very hot day and I feel just a tiny pang of guilt that I’m here while my colleagues are left to cope with running my business in my absence. But they do it well, each in their own way and I feel relaxed that the place is safe in their hands.

San Andrea church at the top of the hill behind me is basked by the morning light but I know that it has been forsaken, both by God and man and it sits empty, doors locked waiting for a flock which has dispersed many years ago and shows no inclination of ever returning and the hills of this ancient landscape are speckled with ruins, dotted randomly and picturesquely as a reminder of another era.

Last night I finished reading “Brideshead Revisited”; a tale told in a time when Catholicism held its followers in an iron fist and so it must have been here, a region which used to be the playground of Popes.

But these weighty matters will now be put aside. My daughter who is eternally hungry has decided that she will bake us pizza in the century old oven at the back of the house; and all this before the sun has reached its zenith. That she’s never used this device before has not in the least curbed her enthusiasm and is confident of a feast. I am more cautious and need to think seriously about a back up plan.

Epilogue: The pizzas fed us well but I think Carluccio is safe for the moment. Rosie’s phrase of the day? “Well, if at a restaurant we might have sent this back but for a first effort not half bad”.

Vincent van Walt

More photos: http://rdubois.zenfolio.com/p210865117

Spring is my favourite season.

Last week I was lucky enough to be allowed to hold a training course for contaminated land officers of Councils in the Kingdom of Fife and travelling North it was possible to experience the retardation of Spring according to latitude. Whereas the daffodils are all but gone in Surrey they were in bloom in Staffordshire and Cumbria and the cherry blossoms on the trees of the south are but a memory yet in Freuchie, opposite our hotel, a cherry tree was in its full glory of colour.

Not even the most ardent British Nationalist will defend the weather of this country but it is a fact that the combination of lengthening days, warmer weather interspersed with rain showers gives nature a spurt of growth which creates an exquisite contrast of colours.

The best part for me is the dawn chorus. It starts just before daybreak. Sunrise is currently at 5:30 and at about 4:45 the early birds start chirping and it climbs to a crescendo at sunrise. It then decreases to a quieter symphony which, in the south of England at least, is maintained till dusk.

Tulips and daffodils and other planted species are of course wonderful but it’s the wild flowers which capture the imagination and eye: the wild primroses, bluebells, violets, forget-me-nots, wild orchids and even the dandelions and buttercups are beautiful.

I’ve made a promise to myself that before I die, I shall travel the world for a whole year experiencing only Spring. I don’t know whether this is even possible but it will certainly be fun trying.

Vincent van Walt

This last Sunday I told Mike, my son in law, that he should have asked for an instruction manual for Rosie as a wedding gift but that then he would have had to build a larger bookcase because such a document would be of encyclopedic proportions. But, for your benefit Mike, here are some late instructions: Don’t be hungry when she’s not, don’t even think of going for a walk when she’s tired and above all don’t you even dare to be asleep when she’s awake.

The volume on pregnancy would be particularly weighty: Well after four months of this condition I think you’re getting the gist of things….

Contrast Rosie to one of my favourite suppliers IMKO: A small, very high tech company which produces award winning equipment for the determination of soil moisture. This is a family business; father, son, daughter and in laws all seem to work together harmoniously to produce products of excellence. Kurt, the founder is far more interested in extracting the last one percent accuracy from his probes than he is in maximizing profits. If the slogan Vorsprung durch Technik had not been kidnapped by Audi it would certainly have been very to the point for IMKO.

We’ve been trialing IMKO’s profile probe. This is so new that we have the only one in existence and so far we’re very impressed; easy to install, this telemetrised system reports daily the soil moisture and soil conductivity from different soil horizons.

Of course we’ve a few minor teething problems but it’s a pleasure to speak to Kurt or Timo or Sven. They listen and respond kindly and politely and together we try to find a solution and, even if concepts such as attenuation, gradients, polynomials, baud rates and dielectric constants are a little hard to fathom first thing in the morning before the benefit to the mind of a stiff espresso it is all done swiftly, professionally and with harmony.

My wife is in the antipodes visiting my son who was requested by his sister to exchange parents so she could have the sympathetic one back. Well, bad luck Rosie! You’ve got two more weeks of me.

The midwife told Rosie yesterday that all is well and they were able to listen to the baby’s heartbeat. I’m glad the midwife agreed with me that it must be a girl: No boy could possibly cause so much havoc!

It has been said that I might have spoilt my only daughter a teeny bit and possibly I bear a little responsibility in the way she is but yesterday she was up early and even brought Mike breakfast in bed. Will I be so privileged soon? I somehow doubt it but I don’t mind because she’s my only daughter and to me she’s still the most beautiful girl in the world!

Vincent van Walt

Wanaka airport is tiny. It has no control tower (the pilots just give their position and intentions to one another over the VHF) and in typical Kiwi style, to which I have now become accustomed,  there are no rules apart from a somewhat understated board suggesting that pilots should be careful when they refill so as not to spill fuel on the grass. The air is shared by fixed wing pleasure aircraft,  the very occasional commercial flight, skydivers and helicopters. You would think the latter two wouldn’t mix but they seem to co-exist happily even if the parachute landing ground is immediately adjacent to where the helicopters land and take off.

The airport also supplies a wonderful breakfast ranging from the all day variety to pancakes, smoothies  in addition to other delicacies and it was for this reason that we had headed here on my departure day.

As we finished our breakfast, Bill, a friend of Shannon’s (she seems to know everyone) ambled up from his helicopter, had a coffee and invited us for a flight.  And what an experience! Flying low over Wanaka, my home for the past fortnight, then alongside Mount Roy, a wide sweep past Glendhu Bay, toward and over Lake Hawea and back to breakfast! To say the flight was awesome would be an understatement.

As I write this from the Air New Zealand lounge at Auckland airport waiting for the flight to Los Angeles then London I’m already starting to miss this amazing  country and most of all Dirk, Shannon and little Eva: But I know that I’ll be back soon and that makes everything better.

Vincent van Walt

Last night it snowed in the mountains. Yesterday, I was playing with my granddaughter in a tributary to the Matukituki river in the blazing late summer sun.

I’ve written about the contrasts New Zealand has to offer before. They are amazing. To the photographer, it’s like being in a candy shop: you don’t either get a glacier or a river or a snow capped peak; you have them all in the same frame. It doesn’t seem to matter where you look because the Kodak moment is always there and the only risk is that no-one back home ever believes that the vibrancy of colours are not the result of Photoshop. Yes, trust me; the water really is that turquoise, the sky that blue .

There is also real freedom here still. People can land their paraglider on the football pitch, they can drive almost anywhere and only occasionally are you politely requested to ask permission before driving through a station. Children live an outdoor existence and even my 2 year old granddaughter already shows promise as a rock climber.

I lived here as a teenager and remember wondering why, with such amazingly beautiful scenery, there were no renowned Kiwi landscape painters  and why no masterpieces ever emerged from this country.  I might have found an answer from a book I’m reading: Khaled Hosseini’s  “The Kite Runner” ; a tale of human relationships and betrayal based on emotive issues derived from centuries of strife between the races and families of Afghanistan.  Suffering, history, the “flip side of the coin” is noticeably lacking in New Zealand and perhaps these emotions are necessary ingredients which influence the really great artist.

Vincent van Walt

More photos:  http://rdubois.zenfolio.com/p422740572