Geohazard studies offshore the Faroe Islands: slope instability, bottom currents and sub-seabed sediment mobilisation

Prior to the 1990s only few geological investigations of the seabed and the shallow geology around the Faroe Islands had been undertaken (Waagstein & Rasmussen 1975; Nielsen et al. 1981). However, in the 1990s marine geological and in particular seismic investigations were markedly intensified. Since 1993 several studies on the structure of the Faroe Islands margin and seafloor processes have been funded by the European Union, namely the ENAM (European North Atlantic Margin) project I and II (1993–1999) and the STRATAGEM (Stratigraphy of the Glaciated European Margin) project (2000–2003), and these have provided significant new information on the mechanisms shaping the Faroe Islands margin (e.g. Boldreel et al. 1998; Kuijpers et al. 1998a; Nielsen & van Weering 1998; van Weering et al. 1998). Due to the expertise and regional geological knowledge obtained during these projects the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) became involved in socalled ‘geohazard’ seabed studies of the Faroe–Shetland Channel in 1997. These investigations were financed by the petroleum industry that had begun to show significant interest in exploration of the Faroe–Shetland Channel area. The studies focused on possible natural risks that would affect submarine structures, such as slope instability and strong bottom currents, and included both shallow seismic data acquisition and sediment core analyses. Most of the work at sea was undertaken with the Russian research vessel Prof. Logachev, and carried out within the framework of the international, UNESCO-supported ‘Training-Through-Research’ (TTR) programme co-ordinated by Moscow State University, Russia. Since 1997, more than three million DKK have been granted for various projects and this work has been documented in 14 classified reports. This paper presents some of the main results from these ‘geohazard’ studies, in particular with respect to the sediment instability affecting the western flank of the Faroe–Shetland Channel, the occurrence of very strong bottom currents in the channel, and the newly discovered mud diapirs at the northern entrance of the channel (Fig. 1)

Effects of Companies’ Initiatives to Reduce Early Retirement Among Older Workers

Although active ageing policy and practice vary between countries, we believe that knowledge about the effects of Norwegian companies’ initiatives to delay early retirement is of interest for all countries striving to increase the employment rates of older workers. Since the agreement on a more inclusive working life (IW agreement) was signed in 2001, the Norwegian government and social partners have encouraged companies to develop a more senior-friendly policy and implement special measures to retain older workers. In this article, we evaluate the effects of such measures. Our research question is, have preventive measures offered by companies to employees aged 62 years and older contributed to reduced rates of early retirement? We use a ‘difference-in-differences’ approach and examine whether measures at the company level to counteract early retirement actually affect older employees’ retirement decisions, controlling for different individual and enterprise factors. This is done by comparing changes and differences in the individual likelihood of early retirement on the contractual pension (AFP scheme) and disability pension in the period 2002–2007 among employees 62 years of age in businesses with and without the corresponding preventive measures/instruments. The analyses show that the likelihood that a 62-year-old worker will retire on the AFP scheme has increased from 2002 to 2007. This applies equally to 62-year-old employees in enterprises that have enacted special measures to retain older workers as well as 62-year-olds in enterprises that have not enacted any such measures. On the other hand, the likelihood that a 62-year-old worker will retire because of disability decreased from 2002 to 2007, among employees in both the intervention enterprises and the control enterprises. However, when controlling for other relevant characteristics of individuals and enterprises, the analysis indicates that the measures as such have had no effect on the likelihood of 62-year-olds retiring

Kako narodne knjižnice donose vrijednost online: percepcija knjižničara

Purpose. The development and usage of digital library services have accelerated. Many libraries have expanded their digital services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The physical locations were closed or operated with reduced capacity and libraries continued to provide services digitally. The physical locations of many libraries have reopened but the development of digital services persists. Most libraries offer a wide variety of services digitally and many libraries are expanding their digital services. It is, therefore, relevant to explore how librarians perceive the digital public library services offered at their institutions and how the digital services supplement or replace services in the physical library. Approach/methodology/design. This study presents the findings of an interview-based study with five librarians from different public libraries across Denmark. Findings. The findings show that librarians perceive the physical and digital services as means to the same end while carefully considering the content, target audience and platform when offering services to their users. They see the digital services as a critical aspect of the raison d’etre of the library and means to attract new users. Research limitations. It is important to note that this study is based on a small sample. Practical implications. The implications for digital public library services are discussed and recommendations based on this study are considered. Originality/value. While many studies have explored librarians’ perceptions of the value of public libraries, this study focuses on librarians’ perception of the value of digital libraries and how these services supplement or replace the physical library.Cilj. Razvoj i korištenje digitalnih usluga knjižnica ubrzali su se. Mnoge su knjižnice proširile svoje digitalne usluge kao odgovor na pandemiju bolesti COVID-19. Fizičke su lokacije zatvorene ili su radile sa smanjenim kapacitetom, no knjižnice su nastavile pružati usluge digitalno. Kada su fizičke lokacije ponovno otvorene, razvoj se digitalnih usluga u mnogim knjižnicama nastavio. Većina knjižnica nudi širok izbor digitalnih usluga i mnoge knjižnice proširuju postojeće digitalne usluge. Stoga je važno istražiti kako knjižničari vide digitalne usluge narodnih knjižnica koje se nude u njihovim ustanovama te kako digitalne usluge nadopunjuju ili zamjenjuju usluge u fizičkoj knjižnici. Pristup/metodologija/dizajn. U ovome radu predstavljaju se rezultati istraživanja temeljenog na intervjuu s pet knjižničara iz različitih narodnih knjižnica diljem Danske. Rezultati. Rezultati istraživanja ukazuju na to da knjižničari doživljavaju fizičke i digitalne usluge kao sredstva postizanja istog cilja, dok pažljivo razmatraju sadržaj, ciljanu publiku i platformu kada nude usluge svojim korisnicima. Digitalne usluge vide kao ključni aspekt raison d’etre knjižnice i kao sredstva za privlačenje novih korisnika. Ograničenja istraživanja. Važno je napomenuti da se ovo istraživanje temelji na malom uzorku. Praktična primjena. Razmatraju se implikacije digitalnih usluga narodnih knjižnica te se na temelju rezultata istraživanja donose preporuke. Originalnost/vrijednost. Iako su se mnoga istraživanja bavila percepcijom knjižničara o vrijednosti narodnih knjižnica, ova se studija usredotočuje na percepciju knjižničara o vrijednosti digitalnih knjižnica i na to kako te usluge nadopunjuju ili zamjenjuju fizičku knjižnicu