Environmental Geology in Spain - Navigating in the field
17.02.2016
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Navigating in the field
by Maya Schmitt
Photo credit: Prof. Dr. Anke Friedrich
As social or humanities scientists we are required to understand and orientate ourselves in a given context. For geologists this entails a multifaceted approach and is a prerequisite for field work. First and foremost, we (assuming the geologist persona) need to document our standpoint, that is, where we locate ourselves. For instance, a compass can determine this through triangulation. This means using three points of reference on the map to pinpoint your own location. However, we quickly learned that simply analysing the sun’s position in the sky, using one’s common sense and general knowledge can provide unexpected details.
Nonetheless, figuring out your individual distance (counting steps over a fixed distance) and your height as units are measurement tools to estimate the topography. The understanding of the basics of these measurement options as scientist will help achieve a kind of unison with the surrounding environment.