A Tsunami hits the coast of Soqotra, just after SKP6

The Tsunamis also struck the Soqotran coast as higher tides were experienced (info JK). According to news arrived in Sana'a more than 40 fishing boots are missed near Nogeed and children died at Qalansiya! No news from the east coast or Hadibu... we'll keep you informed!
The complete SKP6 diary with pictures is updated, the translation in English will probably be for next year, my apologies.
After returning from Yemen we were invited by the Soroptimist Belgium (Westhoek) on Friday December 10th at the Casino of Koksijde, with the participation of Unesco Vlaanderen.The main theme of the evening was the water scarcity in Third World countries, with the SKP-project as an example. After an introduction, Rik Martens showed his new documentary "Vloeibaar goud" (liquid gold), followed by a powerpoint presentation by myself and finalised with a round table discussion. The day after my wife and I left for the Annual Geophysical Union (AGU) fall meeting in San Francisco (USA). Great to meet other speleothem scientist in a motivating scientific environment.
Have a great Christmas and a happy new year, superb holidays!

SKP6 got a green light!

Fortunately Yemenia flies to Soqotra again, so SKP6 can take place after all. Between November 26th and December 6th we will explore more cave systems with a team of 3 geologists, a biologist and a maritime archaeologist. A scientific adventure during the Monsoon rainy period! A detailed report will be published next month.

Flights cancel due to the Ramadan...

Our SKP6 expedition in postponed, because Yemenia Airlines decided NOT to fly to Soqotra during Ramadan this year?! We are currently re-scheduling. The Royal Botanical Garden of Edinburgh (RBGE) Scotland, will organise the Soqotra exhibition in 2006 instead of 2005. Our expedition report SKP1-5 will be published at the end of this year, we will let you know where and when.

Friends of Soqotra and SKP

Some new initiatives are ready to start, more information available soon. Our research concerning the "Underground Freshwater potential of Soqotra: Present, Past and Future" was well attended at the annual meeting of the Friends of Soqotra (FOS) in London. The Royal Botanical Garden of Edinburgh (RBGE) Scotland, will organise an exhibition about Soqotra Island medio 2005.

Finally some good satellite images of Soqotra

A big step forward! Thanks to a "Golden" contact we obtained the satellite images of Soqotra. At the moment we are looking if the creation of a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) is possible. Some speleothems are dated, giving the research a big push in the right direction.

New SKP-meeting

A small core team meets the 29th to gather all cave survey data and finish most cave maps. We set a new deadline for the SKP1-5 expedition report, sheduled for December. A first contact is made by the Soroptimists to see if an SKP-evening would be possible, to be continued.

SKP happening, ben there!

Saturday the 19th we'll give a powerpoint presentation covering the last 5 SKP expeditions, followed by 2 films from Rik Martens "Socotra, pearl in the Arabian Sea" (SKP1 report) and "The Exploration" (the exploration of a recently discovered new cave system in Bois de Waerimont, Belgium). Doors open at 8 pm near the public pool in Oudenaarde, Belgium. (for those who accidently pass by A MUST!)