bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ODP Leg 146 examines fluid flow in Cascadia margin
Authors:   ODP Leg 146 Scientific Party
Published: October 2006

For the better part of 2 decades, it has been known that dewatering of sediments accreted to or subducted beneath accretionary wedges is a fundamental aspect of the subduction‐accretion process. Yet, evidence for fluid flow in modern accretionary wedges is largely secondary and based on the presence of geochemical and/or thermal anomalies [e.g., Vrolijk et al., 1991]; the analysis of seismic velocity as an indicator of porosity, which suggests a progressive loss of pore volume in a landward direction [e.g., Bray and Karig, 1985]; and the occurrence of secondary sediment microstructures characteristic of fluid movement [e.g., Maltman et al., 1992].

The only quantitative measurements of fluid expulsion at surface vents are based on submersible‐deployed, seepage‐meter data [e.g., Carson et al., 1990], and these results—coupled with the surface area of the vents—indicate flow rates significantly greater than can be supported by steadystate dewatering [Le Pichon et al., 1992]. The fluid budgets and mass fluxes associated with accretion are poorly constrained. Results of previous drilling suggest two distinct modes of fluid flow: channelized flow along fault zones (primarily the décollement [e.g., Mascle and Moore, 1990]) or diffuse flow, which is apparently accommodated by a pervasive fracture permeability [e.g., Taira et al., 1992].
Jack B. Townshend: 50 years of service
Authors: Akasofu Syun‐Ichi
Published: October 2006

There is little doubt that magnetograms recorded on the campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks from the 1940s on are the most widely used magnetograms in the world. What made their wide use possible was the fact that any researcher who wanted these “college magnetograms” on any specific day or for any specific period could invariably get them, and it is Jack Townshend who accomplished this incredible record of dependable data collection.

Townshend became interested in magnetic observatory work watching his father at the Cheltenham Magnetic Observatory near Washington, D.C., and officially succeeded his father in the job in 1947. He came to the University of Alaska Fairbanks as chief of the college observatory in 1963. Since then he has been responsible for the most reliable operation of the magnetic observatories at the university and Barrow.
Space committee weighs cost of space station redesign
Authors: Bush Susan
Published: October 2006

NASA's Space Station Redesign Team has completed the task of reducing its spending by a total of $15 billion over the next 5 years through redesigning the Space Station. President Clinton mandated the redesign last February.

The team, led by NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin, presented its study to the House space subcommittee at an over‐crowded hearing on June 8. Several times throughout the hearing, Goldin repeated that it was inappropriate for NASA to indicate which of the three options for redesign it favored. “NASA will not establish which configuration it prefers… this is a decision to be made by the president,” Goldin said. The goal of the redesign process, he noted, was to indicate pros and cons of different options.
NSB reaffirms commitment to basic research
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

The National Science Board, the twenty‐four‐member policymaking arm of the National Science Foundation, has reaffirmed the agency's commitment as the primary supporter of basic research in the United States. The NSB released a 2‐page statement, “In Support of Basic Research,” on June 2.

According to the statement, NSF is uniquely positioned to ensure that basic science, mathematics, and engineering research and education remain the keystone in the U.S. government's efforts to “revitalize the nation and insure its well being.”
Nominations sought for Waterman award
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

The National Science Foundation is seeking nominations for its 19th annual Alan Waterman Award. The award is given to an outstanding young researcher in any field of science, math, or engineering and is designed to encourage further high‐quality research. The award was established by Congress in 1975 in recognition of NSF's 25th anniversary and to honor Alan T. Waterman, its first director.

The recipient will receive up to $500,000 for 3 years of research or advanced study in the mathematical, computer, physical, biological, social, and other sciences, or in engineering, at the institution of the recipient's choice. A medal will also be awarded to the recipient.
Statistical methods in physical oceanography
Authors: Müller Peter , Holloway Greg
Published: October 2006

Like many researchers, physical oceanographers deal with randomness and uncertainties when analyzing data or formulating models. Probability theory, statistical inference, and stochastic processes are applied. Space‐time averages are interpreted as ensemble averages, variances and spectra are estimated, and stochastic terms are added to dynamic equations. Analytical challenges more unique to the field arise when the huge amount of real or model ocean data and the complexities of ocean physics are considered. Algorithms for efficient data representation and analysis are sought and idealized dynamics that incorporate statistical and chaotic tendencies are explored.
Coastal ocean forecasting systems in Europe
Authors: Dugan John
Published: October 2006

During my tour as the liaison oceanographer at the Office of Naval Research's European branch, I conducted a focused study of coastal ocean forecasting systems. This study is of direct interest to ONR because of an increased interest in the coastal zone and to the civilian U.S. oceanographic community because of numerous problems in the coastal zone that could be alleviated with an operational forecasting system. The Europeans have a long history of excellent research and developmental work in this area.

The Europeans' distinguished history in coastal ocean forecasting is due in part to their strong dependence on the sea. However, the original motivation for these systems was the recognition early in this century that weather conditions were responsible for damaging storm surges around the periphery of the North Sea and that science could predict these catastrophic floods. Forecasting systems called tide‐surge prediction systems, which provide warnings of impending flood conditions, were designed and constructed and are operational in the various meteorological centers of the nations surrounding the North Sea. Over time, the services have been extended to provide forecasts of ocean waves, water depth for navigation, and currents for a large customer base. These systems now are being extended further into the three‐dimensional domain that is required for management of problems associated with water quality, pollution, and aquaculture and fisheries interests.
Limnology at the National Science Foundation
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

In the past several years, a number of people have inquired and expressed concern regarding the support for limnological research at the National Science Foundation. There is a perception among some members of the scientific community that the discipline of limnology, the study of inland waters, has not been well‐served at NSF. Communications from a variety of sources suggest that many limnologists perceive a problem with the status of the discipline and with the leadership being shown by the federal government in this area. Consistently mentioned issues include the fate of proposals involving biogeochemistry and the lack of a “home within the NSF” for the subdisciplines of physical and chemical limnology.
MARGINS: Toward a novel science plan
Authors: Mutter John C.
Published: October 2006

A science plan to study continental margins has been in the works for the past 3 years, with almost 200 Earth scientists from a wide variety of disciplines gathering at meetings and workshops. Most geological hazards and resources are found at continental margins, yet our understanding of the processes that shape the margins is meager.

In formulating this MARGINS research initiative, fundamental issues concerning our understanding of basic Earth‐forming processes have arisen. It is clear that a business‐as‐usual approach will not solve the class of problems defined by the MARGINS program; the solutions demand approaches different from those used in the past. In many cases, a different class of experiment will be required, one that is well beyond the capability of individual principle investigators to undertake on their own. In most cases, broadly based interdisciplinary studies will be needed.
Konstantin Gringauz (1918–1993)
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

Konstantin Gringauz of the Space Research Institute in Moscow died on June 10 of a heart attack. A pioneer of the space age, his professional legacy includes many important contributions to the broad field of space research during the past 4 decades.

Born in Tula in southeast Russia in 1918, he was the son of a pharmacist. In 1947, he moved to a laboratory in Sergei Korolev's new Bureau for Rocket Development. A year later, he participated for the first time in the launching of a V‐2 rocket, which carried his radio probe to study the ionosphere. In 1949, he received his Ph.D. and was put in charge of Korolev's laboratory for radio technology. In 1956, he began designing instruments.
1992 Horton Research Grant recipients
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

Robert Harrington and Christine Brick were each presented with a Horton Research Grant during the AGU 1993 Spring Meeting in Baltimore, Md., held from May 24 to 28. The research grant, which is separate from the Horton Award, supports research projects in hydrology and water resources by doctoral candidates at institutions of higher learning. It is awarded annually. The Horton Research Grant's objective is to foster graduate student research leading to the completion of doctoral dissertations.

Brick received a B.A. in geology from Carleton College and an M.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana, where she is currently a doctoral student in geology. The topic of her research is the role of iron and manganese oxyhydroxide coatings in regulating trace‐metal flux in riverine environments. She is investigating the seasonal formation and dissolution of Fe‐Mn coatings under varying hydrologic and geochemical conditions and the resultant flux in adsorbed trace metals.
Rescuing aging space physics data sets
Authors: Waite J. Hunter
Published: October 2006

Enormous amounts of valuable data have been collected from the rocket and spacecraft missions conducted by NASA and other federal agencies over the past 35 years, as well as from collaborations with groundbased experiments and international space missions. What do we now do with all these perishable data?

Many of the NASA data sets have been archived in the National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC) at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Most of the data sets from spacecraft operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are archived in the National Geophysical Data Center in Boulder, Colo., and other data sets are archived at various regional data centers. Yet there are undoubtedly many data sets that reside with the instrument's principal investigators or associate researchers at various universities, colleges, and aerospace laboratories—data that are not now included in the national archiving effort. Many of these data sets include highly reduced, value‐added data, which required significant resources to acquire and reduce.
ODP Leg 148 barely misses deepest layer
Authors:   ODP Leg 148 Shipboard Scientific Party
Published: October 2006

The deepest scientific oceanic borehole to date, Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Hole 504B, has penetrated 2111 m below the sea‐floor (mbsf) and over 1800 m subbasement, bringing it near the bottom layer of the oceanic crust. The site is located in 5.9‐m.y.‐old crust 200 km south of the Costa Rica Rift in the eastern Pacific (Figure 1). To continue testing the accuracy of seismic and pertrologic models for the layered structure of oceanic crust, the ODP scientific party returned to Hole 504 in January 1993, commencing Leg 148 of the project to retrieve samples from the borehole beyond the depths reached by previous drilling legs.

Earlier drilling in Hole 504 confirmed models for the structure of the uppermost 2 km of oceanic crust, and the site became a reference section for upper crustal petrology, geochemistry, hydrothermal alteration, and magnetic and physical properties [Becker et al., 1989] Results obtained during Leg 140, along with seismic evidence, had suggested that the next drilling leg could penetrate into the top of the deepest layer of crust [Dick et al., 1992]. Leg 148 drilling results indicate that Hole 504B has now penetrated into the seismic transition to layer 3—the deepest layer of crust; however, actual penetration into the gabbros, coarse‐grained basaltic rocks that crystallized from the slowly cooled magma, and determination of how the lithologic and seismic transitions are related were prevented when the drill bit hit a fault and was left at the bottom of the hole.
NOAA environmental satellite to be launched
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

Through a joint effort of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA, an environmental satellite for monitoring Earth's oceans and atmosphere is set for launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., July 13.

NOAA‐1, to be named NOAA‐13 once in orbit, will observe a different portion of the Earth's surface on its orbit every 102 minutes. The satellite will view Earth's entire surface and cloud cover once every 12 hours, collecting meteorological and ocean data jointly with NOAA‐11 and ‐12 for direct transmission to users worldwide and to central data processing centers.
Global Younger Dryas?
Authors: Alley R. , Bond G. , Chappellaz J. , Clapperton C. , Del Genio A. , Keigwin L. , Peteet D.
Published: October 2006

Researchers examining the Younger Dryas (YD) paleoclimatic oscillation were brought together at an international, interdisciplinary workshop sponsored by PAGES (Past Global Climate Changes) and the Lamont‐ GISS (Goddard Institute for Space Studies) Climate Center and organized by D. Peteet. The workshop was held April 29–30 at Lamont‐Doherty Earth Observatory in Palisades, N.Y.

The YD event was a major return to cold conditions that occurred approximately 11‐10,000 radiocarbon years B.P., after the warming trend following the last ice age. This pronounced and rapid cooling, identified almost a century ago in terrestrial records, continues to challenge our thinking about how various components of the biosphere, ocean, atmosphere, and cryosphere interact on short time scales. Because it is clearly evident in terrestrial, marine, and ice core repositories, the evidence provides an intriguing example of past climate fluctuation that is relevant for future climate change.
Workshop on geophysical grain flows
Authors: Hanes Daniel M.
Published: October 2006

“Geophysical Grain Flows: Fluid‐Grain Interactions in Coastal Sand Transport” was the focus of a workshop held from March 10 to 14 on Amelia Island, Fla. The workshop was sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the University of Florida. Approximately thirty‐five participants from ten different countries attended, representing universities, government laboratories, and private companies.

During the workshop, one of the largest and strongest storms in the recorded history of North America impacted the eastern half of the United States. The local response of the beach at Amelia Island to this storm was striking and somewhat surprising. There was substantial accretion and widening of the beach. While the morphological changes in the beach profile were of medium to large scale, it is intriguing to realize that the changes resulted from the integrated motion of an uncountable number of sand grains, each moving more or less independently, yet cumulatively producing a wider beach.
Local detection of tropospheric OH and HO2
Authors: Crosley David R.
Published: October 2006

As the primary oxidizing agent responsible for the removal of most trace gases, including CH4 and other hydrocarbons, CO, H2, and hydrogenated halocarbons, the hydroxyl radical, OH, is central to the chemistry of the troposphere. OH oxidizes SO2 to sulfuric acid, NH3 to NO, and NO2 into the inactive HNO3 reservoir. OH is formed primarily following O3 photolysis by sunlight at wavelengths below 315 nm, producing O(1D) atoms that react with H2O to make OH. It is destroyed largely by reaction by CO and CH4 in the clean troposphere, although other reactants play roles near forests or in polluted areas.

A simple balance between approximate production and destruction rates indicates a chemical lifetime for an individual OH molecule of about 1 s and a typical daytime concentration of about 3×106 molecules/cm3. OH is also closely linked to the HO2 radical through reactions with NO, O3, and hydrocarbons, and the two form the so‐called HOx family. HO2 is present typically at concentrations about a hundred times that of OH and has a chemical lifetime of a few minutes; this is the effective lifetime of the HOx family because of the rapid cycling between the two radicals.
ROV technical specifications outlined
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

An information and technical specifications document (Version 1.0, July 22, 1993) describing their remotely operated and towed vehicle facilities available for deep ocean research has been prepared by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

The current WHOI suite of ROV and towed systems for use in scientific field data acquisition consists of Jason‐Medea, ARGOII, and the high‐frequency (120 kHz, 200 kHz), side‐looking sonars. The document provides an overview of each of these systems along with detailed specifications and at‐sea manpower requirements. It also describes the various data products available to science parties who use these systems. Guidelines for preparation of science proposals that use the WHOI ROV or towed systems are provided as Appendix B to the document.
Workshop on the Sun as a variable star
Authors: Pap Judit M.
Published: October 2006

The main objectives of International Astronomical Union Colloquium 143, “The Sun as a Variable Star: Solar and Stellar Irradiance Variations,” were to review recent observations, theoretical interpretations, and empirical and physical models of the variations observed in solar and stellar irradiances and Sun‐climate connections. Held in Boulder, Colo., June 20–25, 1993, the colloquium was sponsored by IAU Commission 10, cosponsored by IAU Commissions 12, 27, 29, and 44, and hosted by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Environment Laboratory. The cosponsoring International Council of Scientific Unions organizations were the Committee on Space Research, the International Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics, and the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy.
Canadian Geophysical Union forms Hydrology Section
Authors: Lyons Berry
Published: October 2006

The Hydrology Section of the Canadian Geophysical Union held its inaugural meeting in Banff, Alberta, in May. The formation of the section is considered a very important milestone for hydrologists and hydrogeologists throughout Canada. The interim executive committee includes T. M. Dick, president; G. Jones, vice‐president; D. Gray, secretary/treasurer; and J. M. Buttle and M. K. Woo, members.
Agricultural Chemicals and Water Quality Session
Authors: Tillotson Patti , Goolsby Don
Published: October 2006

Agricultural chemicals and water quality was the topic of a special session at AGU's 1993 Spring Meeting in Baltimore. The topic is of current interest because of the presence of agricultural chemicals in some water bodies. Large efforts are underway by industry, the agricultural community, and regulatory agencies to develop plans that will reduce water‐resource exposure. This special session included eleven oral and five poster presentations and featured a mix of scientists from industry, government, and academic sectors.
Results of 1992 seismic reflection experiment in Lake Baikal
Authors: Scholz Christopher A. , Klitgord Kim D. , Hutchinson Deborah R. , ten Brink Uri S. , Zonenshain Lev. P. , Golmshtok Alexander Y. , Moore Theodore C.
Published: October 2006

Lake Baikal, at more than 600 km long and 1632 m deep, covers the central third of the Baikal Rift (Figure 1). It is the world's most voluminous lake, containing 20% of the world's surficial freshwater, and it is probably also the oldest lake, at >15 Ma. The Lake Baikal Rift occupies the boundary between the Precambrian Siberian craton and several microplates of south‐central Asia [Zonenshain and Savostin, 1981] (Figure 1). Topics of current geoscience research in Lake Baikal include the nature and history of extension and subsidence in the region, deep lithospheric structure, the paleoclimate record of central Asia, and the history of sedimentation and water level fluctuation in the lake. Another topic of recent debate is whether the rift formed actively via mantle doming [Logatchev and Florensov, 1978], or passively as a result of distant plate interactions [e.g., Tapponnier and Molnar, 1979].
AGU Front Range Branch Meeting
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

AGU's 1993 Front Range Branch Meeting was held at the Colorado School of Mines, Golden, in February. The 2‐½‐day meeting emphasized research relating to the Rocky Mountains, the Front Range, the High Plains, and other research done by geophysicists from this region. The meeting traditionally has a plenary format, with no concurrent sessions, which fosters interdisciplinary cooperation.

The speaker at the evening function was Richard Kerr, senior writer for Science. His talk, “Science and the Media Consider What Killed the Dinosaurs,” combined the ever‐popular subject of dinosaurs with the ever‐present concern of media representation.
McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica
Authors: Wharton Robert A.
Published: October 2006

The largest relatively ice‐free region on the Antarctic continent is the McMurdo Dry Valleys, located along the western coast of the Ross Sea. The term dry valleys refers to the deeply incised, ice‐free valleys that run perpendicular to the coast. The dry valleys were formed by the advances and retreats of glaciers through the coastal ranges of the Transantarctic Mountains, which rise to several thousand meters above sea level and actas barriers to the flow of ice from the Polar Plateau. Glacial and periglacial features are a major component of the landscape, and the valleys contain numerous closed basins in which perennially ice‐covered lakes are found.
Arctic research vessel design would expand science prospects
Authors: Elsner Robert , Kristensen Dirk
Published: October 2006

The U.S. polar marine science community has long declared the need for an arctic research vessel dedicated to advancing the study of northern ice‐dominated seas. Planning for such a vessel began 2 decades ago, but competition for funding has prevented construction. A new design program is underway, and it shows promise of opening up exciting possibilities for new research initiatives in arctic marine science.

With its latest design, the Arctic Research Vessel (ARV) has grown to a size and capability that will make it the first U.S. academic research vessel able to provide access to the Arctic Ocean. This ship would open a vast arena for new studies in the least known of the world's seas. These studies promise to rank high in national priority because of the importance of the Arctic Ocean as a source of data relating to global climate change. Other issues that demand attention in the Arctic include its contributions to the world's heat budget, the climate history buried in its sediments, pollution monitoring, and the influence of arctic conditions on marine renewable resources.
Program investigates the North Atlantic margin
Authors: Mienert J. , Baas J. , Abrantes F. , Monterio J. , Auffret G. A. , Kuijpers A. , Evans D. , Kenyon N. , Sejrup H.‐P. , Schultheiss P.
Published: October 2006

The European North Atlantic Margin (ENAM) Sediment Pathways, Processes and Fluxes program is funded by the European Community in Brussels through Marine Science and Technology (MAST) II. One of the primary objectives of MAST II is to contribute to a better understanding of the marine environment and its variability in the past. Better understanding will improve management and protection of the marine environment today and help to predict possible future scenarios. ENAM is an interdisciplinary research initiative to investigate changes in water current circulation and sediment transport patterns along the European margin as a function of climatic change during the Quaternary.
Milestones in Geospace Environment Modeling
Authors: Lotko William
Published: October 2006

This article, the first of a series of three on the GEM program to appear in Eos, provides an overview of the program organization and current scientific activities. The second article by George Siscoe will report on GGCM development, and the third article by Larry Lyons will report on the GEM observing campaigns and data/model comparisons.

The Geospace Environment Modeling (GEM) Program is now in its third year as one of the U.S. global change programs receiving core support from the Geosciences Directorate of the National Science Foundation. The GEM program is contributing to progress in space environment forecasting and to the fundamental understanding of geospace in general by enabling the construction of a Geospace General Circulation Model (GGCM) with predictive capabilities. The observational component of the program provides for the deployment and intercalibration of a worldwide network of ground‐based instruments that are used to monitor the dynamical state of the magnetosphere and ionosphere, as well as statistical trends in their variations. Because the scope of both the modeling and observing efforts are ambitious and global, GEM participants are making use of resources within both the U.S. and international space and atmospheric science communities that effectively leverage the modest resources that are currently available for the program from NSF.
Major surge of the Bering Glacier
Authors: Molnia Bruce
Published: October 2006

Definitive evidence has been obtained in the last few weeks documenting that a new and potentially major surge of Bering Glacier is beginning. According to Bruce F. Molnia, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Va., and spokesperson for a USGS research group that includes Austin Post, Dennis Trabant, and Robert Krimmel, as of June 28, several hundred kilometers of the glacier were involved in the surge, displaying intensive crevassing, displaced moraines, ice overriding previously exposed bedrock, and pressure ridge development (Figure 1).
New NSF director named
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

President Clinton has nominated Neal F. Lane, a physicist and the Provost of Rice University in Houston, Tex., to become the next director of the National Science Foundation.

Lane, 54, is a specialist in atomic physics. He earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees, including his Ph.D., from the University of Oklahoma, Norman.
AGU helps award grants to Former Soviet scientists
Authors: Holmes John
Published: October 2006

AGU has agreed to help the International Science Foundation distribute up to $100 million in awards and grants to scientists in the former Soviet Union over the next 2 years.

As part of ISF's new Long‐Term Research Grants Program, AGU has been asked to put together two expert panels to review proposals. Earth Sciences Panel I will cover geology, geophysics, and geochemistry. Earth Sciences Panel II will cover geography, soil science, meteorology, atmospheric sciences, and what the Russians call “oceanology.” Hydrology is expected to be included in the meteorology section.
1993 Spring Meeting attendance hits a new high
Authors: Furlong Kevin P.
Published: October 2006

The 1993 Spring Meeting, held from May 24 to 28 in Baltimore, Md., and jointly sponsored by AGU, the Mineralogical Society of America, and the Geochemical Society, was the largest Spring Meeting. Approximately 2,288 papers were presented and 3,154 scientists attended.

In addition to the breadth and quality of the scientific sessions, attendees seemed to appreciate the spaciousness of the Baltimore Convention Center, the superb weather, and the Sunday afternoon ballgame at the new Orioles Park at Camden Yards.
McPhee receives Sullivan Award
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

John McPhee is the recipient of AGU's 1993 Walter Sullivan Award for Excellence in Scientific Journalism. He was honored for his series “Annals of the Former World: Assembling California,” which appeared in The New Yorker last September and is now available as a book.

“This is the most concise and accurate portrayal of plate tectonics for the general public,” said Don Anderson, a member of the Sullivan judging panel and the citationist for this year's award. “It offers complex ideas in a literary and enjoyable, understandable fashion.”
AGU forms Global Change Committee
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

AGU is creating a new committee on global environmental change, announced AGU President Ralph Cicerone. The idea was proposed by several AGU members and section officers, he said. They convinced him that AGU's efforts are needed for the science of human‐accelerated environmental change to progress well. In addition, Cicerone noted that the focus on this topic will challenge and broaden AGU and many of its members.

Volunteers are encouraged to serve on this new committee. Interested AGU members should contact Cicerone, AGU Executive Director Fred Spilhaus, or AGU Director of Education and Research Gene Bierly at AGU Headquarters no later than September 15.
New approach to technology advocated at House briefing
Authors: White Catherine
Published: October 2006

At a House Committee on Science, Space and Technology briefing on July 26, witnesses from the Institute for Policy Studies testified in support of a new approach to technology emphasizing science and technology for the public good and focusing on small, widely distributed projects.

The testimony was based on the institute's recently published book, Technology for the Common Good, which concludes that in the wake of the Cold War era, technology policy should advance the broad public good over the narrow interests of a few businesses and budget‐hungry agencies. The book echoes a report released by the Carnegie Commission on Science, Technology, and Government several weeks ago.
Key science legislation awaits final action
Authors: Jones Richard M.
Published: October 2006

Congress is now in recess and will return to work on September 7, leaving only 4 weeks to complete action on a number of key science funding bills. Fiscal year 1994 begins on October 1.

On the “must‐do” list for Congress upon its return is Senate consideration and final House and Senate passage of HR2491, the VA, HUD, Independent Agencies Appropriations bill. Both the National Science Foundation and NASA are independent agencies funded under HR2491.
Nominations sought for AAAS award
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

The American Association for the Advancement of Science seeks nominations for its Award for International Scientific Cooperation, which recognizes an individual or small group for outstanding contributions to furthering international cooperation in science or engineering.

AAAS presents this award in collaboration with its affiliated organizations in the AAAS Consortium of Affiliates for International Programs. A prize of $2,500, a certificate of citation, and travel expenses to the AAAS annual meeting to receive the award are included.
Brown continues crusade against earmarking
Authors: Leath Audrey T.
Published: October 2006

House Science Committee Chairman George Brown (D‐Calif.), a crusader against earmarking of academic research and facilities, continues his efforts to raise the subject's visibility with a new report that was released on August 9.

“Academic Earmarks: An Interim Report by the Chairman of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology” includes preliminary results of a survey of about fifty institutions receiving recent earmarks and offers a trio of recommendations to help stem the flood of unauthorized projects.
Weather satellite activity mixed
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

On August 21 at 7:15 P.M. EDT, controllers lost contact with the NOAA‐13 weather satellite due to a power system failure aboard the craft. Almost simultaneously, however, representatives of U.S. and European agencies signed an agreement promising mutual cooperation and backup of one another's geostationary weather satellites, effective when both agencies have systems in place, expected in 1995.

The newest in a series of polar‐orbiting weather satellites, NOAA‐13 was launched on August 9 from Vandenburg Air Force Base, Calif., to monitor the Earth's ocean and atmosphere, collecting data for direct transmission to users around the world and to central data‐processing centers. According to officials at NASA and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, the spacecraft showed steadily decreasing battery voltages and currents during ground passes after 3:45 EDT on August 21, although output from the solar panels remained normal. Charles E. Thienel, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., stated that these circumstances indicate a failure in the circuitry between the solar arrays and the batteries.
Gurnis, McComas receive Macelwane Medals
Authors: O'Connell Richard , Gurnis Michael , Burch James L. , McComas David J.
Published: October 2006

Michael Gurnis and David J. McComas were honored as recipients of James B. Macelwane Medals at the AGU 1993 Spring Meeting in Baltimore last May. The medal recognizes significant contributions to the geophysical sciences by a young scientist of outstanding ability. Richard O'Connell presented Gurnis' medal, and James L. Burch presented McComas' medal. Citations and responses are presented below.
Senate committee trims NSF, increases NASA funding
Authors: Jones Richard M.
Published: October 2006

By a vote of 25‐0 on September 9, the full Senate Appropriations Committee sent to the floor its version of HR2491, the VA, HUD, Independent Agencies Appropriations bill for fiscal year 1994. The bill funds the National Science Foundation and NASA, among others.

The Senate bill reduces NSF's fiscal 1994 budget by $39.3 million, or 1%, from the House version of HR2491. Under the Senate bill, NSF would receive a 9% increase over the current year, rising to $2981.9 million (current year: $2733.6 million; fiscal 1994 request: $3180.2 million.)
Committee makes NASA recommendations
Authors: Jones Richard , Leath Audrey
Published: October 2006

A 208‐page report specifying the Senate Appropriations Committee's recommendations regarding NASA accompanied HR2491, the VA, HUD, Independent Agencies Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 1994.

To help NASA regain its focus, the committee recommended that the agency reconvene the Augustine Commission panel to update its findings in light of new budget realities that the federal government now faces and to evaluate how successfully the agency has implemented its recommendations. The committee also recommended that independent panels be established to consider creating, within NASA, distinct national institutes for space science and aeronautical technology.
AGU's position on role of NSF
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

The following is AGU's position statement on the role of the National Science Foundation, adopted by the Executive Council on May 27.

The National Science Foundation currently is authorized and directed to initiate and support basic scientific research and programs to strengthen scientific research potential and science education at all levels. All technical progress is built upon basic scientific research. Development of technology resulting from that basic science and transfer of that technology to industry are also vitally important to the United States but are the role of other agencies and the private sector rather than the NSF. The role of NSF in technology development and transfer should not be broadened, even if funds are added to NSF's budget.
Outstanding student paper awards
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

Two presentations in the Atmospheric Sciences Section were named “Outstanding Student Papers” at AGU's 1993 Spring Meeting in Baltimore, Md.

Teri L. Quin presented “Dry Deposition of Trace Element Aerosols Depositing on the Chesapeake Bay.” She is a doctoral candidate at the University of Maryland at College Park. Quin received a B.S. in chemistry from Jackson State University, Jackson, Miss. Her research interests include the characterization of sources of atmospheric particles and their effect on climate regimes, and her dissertation research focuses on the dry deposition of major, minor, and trace element aerosols to the Chesapeake Bay as a function of particle size and composition.
U.S./Russia to merge space efforts
Authors: Susan Bush
Published: October 2006

The United States and Russia have put years of cold war rivalry in space behind them and agreed to merge some of their space programs. The joint statements on space, aeronautics, and scientific cooperation were signed on September 2 by Vice President Al Gore and Russian Prime Minister Victor Chernomyrdin.

NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin is optimistic that this new agreement will mark the beginning of a new era of peace and cooperation among nations. “Our ability to study the Earth, to improve our talents as space explorers, and to ply the sea of space is improved dramatically by this new cooperative adventure,” he said.
Potomac Geophysical Society plans meetings
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

The Potomac Geophysical Society has planned several speakers for its coming meeting year. Speakers at the monthly meetings represent a diverse, broad background of geoscientists and policy officials who shape national geoscience programs. The group also plans to expand membership (rates are $15 per year, $5 for students). Meetings normally are held the third Thursday of the month at the Fort Myer Officer's Club in Arlington, Va.
Battle escalates against pork‐barrel politics
Authors: White M. Catherine
Published: October 2006

Science, Space and Technology Committee Chairman George E. Brown, Jr., (D‐Calif.) has stepped up his fight against congressional earmarking and is now waging his battle on two fronts—in Congress and at the executive level. Earmarking targets funds for a specific unauthorized, unpeer‐reviewed project or facility in an appropriations bill or its accompanying report.

While Congress has a long history of ear‐marking for public works projects, it has only been within the last decade that earmarking invaded the research arena. The practice has become widespread because of the increasing costs of research and the enormous need for funds to repair and renovate aging academic buildings.
Landsat 6 appears to be lost
Authors: White M. Catherine
Published: October 2006

Earth resources satellite Landsat 6 was launched aboard a Titan II space launch vehicle from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on October 5. But a week after what experts had thought was a successful launch, the $220 million satellite has not yet been contacted.

“Initially, we thought the satellite went into the wrong orbit, but now we don't know if it ever went into orbit,” said Earth Observation Satellite Co. spokesperson Carla Adams on October 13. Angela Calos, spokesperson for NOAA, verified that contact has not been made with Landsat 6, adding “It is hard to tell right now whether the loss is permanent.”
Bond issue is boon to AGU
Authors: Burke Dennis
Published: October 2006

A stable home in Washington, D.C., for AGU and a firm foundation upon which worldwide communication in the geophysical sciences can continue to evolve have been assured by the successful issuance of tax‐exempt District of Columbia municipal bonds. Approximately $11 million in lowinterest financing has recently been obtained by AGU through this bond issuance for the construction of the new headquarters. The building will have over 60,000 square‐feet of floor space and will include a modern conference facility that will seat up to 300 people.

According to the bond underwriters, investors liked the AGU story and responded promptly to the offering. A large fraction of the bonds was sold within the first hour on September 15. Nearly 3% of the total purchase was by AGU members, an unusually high response level in the experience of the underwriters.
Satellite loss blow to Earth studies
Authors: Wuethrich Bernice
Published: October 2006

On October 15, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed the loss of Landsat 6, an Earth‐orbiting satellite that was slated to record, in fine detail, changes on the face of the planet. Scientists say that despite a flawless launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base on October 5, the remote‐sensing satellite never reached orbit.

NOAA has established a Failure Review Board to identify the disaster's cause. One possibility is that after separating from its Titan II space launch vehicle, Landsat 6's own solid‐fuel rocket failed to fire, according to James Ellickson, chief of Landsat operations for NOAA. In that case, Landsat 6 probably would have “reentered and burned,” Ellickson said. Its debris would have sunk somewhere in the vast South Pacific.
New role for space station—Enhanced cooperation with Russia?
Authors: Leath Audrey T.
Published: October 2006

The Clinton administration's recent discussions with Russia on enhanced space cooperation and a possible joint space station prompted a two‐part hearing by the House Science Subcommittee on Space, held on October 6 and 14. Subcommittee members, citing rumors and news stories about a joint station, questioned Presidential Science Advisor Jack Gibbons and NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin on the status of the proposed cooperation and heard from additional witnesses regarding the feasibility of and support for the concept.

Gibbons reassured subcommittee members that no decision has yet been made on Russian cooperation, and that Congress would be consulted in the process. He explained that, after the Vancouver Summit, establishment of a Joint Commission headed by Vice President Gore and Russian Prime Minister Chernomyrdin provided an opportunity for enhanced cooperation in space, as well as in such other areas as energy, nuclear safety, the environment, business development, science and technology, and defense diversification. Gibbons testified that the study of a cooperative station program took place concurrently with NASA's work on defining the redesigned U.S. space station, now being referred to as “Alpha.” He affirmed that while Alpha's modular design made it adaptable to a joint effort, it could “be built independent of any Russian participation.”
Senate eliminates funding for AGOR 25
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

The Senate Defense Appropriations Sub‐committee, chaired by Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D‐Hawaii), has deleted $47.5 million in funding that was appropriated for construction of the AGOR 25, a state‐of‐the art ship on which oceanographers were to carry out first‐rate science, including global change research. The ship was to be built with U.S. Navy funds and operated within the U.S. academic fleet by a UNOLS institution. The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) was awarded the operations contract for the AGOR 25 in July 1991. The Senate passed the funding bill on October 21, and it will go to conference within the next 2 weeks.
Administration pro‐active on global change
Authors: Bush Susan
Published: October 2006

Some drastic climate events during the past year alone (March blizzard, mid‐western flooding, intensifying El Niño) have raised even more concern lately about the effects of global environmental change, which may in part be caused by an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. “We could see changes in climate greater than any we've seen in the past 10,000 years,“ said Katie McGinty, director of the White House Office of Environmental Policy.

Addressing the attendees of a meeting entitled “Global Change: A New Direction for Decision Making,” held October 27–28 in Washington, D.C., where representatives of some federal science agencies, among others, presented their views on global environmental change policy and scientific issues, McGinty noted that the Clinton Administration is bringing a new direction to global change policy.
GP e‐mail lists available
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

The Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism e‐mail lists are now on the Michigan Technological University's computer system. News items, announcements, and scientific discussions can be sent out to members through the e‐mail lists. Only those who have asked to be included on the lists are members.

Currently, there are two e‐mail lists, one for geomagnetism and paleomagnetism (gpmag) and one for electromagnetism (elmag). Members can be on both lists, although they may get two copies of some messages.
NSF director: Tough years ahed for basic research
Authors: Mockler Susan Bucci
Published: October 2006

Addressing a small group of journalists on November 3 at the National Science Foundation's headquarters in Washington, D.C., director Neal Lane said that there will be some “tough years ahead for basic research.” He noted that NSF will continue to support the best scientific research it can find, but “there is never enough money to support good ideas.”

In an era of change, Lane indicated that NSF, too, is changing to meet these needs. The agency is seeking new ways of supporting scientific research, including more cooperative efforts with other federal agencies and with industry, the director said. But Lane also put more responsibility upon the individual scientist. “Researchers will have to think a little more expansively… and to look to other agencies,” he added.
Are future short‐term warnings of volcanic eruptions possible?
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

The depth, size, and pathways of the magma body that erupted in January 1991 at the Hekla Volcano, Iceland, were calculated by seismologists at the Carnegie Institution of Washington's Department of Terrestrial Magnetism (DTM) and the Icelandic Meteorological Office, primarily using data from subsurface strainmeters. Their analysis is the first based on observations of Earth deformation to describe a volcanic eruption so fully; it includes the characteristics of the magma conduit and the speed of upward propagation.

In their new model of the Hekla events, DTM staff members Alan Linde and Selwyn Sacks, with Kristjan Agustsson and Ragnar Stefansson, conclude that the magma reservoir (roughly spheroidal in shape and situated directly below the fissure), of radius 2.5 km, with its center about 6.5 km below the surface, broke out upward to create a flattened conduit, or dike, to the surface. They determined that the time from breakout 4 km deep to eruption at the surface was about 30 minutes.
Vincent J. Schaefer (1906–1993)
Authors: Droessler Earl G.
Published: October 2006

In 1946, Vincent Schaefer carried out two simple experiments, the results of which echoed around the world in the meteorological research community.

As the afternoon temperatures in the General Electric Research Laboratory at Schenectady, N.Y., inched higher on a hot day in 1946, Schaefer noticed that his cold box (an ordinary home freezer he had lined with black velvet and into which was directed a narrow beam of light) was not as cold as usual, so he placed a block of dry ice in the bottom of the freezer. Within seconds the entire cloud of water droplets in the cold box was turned into millions of tiny, sparkling ice crystals. Serendipitously, Schaefer found the trigger that converted super‐cooled droplets into ice crystals.