bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New initiative in studies of Earth's deep interior
Authors: Lay Thorne
Published: October 2006

A multidisciplinary U.S. research community is undertaking a new coordinated effort to study the state and dynamics of the Earth's deep mantle and core. At an open meeting held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, from September 11 to 12, 1992, over 120 Earth scientists gathered to discuss this new program, which is an outgrowth of activity during the previous year by an ad hoc steering committee. The research program will be coordinated by a community‐based scientific organization and supported through competitive research proposals submitted to the National Science Foundation with the aim of facilitating cooperative research projects cutting across traditional disciplinary and institutional boundaries.

The new organization is the U.S. Studies of the Earth's Deep Interior (SEDI) Coordinating Committee. This committee will facilitate communication among the U.S. SEDI research community, federal funding agencies, the AGU Committee for Studies of the Earth's Interior (SEI), the Union SEDI Committee of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics, and the general public (Figure 1).
Oceanography's future topic of NAS report
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

The National Academy of Sciences has recently issued a report, “Oceanography in the Next Decade,” documenting the current state of the field of oceanography, discussing future directions in ocean science, and assessing the partnership between the federal government and the academic oceanography community. The National Research Council's Ocean Studies Board conducted its study through meetings and surveys with ocean scientists and representatives from federal agencies involved in oceanographic research. Institutional members of the Council on Ocean Affairs were also surveyed to assess characteristics of the academic community. Preliminary findings of the board's study were presented at AGU's 1990 Fall and 1991 Spring meetings.
Myron B Fiering (1934–1992)
Authors: Matalas N. C.
Published: October 2006

If one had to choose a single trait to describe Myron B Fiering, that of teacher would readily come to mind. He was a Harvard professor, and, in essence, he was a teacher in his private life as all who came to know him can attest. He was born to teach.

As a student, Fiering attended the seminars of the Harvard Water Resources Program while pursuing his doctoral studies under the guidance of Harold A. Thomas. His career took root in that program. The professors became his academic colleagues and the participants, drawn largely from the federal water agencies, came to be counted among his professional associates. He received his Ph.D. in the spring of 1960. After spending the 1960 academic year as an assistant professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, he returned to his alma mater and began his long and distinguished career at Harvard. In 1969 he was appointed Gordon Mackay Professor of Applied Mathematics.
Massey to leave NSF
Authors: Bush Susan
Published: October 2006

National Science Foundation Director Walter E. Massey has been recommended for appointment to the position of senior vice president for academic affairs and provost for the entire University of California system. The recommendation, which was announced on January 27, came from UC President Jack W. Peltason and will be acted upon by UC's Board of Regents. Massey has accepted the position, and it is expected that he will leave NSF early in February.

Massey said that he was honored to receive the nomination and had not planned to leave his current position. “It's such a fantastic opportunity to be part of the leadership of the greatest public university in the world.…It's an opportunity that I cannot pass up,” he commented. Massey was named to a 6‐year term as NSF director by former President George Bush in March 1991.
House Science Committee reorganizes
Authors: Leath Audrey T.
Published: October 2006

Following new House rules for the 103rd Congress that are designed to reduce the proliferation of subcommittees, the House Science, Space and Technology Committee has been reorganized. Its six subcommittees have been reduced to five. It retains its subcommittees on science, space, energy, and investigations and oversight. The Environment Subcommittee was eliminated, and most of its jurisdiction was taken over by the Technology and Competitiveness Subcommittee, which was renamed the Subcommittee on Technology, Environment, and Aviation.
Lamont‐Doherty changes name
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

The Lamont‐Doherty Geological Observatory, Columbia University's Earth sciences research center, has changed its name to the Lamont‐Doherty Earth Observatory.

“The new name embraces not only geology, geophysics, and geochemistry, but oceanography, atmospheric sciences, hydrology, and parts of ecology, biology and solar‐terrestrial physics,” said observatory director Gordon P. Eaton. “It also emphasizes the interactions of all these disciplines in the whole Earth system,” he added.
Judges needed for student papers at Spring Meeting
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

The Executive Committee for Tectonophysics would like to reinstitute Outstanding Student Paper Awards for the section. These awards are presented by the section to students for outstanding paper and poster presentations. AGU provides lists of student presenters for each section and a member designated by the section president (the section secretary) organizes the judging committees. Awardees are featured in Eos.

In order to do this fairly, the Tectonophysics section needs participation from section members to review papers.
AGU acts on NSF Page Charge Policy
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

Fast action by Headquarters alerted AGU members to a proposed change to the National Science Foundation's page charge policy that would weaken the ability of scientific societies to serve the scientific community.

If adopted, NSF's new policy, announced in the Federal Register December 18, would remove the prohibition against allowing page charges to commercially produced journals. The proposal for the change was supposedly put forth to obtain a reaction from the scientific community.
Subcommittee reviews space council reports
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

The House Science Subcommittee on Space began the 103rd Congress with several hearings to review U.S. space policy. The hearings, held February 2 and 4, with a third scheduled for February 17, consider a series of reports released by the National Space Council under former Vice‐President Quayle. The hearing room was full with new members of the subcommittee, many of whom are from districts deeply affected by the aerospace industry.

On February 2, the subcommittee reviewed recommendations from the report, “A Post Cold War Assessment of U.S. Space Policy.” This report examined the historical context of all the U.S. space programs: civil, military, intelligence, and commercial and proposed policies for their future based on the changed global circumstances. As chair of the task force that produced the report, Laurel Wilkening, provost of the University of Washington, Seattle, summarized its main points.
Workshop on ROVs and deep submergence
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

The deep‐submergence community has an opportunity on March 6 to participate in a unique teleconferencing demonstration of a state‐of‐the‐art, remotely operated underwater research vehicle known as the Jason‐Medea System. Jason‐Medea has been developed over the past decade by scientists, engineers, and technicians at the Deep Submergence Laboratory at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The U.S. Navy, the Office of the Chief of Naval Research, and the National Science Foundation are sponsoring the workshop to explore the roles that modern computational, communications, and robotics technologies can play in deep‐sea oceanographic research.

Through the cooperation of Electronic Data Systems, Inc., the Jason Foundation, and Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., 2‐1/2 hours of air time will be available from 3:00 to 5:30 PM EST on March 6. Twenty‐seven satellite downlink sites will link one operating research vessel and the land‐based operation with workshop participants in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Bermuda. The research ship Laney Chouest will be in the midst of a 3‐week educational/research program in the Sea of Cortez, between Baja California and mainland Mexico. This effort is focused on active hydrothermal vents driven by heat flow from the volcanically active East Pacific Rise, which underlies the sediment‐covered Guaymas Basin. The project combines into a single‐operation, newly‐developed robotic systems, state‐of‐the‐art mapping and sampling tools, fiber‐optic data transmission from the seafloor, instantaneous satellite communication from ship to shore, and a sophisticated array of computational and telecommunications networks. During the workshop, land‐based scientists will observe and participate directly with their seagoing colleagues as they conduct seafloor research.
Baker picked to head NOAA
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

President Clinton nominated D. James Baker as the Commerce Department's undersecretary for oceans and atmospheres on February 12. He would serve as the director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Doug Hall, vice‐president of the Nature Conservancy, was nominated as assistant secretary for oceans and atmospheres. He would serve as NOAA's deputy director. The nominations are subject to confirmation by the Senate.

“We have found the perfect balance to lead NOAA,” said Clinton. “With Jim Baker and Doug Hall, we have a team that will bring scientific skills, laboratory management experience, a strong commitment to environmental protection, and the savvy required to deal effectively with sensitive issues.”
Travel support for international workshop
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

The National Science Foundation has made funds available to support U.S. scientists' travel to the International Workshop on Intraplate Volcanism, to be held in Tahiti, French Polynesia, in August. Travel grants in the amount of $1,000 can be obtained by writing to the U.S. members of the organizing committee, c/o Marcia McNutt, 54‐826 MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139. Include a copy of your abstract.
Student paper awards
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

Two presentations in the Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Section were named “Outstanding Student Papers” at the AGU 1992 Fall Meeting in San Francisco. Sanghamitra Sahu presented “Thermal Dependence of the Anisotropy Constant for Single Crystal Titanomagnetic (Fe3−xTix04, x=0.6).” She is currently an M.S. candidate in geophysics at the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis. Sahu's research interests include rock and mineral magnetism, specifically magnetic domain imaging and interpretation and study of various magnetic properties of magnetic minerals found in the Earth. Sahu received her B.S. degree in geological sciences from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India.
New report examines solid‐Earth sciences
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

“Solid‐Earth Sciences and Society,” a report developed to assess the current status, opportunities, and priorities within the Earth sciences, is now available from the National Academy Press. Developed by the National Research Council's Board on Earth Sciences and Resources, the report concentrates on solid‐Earth processes and their influence on and interactions with society.

The 346‐page report presents a new approach to studying Earth processes in which Earth is viewed as an integrated, dynamic system rather than a collection of isolated components, and it relates the intellectual aspects of Earth science to current issues, including resource development, waste disposal, environmental protection, natural hazards reduction, and land use.
AGU participation in National Science and Technology Week
Authors: Lopez Ramon E.
Published: October 2006

During National Science and Technology Week (NSTW), which will be celebrated from April 25 through May 1, events are scheduled across the country to highlight science and technology. NSTW, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, presents a marvelous vehicle for increasing public understanding and interest in the branches of geoscience.

The AGU Committee for Education and Human Resources requests AGU members to sponsor and carry out NSTW‐related activities, such as giving a presentation to teachers describing their research. Interested individuals should obtain a file (lopez/nstw.txt) via anonymous FTP from avl.umd.edu, or copy.
Mantle downwelling causes continental depressions
Authors: Blue Charles
Published: October 2006

According to the theory of isostasy, Earth's continents should float in equilibrium upon the denser underlying mantle, much in the same way that icebergs float on the ocean surface. However, this understanding may not accurately portray dynamic continent‐mantle interaction. A new study suggests that continents may reside below the level predicted by isostatic theory—nearly 2–3 km below in some areas.

In the February issue of Geophysical Research Letters, A. M. Forte, A. M. Dziewonski, and R. L. Woodward of Harvard University and W. R. Peltier of the University of Toronto present evidence that some continents are actively pulled downward by the global‐scale flow in the mantle. This flow is also responsible for the so‐called “drift” of the Earth's tectonic plates. According to Forte, “our models demonstrate a clear pattern of continental depressions, which are forced by downwelling flow due to colder mantle material extending to great depths. We believe that such forces also operated in the geologic past and were partially responsible for the creation of deep continental basins that are now filled with sediments.”
Water‐quality monitoring report released
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

A nationwide water‐quality monitoring strategy, calling for greater coordination, consistency, and collaboration among federal, state, and local water‐quality agencies was released in March by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey, and fourteen other government agencies.

The report was prepared for the Office of Management and Budget by the Intergovernmental Task Force on Monitoring Water Quality, which was formed in 1991 to conduct a nationwide review and evaluation of water‐quality monitoring activities. The task force is part of the Water Information Coordination Program, a federal agency‐wide coordination effort established by OMB in December 1991.
The solar wind as we know it today
Authors: Goldstein B. E.
Published: October 2006

The first evidence of the solar wind surfaced after comet tail deflections were observed by L. Biermann in 1951. A cometary ion tail is oriented along the difference between the cometary and solar wind velocities, whereas the dust tail is in the antisunward direction. The ion tail directions indicated the existence of an outflow of ionized gas from the Sun (the solar wind) and allowed estimates of solar wind speed. Spacecraft observations have established that at 1 AU, the solar wind has a typical ion number density of about 7 cm−3 and is composed of about 95% protons and 5% helium and other minor ions. A typical speed is 450 km/s. At this speed, ions travel from the Sun to 1 AU in about 4 days. The impact of the solar wind on planets with magnetic fields (Earth, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) causes phenomena such as magnetospheres, aurorae, and geomagnetic storms, whereas at objects lacking magnetospheres (Mars, Venus, comets), atmospheric neutrals undergo charge exchange and are picked up by the solar wind flow.
1992 Brings return to moderate global temperatures
Authors: Halpert Michael S. , Ropelewski Chester F. , Karl Thomas R. , Angell James K. , Stowe Larry L. , Heim Richard R. , Miller Alvin J. , Rodenhuis David R.
Published: October 2006

Natural events, such as the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in the Philippines and the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) episode in the tropical Pacific Ocean, had major impacts on the global climate in 1992. These phenomena were associated with a return to more moderate global temperatures during 1992 after several years of record or near‐record high temperatures. During the first part of the year, the 1991–1992 ENSO episode contributed to above normal temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere, while cooling during the latter part of the year was associated with the aerosol cloud produced by the June 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. By the spring of 1992, the stratospheric aerosol cloud had extended from the tropics well into both hemispheres. In this report, global surface temperature anomalies are defined as departures from the 1961–1990 base period means. As the aerosol cloud spread throughout the Northern Hemisphere during a time of increasing solar radiation, the surface temperature anomalies responded by becoming less positive over much of the hemisphere. This relative cooling helped to make 1992 the coolest year since 1986. Temperatures also were dramatically cooler throughout the troposphere.
Comment on “Greenhouse cooling of the upper atmosphere”
Authors: Platzman George W.
Published: October 2006

The vertical distribution of temperature affects most of the atmosphere's wave‐like phenomena and in particular, tides. In “Greenhouse Cooling of the Upper Atmosphere,” which appeared in the February 23, 1993, Eos, R. G. Roble's Figure 1 shows the present profile of temperature versus height and one predicted for the end of the next century from accumulation of greenhouse gases. The predicted profile shows about 10°C warming of the troposphere and cooling of the stratosphere and mesosphere, with maximum cooling, about −20°C, at the stratopause. The implications of this prediction for semidiurnal gravitational tides at the Earth's surface can be assessed qualitatively from dependence of tidal pressure on the two principal vertical modes of response to tidal excitation, namely the Lamb and Pekeris modes.
Oceanic monthly rainfall derived from SSM/I
Authors: Chang Alfred T. C. , Chiu Long S. , Wilheit Thomas T.
Published: October 2006

Accurate measurements of global precipitation are vital to the advancement of our understanding of the global hydrological cycle. The lack of rain‐gauge networks over the vast oceans points to satellite techniques as the only means by which oceanic rainfall can be measured and monitored. Passive microwave satellite measurements, obtained by the Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) onboard the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program satellites, augmented with sophisticated retrieval and statistical techniques, can now provide quantitative climate‐scale oceanic rainfall estimates.

It has long been recognized that precipitation is a major component of the global hydrological cycle and of the energetics of atmospheric circulation. However, the spatial and temporal variabilities of rain fields and the scarcity of rain‐gauge networks, especially over the oceans, lead to large uncertainties in oceanic rainfall climatology.
Authors, review yourselves!
Authors: Emiliani Cesare
Published: October 2006

We all know that the process of reviewing scientific papers, research proposals, or books is a royal pain for everybody. The reviewers have better things to do, the editors are in a perennial state of nervous collapse trying to get reviews back in time, and the reviewees risk heart attacks each time they scan the obviously unfair reviews of their work.

The reviewing of research proposals is particularly daunting because money, often in large amounts, is involved. In fact, it is so daunting that it has attracted the Congressional eye (Science, 1992, vol. 156, p. 959). To placate Congress and alleviate internal tensions within the granting agencies, I have proposed the adoption of the “Absolute Review System” (ARS). In this system, the principal investigator (P.I.) does the reviewing. As I discussed in a recent article in the Journal of Irreproducible Results (1992, vol. 37, p. 12), the advantages are colossal.
Wind profiler installed in Antarctica
Authors: Balsley B. B. , Carey J. , Woodman R. F. , Sarango M. , Urbina J. , Rodriguez R. , Ragaini E.
Published: October 2006

A VHF (50 MHz) wind profiler was installed in Antarctica at the Peruvian Base “Machu Picchu” on King George Island from January 21 to 26. The wind profiler will provide a first look at atmospheric dynamics over the region.

The profiler—the first of its kind in Antarctica—is a National Science Foundationsponsored cooperative project of the University of Colorado, the Geophysical Institute of Peru, the University of Piura (Peru), and the Peruvian Navy. This venture was also greatly facilitated by Peru's Comision Nacional de Asuntos Antartidos and Consejo Nacional de Ciencias y Tecnologia, with additional logis tics support provided by the Argentinean Navy and the Uruguayan Air Force.
Research opportunities in Antarctica
Authors: Peacock D. S. , Lettau B.
Published: October 2006

R/V Nathaniel B. Palmer, the 94‐m ice breaking research vessel operated by the National Science Foundation's Office of Polar Programs for the United States Antarctic Program (USAP), has completed its first year of operations. The eight cruises included the recovery of the U.S. ‐Russian ice camp in the Weddell Sea, biological and physical oceanographic studies, a marine geology and geophysics program, and an engineering test cruise. The ship spent a large part of the year working in ice in the western Weddell, Amundsen, and Bellingshausen seas. In the 1993–1994 austral summer and 1994 austral winter seasons, funded NSF projects will extend the range of operations into the eastern Weddell and Ross seas.
The Freja satellite mission
Authors: Lundin Rickard , Haerendel Gerhard
Published: October 2006

Freja, a Swedish and German scientific satellite, was launched successfully on October 6, 1992. Novel plasma instruments give Freja the capability to increase the spatial/temporal resolution orders of magnitudes above that previously achieved on satellites. Freja's high spatial/temporal resolution permits studies of meso‐ and micro‐scale phenomena in the 100‐m range for particles and in the 10‐m range for electric and magnetic fields. The on‐board ultraviolet imager will resolve auroral structures of kilometer size, that is, about an order of magnitude better than Viking (see Figure 1).
Hazardous crater lakes studied
Authors: Kusakabe Minoru
Published: October 2006

Crater lakes usually sit on top of volcanic conduits and act as condensers of magmatic vapor. Studies of crater lakes can therefore provide information on both deep magmatic activity and variations in the degassing state of a shallow magmatic body. The Lake Nyos gas disaster of August 1986 and a similar event in August 1984 at Lake Monoun, both in Cameroon, resulted from the accumulation of magmatic CO2 in the bottom layers of the lakes. Geochemical monitoring of crater lakes is a promising tool for forecasting not only limnic but also volcanic eruptions. Acid‐mineralized waters formed by condensation of hot magmatic volatiles in crater lakes are thought to bear some resemblance to hydrothermal fluids acting in the genesis of acid‐sulfate alteration and Au‐Cu‐Ag mineralization of volcanic‐hosted precious metal deposits.
WHOI medal named for Stommel
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

The research of Henry M. Stommel, a physical oceanographer at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution at the time of his death, will be honored with the creation of a new prestigious award in oceanography.

WHOI is establishing the Henry Melson Stommel Medal, to be awarded to individuals who have made fundamental and enduring contributions to observing and understanding ocean processes. A $10,000 cash award will accompany the gold medal. Special consideration will be given to contributions rooted in oceanographic observations.
JGR electronic supplement: A proposal
Authors: Kaula William M. , Douglas Bruce C.
Published: October 2006

Scientific journals such as the Journal of Geophysical Research serve a dual purpose: first, as means of communication by which scientists can inform others of their results and, second, as archives—repositories of results for use by others, perhaps decades later. The editorial process of careful reviewing before acceptance is more important for the archiving function because an originating scientist may no longer be available to explain to a user how his results were obtained or may have forgotten some important details.

This archiving function has been squeezed considerably by the economic pressures on journals to limit the number of pages. Limiting is accomplished by such editorial criteria as succinctness of expression, elimination of supporting details, and inferences of interest to a broader audience than those close to an author in technical expertise. The effects of these criteria are generally good, inducing terse writing and increasing the probability that a reader will find something of interest. But they also increase the chances of obscurity, reproducibility, and duplication of effort. And they lead to details of data, modeling, and explanation essential for efficient use of results by others being relegated to unrefereed “gray” literature or other informal means. Modern data collection and analysis involve sampling, instrumentation, and techniques of considerable subtlety and complexity. However, the relevant reports are often poorly distributed and without assurance of future availability. Thus, later generations may find it difficult or impossible to aggregate and interpret the historic data record because critical documentation is lacking. For example, past and future interdecadal and longer variations of climate and other parameters must be determined to separate natural and anthropogenic changes and provide modelers with a means of validating their model calculations via “hindcasts.” Compiling accurate climatologies requires access to details of the individual data collections incorporated.
Zhang receives Scarf Award
Authors: Hughes Jeffrey
Published: October 2006

AGU's second annual F. L. Scarf Award has been awarded to Ming Zhang for his Ph.D. thesis, “Voyager II Plasma Observations at Uranus and Neptune,” which he completed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology under the supervision of John Belcher. As part of the award, Zhang will give an invited talk on the topic at the upcoming AGU Spring Meeting in Baltimore.

The award was established to honor Fred L. Scarf, a pioneer and leader in solar‐planetary research, who flew plasma‐wave instruments on most of the planetary missions until his sudden death in the Soviet Union during the launch of Phobos. The award is given by the Space Physics and Aeronomy (SPA) section for outstanding dissertation research that contributes directly to solar‐planetary science. Each year, nominations of students who have completed their doctoral degrees during the past year are solicited from the community. The major criterion for the award is the impact or potential impact of the research on the field of solar‐planetary studies. The awardee receives $1000 and is invited to deliver a paper at one of the following year's AGU meetings.
Competitiveness described as NSF goal
Authors: Bush Susan
Published: October 2006

Concerns have been raised among Earth scientists that pending legislation on U.S. competitiveness could have an adverse effect on the future of the National Science Foundation and its primary mission of supporting basic research, according to some members of AGU's Public Affairs Committee. However, Joel Widder, NSF's director of legislative affairs, stated that “NSF has no intention of abandoning its mission of funding basic research.”
USGS budget request up for 1994
Authors: White M. Catherine
Published: October 2006

The president's U.S. Geological Survey budget request for fiscal year 1994 totals $598 million—up $20 million from the current budget. This would restore about half of the $42.46 million cut from its budget in fiscal 1993.

In releasing the budget, Bruce Babbitt, Secretary of the Department of the Interior, said, “The USGS reflects the new administration's understanding that investing in America requires investing in a strong Earth science capability,” and that “we need high‐quality scientific information on natural hazards and on our water, mineral, energy, and land resources to serve as the building blocks for making intelligent decisions and planning future growth.”
Long‐term solar‐terrestrial monitoring
Authors: Rishbeth H. , Willis D. M. , Hewish A.
Published: October 2006

Four years ago, an article in Eos pointed out that the long‐term gathering of solar‐terrestrial data faced an uncertain future [Rishbeth et al., 1989]. The main threats were seen as the poor economic situation and the low public profile of long‐term data gathering as compared to “spectacular science.” The article explained why long‐term monitoring is important and cited examples of scientific discoveries that were made with old data. It suggested that in each country or region, the solar‐terrestrial physics (STP) community should examine its needs for long term data monitoring and define a core program. At the time, a start had been made in the United States by the publication of a panel report on the rationale and use of long‐term STP observations [National Research Council, 1988].
NASA budget increases for 1994
Authors: Leath Audrey T.
Published: October 2006

The fiscal year 1994 budget request for NASA is $15.3 billion, an increase of $934.6 million, or 6.5%, above the 1993 appropriation of $14.3 billion. Within this first budget request developed under NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin, the emphasis has changed and some details remain unresolved. At the agency's budget briefing, Goldin echoed Clinton's mantra for change and increased investment in new technologies. Saying that NASA was “too much into human space flight,” Goldin has proposed increased funding for technology development at the expense of the space station. He has also made reductions in some existing programs and increased funding for others.
Durk Jakob Doornbos (1943–1993)
Authors: Engdahl Bob
Published: October 2006

Durk Jakob Doornbos was born in Groningen, The Netherlands, on April 1, 1943. He died on April 27, 1993, after a bicycle accident in Oslo that same day.

He graduated from the University of Groningen in 1965 and received his Doctorate in Geophysics (cum laude) from the University of Utrecht in 1974. He served as a senior lecturer there until 1980, when he moved to the NORSAR Institute in Kjeller, Norway, as a senior scientist. In 1985, he was appointed professor of physics of the solid Earth in the Department of Geophysics at the University of Oslo, the first in this discipline at the university.
The inside scoop on “Charon”
Authors: Harris Alan
Published: October 2006

I was quite taken aback by the condescending and self‐righteous letter from William I. Manton regarding the pronunciation of Charon (Eos, May 11). I have rarely seen such chutzpah. (How do you pronounce that?)

I can assure him that planetary scientists, on average, are no less knowledgeable in Greek pronunciation than those in other branches of science. Stern's remark was a tacit recognition of the fact that we all know we are mispronouncing Charon. The reason is not ignorance; it is a bit of an inside joke.
House Subcommittee examines Space Science Budget
Authors: Leath Audrey T.
Published: October 2006

On April 29, Wesley Huntress, NASA associate administrator for the Office of Space Science, and Harry Holloway, associate administrator for the new Office of Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications, testified before the House Space Subcommittee on NASA's fiscal year 1994 budget request for space science.

At the outset, subcommittee chairman Ralph Hall (D‐Tex.) expressed concern that in an attempt to add more missions, NASA would sacrifice some of the knowledge to be gained from current missions. He commented that “NASA appears to be putting a higher priority on starting new missions than on analyzing data from [current] ones.”
The Sun in Time
Authors: Donnelly Richard F.
Published: October 2006

This book describes the Sun as it is today and in yesteryear, through several centuries of solar measurements, several past millennia of tree‐ring and ice‐core records, and geological time scales of a few hundred million years. The book contains thirty‐six review papers from eighty‐three collaborating authors who are experts in their fields. The papers are grouped into six parts: the Sun, energetic particles, isotopes, the Sun and climate, the early Sun, and solar‐like stars.

The Sun in Time is part of the University of Arizona's space science series and is based on a workshop held from March 6 to 10, 1989, in Tucson. Some of the workshop's contributed papers and many of the invited talks were incorporated into the book. (Some subjects, such as tree‐ring research, are underrepresented.) Since space science series papers undergo extensive review, The Sun in Time is clearly more polished than most conference proceedings.
Paleoceanographic record of North Pacific quantified
Authors:   Leg 145 Scientific Party
Published: October 2006

After a 21‐year absence, scientific drilling returned to the high latitudes of the north Pacific from July to September 1992 (Figure 1). The main objectives of the Ocean Drilling Program's Leg 145 were to collect high‐resolution records of Miocene to Quaternary changes in ocean circulation, biological activity, and global climate, and to recover high‐latitude Paleogene and Cretaceous carbonate‐bearing sediments to help decipher the oceanographic record of the old Northern Hemisphere Pacific.
House approves Competitiveness Bill
Authors: Bush Susan
Published: October 2006

After nearly 3 weeks of debate, the House approved the National Competitiveness Act of 1993 (HR820) on May 19. Subtitle B of the bill lays out specific roles for the National Science Foundation in supporting expansion of the agency's activities to include manufacturing technology development, worker training partnerships, and total quality management programs.

Many geoscientists believe that this mandate runs contradictory to NSF's established mission of supporting basic research (Eos, April 13, 1993) and are concerned that basic research funds might be diverted to support manufacturing within the agency.
NOAA requests increased funding
Authors: Lang Valerie
Published: October 2006

At an authorization hearing held June 10, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration submitted a request of $1,924 billion to Congress for fiscal year 1994, an increase of $208 million (12%) over its fiscal 1993 appropriation. Requests for the largest increases are centered in several of the agency's highestprofile programs. They include $440 million (an increase of $72 million from fiscal 1993) for the National Weather Service's Operations and Research Program; $673 million (an increase of $65 million) for the NWS's Systems and Acquisition effort; and $69.9 million (an increase of $23 million) for the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research's Global Climate Change Research Program.
New Storke‐Doherty lectureship at Columbia
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

The founding of the Storke‐Doherty Lectureship has been jointly announced by the Department of Geological Sciences and the Lamont‐Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University.

Funds permitting, a Storke‐Doherty Lectureship will be awarded annually to a junior scientist at the observatory who is in no more than his or her second year of residence. The lectureship lasts 4 years and is accompanied by 24 months of department and observatory salary support. The recipient is responsible for teaching a topical seminar.The award is intended to recognize the potential for scholarly excellence and encourage outstanding young scientists to pursue careers in the basic research environment. The name of the recipient will be announced in January or February of each year.
1992 Editors' Citations: Excellence in refereeing
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

The reviewers whose photographs appear below have been cited by editors of AGU's journals for excellence in refereeing. The editor's citation recognizes this special service to the Union, and the individuals listed below are to be commended for consistently providing constructive and thoughtful reviews. They were recognized at the Spring Meeting in Baltimore, Md. Some of the editors cited appeared in the June 15 issue of Eos.
Continental dynamics research goals set
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

The need for long‐range scientific research goals in the field of continental dynamics was the impetus behind a report released by DOSECC (Drilling, Observation, and Sampling of the Earth's Continental Crust) Incorporated and the IRIS (Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology) Consortium last fall.

The idea for “A National Program for Research in Continental Dynamics” originated in the Workshop on Future Research Direction in Continental Dynamics held in Chandler, Ariz., March 4–7, 1989. The workshop was sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the Department of Energy. The report is based on discussions by ten different panels at the workshop, who emphasized a focus on basic research in continental geology with attention to acquiring field data.
Remote sensing looks at an intraplate earthquake surface rupture
Authors: Lamontagne Maurice , Graham David F.
Published: October 2006

On December 25, 1989, a magnitude Ms 6.3 earthquake in the Ungava peninsula of Northern Quebec, Canada, produced the first surface rupture in Eastern North America [Adams et al., 1991]. An integrated analysis of remotely sensed data and total field aeromagnetic was done to improve our understanding of the earthquake's regional geological environment. Lineament information extracted from remotely sensed and magnetic data can provide additional geological constraints to seismic hazard assessment.

Much emphasis has been placed on Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data in the promotion of remotely sensed data within the Geological Survey of Canada. Nationally and internationally, SAR data has been proven to be an effective tool for Earth sensing. As a result, many countries are developing spaceborne radar systems: Canada (RADARSAT), the United States (SIR‐C), Europe (ERS‐1), and Japan (JERS‐1). Active radar imaging using longer electromagnetic wavelengths penetrates cloud cover independent of Sun illumination. This effectively allows all‐weather data collection. SAR side‐viewing geometry offers a unique pseudo‐three‐dimensional view of the terrain surface, enhancing terrain geometry and surface roughness.
Data techniques for Quaternary lavas
Authors: Anthony Elizabeth Y.
Published: October 2006

Reliable age information on Quaternary volcanic events is difficult to obtain because 14C dating generally does not extend beyond 45,000 years, and recent applications of 40Ar/39Ar methods—proven techniques for older lavas—suggest that dating events younger than approximately 100,000 years will be problematic. Because of the gap left in coverage by these traditional techniques, attention has turned to alternative chronometers, such as thermoluminescence, surface exposure dating using the build‐up of cosmogenic nuclides, U‐series disequilibria, and desert varnish. This research has received impetus and funding because of the importance of young igneous processes in evaluating volcanic hazards, related questions of seismicity, and radioactive waste disposal.

These new techniques need to be calibrated against each other using identical samples, which is being done in several volcanic fields throughout the southwestern United States [e.g., Anthony and Poths, 1992]. One such area, the Zuni‐Bandera volcanic field near Grants, N. Mex., was the site of a field conference [Laughlin et al., 1993] held from April 26 to 28, to report on recent determinations of flow chronology based on 14C, 3He, 40Ar/39Ar, and U‐series techniques. An informal group to continue research on correlated samples was also organized.
Arctic contamination poses potential danger
Authors: Bush Susan
Published: October 2006

Following the dissolution of the former Soviet Union, some studies have been focused on the impact of radioactive and hazardous materials released into the Arctic environment, including air, water, and ground. Contamination from radionuclides, trace metals, and hydrocarbons has been examined. Speaking at the 73rd meeting of the National Research Council's Polar Research Board held June 28 in Washington, D.C., Lou Codispoti, Office of Naval Research, said that scientists have found that there is no immediate regional concern relating to this contamination, although the potential for future concern exists.

Bruce Molnia, chief of polar programs at the U.S. Geological Survey, reported on a workshop on Arctic contamination that was held in Anchorage, Alaska, from May 2–7. The workshop was organized by the U.S. Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC), which is made up of fourteen federal agencies that conduct research in the Arctic, in response to Frank Murkowski (R‐Alaska) asking what federal agencies would do about contamination in the Arctic. IARPC developed an “agenda for action,” which included the Anchorage workshop.
NAS report gives advice on federal science policy
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

For 50 years, the United States poured money into basic research and subsequently reaped the rewards of that science. But in a major new report, the leaders of the government's science operation are calling for an overhaul of that system.

The report “may be one of the most important things we've ever done,” outgoing National Academy of Sciences President Frank Press said during a recent congressional hearing. Produced by a joint committee of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine, it is entitled “Science, Technology and the Federal Government: National Goals for a New Era.”
Nominations sought for Abelson award
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

Nominations are being sought for the American Association for the Advancement of Science's 1993 Philip Hague Abelson Prize. The prize is awarded annually to either a public servant, in recognition of sustained exceptional contributions to advancing science, or to a scientist whose career achas been distinguished both for scientific achievement and other notable services to the scientific community.

Established in 1985 by the AAAS Board of Directors, the award consists of a plaque and $2500. The 1993 award will be presented at AAAS's Annual Meeting, to be held in San Francisco, February 18–23, 1994. Each nomination must be seconded by at least two other AAAS members.
High‐resolution paleoclimate records from monsoon Asia
Authors: Bradley Raymond S. , Sheu David , Wang WeichyungWeichyung
Published: October 2006

Studying high‐resolution climate records of the past 2000 years has been identified as a high research priority by the IGBP PAGES program (International Geosphere‐Biosphere Program Past Global Changes) [Eddy, 1992] as well as by the U.S. Global Change research community [Bradley et al., 1991]. Monsoon Asia, particularly south and southeast Asia, has great potential for expanding our understanding of climatic fluctuations over the past 2 millennia. However, relatively little is known about climatic changes in that area over the last 2000 years. The lack of information is particularly significant because of the area's very large population and its vulnerability to climatic anomalies. At the same time, a real opportunity exists to document climatic changes in monsoon Asia by analyzing a number of types of high‐resolution paleoclimatic record.
Anticipation of the Ulysses Interstellar Dust findings
Authors: LaViolette Paul A.
Published: October 2006

It has long been thought that dust particles making up the zodiacal cloud come predominantly from sources within the solar system such as short‐period comets, asteroids, and Jupiter's moons. However, data received recently from the Ulysses spacecraft calls this assumption into question, indicating that most of the dust particles encountered beyond the asteroid belt are of interstellar origin [Grun et al., 1993]. The particles were found to be entering the solar system at high speed (v≥26 km/s) from the general direction of the galactic center, approximately the same ecliptic direction from which the interstellar gas wind originates.

These results do not surprise me. In my 1983 Ph.D. dissertation and in subsequent papers I had stated reasons for believing that interstellar dust has recently entered the solar system in large quantities specifically from the direction of the galactic center. I will take a moment to explain some of the reasons that led me to this conclusion because they may be helpful to the interpretation of the Ulysses findings.
UNAVCO to support DOSE regional geodesy
Authors: Ware Randolph
Published: October 2006

The Earth science programs at NASA and the National Science Foundation are joining forces to support regional Global Positioning System (GPS) geodesy experiments. The combined field project support functions will be conducted by the University Navstar Consortium (UNAVCO) facility.

NASA's Solid Earth Science Branch initiated the Dynamics of the Solid Earth (DOSE) program in 1992. DOSE supports a variety of investigations, including studies of crustal deformation due to tectonic plate motion, earthquakes, post‐glacial rebound, and volcanic activity. Many of these investigations require high‐precision geodetic measurements utilizing the space‐based GPS technology. NSF's Earth Sciences Division established UNAVCO in 1984 to provide equipment, technical, and related support to university investigators applying GPS technology to geosciences research. UNAVCO has since supported investigators in more than 100 regional GPS geodesy projects. The UNAVCO facility operates in Boulder, Colo., as a program of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.
Is the Maunder Minimum real?
Authors: Silverman Sam
Published: October 2006

Criticisms of well‐established scientific doctrine can be stimulating and productive even if done by a single individual or a small group. Such criticisms, however, must meet the usual standards of scientific work. Since the concept of prolonged solar activity minima was resurrected by Eddy [1976], a small number of publications have argued for the nonexistence of the Maunder Minimum (approximately 1645–1715), and, by implication, of other prolonged solar minima [e.g., Schröder and Treder, 1993]. In this paper, I shall briefly try to clarify the points of apparent disagreement, concerning myself primarily with auroral data. I conclude that there is, at this time, no real disagreement and that the apparent differences deal more with the nature of the minima rather than the existence of the minima.
Deep‐ocean paleoceanography and ostracodes
Authors: Cronin Thomas M.
Published: October 2006

Ostracodes are small, bivalved Crustacea commonly preserved in deep‐sea sediments that are well suited for faunal, trace‐element, and isotopic analyses in paleoceanography of deep‐ocean environments. Twenty deepsea ostracode specialists from eight countries met at the U.S. Geological Survey National Center, Reston, Va., from July 12 to 14 at a workshop entitled “Recent Ostracoda from the Deep and Intermediate Ocean: Application to Paleoceanography.” The workshop was sponsored by the USGS Global Change and Climate History Program, and its major goal was to develop a data base on recent ostracodes from the world's deep‐sea environments and to fully realize their potential in deep‐sea paleoceanographic research.