bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
California neotectonics to be examined
Authors: Bush Susan
Published: October 2006

Research in neotectonics, the study of active faulting or recent fault activity up to 10,000 years ago, has been increasing over the past 10 years. The study of neotectonics in the Los Angeles, Calif., area gives an idea of seismic potential and hazards on faults buried in the Los Angeles Basin, said Charles Rubin of Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Wash. Rubin, with James Dolan of the Caltech Seismology Laboratory, is convening the poster session, “California Neotectonics,” to be held at the AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco.

According to Dolan, there has been an explosion of knowledge of seismic hazards in the last year or two. He attributes this to the existence of the Southern California Earthquake Center, one of the first National Science Foundation science centers in the United States, now in its second year of a 5‐year project. About 100 researchers from different disciplines, including geology, geodesy, seismology, and engineering, are working on the same problem of understanding and profiling seismic activity in California. Most of the posters at the AGU session reflect work done through the SCEC project.
Workshop on low‐frequency electrical precursors to earthquakes
Authors: Park Stephen K.
Published: October 2006

An NSF‐sponsored workshop entitled “Low‐Frequency Electrical Precursors to Earthquakes: Fact or Fiction?” was held at the Lake Arrowhead Hilton in California from June 14 to 17. Thirty‐seven scientists participated in a review of past and current experiments that began with a poster session followed by an open discussion. Highlights of research presented at this workshop included seismic electric signals from Greece, precursory changes of resistivity in China, a reassessment of the ULF anomaly at Loma Prieta, and identification of geophysical constraints for mechanisms possibly causing precursory signals.

Discussion focused on instrumentation, laboratory studies, definition of anomalous signals, mechanisms, and the significance of correlations between anomalies and earthquakes. While much is still uncertain, some of the precursory phenomena exist and expanded measurement programs are warranted. The participants identified three main guidelines to improve and quantify their attempts to monitor electrical and electromagnetic precursors and to extend their understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the generation of precursory signals.
A visual display of ocean physics
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

In the course of our oceanographic research studies, we often produce visual descriptions of basic physical processes that are both scientifically informative and visually interesting, if not “beautiful.” Since we are confident that within the files of the oceanographic community many such visual descriptions already exist, we plan to compile a book of the best.

Tentatively entitled A Visual Display of Ocean Physics, the book is intended to be a collection of classical and contemporary photographs and other data‐based images of the world's oceans provided by active researchers in oceanography. The book will be primarily a physical view of the ocean encompassing surface, subsurface, and remote (satellite or aircraft) photos over a broad range of scales, from microstructure (turbulence) processes to global space‐based views of the ocean.
Final meeting of NSF Commission on Future
Authors: Jones Richard M.
Published: October 2006

The third and final meeting of the Commission on the Future of the National Science Foundation was held on November 7. Although this was the shortest of the three meetings, it provided the clearest indication of their report, which is due November 20.

The commission was originally charged with examining the future role of NSF. The final report is likely to go considerably beyond this mandate, reviewing federal science and technology policy and the conduct of research and development in the United States. This report is the first step in what National Science Board Chair James Duderstadt promised would be a lengthy process of internal board discussions and meetings across the country. Duderstadt, while noting that NSF commissions are uncommon, said that the issues of the day demanded the present commission and predicted that the report would be a mechanism for launching a dialogue on science policy. He also said that the report would serve as a foundation for board meetings on future NSF budget requests. Perhaps most importantly, Duderstadt said that with the incoming Clinton administration, the forthcoming report could have great impact.
Chemical Kiloton Experiment schedules
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory will conduct a large chemical explosion (CE) called the Chemical Kiloton Experiment (CKE) in the Rainier Mesa area of the Nevada Test site. The explosion will involve a 30/70 Emulsion‐to‐ANFO blend of 1,147,000 kg to supply 1 kt, and is scheduled for January 29. It will be heavily instrumented with close‐in, free‐field surface seismic and regional seismic measurements. The CKE is located near several DNA‐sponsored nuclear explosions (NEs) and will provide a unique opportunity for fundamental studies on explosion phenomenology (for example, CE/NE equivalence), scaling with CEs and NEs, and integration of multiple monitoring methods. This experiment will also address some critical proliferation monitoring problems such as CE masking of NEs, CEs as false alarms, CEs for regional calibration, and on‐site inspection.
GSETT‐2: An Experiment in rapid exchange and interpretation of seismic data
Authors: Bratt Steven R.
Published: October 2006

From April 22 through June 2, 1991, organizations from thirty‐four countries participated in a test of new concepts and technologies for the rapid exchange and interpretation of data from a globally distributed seismic network. This test, the Group of Scientific Experts Second Technical Test or GSETT‐2, was organized under the auspices of the United Nations Conference on Disarmament. Each participating country operated a National Data Center that collected parametric data and digital seismograms from sixty seismic stations, then forwarded these data to four Experimental International Data Centers. Each EIDC then interpreted the data to locate seismic events and distribute event bulletins to all participants.
NSF commission's findings
Authors: Bush Susan
Published: October 2006

The National Science Board Commission on the Future of the National Science Foundation, which met several times over the past several months to assess NSF's role in the future, has completed its study and compiled its findings. Their report, “A Foundation for the 21st Century: A Progressive Framework for the National Science Foundation,” was released on November 20. The National Science Board, which is NSF's policymaking body, and the director of the agency asked the commission to stimulate thinking and discussion on the longrange strategies for NSF. Some of the over 800 letters received from individuals and organizations proved useful in generating discussion in the community.
[Comment to “NASA reorganization splits the Earth and planetary sciences”] NASA reorganization linked to El Niño?
Authors: Crowley Thomas J.
Published: October 2006

The October 27 Eos news article, “NASA Reorganization Splits the Earth and Planetary Sciences,” prompts me to note that there is a quasi‐cyclicity in reorganizations within NASA that appears to have the same time scale as El Niños.

Previous reorganizations within the atmospheric sciences program seem to have occurred near the times of the 1982–1983, 1986–1987, and 1991–1992 ENSOs. Although we have just had one El Niño, I now wonder whether such actions may presage a rapid recurrence.
Comment on “222Rn Premonitory signals for earthquakes?”
Authors: King Chi‐Yu
Published: October 2006

Radon and other terrestrial gases in groundwater and soil air have been studied in recent years in seismically active areas, especially in China, Japan, the former Soviet Union, and the United States, in search of changes that may be useful for earthquake prediction. Concentrations of radon, helim, hydrogen, mercury vapor, carbon dioxide, and several other gases have been found to be high along active faults. Faults may thus be paths of least resistance along which terrestrial gases generated or stored in the Earth can escape into the atmosphere. Gas‐concentration changes with durations of hours to months have been observed before and after earthquakes at relatively few favorably situated sites, and their patterns have not always been repeated. Some of these sites are located as far as several hundred kilometers away from earthquake epicenters. These “sensitive” sites are generally situated along active faults, whether the seismogenic ones or not, especially at their intersections or bends, or at other structurally weak zones, possibly because of concentration of tectonic strain and abundance of pore fluids at such places (see review papers byKing, 1986, 1990). Due to this selectivity and for two other important reasons, studies of terrestrial gases for earthquake prediction have not been viewed favorably by most geophysicists, especially those in the United States.
Utah earthquake hazards report available
Authors: Gori Paula
Published: October 2006

The report, “Assessment of Regional Earthquake Hazards and Risk Along the Wasatch Front, Utah” (U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1500‐A‐J), edited by Paula L. Gori and Walter W. Hays, is now available. It documents the geological and geophysical findings resulting from the 5‐year collaborative program in Utah undertaken by the USGS, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Utah Geological Survey, the Utah Division of Comprehensive Management, the University of Utah, and Utah State University. The ten chapters that comprise the report concentrate on explaining the tectonic framework and potential for the occurrence of large damaging earthquakes in the Wasatch Front area.
Role of chemical change in the paleomagnetic record
Authors: Banerjee Subir K. , Reynolds Richard L.
Published: October 2006

To produce an outline of how either to isolate or capitalize on changes in magnetic properties resulting from chemical changes, the workshop, “Effects of Chemical Changes on Magnetization,” was held in Santa Fe, N. Mex. from August 13 to 16. It was sponsored by the Institute for Rock Magnetism (IRM) in Minneapolis, Minn., and funded by the National Science Foundation. Graduate students and established researchers in rockand paleomagnetism, mostly from the United States and Canada, participated. Ian McGregor and Mike Mayhew represented NSF. A special feature of the conference was five guest speakers from outside the field of rock magnetism who bridged the gap between chemistry and magnetism.
Robert I. Hill (1953–1992)
Authors: Davies Geoff
Published: October 2006

Robert I. Hill of the Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, died suddenly on July 25 at age 38. Robert was a warm and generous person, a scientist with substantial accomplishments already to his credit, and a skilled lobbyist for and communicator of science. He had great potential as a scientist and as a leader of science.

Robert obtained a first‐class honors degree from the ANU Geology Department in 1976 and a Ph.D. from Caltech in 1984. He went on to become a research associate at Cambridge, a research fellow at RSES, and finally, a Queen Elizabeth II Fellow there. His Ph.D. research was a field‐based study of the dynamic processes involved in the intrusion of magma into the crust. Later, he studied the sources of deep crustal fluids using helium isotopes, the geological setting of ore bodies with a variety of geochemical and geochronological methods, the occurrence of oil and gas deposits, and the processes that formed and modified the continental crust.
Applied Groundwater Hydrology: A British Perspective
Authors: Manning John C.
Published: October 2006

This book will interest American hydrologists with its view of the British approach to problems common to both groups. Topics selected by the editors emphasize the diverse and often interdisciplinary methods that characterize much current literature in the field. The forty‐one contributing authors, who represent universities, the British Geological Survey, the National Rivers Authority, various research institutes, and several private consulting organizations, bring a wide spectrum of interests and expertise to the subject of groundwater hydrology.
Seismic noise on Rarotonga: Surface versus downhole
Authors: Butler Rhett , Hutt C. R.
Published: October 2006

Seismic noise data are presented from the new Global Seismographic Network station, RAR, on the Island of Rarotonga in the South Pacific. Data from the first new borehole site in the GSN are compared with a surface vault installation. Initial indications from the data show that borehole siting on a small island significantly reduces long‐period (>20 s) horizontal seismic noise levels during the daytime, but little or no improvement is evident at periods shorter than 20 s or on the vertical component.

The goal of the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) GSN program is broad, uniform coverage of the Earth with a 128‐station network. To achieve this goal and provide coverage in oceanic areas, many stations will be sited on islands. A major siting consideration for these new stations is whether to build a surface vault or drill a borehole. Neither option is inexpensive. The costs for drilling a cased hole and a borehole sensor are large, but the benefit of a borehole site is that seismic noise is reduced during certain periods when a surface installation may be subject to wind, weather, and thermal effects. This benefit translates into recording greater numbers of smaller earthquakes and higher signal‐to‐noise ratio.
No growth for NSF's geosciences
Authors: Bush Susan
Published: October 2006

The National Science Foundation's geoscience division showed virtually no growth under their fiscal year 1993 current plan, which was approved by Congress on December 9. Requesting $472.4 million for fiscal 1993, the agency will receive $401.9 million, about level with fiscal 1992's $402.1 million appropriation.

The geosciences division falls under NSF's broad research and related activities, which also includes biological sciences; computer and information science and engineering; engineering; mathematical and physical sciences; social, behavioral and economic sciences; and EPSCOR. Total research and related activities stayed about level with 1992 funding. The current plan slates $1,859 billion, compared to 1992's $1,873 billion. A totalof $2,211 billion was requested for fiscal 1993.
Wind profiler dedicated in Indonesia
Authors: Gage Ken
Published: October 2006

A dedication ceremony was recently held in Biak, Indonesia, to commemorate the opening of the Biak VHF wind profiler. The wind profiler, which operates at 50 MHz, was constructed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Aeronomy Laboratory in cooperation with the Indonesian National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN). The Biak facility completes the NOAA'Colorado University trans‐Pacific wind‐profiler network. Other stations in the network, which is sponsored by the National Science Foundation, are Piura, Peru; Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia; and Christmas Island in Kirabati. The Christmas Island facility is supported by NOAA's Tropical Ocean and Global Atmosphere (TOGA) Program Project Office.
Antarctic balloons study Mars and the Sun
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

One of two massive helium balloons was launched from the U.S. research station at McMurdo, in Antarctica, in mid‐December, carrying experimental detectors aimed at supporting probes of Mars and the Sun. The second balloon is to be launched before the end of the month.

The balloons will float at about 40 km altitude, one for about 10 days and the other for 3 weeks, before landing again near McMurdo. The flights are part of studies supported by the National Science Foundation and NASA. The balloons allow heavy experiments to be lofted to heights above all but a tiny fraction of the atmosphere's mass, simulating conditions in space.
1991 Bowen Awards to Fournier, Essene
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

Robert O. Fournier of the U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, and Eric J. Essene of the University of Michigan have each been named recipients of the Volcanology, Geochemistry, and Petrology section's 1991 Bowen award. This award recognizes Founder's contributions to the chemistry of hydrothermal fluids and Essene's contributions to metamorphic petrology. Pat Muffler presented Fournier's citation at the Volcanology, Geochemistry, and Petrology section luncheon at the Fall 1991 Meeting in San Francisco. Essene's award presentation is tentaregular tively set for the AGU Spring 1992 Meeting in Montreal.
Satellite altimetry reveals seafloor tectonic fabric
Authors: McAdoo David C. , Marks Karen M.
Published: October 2006

During the 1980s satellite radar altimetry matured as a geophysical technique, quickly becoming the best way to map the gravity field of the world's oceans. Maps derived from SEASAT altimeter observations of sea surface topography (or geoid) revealed much that was previously unknown about the marine gravity field [Haxby, 1987] and underlying seafloor, particularly in the vast areas that are poorly charted by traditional shipboard observations.

Seafloor topography, and to a lesser extent, crustal/upper mantle density variations, produce the short wavelength (<200 km) undulations in the marine gravity field. This is simply due to the gravitational attraction of the mass in the seamount or similar structure emplaced on the seafloor. For topographic structures beneath the sea that are 20‐200 km in spatial extent, this attraction causes the gravity anomalies at the sea surface to vary in proportion to the relative height of the underlying structures. (This ignores isostasy or internal deformation of the Earth's crust and mantle, which acts to reduce this gravitational effect particularly over long‐wavelength—greater than 200 km—topography.) The ratio between gravity anomalies and height variations is slightly less than 0.07 milligals per meter (1 mGal equals 10‐5 m/sec2). Therefore, the fine structure in these marine gravity fields reflects the tectonic fabric imprinted in the seafloor. This fabric includes the mid‐ocean ridge axes (where tectonic plates form), fracture zones, which record the directional history of seafloor spreading, seamount chains, rifted continental margins, and other features that chronicle the history of relative motion among the tectonic plates over the past 200 million years.
Planning begins for IUGG 1995 assembly
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

The International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics has selected David S. Chapman of the University of Utah, AGU's current meetings chairman, to chair the committee that will plan the scientific program of IUGG's 1995 General Assembly. Also, in December, the National Academy of Sciences selected the U.S. National Committee for IUGG, which will oversee the assembly's organization. Approximately 5000 scientists from all over the world are expected to attend the assembly, which will take place July 3–14, 1995, in Boulder, Colo.

IUGG president Helmut Moritz confirmed Chapman's appointment in an October 29 letter. Chapman recently said, “My overall objective is to put together a program that represents the important science in geophysics and that reflects the excitement in numerous disciplines. Another aspect is to manage the program so that it runs smoothly and with maximum efficiency.” He added that he wanted the IUGG meeting to have “the organizational professionalism of an AGU meeting, where there are a comparable number of papers being presented.”
Chapman Conference on Time‐Dependent Positioning
Authors: Snay Richard , Holdahl Sandford
Published: October 2006

The modeling of crustal deformation crosses several scientific disciplines including geodesy, tectonophysics, seismology, volcanology, hydrology, and geology. The AGU Conference on Time‐Dependent Positioning provided scientists from these disciplines an opportunity to exchange information on alternative modeling concepts and techniques. The conference's scope encompassed user requirements for crustal motion models, the theoretical nature of crustal motion, modeling methodology, and results from recent deformation studies. The conference was convened September 23–25, 1991, in Annapolis, Md. It featured 62 presentations and was attended by 90 scientists from seven countries. Partial funding was provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Geological Survey.
Peace dividend unlikely for science
Authors: Simarski Lynn Teo
Published: October 2006

Hopes that a possible peace dividend from defense savings will provide a windfall for scientific research for fiscal year 1993 have not been realized in the budget blueprint passed by the House of Representatives March 5. The fiscal 1993 budget resolution, a guideline for congressional spending, includes two alternative budgets this year. Plan A gives about a quarter of any dividend to deficit reduction and the rest to domestic programs, while Plan B directs all of the peace dividend to reducing the deficit. Although the budget resolution is only an initial step in the budget process, it does give some indication that Congress apparently does not plan to spend more on science this year.
SUDS: The seismic unified data system
Authors: Ward Peter L.
Published: October 2006

Our ability to collect high‐quality digital data is increasing much more rapidly than our ability to process it. This is partly due to the revolution in digital technology and partly to increased teamwork in building equipment and carrying out major projects such as those fostered in seismology by the IRIS Consortium (Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology). The need is now great for a similar level of teamwork in data processing. The Seismic Unified Data System (SUDS) is a foundation suitable for such teamwork in all types of seismic processing, from studies of earthquakes to discrimination of explosions to reflection and refraction studies.
Abstracts [Fall Meeting, 1992]
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin announced a series of organizational changes at the agency on October 15. The surprise announcement, which according to Goldin was meant to bring focus to space programs and to improve management, has left the scientific community puzzled. “I was very surprised by it,” said Jeff Dozier, University of California, Santa Barbara, and former EOS project scientist, adding that many of the NASA people affected by the shake up were also taken by surprise.
Correction to Spring Meeting Report
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

Francois Legault did present his paper, "The Evolution of the Mantle Source of Early Proterozoic Continental Volcanism in the Belcher Islands, Circum Ungave Fold Belt".
The continents 500 million years ago
Authors: McCabe Chad
Published: October 2006

What has Earth's geography been like during past geological eras? Movements of the continents since the breakup of the supercontinent Pangea about 180 million years ago are very well known from studies of the world's ocean basins. However, Pangea existed for a relatively short interval of geologic time, having assembled from precursor continents late in the Paleozoic era about 250 million years ago. Paleozoic ocean crust has been destroyed by its descent into the Earth's mantle as the Paleozoic continents converged to form Pangea. Thus, there is no ocean floor record to constrain Paleozoic continental movements. The configuration of the continents during the Paleozoic must be inferred from land‐based observations. This work is fraught with difficulties and our knowledge has, therefore, increased slowly.
Wind profiler yields observations of ENSO signal
Authors: Gage K. S. , McAfee J. R. , Carter D. A. , Ecklund W. L. , Riddle A. C. , Johnston P. E. , Balsley B. B. , Reid G. C.
Published: October 2006

Nearly continuous observations of tropospheric wind at Christmas Island (2°N, 157°W) have been made since March 1986 using a VHF wind‐profiling Doppler radar. The interannual zonal wind variations observed at this central Pacific location show a clear El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) signal with weaker than normal lower tropospheric easterlies and upper tropospheric westerlies during El Niño and stronger than normal lower tropospheric easterlies and upper tropospheric westerlies during La Niña. These dramatic changes in the tropospheric circulation over the central Pacific are related to variations in the zonal Walker Circulation, which in turn are associated with the Southern Oscillation. Observations recorded from 1986 to 1989 illustrate a complete ENSO cycle with the 1986–1987 El Niño followed by the 1988–1989 La Niña.
Submesoscale air‐sea interactions studied
Authors: Brandt A. , Geernaert G. , Weinstein A. I. , Dugan J.
Published: October 2006

Submesoscale air‐sea interactions was the topic of the 24th Liege Colloquium on Ocean Hydrodynamics, held May 4 to 8, 1992, at the University of Liege, Belgium.

The topic was chosen because physical processes at and near the ocean surface are fundamentally dependent on submesoscale interactions due to the intrinsically small‐scale nature of interfacial processes such as surface gravity waves. The scales of motions extend from those on which turbulent energy is dissipated to those associated with the depth of the mixed layers, namely the lower kilometer in the atmosphere and the upper 100 m of the ocean. These scales are typically smaller than those associated with the “synoptic” motions either in the atmosphere or the ocean. An understanding of the momentum, heat, and mass fluxes necessitates simultaneous consideration of the atmospheric, oceanic, and surface processes as a coupled system. This interesting and difficult area has been the subject of increasing levels of research, including many field experiments that are listed in Table 1.
Plan for future study of the deep Earth
Authors: Banerjee Subir K. , Merrill Ronald T.
Published: October 2006

We would like members of AGU's Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Section to start thinking how the discipline can contribute to interdisciplinary and inter‐institution projects under a Cooperative Study of the Earth's Deep Interior (CSEDI) umbrella. About 100 geophysicists and geochemists took part in a workshop from September 11–12, 1992, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, to discuss and approve a plan for a nationwide CSEDI.

Starting with the 1991 Vienna IUGG meeting, a ten‐member ad hoc group led by Tom Jordan of MIT, Dave Loper of the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Institute, Tallahassee, Fla., and Rick O'Connell of Harvard University met four times to devise a mechanism to encourage scientists from different disciplines within the Earth sciences to focus their efforts on solving the major unresolved problems related to the deep structure, energetics, and dynamics of the deep Earth, problems that express themselves through plate tectonics and other surface observations.
Global distribution of fires seen from space
Authors: Andreae Meinrat O.
Published: October 2006

Biomass burning is one of the major pollution sources of the Earth's atmosphere, releasing large amounts of gaseous (CO, NOX, hydrocarbons, etc.) and particulate (aerosol) emissions [Crutzen and Andreae,1990;Andreae,1991;Leuine,1991]. Furthermore, fires in forests and savannas have an important ecological influence, especially in the tropics [Goldammer,1990;Kozlowski and Ahlgren,1974]. Yet, no global survey of fire incidence as a function of time and geographic region is available at this time. The recent release of the NASA/Space Shuttle Earth Observations Project (SSEOP) data base provides an opportunity to investigate the global distribution of large fires.
Future droughts, water shortages in parts of western Europe
Authors: Thomsen Richard
Published: October 2006

With a simple analysis, it is possible to show that there is a regional pattern in summer and winter droughts in parts of western Europe. The analysis shows that current winter rainfall is abnormally high, but at other times the rainfall has been very low for long periods. Winter rainfall is important for groundwater recharge and thus for the water supply. The summer droughts have serious effects on the natural environment, agriculture, and water supply. Although general models of future climate predict that long‐term winter rainfall is likely to increase in northern and central parts of Europe, it is important to be aware of the natural medium‐ and short‐term variability. Figures 1 and 2 show the deviation of summer and winter rainfall from the mean.
D'Entrecasteaux, 1792: Celebrating a bicentennial in geomagnetism
Authors: Lilley F.E.M. (Ted) , Day Alan A.
Published: October 2006

The first surveys of global magnetic intensity, and especially the demonstration of its variation with latitude, are commonly credited (for example, Chapman, [1967]) to Alexander Von Humboldt, who played a major role in developing geomagnetism in the late 18th and 19th centuries. Von Humboldt made intensity measurements in South America from 1798–1803 and later encouraged the establishment of a global magnetic observatory network (see, for example, Malin and Barraclough, [1991]).

However, as pointed out by Sabine [1838] in a review of intensity measurements to that time, the earliest surviving survey of global magnetic intensity, showing it to strengthen away from the equator both north and south, was made by Elisabeth Paul Edouard De Rossel during the 1791–1794 expedition of Bruny D'Entrecasteaux. Even earlier measurements seem certain to have been made by the scientist Robert de Paul, chevalier de Lamanon (always referred to as Lamanon) of the La Pérouse expedition [Milet‐Mureau, 1799], but any records are evidently lost. Lamanon died when the La Pérouse expedition was in Samoa in 1797, and both ships of that expedition were wrecked on the island of Vanikoro, presumably in 1788 [Marchant, 1967; Spate, 1988]. All such measurements were of relative magnetic intensity until a method for the determination of absolute intensity was invented by Gauss in 1832. For a recent discussion of this latter topic, see Jackson [1992].
Climate change, rifting, and landscape evolution in the Ross Embayment
Authors: van der Wateren Frederick , Verbers Anja L. L. M.
Published: October 2006

The last decades have seen remarkable progress in the understanding of the history of the Antarctic ice sheet and the evolution of the Cenozoic West Antarctic Rift System. It has been suggested recently that glaciology, glacial geology, and paleontology on the one hand and geophysics, marine geology, and structural geology on the other may be related, which may hold more clues to the history of the ice sheet.

This progress notwithstanding, the mechanisms underlying this interrelationship are still poorly understood and a number of fundamental questions remain unanswered. The biggest problems concern episodes of accelerated uplift, the timing and rate of uplift and subsidence of the rift system, and the changing geometry of the ice sheet.
Aquifers as archives of paleoclimate
Authors: Fontes J. Ch. , Stute M. , Schlosser P. , Broecker W. S.
Published: October 2006

The isotopic and elemental compositions of groundwater are influenced by climatic conditions at the time of recharge and are therefore indicators of climate change. The potential of aquifers as archives of paleoclimate was discussed at a 3‐day conference held at Lamont‐Doherty Geological Observatory, Palisades, N.Y., from May 18 to 20. About forty scientists from nine countries attended the meeting, which was sponsored by the Northeast Regional Center of the National Institute for Global Environmental Change (NIGEC) and the National Science Foundation. Fifteen invited papers were presented, which formed the background of extensive discussions on applying isotopic methods to deriving information on climate change during the last 30,000 years from the groundwater archive.
A new view of mantle structure
Authors: Wenk H.‐R.
Published: October 2006

A specific and unique property of the solid state is its regular internal structure, which effectively acts as a memory to store information about its deformation history. Most of the Earth, except for the liquid outer core, is in the solid state and is composed of crystals. Of particular importance for processes in the Earth's crust, such as volcanic activity, earthquakes, and mountain building, is the deformation of the mantle. One of the goals of geophysical research is to understand this deformation and to model its evolution.
Fractal forms in hydrology
Authors: Bras Rafael
Published: October 2006

The beginnings of fractals can be traced to hydrologic studies, dating back to the late 1960s with Mandelbrot's description of river flow as a self‐similar process. Early applications of fractal concepts included the description of the length of coastlines and fracture patterns in the spatial domain, and river discharge in the temporal domain. Recent efforts to apply fractal concepts to hydrologic phenomena have produced new organizing principles for understanding the life cycle of water on Earth as it affects the terrestrial landscape and subterranean geologic deposits.

Fractal mathematics offers a natural way to describe irregular patterns if they contain fine structure that is encountered repeatedly over a range of spatial or temporal scales [Meakin, 1991]. Like the objects of classical geometry—circles and spheres—the objects of fractal geometry are idealizations that are only approximated in natural systems, but are nonetheless useful for mathematical description [Guyon and Stanley, 1991].
Space physics and undergraduate education: Sins of omission
Authors: Freeman John W.
Published: October 2006

Ask the average undergraduate if he or she has heard of the Van Allen Belt, the magnetosphere, or the solar wind and most likely you will get a blank stare. On the other hand, ask the same about black holes, pulsars, or the big bang theory. Chances are you will get a positive response; moreover, they'll have some idea of what at least one of these objects is and may be happy to start a conversation on the subject.

Most students have heard of, or even seen, an aurora, but few have any idea of its source. This holds for most educated adults as well. At a beach party on the shore of Lake Superior last summer, I was besieged with questions about a bright aurora seen over the lake. I realized that there is no point in a traditional education where this aspect of nature is encountered.
IAGA announces program outreach
Authors: Williams Donald J.
Published: October 2006

The existing network of worldwide ground‐based observatories provides long‐term, high‐accuracy measurements essential to science and technological applications. However, many of these observatories are facing severe difficulties, especially those in developing countries and parts of the former Soviet Union.

There are no easy solutions to this problem. A long‐term solution will involve assessment of critical observatory needs by the international community and identification of possible ways to provide a stable operating mode for these observatories. Following the defeat of a motion made at the August 1991 IUGG General Assembly in Vienna to charge for the use of the International Geomagnetic Reference Field and use the proceeds to aid needy observatories (see EOS, Nov. 5, 1991), the International Association for Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA) has begun an investigation of potential long‐term solutions.
Clinton picks Babbitt to Head Interior
Authors: White M. Catherine
Published: October 2006

A confirmation hearing for Bruce Babbitt, President Bill Clinton's choice for secretary of the Department of the Interior, is being held today. Babbitt, who has an educational background in geophysics, served as governor of Arizona from 1978–1987. Among the Interior's varied components are the U S. Geological Survey and the department′ water, scientific, and research activities. Babbitt is a partner in the law firm of Steptoe and Johnson, which has offices in Phoenix and Washington, D.C. His practice is principally in the area of natural reources, water law, and environmental regulation. He is currently president of the League of Conservation Voters, a nonprofit organization that advocates environmental legislation and rates the environmental record of members of Congress. Babbitt also serves as co‐chairman with Javier Perez de Cuellar of the Inter‐American Dialogue, a group of business and political leaders from throughout the Western Hemisphere dedicated to improving relations among the hemisphere's countries.
Canadian Space Geodesy Forum
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

The Canadian Space Geodesy Forum (CANSPACE) is an electronic communications‐based information dissemination and discussion group that was established several years ago to help improve communication among scientists and engineers working with space geodesy techniques. News, comments, questions, and answers are exchanged among forum participants by means of a LISTSERV list. LISTSERV is an electronic mail utility running on a Bitnet computer that allows a message to be “exploded” (sent simultaneously) to a list of individuals simply by sending the message to the list address. CANSPACE's address is canspace@unb.ca (or canspace@unbvml.bitnet).
The Pluto reconnaissance flyby mission
Authors: Stern Alan
Published: October 2006

Although Pluto was discovered in 1930, our modern view of this distant world only began taking shape in 1976. Prior to that time, the technology for studying this faint, 14th magnitude object was simply too immature. Virtually all that was known before 1976 was that Pluto circles the Sun in an unusually eccentric 248‐year orbit (ranging from 29.5 to 49.4 AU) that is tilted far (17°) from the ecliptic—the plane in which the other planets orbit, that Pluto's rotation period is 6.39 days, that its intrinsic surface color is reddish, and that its rotational lightcurve is the strangest and most variegated of the planets.

Since 1976, however, the pace and diversity of discoveries have increased dramatically. First, methane ice was discovered on Pluto's surface, which gave a clear indication that Pluto was formed in the outer solar system rather than simply ejected to it from another region. Next came the discovery of Pluto's large satellite Charon (usually pronounced “Sharon”) in 1978. Lying just 19,400 km from Pluto (<1 arcsecond as seen from Earth), Charon orbits Pluto every 6.387 days—Pluto's rotation period. Thus, unlike any other satellite in the solar system, Charon orbits Pluto at its synchronous orbit.
Melting and melt‐movement in the Earth
Authors: White Robert S.
Published: October 2006

Researchers came together to discuss melting and melt‐movement in the Earth at a 2‐day Royal Society Discussion Meeting held in March 1992 at the Royal Society, London.

In recent years, many new tools have become available to geologists studying igneous and metamorphic rocks. They can be examined at ever‐higher magnifications: the composition within individual crystals can be measured; their isotopic, trace, and rare‐earth element concentrations can be determined; and measurements of partition coefficients and melting behavior can be made in the laboratory at pressures and temperatures appropriate to in‐situ rocks. Along with these improvements in instrumentation and experimental techniques, advances have been made in understanding the physics of melt generation and separation, and computers have been developed that are sufficiently powerful to model theoretical formulations of the behavior of melt in the Earth.
Euphotic Zone Study moves forward
Authors: Denman Kenneth
Published: October 2006

The Global Ocean Euphotic Zone Study (GOEZS), a potential core program of the International Geosphere‐Biosphere Programme (IGBP) being planned jointly with the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR), was recently given the go‐ahead by IGBP's Scientific Committee to move on to the next level of developing its scientific program.

The GOEZS program will focus on the coupled physical, biological, and chemical processes operating in the euphotic zone, which is the ocean surface layer where sufficient light penetrates for photosynthesis by phytoplankton to exceed their metabolic energy losses. The upper ocean is extremely important to understanding the atmosphereocean system because it mediates exchanges of heat, momentum, carbon dioxide, sulphur, and nitrogen between the atmosphere and the ocean interior. For the major greenhouse gas carbon dioxide for example, there is more carbon in the upper ocean than in the whole atmosphere. Essentially all carbon dioxide from the atmosphere that passes from the upper ocean to the ocean interior has been transformed chemically or biologically in the upper ocean. Moreover, the upper ocean is the site of all marine shipping and most recreation and industrial activity and contains the planktonic food chain and most fish stocks.
U.S. National Seismograph Network improves earthquake monitoring
Authors: Buland Ray
Published: October 2006

The concept of a United States National Seismograph Network (USNSN) dates back nearly 30 years. The idea was revived several times over the decades but never funded. For example, a national network was proposed and discussed at great length in the so‐called “Bolt Report” (U.S. Earthquake Observatories: Recommendations for a New National Network, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 1980). From the beginning, a national network was viewed as augmenting and complementing the dense, predominantly short‐period vertical coverage of selected areas provided by the Regional Seismograph Networks (RSNs) with a sparse, well‐distributed network of three‐component, observatory‐quality, permanent stations.
Northeast water polynya: Polar sea cruise results
Authors: Deming Jody ,   The NEWATER Steering Committee and Principle Investigators
Published: October 2006

Motivated in part by model predictions that Arctic regions will be subject to disproportionate warming as the Earth's radiative balance shifts, the National Science Foundation recently established a new Global Change Research Program known as Arctic System Science (ARCSS). While ARCSS recognizes the Arctic system as a central element of global climate, it also acknowledges that there is insufficient data on physical, chemical, and biological processes in the Arctic to understand its role in climate change.

In the same time frame, the Arctic Ocean Science Board created the International Arctic Polynya Program to focus on critical roles that polynyas may play in the dynamics of the Arctic environment. Although they comprise only a small part of the Arctic region, these open bodies of water in sea ice can account for a significant fraction of the midwinter energy exchange between atmosphere and ocean. Polynyas are also believed to be sites of dense‐water formation and elevated biological activity. The concept of physical, chemical, and biological processes occurring at enhanced rates in an Arctic region small enough to be studied directly has focused attention on polynyas as potentially excellent models of the consequences of global change at high latitudes.
GRL Editors Halpern and Russell
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

David Halpern of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Philip P. Russell of NASA's Ames Research Center have begun 3‐year terms as editors of Geophysical Research Letters, AGU's interdisciplinary rapid‐publication journal. Halpern's editorial emphasis is ocean sciences and ocean‐atmosphere interactions and Russell's is atmospheric sciences.

Halpern, an oceanographer and senior research scientist in JPL's Earth and Space Sciences Division, currently specializes in analysis of surface wind over the global ocean and the associated oceanographic changes of current, surface topography, temperature, and phytoplankton. His ocean circulation and ocean‐atmosphere interaction studies involve observations from Earth‐orbiting satellites and numerical simulations from models of the coupled ocean‐atmosphere circulation.
Fall Meeting Hydrology Highlights
Authors: Bales Roger
Published: October 2006

The AGU 1992 Fall Meeting in San Francisco offered the full range of subjects represented by the Hydrology Section's technical committees. The total number of papers was double the number of just 4 years ago. Sessions were well attended. The following highlights were prepared from material written by session organizers.

There were 3 full days of papers on snow, ice, and permafrost. One highlight was the special session on new developments in glacier mass‐balance studies, which was organized to compare existing methods and examine new techniques for assessing changes in ice mass of the polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers. Current methods for assessing mass change of the ice sheets include satellite laser altimetry to detect surface‐elevation changes, surface‐based control volume methods to determine net ice flux in a region, and ice‐shelf melting and iceberg calving to determine mass loss from the ice sheet. Using these techniques, it is difficult to tell whether the ice sheet is gaining or losing mass. Methods that use drainage basin inputs/outputs indicate a net mass increase, whereas methods that emphasize oceanographic estimates of ice‐shelf melting suggest a net mass decrease and estimates based on satellite altimetry are equivocal.
Nuclear subs to explore Arctic?
Authors: Anonymous
Published: October 2006

The international community of scientists has become interested in the idea of using a nuclear submarine to explore the Arctic and other inaccessible regions of the World Ocean. Several alternative approaches to formulating a concept and the respective plan of action put forward by different expert groups have been amply discussed [Eos, May 12, 1992; Navy News and Undersea Technology, November 9, 1992].

The Russian Academy of Sciences has created a working group, “Science‐NSM,” to coordinate efforts in working out the concept of the project and the plan of action, determine the main scientific and applied problems and criteria for selecting the type of nuclear submarine to be rebuilt, appraise the possible solutions of occurring problems, as well as to effect international contacts. Members of the group include E. P. Velikhov (chairman), vice‐president of the Russian Academy of Sciences; D. M. Klimov (deputy chairman); and Y. D. Chasheckin (scientific secretary).
Mitigating the hazards of Mount Rainier
Authors: Swanson Don , Malone Steve , Casadevall Tom
Published: October 2006

Mount Rainier volcano is an ever‐present reminder to the more than three million inhabitants of the Puget Sound Lowland of the potentially hazardous geologic setting of the Pacific Northwest. Increased public awareness resulting from the recent eruptions of Mount St. Helens, Nevado del Ruiz, and Mount Pinatubo, among others, and the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI)'s designation of Mount Rainier as a Decade Volcano [Swanson et al., 1992] afford an opportunity to improve our knowledge about Mount Rainier with the goal of reducing these hazards. A workshop to discuss research needs and strategies, cosponsored by the National Academy of Sciences, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the University of Washington, was held at the University of Washington in Seattle from September 18 to 20, 1992. About seventy‐five Earth scientists, social scientists, and representatives of several companies and government agencies attended.