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        Discover Arnside & Silverdale AONB

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        This extraordinary place is famous for its amazing wildlife, stunning scenery, and superb walks. From the simple beauty of the Lady’s-slipper Orchid to the shining sands of Morecambe Bay, the area is simply awe-inspiring – full of natural spectacles and a surprise around every corner.

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        The AONB Partnership is the body that exists to conserve and enhance the AONB and is made up of local authorities, interest groups, national agencies and local communities, working together. The AONB Team is employed on behalf of the AONB Partnership to develop and support the implementation of the statutory AONB Management Plan.

         

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Arnside Silverdale AONB

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Stunning limestone pavements, ancient woodlands, intimate orchards and meadows and an impressive coastline make Arnside & Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty one of England's finest landscapes. The work of the AONB Partnership aims to conserve and enhance this extraordinary place now and for the future.

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    Paelomagnetism Research Project begins

    October 16th, 2018

    A team of geologists from both Lancaster and Liverpool Universities will be carrying out geological sampling at various locations in the AONB and wider Morecambe Bay area this autumn. The research is being supported by The Geological Society, the International Commission on Stratigraphy, Natural England and the AONB Partnership.

    Summary of research aims

    The magnetic field of the Earth is generated by fluid motions in the outer core. The strength of the Earth’s magnetic field varies over time, and is linked to these fluid motions. Knowledge of the magnetic field in the past can thus be used to get insight into the processes going on deep inside the Earth. It is hypothesised that there are long-term variations in the strength of the magnetic field, with a periodicity of 200 million years. In periods where the magnetic field is weak, the magnetic north and south poles reverse often. In periods where the magnetic field is strong, the field is very stable and hardly any reversals are present, these periods are called superchrons.

    An essential part of this hypothesis relies on the strength and number of reversals of the field in the Carboniferous. There are currently only limited records of the field in the time before the Permian-Carboniferous reverse superchron which lasted from 318 to 262 million years ago. The United Kingdom has an excellent record of sediments that were deposited around this time, but the Lower Carboniferous was heated to high temperatures in most parts of the UK, leading to loss of the original magnetic signal. The Lower Carboniferous in Cumbria and North Lancashire has not reached such high temperatures, and thus is very promising for reconstruction of the magnetic field.

    The geological sampling to be carried out will determine the polarity of the magnetic field through the Lower Carboniferous in this region, through the Martin Limestone, Red Hill Limestone, Dalton Limestone, Park Limestone and Urswick Limestone, from which oriented samples will be collected at approximately regular intervals throughout the Lower Carboniferous to estimate the reversal rates.

    Sampling will be conducted in a team of 2-4 geologists using an approved methodology. Hand samples (roughly 10x10x10cm blocks) will be taken from the rock outcrops with a hammer and chisel. Once the broken surface weathers like the surrounding rock, it leaves no evidence of a sample being taken. No sampling will be undertaken at locations where important fossils, palaeosols or structures are present and no drill cores will be taken. Sampling at Trowbarrow Quarry SSSI has formal consent from Natural England.

    For further information please contact Dr Mark W Hounslow at Lancaster University m.hounslow@lancaster.ac.uk

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    Twitter
    about 12 hours ago

    The Big Garden Birdwatch is starting soon. 29 - 31 January. enjoy an hour with nature and discover the wildlife on… https://t.co/i8v3c31QF4

    Jan 26th

    This lovey heart, spotted in the AONB, reminds us to stay safe, live, laugh and love. We can’t argue with that.… https://t.co/1nIRZIvWzr

    Jan 26th

    Not so sunny today, wet and chilly, so here is a view taken a few days ago to being a little cheer.… https://t.co/5v6xt5lWs2

    Jan 24th

    #WinterWatchlist which BBC Winterwatch is running - 10 things to look out for when you’re out exercising… https://t.co/03Spj7Kt7C

    company logo: Cumbria County Council company logo: Lancaster city council company logo: Department for environment. Food and rural affairs company logo: Lancashire county council company logo: Landscapes for life company logo: South Lakeland district council company logo: Green tourism company logo: Morecambe bay company logo: European garden award: 2nd prize company logo: RTPI awards for planning excellence finalist 2020
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    Arnside & Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

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