bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ecosystem managers can learn from past successes
Authors: Nuttle William K.
Published: October 2006

Can ecosystem managers rely on mechanistic simulation models to guide their decisions? Regional ecosystem restoration efforts in the United States now resemble the large public works projects of past decades, with similar costs and requirements to foster broad public and political support. Because managers use simulation models to set priorities and regulate human activities, problems with implementing and maintaining these models can derail their best efforts.

If the models are perceived as unreliable, the public can reasonably question the validity of these decisions. When problems with the models persist, confidence erodes in the science‐based approach that is widely touted as the solution to increasingly complex and politically charged environmental issues.
Outstanding student paper awards
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

The Atmospheric Sciences Section presented seven outstanding student paper awards at the 1999 AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco, California, last December.
Complex faulting confounds earthquake research in the Charlevoix Seismic Zone, Quebec
Authors: Lamontagne Maurice , Keating Pierre , Toutin Thierry
Published: October 2006

Following every earthquake felt in eastern North America, journalists ask the eternal question, “Which fault is responsible for this earthquake?” In intraplate environments,such as the Charlevoix Seismic Zone (CSZ), Quebec, Canada, a definite answer seldom exists. Seismologists face major difficulties: most earthquakes occur at mid‐crustal depths, the Precambrian basement where most earthquakes occur is geologically complex, and fault locations are poorly known.

Fortunately, seismologists receive help from other geoscientific fields and exploration techniques, most notably remote sensing, seismic methods, and potential fields. The integration of these geophysical tools is helping us to better understand the earthquake‐fault connection in the CSZ, which is eastern Canada's most seismically active zone. Most microearthquakes— the type that occur frequently in the CSZ—occur within highly fractured blocks bounded by regional geological faults. Our interpretation is different from the common assumption that earthquakes, independent of their size, occur along regional faults.
Update on U.S. Carbon Cycle Science Initiative
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: October 2006

While carbon plays a critical role in the Earth system and in potential global climate change, not enough is known about the element, its cycle, and global effects of human activity to accurately determine the behavior of the planet's climate system in the future, say scientists involved in an initiative to fill in these knowledge gaps. A US. carbon cycle science initiative, discussed during a briefing at the AGU spring meeting on June 1, could help to address some key scientific questions about carbon and CO2 and their relationship to the global climate in a more integrated and coordinated manner, scientists say.
The Dirt on the Great Lakes
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: October 2006

Over the past 1.8 million years, glaciers have deposited a thick coating of mud, clay, silt, sand, and gravel over four states in the Great Lakes region of the United States.While farms and cities have sprouted there, the lack of knowledge about what underlies the surface has left geologists and planners with less than adequate information that could help with decisions about land use, water resources, and sustainable economic growth, and contribute to a better understanding of geological and environmental hazards.

Now, these four states—Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio—have come together with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to propose to Congress a 17‐year, $187 million program to produce detailed, three‐dimensional surficial geologic maps (1:24,000 = scale) and derivative products of nearly 10,000 square kilometers in 17 areas identified as high priority.
Which one is correct, 2000 or 2001? How about 1995?
Authors: Veronis George
Published: October 2006

Most of the controversy as to whether the third millennium begins on January 1, 2000, or January 1, 2001, is based on relatively straightforward arguments. One group believes that the change from the 1900s to the 2000s determines the appropriate date for the beginning of the third millennium.The other group argues that the numbering of years began with A.D. 1 and adding 2000 years to January 1, makes January 1, 2001, the appropriate beginning of the new millennium. The latter group points to the absence of a year zero (1 B.C. is followed by A.D. 1) as proof that 2001 is the correct year.The controversy is easily resolved by reviewing the way in which the present calendar was established (according to the 15th (1976) edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannicd).

There are various religious factors that delayed the development of a reliable Christian calendar. The Eastern and Western Christian churches began to diverge (disagree) almost from the onset of the Christian era. One area of contention was that the Eastern church would calculate the date for Easter each year and pass it on to the Western church. But the method of calculation was jealously guarded.
Fractured bedrock aquifers may contribute to atmospheric methane
Authors: Marrin D. L.
Published: October 2006

Along with carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O),and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), methane (CH4) concentrations in the atmosphere have increased markedly since the industrial revolution [Ledley et al, 1999] .These so‐called greenhouse gases, along with water vapor, are generally considered to be the major players in the current global warming trend. Just how much global warming is due to anthropogenic contributions has not been resolvedsemi; however, recent increases in the atmospheric concentration of methane are undeniable. The bulk of the atmospheric methane increase has been attributed to the burning of fossil fuels and biomass, wetlands and flooded crops, natural gas seeps, and emissions from domesticated animals and landfills.
Comment on operational oceanography: Shall we dance?
Authors: Spinrad Richard W.
Published: October 2006

Christopher Mooers [2000] has raised important issues regarding operational oceanography in his Forum piece (Eos, March 14, 2000). I am concerned, however, that readers might be misled by some perceptions expressed in the piece. The AGU audience should understand that the U.S. Navy is well established, well positioned, and well prepared to play a major role in implementing an integrated, sustained, operational oceanographic system. After all, that's what we have been doing for over 150 years!
Santorini Volcano
Authors: Heiken Grant
Published: October 2006

What is it about Santorini (Thera) that attracts volcanologists? This small archipelago in the Aegean has captivated volcanic pilgrims since Fouque published his geologic study of the volcanic field in 1879 [Fouqué, 1879].It must be the combination of its spectacular setting, rising out of the blue waters of the Aegean, the remarkable exposures that lay open its violent past for everyone to see, or possibly the slower pace of life and remarkable Greek hospitality Perhaps it is the Lower Bronze Age town of Akrotiri, destroyed yet preserved by a large explosive eruption 3600 years ago. There are thousands of volcanoes yet to be studied on our planet, but for 140 years, groups of volcanologists have regularly visited this flooded caldera complex to add yet another bit of information to the foundation laid by Fouqué.
Mars: The next steps
Authors: Gaidos Eric J. , Richardson Mark I.
Published: October 2006

In 1993, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) began the Mars Surveyor program to fly small, focused missions to Mars at every launch opportunity (2‐year intervals) using the “faster, better, cheaper” approach championed by administrator Dan Goldin. NASA's plans are now under intense scrutiny because of the loss of all spacecraft arriving at Mars within the past six months. Panels commissioned to study the failures have released reports enumerating technical, managerial, and program problems and made recommendations to address these lapses. Recent events also provide an opportunity to reconsider the larger picture of Mars exploration: What are the program's goals within the context of both the scientific community and the society that supports it, and what is the best strategy to achieve those goals?
Congress kicks off Natural Hazards Caucus
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: October 2006

A packed room of scientists, government experts, and lobbyists attended a June 21 hearing in Washington, D.C. that marked the first meeting of the recently formed U.S. Congressional Natural Hazards Caucus. The caucus, created to help push legislative efforts in Congress to reduce the risks and costs of natural disasters, already counts 18 U.S. senators as members.The caucus is supported by a working group of scientists and engineering societies, including AGU, and private sector companies.

“For far too long, federal, state, and local officials and private agencies have survived with a piecemeal approach to disasters. We can do a better job of preparing for natural disasters and we can do a better job helping innocent victims of hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and other calamities,” said U.S. Senator John Edwards (D‐North Carolina), who co‐chairs the caucus with Senator Ted Stevens (R‐Alaska). Edwards, whose state was ravaged by Hurricane Floyd in 1999, said that from 1977 through 1993, the federal government spent about $120 million for disaster‐related projects, but of that total, less than one‐fourth was spent on mitigating the cost of future natural disasters.
Comment on “The detection of long‐term trends in the ionosphere”
Authors: Rawer Karl
Published: October 2006

I wish to congratulate Henry Rishbeth on his illuminating Forum piece on long‐term ionospheric studies (Eos, December 7, 1999, p. 590). I appreciate his cautious evaluation and, in particular, his arguments in favor of uninterrupted long‐term measurements. Before expressing my comments, I would like to take the opportunity to explain the ionospheric standard parameters upon which the studies rely: M(3000) is read from the main echo trace obtained by vertical pulse sounding of the ionosphere (when varying the radio frequency in a large range). A standard “transmission curve” is shifted along the frequency axis so that it just contacts the trace. The magnitude of the shift determines the factor by which the cut‐off frequency at normal incidence must be multiplied to give the cut‐off at oblique incidence for communication with a receiver distant by 3000 km. This parameter, currently evaluated on ionograms and used in short wave propagation computations, is known to be narrowly (inversely) connected with hm, the height above ground of the ionospheric electron density peak.
Recognizing AGU contributors
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

Voluntary contributions help AGU build for future generations and further the goals of the Union. Members who make these contributions help sustain the Unions outreach activities and build an appreciation of the value of their science.

The following groups of supporting members provide both continuing and annual recognition of those who help AGU in this way: Benefactor, a gift of $10,000 or more; Sustaining Member, a gift of $5,000; Life Supporting Member, a gift of $1,200 plus life dues; President's Circle, annual donation of $1,000 or more; Council Circle, annual donation of $500–$999; Leadership Circle, annual gift of $200 — $499.
Outstanding student paper awards
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

The Planetary Sciences Section presented two outstanding student paper awards at the 2000 Spring Meeting in Washington, D.C., last June.
NSF's Leinen discusses geoscience opportunities, challenges
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: October 2006

When Margaret Leinen went house‐hunting in the Washington, D.C. area after being named last year as assistant director for geosciences at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF),her realtor had a global positioning system (GPS) device in the car.

That technology is an example of the growing capacities in integrated observing systems, Leinen told an audience at the University of Rhode Island's Graduate School of Oceanography on June 30. Leinen said the growth of such systems is at the heart of a revolution leading to new opportunities and capabilities in the geosciences.
Simpson receives 2000 William Bowie Medal
Authors: Jokipii Jack R. , Simpson John A.
Published: October 2006

John A. Simpson was awarded the William Bowie Medal at the AGU Spring Meeting Honors Ceremony, which was held on June 2, 2000, in Washington, D.C. The medal recognizes outstanding contributions to fundamental geophysics and unselfish cooperation in research.
Hauri receives 2000 James B. Macelwane Medal
Authors: Hart Stanley R. , Houri Erik H.
Published: October 2006

Erik H. Hauri was awarded the James B. Macelwane Medal at the AGU Spring Meeting Honors Ceremony, which was held on June 2, 2000, in Washington, D.C. The medal recognizes significant contributions to the geophysical sciences by a young scientist of outstanding ability.
Here comes the Sun
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: October 2006

One after another, the solar storms keep coming our way, courtesy of the current Solar Maximum, a period of heightened solar activity that could last for several years and is part of the Sun's approximate 11‐year cycle.

For example, the U.S. Space Environment Center (SEC) in Boulder, Colorado—which is already ramped up for increased activity due to the “solar max”—issued a July 11 space weather advisory about the occurrence of strong solar flares producing moderate‐tostrong radio blackouts. SEC, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),also forecast a minor radiation storm for later that day in the wake of the flares, and a geomagnetic storm from the associated coronal mass ejection (CME) affecting Earth a few days later. While the CME from that alert was en route on the solar wind, a sunspot group on July 14 produced the largest observed solar radiation storm since 1989, ranking as a strong S3 on NOAA's space weather scales (See Eos, July 18, 2000), according to SEC.
Outstanding student paper awards
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

The Atmospheric Sciences Section presented seven outstanding student paper awards at the 2000 AGU Spring Meeting last June in Washington, D.C.
Norumbega Fault System of the Northern Appalachians
Authors: Sylvester Arthur Gibbs
Published: October 2006

Yes, Virginia, the eastern United States can finally claim to have a strike‐slip fault of its own on a scale to rival the west coast's San Andreas fault: the Norumbega fault system, which stretches nearly 450 km from central New Brunswick, south to Casco Bay in southern Maine, and perhaps even farther into southern Connecticut. The Norumbega fault was active for 100 Ma, five times longer than the San Andreas. Its displacement is reckoned by one author to be as much as 1768 km (!), five times more than the San Andreas, and it has been exhumed locally to mid‐crustal depths. This collection of 12 full‐length, standalone papers and preface provides a single venue for a rapidly growing body of interdisciplinary research about a remarkable—though inactive—fault that may prove to be the longest, most long‐lived fault with the greatest displacement of any in North America.
Advances made in determining magnetospheric current systems
Authors: Akasofu Syun‐Ichi , Sun Wei
Published: October 2006

One of the important purposes of the discipline of geomagnetism is to determine how the electric current systems that cause geomagnetic disturbances develop and understand their driving processes, in terms of the solar wind‐magnetosphere interaction. Researchers in geomagnetism have made important progress by combining ground‐based and satellite‐based observations with associated computer modeling efforts. In particular, we are now able to infer the changing distribution of electric currents on the equatorial plane within about 10 Earth radii with a time resolution of 5–10 min.
NSF considers recommendations for marine seismic reflection
Authors: Shipley T. , Moore G. F.
Published: October 2006

As marine seismic reflection programs have become more complex, the number of active investigators has diminished because of the extensive technical expertise required. Establishing national facilities for at‐sea seismic acquisition is one way to shift much of the operational burden from individual scientists, enabling more scientists to use modern seismic methods and data. In addition, creating a seismic reflection data center would relieve accessibility issues and impediments to efficient multidisciplinary research and education.

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) funded a workshop to address marine seismic capabilities in the academic fleet, and the recommendations described above were part of the result. If implemented, the recommendations—which are now before NSF—would engage a broader segment of the scientific community in seismic acquisition and interpretive activities by simplifying fieldwork and access to data collected by other investigators. There are currently no official national facilities for seismic acquisition. The establishment of one or more NSF facilities would be a significant step, since many shortcomings could be addressed by consolidating management and incorporating coherent communitybased input at facilities operations.
Do man‐made fires affect Earth's surface reflectance at continental scales?
Authors: Pinty Bernard , Verstraete Michel M. , Gobron Nadine , Roveda Fausto , Govaerts Yves
Published: October 2006

Large and unexpected variations in surface albedo at a continental scale over Africa could be explained by intense biomass burning activities during the dry seasons. These phenomena have been recorded in Meteosat data used to estimate surface albedo changes and Along Track Scanning Radiometer (ATSR‐2) data used to monitor fire. The seasonal albedo changes observed cannot be explained by seasonally driven phenological cycles of tropical vegetation. A more complex set of mechanisms incorporating the effects of anthropogenic activities must be at work.
Cruising the ocean from space with Jason‐1
Authors: Mønard Yves , Escudier Philippe , Fu Lee , Kunstmann Gary
Published: October 2006

The exceptional results obtained from the TOPEX/POSEIDON (T/P) mission (see references and recommended reading list at end of this piece) have convinced scientists to continue the research activities needed to improve our understanding of ocean circulation and its interaction with climate. High‐accuracy radar altimeter missions alone can provide continuous global observations of ocean circulation.

Soon after the launch of T/P in August 1992 and following a comprehensive analysis of the system's performance, the T/P missions Science Working Team recommended that studies be engaged as a follow‐on. Early in 1993, the Centre Nationale d Etudes Spatiales France (CNES) and the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) agreed to jointly build and operate this follow‐on satellite, Jason‐1, to be launched early in 2001. Fittingly, the new satellite is named after the leader of the Argonauts famous quest to recover the Golden Fleece.
Upload from a seafloor vent
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: October 2006

There are some places in the oceans where sediment may accumulate at the rate of one millimeter in a thousand years, or where important geological processes take place at the rate at which fingernails grow, said marine geophysicist Steve Hammond.

That's snoozeville, said Hammond, leader of the ocean environment research division at the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Outstanding student paper awards
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

The Biogeosciences Section presented three outstanding student paper awards at the 2000 AGU Spring Meeting in Washington, D.C., last June.

Udaysankar S. Nair presented a paper titled Climatic Impact of Lowland Deforestation on Cloud Forests in Costa Rica. Udaysankar graduated with a B. Tech. in mechanical engineering from the University of Kerala, India in 1988. He obtained his M.S. in meteorology from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in 1991. Udaysankar is completing his Ph.D. through Colorado State University under the direction of Ronald M. Welch and Roger A. Pielke, Sr, and is currently at the National Space Science and Technology Center, University of Alabama in Huntsville. His research interests include mesoscale modeling, the influence of land use on regional climate, the detection of clouds in satellite imagery, and image processing.
Introduction to Mineralogy
Authors: Knittle Elise
Published: October 2006

A course in mineralogy is a rite of passage for most undergraduate Earth sciences majors. As fluency with minerals is so basic for deciphering a range of geologic processes, many Earth scientists can recall long hours in the lab memorizing mineral samples, their chemical formulae and crystal systems, and perhaps staring through a petrographic microscope wondering, what exactly is 2V? In this venerable field with so many classic textbooks, one might ask why another mineralogy text is warranted.

Introduction to Mineralogy is organized in a traditional way, with Part I covering the topics of symmetry, crystallography, crystal chemistry and structure, and crystal growth. Part II covers physical properties of minerals and methods for studying mineral structures and chemistry (including optical mineralogy and x‐ray diffraction), and Part III presents the systematic mineralogy of all of the mineral groups.
Effect of El Niæo observed over Indian continent from satellite‐derived ozone data
Authors: Singh Ramesh P. , Sarkar Sudipta , Singh Ashbindu
Published: October 2006

After the discovery of the ozone hole over Antarctica, assessment of the long‐term trend of ozone in different regions of the globe has become a frontline topic of Earth system sciences. Trends in total ozone column (TOC) have been estimated by various authors [McPeters et al., 1996; Hollandsworth et al., 1995] using the data obtained from the Dobson spectrophotometer, satellite‐borne instruments, and balloon‐borne ozonesondes.

Most such studies are for mid‐ and highlatitude regions, whereas studies made with data from low‐latitude regions are meager. No detailed sensor‐based approach has been undertaken so far to understand the total ozone scenario from an Indian perspective, apart from a few observations [Chakrabarty et al., 1998] that were largely based on a ground‐based Dobson spectrophotometer at major Indian cities.
Challenging the rhetoric of water wars
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: October 2006

In the West, whiskey is for drinking, and water is for fighting over, goes an adage coined by author Mark Twain. Over the years, concerns over water scarcity have threatened to boil over and led to conflicts in the American West and around the globe.

In many of these instances, dams and potentially conflicting uses of water are at the heart of the conflict.
Mineral & Rock Physics listserv available
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

A listserv has been created for those interested in mineral and rock physics. It will be used for disseminating information to those interested in these fields; for example, announcements of general interest to researchers, funding opportunities, meeting announcements, and information regarding the work of the AGU Mineral and Rock Physics Technical Committee.
Handbook of Marine Mineral Deposits
Authors: Moore George W.
Published: October 2006

Handbook of Marine Mineral Deposits delves into marine mineral exploration and mining, covering both the fields economics and the state of the art of its science. The 1982 Law of the Sea Convention had a chilling effect on the deep‐sea mining industry Later in the 1980s, most nations adopted the 370‐km exclusive economic zone, which rekindled interest in the industry. Amendments made to the law in 1994 have also improved the outlook since then. India has agreed to abide by the Law of the Sea Convention by setting aside reserves of manganese nodules in the Central Indian Basin for international use that equal those it has claimed for itself.
Investigations unveil Holocene thrusting for onshore Portugal
Authors: Fonseca Joao F. B. D. , Bosi Vittorio , Vilanova Susana P. , Meghraoui Mustapha
Published: October 2006

A current paleoseismological investigation of the Lower Tagus Valley (LTV), near Lisbon, Portugal, brought to light unprecedented information about the seismotectonics of this area of important onshore intraplate seismicity Through a combination of geomorphic, geological, and geophysical tools, a site with evidence for recent deformation was tracked down and selected for detailed study. Upon trenching, a very clear exposure of a thrust fault can be observed. Its last episode of deformation was constrained with carbon 14 to postdate A.D. 365.
World's largest steerable radio telescope opens for business
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: October 2006

U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, white‐maned, and alternately searching either the heavens or his prepared text for each phrasing, orated on stage to an adoring flock of about 1000 West Virginians and out‐of‐staters.

In the backgrond and tucked amid verdant mountains in the midst of the 33,700 square kilometer National Radio Quiet Zone in Pocahontas County (where cell phones go dead and fixed radio transmitters have limitations on power use, to keep the air clear for receiving extraterrestrial frequencies), a white paintedradio telescope simultaneously squatted and reached for the sky.
Herbert Friedman (1916–2000)
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

Herbert Friedman, recipient of the 1981 William Bowie Medal, died September 9 in Arlington, Virginia, at the age of 84. Dr. Friedman became an AGU member in 1957 and a Fellow in 1962. His professional career was with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory where he served as chief scientist of the E.O. Hulburt Center for Space Research. He was a member of the Aeronomy subsection of SPA.

In his tribute for the presentation of the Bowie medal, Phillip Mange also a member of the Aeronomy subsection cited Dr. Friedmans dedication to the observation and interpretation of the space environment and its behavior and detailed many of his pioneering discoveries in geophysical understanding. These included the first space observations of the role of solar x‐rays,Schumann‐region ultraviolet, and Lyman alpha in the production of the ionosphere. Mange also noted Dr. Friedmans role as a principal contributor to the study of the relationship between solar flux variability and ionospheric behavior over a solar cycle; and his responsibility for the theoretical prediction and first observations of the role of solar flare x‐rays in producing ionospheric fadeout.
Comment [on “Sea level rise shown to drive coastal erosion”]
Authors: Pilkey Orrin H. , Young Robert S. , Bush David M.
Published: October 2006

Leatherman et al. [2000] (Eos, Trans., AGU, February 8, 2000, p.55) affirm that global eustatic sea‐level rise is driving coastal erosion. Furthermore, they argue that the long‐term average rate of shoreline retreat is 150 times the rate of sea‐level rise. This rate, they say, is more than a magnitude greater than would be expected from a simple response to sea‐level rise through inundation of the shoreline. We agree that sea‐level rise is the primary factor causing shoreline retreat in stable coastal areas.This is intuitive. We also believe, however, that the Leatherman et al. [2000] study has greatly underestimated the rate of coastal recession along most low slope shorelines. Slopes along the North Carolina continental shelf/coastal plain approach 10,000:1. To us, this suggests that we should expect rates of shoreline recession 10,000 times the rate of sea‐level rise through simple inundation of the shoreline.
Active Tectonics and Alluvial Rivers
Authors: Keller E. A.
Published: October 2006

Active tectonic processes may affect the use of river resources slowly by tilting or deforming a rivers slope, changing a rivers pattern, or causing the formation of lakes that will affect river navigation and flood control. Deformation during earthquakes may suddenly change a rivers course and gradient. If you have ever wondered how active tectonics may influence the landscape through interactions with rivers, then Active Tectonics and Alluvial Rivers is for you. There are a number of excellent books that deal specifically with rivers, focusing on river processes, but this is the first comprehensive treatment of the role of active tectonics in river form and process. It is a must‐read for anyone interested in tectonic geomorphology.
Hurricanes' hydrological, ecological effects linger in major U.S. estuary
Authors: Paerl Hans W. , Bales Jerad D. , Ausley Larry W. , Buzzelli Christopher P. , Crowder Larry B. , Eby Lisa A. , Go Malia , Peierls Benjamin L. , Richardson Tammi L. , Ramus Joseph S.
Published: October 2006

A year ago, eastern North Carolina was hit over a six‐week period by three large hurricanes. The large‐scale environmental effects began to be recorded as soon as each one subsided; the scientific underpinnings of their longer‐term effects continue to be analyzed. This article details the short and longer‐term effects on the hydrology and biota of Pamlico Sound, the second largest estuary in the United States.
U.S. Presidential Candidate camps debate sciences issues
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: October 2006

While budget surpluses, social security, and tax cut proposals have been major focuses during the U.S. presidential campaign between Texas Governor George W Bush and Vice President Al Gore, the candidates also have staked out a number of important issues related to Earth sciences and the environment.

Two recent debates between representatives of the Bush and Gore camps have helped to clarify these positions. The Washington Science Policy Alliance presented a candidates forum on science and technology policy on October 5 at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), in Washington, D.C. On September 26, the non‐profit National Environmental Policy Institute (NEPI) held a debate on presidential politics and the environment at the National Press Club, also in Washington, D.C.
The Cambridge Planetary Handbook
Authors: Stansberry John
Published: October 2006

It is difficult to find good sources of detailed and complete physical data about the planets and their satellites. Frequently, one needs to consult several different sources to determine astronomical quantities, physical parameters, dynamical parameters, geographical information, and historical information. In The Cambridge Planetary Handbook, Michael E. Bakich provides a fairly up‐to‐date reference of such information on the nine known planets in our solar system, and includes information about many of the satellites of those planets. The book is very appropriate for amateur astronomers or interested lay‐persons, and would serve as a good source book for an introductory lecture course on planetary science. It also has some utility as a scientific reference, and it might provide scientists with interesting material for inclusion in public lectures.
Center for Excellence in Ocean Sciences Education recommended
Authors: McManus Dean A. , Walker Sharon
Published: October 2006

The natural interdisciplinary context of the ocean sciences has not been used to promote science education integrated across scientific disciplines at all levels, in alignment with the reforms of science education. Moreover, the innate human interest in the ocean has not been used to integrate science—as it should be—with the arts, humanities, and social sciences in the curriculum. In this failure, the ocean sciences have failed to help the public understand the role of the ocean in the quality of life and the nation's economic development and defense.

In the past,several opportunities for education coordinated beyond individual efforts have been lost. Ocean sciences research results have not been adequately integrated into educational materials that could engage students' imaginations for a lifetime of experiential science learning.
Workshop discusses community models for coastal sediment transport
Authors: Sherwood Christopher R. , Signell Richard P. , Harris Courtney K. , Butman Bradford
Published: October 2006

Numerical models of coastal sediment transport are increasingly used to address problems ranging from remediation of contaminated sediments, to siting of sewage outfalls and disposal sites, to evaluating impacts of coastal development. They are also used as a test bed for sediment‐transport algorithms, to provide realistic settings for biological and geochemical models, and for a variety of other research, both fundamental and applied. However, there are few full‐featured, publicly available coastal sediment‐transport models, and fewer still that are well tested and have been widely applied.

This was the motivation for a workshop in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, on June 22–23, 2000, that explored the establishment of community models for coastal sediment‐transport processes.
Lake Michigan faces exotic species, dune sand mining, other challenges
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: October 2006

As Steve Pothoven scooped out his bottom trawl catch on the deck of a U.S. government research vessel in June, he expected the regular monitoring exercise to land alewives and a mound of zebra mussels.

These two now‐ubiquitous exotic aquatic species are among more than 130 that have entered the Great Lakes ecosystem over the past century. They have invaded by various means: hiding in ballast water, navigating through connecting channels such as the Welland Canal that was completed in 1829 as a route around Niagara Falls, or introduced on purpose.
Handbook of CCD Astronomy; Cambridge Observing Handbooks for Research Astronomers
Authors: Herkenhoff Ken
Published: October 2006

The advent of charge‐coupled devices (CCDs) has revolutionized astronomical imaging, both from the ground and Earth orbit.The almost perfectly linear response of CCDs to visible and near‐infrared photons has enabled more accurate measurement of a wide variety of astronomical targets, including the surfaces and atmospheres of solar system objects as viewed from spacecraft. The spectacular CCD images returned by the Hubble Space Telescope and interplanetary missions such as Galileo and Mars Pathfinder have captured the attention of the public worldwide and are a testament to the maturity of digital imaging technology. In addition, CCD cameras have become almost commonplace among the tools of amateur astronomers, allowing professional‐quality images to be acquired from backyards all over the world.
Sensors detect biological change in mid‐latitude North Pacific
Authors: Polovina Jeffrey J. , Seki Michael P. , Howell Evan
Published: October 2006

High temporal and spatial resolution ocean color data for the global ocean were collected for January–June 1997 by the Ocean Color and Temperature Scanner (OCTS) from the Japanese ADEOS satellite and for September 1997 to the present by the Sea‐viewing Wide Field‐of‐view sensor (SeaWiFS). These sensors show the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre characterized by surface chlorophyll less than 0.15 mg/m3, while to the north, the Transition Zone and Subarctic Gyre exhibit surface chlorophyll in excess of 0.25 mg/m3 (Figure 1).

The boundary between the low and high chlorophyll domains can be characterized by the 0.2 mg/m3 chlorophyll contour line (Figure l). This boundary is termed the Transition Zone Chlorophyll Front (TZCF) because it moves seasonally between the southern and northern limits of the Transition Zone, coinciding with the convergence of cool, vertically mixed, high chlorophyll water found to the north with warmer, stratified, low chlorophyll water on the south. In addition to simply marking the separation between high and low chlorophyll regions, the TZCF is used as a migratory and forage habitat by apex predators including sea turtles and tunas [Polovina et al., 2000].
John A. Simpson (1916–2000)
Authors: Jokipii J. R. , Gloeckler G.
Published: October 2006

John Alexander Simpson, a long‐time member and Fellow of AGU, member of the National Academy of Sciences, and last year's recipient of the Bowie Medal, died on August 31, 2000, from complications following open heart surgery. He was 83 years old and a professor emeritus at the University of Chicago, where he spent most of an extraordinarily varied and productive career.

He received his bachelor's degree from Reed College in 1940, and a master's and a doctorate from New York University in 1942 and 1943. After working on the Manhattan Project until 1946, he joined the University of Chicago faculty where he rose through the ranks and was appointed to a succession of prestigious named professorships.
Advances in Carbonate Sequence Stratigraphy: Application to Reservoirs, Outcrops and Models
Authors: Hine Albert C.
Published: October 2006

About 12 years ago at some oil patch city hosting the annual convention of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, I found myself three rows deep in the standing‐room‐only section, gazing out at approximately 2,000 additional, but seated conventioneers, all listening to every word uttered by the then gods of sequence stratigraphy addressing us at a special symposium.

I wondered out loud if this session had sucked nearly everyone else out of all the concurrent sessions and imagined a convention center filled with empty rooms being addressed by single, lonely speakers who probably had to introduce themselves, as their session moderators had abandoned their posts to hear the gods speak as well. I was quickly shushed as my fellow upright (uptight?) neighbors, who were invading my body space and straining to understand the tortured details as to why parasequences were not little bitty sequences or what the exact relationship was between maximum flooding surfaces and condensed sections, and so on and so forth.
Comment: NRC Report on preventing contamination of Europa falls short
Authors: Greenberg Richard , Randall Tufts B.
Published: October 2006

A recent National Research Council (NRC) report on preventing contamination of Europa is fundamentally flawed [Task Group on the Forward Contamination of Europa, 2000]. It inappropriately cites, as the basis for its quantitative recommendation, a decades‐old COSPAR resolution. This resolution in turn was based on an arbitrary numerical example taken from a 1960s analysis based on now‐obsolete premises regarding Mars exploration, not Europa.

While the NRC report contains useful information, it cannot be a valid basis for sound NASA policy for exploration of Europa. The issues involved need to be revisited with a comprehensive study. Note: COSPAR is the Committee on Space Programs and Research of the International Council of Scientific Unions.
AGU's position statement on meeting the challenges of natural hazards
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

Natural hazards (earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, landslides, meteors, space weather, tornadoes, volcanoes, and other geophysical phenomena) are an integral component of our dynamic planet. These can have disastrous effects on vulnerable communities and ecosystems. By understanding how and where hazards occur, what causes them, and what circumstances increase their severity we can develop effective strategies to reduce their impact. In practice, mitigating hazards requires addressing issues such as real‐time monitoring and prediction, emergency preparedness, public education and awareness, post‐disaster recovery engineering, construction practices, land use, and building codes. Coordinated approaches involving scientists, engineers, policy‐makers, builders, lenders, insurers, news media, educators, relief organizations, and the public are therefore essential to reducing the adverse effects of natural hazards.
Groups praise, criticize Bush Transition choices
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: October 2006

As the administration of George W. Bush takes hold in the White House, transition plans gradually are coming into focus for many federal agencies that deal with geoscience issues. Congressional confirmation hearings already have been held for cabinet secretary nominees—including Gale Norton, the controversial figure named to head the Department of the Interior. Bush transition team members have fanned out to visit a number of agencies, and interest groups have lined up to either criticize or praise various appointment decisions that affect geoscience issues.

Among cabinet nominees, New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman has received mixed reviews as nominee to head the Environmental Protection Agency and is widely viewed as a moderate on environmental issues. Spencer Abraham, nominated to lead the Department of Energy co‐sponsored a bill to abolish the department in 1999 while he represented Michigan in the Senate. However, there has not been a groundswell of political energy expended to try to challenge his nomination.
Eduard Brückner—The Sources and Consequences of Climate Change and Climate Variability in Historical Times
Authors: Brönnimann Stefan
Published: October 2006

Concerns about irreversible and unfavorable climate change are not new, nor are discussions about its possible causes and consequences. Since the late 18th century when science‐based knowledge began to replace the mystic and religious views about climate change that had prevailed for centuries, there have been more or less permanent debates on climate change and climate variability. The discourse was not only carried out among experts, but repeatedly—in varying contexts—in the public as well.

By the end of the 19th century the debates about climate change culminated in a vivid discussion of the causes of the ice ages, the nature of historical climate variability, the possible human influence on future climate, and the impact on the evolving economies and societies. These issues were discussed by prominent scientists including Svante Arrhenius, Eduard Brückner, and Julius Hann. Moreover, these topics became politically relevant. As an example, a number of scientists speculated that extensive deforestation, or also reforestation, might potentially cause a large‐scale anthropogenic climate change.
Progress made in understanding Mount Rainier's hazards
Authors: Sisson T. W. , Vallance J. W. , Pringle P. T.
Published: October 2006

At 4392 m high, glacier‐clad Mount Rainier dominates the skyline of the southern Puget Sound region and is the centerpiece of Mount Rainier National Park. About 2.5 million people of the greater Seattle‐Tacoma metropolitan area can see Mount Rainier on clear days, and 150,000 live in areas swept by lahars and floods that emanated from the volcano during the last 6,000 years (Figure 1). These lahars include the voluminous Osceola Mudflow that floors the lowlands south of Seattle and east of Tacoma, and which was generated by massive volcano flank‐collapse. Mount Rainier's last eruption was a light dusting of ash in 1894; minor pumice last erupted between 1820 and 1854; and the most recent large eruptions we know of were about 1100 and 2300 years ago, according to reports from the U.S. Geological Survey.
Hunting and gathering silicon data to tackle climate forecasting
Authors: Dittert Nicolas , Leynaert Aude , Ragueneau Olivier , Heinze Christoph
Published: October 2006

The frequent, large, and often extremely abrupt shifts in global climate in the past occurred in lockstep across the globe. This seems to tell us that Earth's climate system has several distinct modes of operation that are linked in subtle yet dramatic ways.

Does this finding about past climates have any implication for future climate? Will greenhouse warming continue, or will it slow or cease? And when would that be?
Kansas reverses state science standards
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: October 2006

Two days after the 192nd anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin on February 12, the Kansas State Board of Education voted 7‐3 to approve new state science standards. The standards now include the concept of evolutionary biology, as well as references to the Big Bang theory and geological time.

The vote reverses an August 1999 decision by the same board to eliminate the mandate to teach evolution across species—distinguished by the board as macroevolution, as opposed to microevolution, within species. That decision deleted almost all references to evolution, as well as the Big Bang theory and geological time from the standards. The 1999 standards did not actually ban teaching these topics, but left that decision to the state's 304 local school boards. Those standards gained international attention and several board members supporting them were voted out of office.
Whirlwind greets new congressional science fellow
Authors: Cutler Kirsten Banks
Published: October 2006

It all started last October, when I began working in Senator Joseph Lieberman's office. Everything seemed normal. I was given a few things to read, made the rounds meeting people, and set up my computer account. That lasted an hour. By noon, I had 15 e‐mails, all with interesting pieces of information that I had no idea what to do with: a briefing on Smart Growth, our success in obtaining funding for the Long Island Sound Office, an update on this week's crude oil reserves, and—something I became very familiar with—“JIL on CNN now!”, a message always accompanied with the red “URGENT!” sign. Soon enough, I heard all the miniature TVs, an item found on every senate staffer's desk, re‐tune and heard our boss giving his latest thoughts on prescription drugs. By the end of the week, I was keeping an eye on the budget negotiations on C‐Span and tracking the outcome of our bills, writing memos and press releases—including quotes for a boss I still had not met—and sending out a fair number of e‐mails myself!
Dieterich receives 2000 Walter Bucher Medal
Authors: Rice James R. , Dieterich James H.
Published: October 2006

James H. Dieterich was awarded the Walter Bucher Medal at the AGU Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony which was held on December 17, 2000, in San Francisco, California. The medal honors original contributions to the basic knowledge of the Earth's crust.
Iron isotope biosignatures: Promise and progress
Authors: Anbar Ariel D.
Published: October 2006

Isotopic indicators are extremely useful for detecting life in the geologic record. The most notable example is the "C enrichment in organic matter produced by photosynthesis. Compared to both molecular fossils and microfossils, such isotopic indicators are more robust against alteration processes.

Mass‐dependent variations in the isotopic compositions of C and other light elements have been studied for half a century. In contrast, little such research had been performed on transition metals until recently because it was difficult to make sufficiently precise isotopic measurements of these elements. Advances in mass spectrometric tools and techniques, especially the development of multiple‐collector plasma source mass spectrometry have simplified such measurements and resulted in rapid progress.
O'Connell receives 2000 Inge Lehmann medal
Authors: Wasserburg Gerald J. , O'Connell Richard J.
Published: October 2006

Richard J. O'Connell was awarded the Inge Lehmann Medal at the AGU Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony, which was held on December 17, 2000, in San Francisco, California. The medal recognizes outstanding contributions to the understanding of the structure, composition, and dynamics of the Earth's mantle and core.
Roederer receives 2000 Edward A. Flinn III award
Authors: Russell C. T. , Roederer Juan G.
Published: October 2006

Juan G. Roederer was given the Edward A. Flinn III Award at the AGU Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony, which was held on December 17, 2000, in San Francisco, California. The award recognizes those individuals who personify the Union s motto, "unselfish cooperation in research," through their facilitating, coordinating, and implementing activities.