bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Babbitt selects Interim USGS leaders
Authors: Anonymous  
Published: October 2006

On July 30, Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt announced his selection of an interim team to lead the U.S. Geological Survey until a new director is named. Effective August 16, Robert M. Hirsch, who has been a USGS research hydrologist for 17 years, will serve as acting director. Bonnie A. McGregor, assistant chief hydrologist for program, and a marine geologist for 14 years with the USGS, will serve as acting associate director.“I am pleased that two distinguished scientists with management experience from within the ranks of the USGS have agreed to take on interim leadership of the organization,” Babbitt said.
Guam shaken by large quake
Authors: White M. Catherine 
Published: October 2006

On August 8, an earthquake registering 8.1 on the Richter scale shook the Mariana Trench, which lies to the southeast of Guam, causing a rupture 55–60 km deep. Because large earthquakes are quite rare in the Mariana region, this significant thrust‐type event offers a unique opportunity for study.The U.S. Geological Survey reports that seismic activity continued for several days after the earthquake. On August 11, an aftershock measuring 6.1 struck 40 miles southeast of Agana, Guam.
Future of Mars study uncertain
Authors: Bush Susan 
Published: October 2006

The planetology community is anxiously awaiting updates on the fate of the Mars Observer spacecraft, which abruptly lost communication with Earth at about 9:00 P.M. EDT on August 21. At this time it is unknown whether the probe is lost or has entered the orbit as planned but is unable to relay data back to engineers. The Observer was scheduled to enter the planet's orbit on August 24 and begin a detailed topographic and atmospheric study on December 16. Space agency officials have called this communications breach a “serious and lengthy loss.”It is still too early to tell how this loss of communication will affect planetologists, said Roger Phillips, because nothing is really known about the extent of the loss. Phillips, of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Washington University, St. Louis, Mo., noted that in the worst‐case scenario of the whole mission being lost, it would be a “major blow to the planetology community.”
Radio show celebrates 2nd year
Authors: Anonymous  
Published: October 2006

When the “Earth and Sky” radio program premiered in 1991, it could be heard on 30 stations. Now, on its second anniversary, it can be heard on 430 stations throughout the United States and Canada.“Earth and Sky” presents lively discussion of Earth science and astronomy topics ranging from deep ocean currents to solar eclipses. The daily radio show is produced in association with AGU, which acts as the program's scientific consultant. The show promotes one of AGU's fundamental goals: to promote the public understanding of the planet Earth, its environment in space, and their study.
Computer mapping at USGS
Authors: Anonymous  
Published: October 2006

For the first time, a standard U.S. Geological Survey map has been mass produced using fully automated computer technology. The l:24,000‐scale topographic map of Park Ridge, 111., also depicts parts of Chicago, Des Plaines, Niles, Skokie, Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Northbrook, and Glenview.The last major breakthrough in mapping occurred when aerial photography became an operational tool for cartographers after World War II. Now, computer systems can scan an original map to record contour lines and other permanent features. Next, a recent aerial photo is digitized, capturing details such as new roads, housing developments, and major changes in forests or wetlands. Finally, a cartographer at an electronic work station can add the new features to the terrain records stored in the computer to produce current map data.
NSF, NASA bills move to conference committee
Authors: Jones Richard M. 
Published: October 2006

The Senate acted on a number of important science funding bills this week, including those covering the National Science Foundation and NASA.The full Senate completed action on HR2491, the VA, HUD, Independent Agencies appropriations bill. Although the Senate deliberated many hours over 3 days, there was no discussion of the committee report on the future role of NSF that accompanied the bill (see Eos, September 21).
Brown strikes another blow against earmarking
Authors: Leath Audrey T. 
Published: October 2006

On September 15, George Brown (D‐Calif.), chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, held his second hearing on academic earmarking. The hearing, postponed from August, examined institutions that have actively solicited earmarks and the agencies that were directed to provide the earmarked funds.Academic earmarking refers to the practice by which congressional members, through the appropriations bill for an agency, specify funds for a particular research program or facility (usually in their own state or district). George Brown has been an active opponent of this process, because he thinks it bypasses the normal competitive, peer‐review process by which agencies determine their research funding priorities and because, as chairman of an authorizing committee (one that sets priorities and approves programs but does not provide funds), he sees his committee's role being usurped by appropriators. As Brown stated in his opening remarks, “;Earmarking circumvents the system we have in place that allocates funding based on national needs and competitive merit review.… Earmarked projects often steer agencies away from their stated mission.”
USGS and BLM agree to expand mapping coordination
Authors: Anonymous  
Published: October 2006

The U.S. Geological Survey, the largest civilian mapping agency, has just joined hands with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the largest federal land management agency, in an agreement to expand coordination of their mapping efforts and develop cartographic technology of mutual benefit.The Memorandum of Understanding signed by the agencies provides a mechanism to produce and exchange conventional maps, digital cartographic data, and remotely sensed data. The new agreement will also help enforce national standards in map making, which will make the data more available and useful to a wider audience.
NSF to receive 10% funding increase
Authors: Jones Richard M. 
Published: October 2006

Work is almost complete on the fiscal year 1994 funding bill for the National Science Foundation. On October 1, Conference Committee Chairs Louis Stokes (D‐Ohio) and Barbara Mikulski (D‐Md.) and their colleagues completed work on the final version of HR2491, the VA, HUD, Independent Agencies Appropriations Bill. The House and Senate will soon give their final approval to the conference report for HR2491, after which it will lack only the president's signature. NSF's overall budget increase of 10%, raising total funding to %3,005.3 million, is the highest increase among all departments and agencies. Last year's increase in NSF funding was 6.3%.Funding for research and related activities will increase 7% to $1,986 million, a compromise between the 10% House increase and the 4% Senate figure. Last year's bill cut research funding. Education and human resources funding will increase 17% to $569.6 million. This is $13.5 million above the Clinton administration's request. Last year's increase for education and human resources was 4.7%.
Union session to explore the Mississippi‐Missouri river floods
Authors: Anonymous  
Published: October 2006

The causes and effects of the severe Mississippi‐Missouri River floods of 1993 will be the focus of the Fall Meeting Union session U11B. This session should interest geophysical scientists in several disciplines, as it examines the meteorological conditions associated with the floods; their magnitudes and extent; the degree to which the floods represent a statistical extreme; and the role of channel constraints, reservoirs, and reservoir operating policies on flood dynamics and resulting damage. Descriptions of several papers to be presented as part of the session are discussed below.“The Great Midwestern Flood of 1993—A Description and Some Speculation on Causes,” will be presented by Gerald D. Bell, David R. Rodenhuis, and David Miskus of the Climate Analysis Center, Washington, D.C. This paper will examine the persistent circulation pattern that caused a major anomaly in climate conditions covering the upper midwest and north central Great Plains and resulted in the saturation of the Mississippi and lower Missouri rivers. The authors will also investigate hypotheses of global warming, stratospheric aerosols, and El Niño Southern Oscillation as an influence on this weather pattern.
Environmental change profiled in Greenland Ice Core Record
Authors: Anonymous  
Published: October 2006

The longest continuous high‐resolution record of climate response available in the Northern Hemisphere, covering approximately 250,000 years, is the focus of Union sessions U31D, U32C, and U41B, “Climate from Central Greenland Core Records I, II, and III.” This climate record has been provided by the Greenland Ice Sheet Project 2 (GISP2), which successfully reached bedrock on July 1, and its European‐led counterpart, the Greenland Ice Project (GRIP). Presentations will focus on information obtained from analyses of the over 3,000‐m‐deep ice core samples retrieved by both projects. These analyses cast light on atmospheric and environmental conditions during selected periods and on correlations between selected environmental or atmospheric components and changes in climate in Greenland.P. A. Mayewski and his group will present examples of how important signals extracted from the glaciochemical record provided by the ice core have been developed into paleoenvironmental interpretations of abrupt changes in atmospheric circulation, sea ice distribution, and other environmental boundary conditions during major periods of climate change.
Congressional Fellow report
Authors: Land Valerie 
Published: October 2006

Through the American Association of the Advancement of Science Congressional Science and Engineering Fellowship Program, scientists and engineers from around the country have enjoyed a 20‐year relationship with Congress—a mutually beneficial union that has significantly enhanced the legislative process involving science and technology policy.More than 500 postdoctorate to mid‐career level scientists and engineers have worked as professional legislative staff members on Capitol Hill since 1973. Heralded for its unique public policy learning experience, the Congressional Fellowship program has enabled a number of scientists and engineers to flourish in the public policy arena after their experience in Washington. Several of these individuals have attained high‐level policy positions within the government, a path they may not have followed without their involvement in the program. AGU is one of the twenty‐two national science and engineering societies that support the program.
Lane to head NSF
Authors: Anonymous  
Published: October 2006

Neal F. Lane, an atomic physicist, was unanimously confirmed as director of the National Science Foundation by the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee on October 7. President Clinton nominated him to the position in July. Lane will succeed Walter F. Massey, who left NSF to become vice‐president and provost of the University of California system.Lane has served as provost of Rice University since 1986. For 2 years prior to that, he was chancellor of the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. From 1979 to 1980, Lane was director of NSF's physics division. He taught physics at Rice University for almost 20 years, beginning in 1966.
“Big science” dealt setbacks
Authors: Burke Dennis 
Published: October 2006

With the most recent 282–143 vote by the House on October 19 to kill the Superconducting Super Collider (SSC), the flame could soon flicker out on this controversial research project. At press time, most congressional supporters of the SSC seemed ready to throw in the towel on resurrecting funding to continue the project.The recent House vote is the second this year intended to kill the project, and the $22 billion Department of Energy funding bill now returns to the House‐Senate conference committee with clear instructions to House conferees to include only $220 million for the SSC in the 1994 energy and water appropriations bill, intended to cover the costs of project termination. In an article in the October 21 Washington Post, however, actual costs to terminate the project were expected to reach $1 billion, including the costs of covering lawsuits and filling in the hole.
Don't change NSFs mission
Authors: Scharlach Werner 
Published: October 2006

The Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies, chaired by Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D‐Md.), produced a report, number 103–137, which concerns itself with the National Science Foundation. This report appears to want the NSF to become “practical,” to move away from “curiosity driven science.” I believe this to be misguided and wrong.I support AGU's position on the role of NSF. “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 the role of other agencies and the private sector rather than the NSF….” (Eos, September 28, 1993).
Speakers urge a unified approach to mitigating natural hazards
Authors: White M. Catherine 
Published: October 2006

On November 3, while wildfires consumed acres of coastal land in California, the U.S. Natural Hazards Symposium in Washington, D.C., addressed the threat of natural hazards in the United States, disaster mitigation and recovery, and the need to consider natural hazards in land development plans. Several of the scheduled speakers were unable to participate because they were called to California to investigate the fires, including keynote speaker James Witt, the new director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).Substitute keynote speaker Harvey Ryland, Witt's senior adviser at FEMA, emphasized that “we must sell mitigation as an effective means of protecting people and property.” He discussed FEMA's new “National Mitigation Strategy,” which will serve as the basis for its emergency management program. The strategy is expected to be in place by January 1995. As part of the approach, FEMA will establish a mitigation directorate to organize various disaster mitigation efforts in one office. Ryland also discussed the idea of creating risk reduction enterprise zones, designated high risk areas that would offer incentives to property owners who take proper mitigation measures. “Such incentives would be offset by reduced disaster assistance costs,” Ryland added.
Federal Environmental R&D System examined
Authors: Mockler Susan Bucci 
Published: October 2006

The current federal efforts in environmental research and development and their effectiveness in meeting environmental needs for the future were the focus of a hearing held by the House Subcommittee on Technology, Environment, and Aviation on November 4. The current system operates through about twenty agencies and departments working within a $5 billion R&D budget.The committee is examining whether the system needs to be reorganized to make it more effective in anticipating and addressing current and emerging environmental concerns such as the loss of the ozone layer, loss of biodiversity, and quality of water and air.
“Ralpha” Space Station plan takes flight
Authors: Leath Audrey T. 
Published: October 2006

The anxiously awaited plans for a joint U.S.‐Russian space station were revealed by the Clinton Administration last week. Informally called “Ralpha,” the joint station would link the U.S.‐led space station “Alpha” with an upgraded Russian station (see Eos, October 26).The Clinton proposal lays out a threephase strategy for U.S.‐Russian cooperation in space, culminating in a “world” space station effort involving the United States, Russia, Japan, Canada, and Europe. The plan is described in an addendum to the “Program Implementation Plan” for Alpha.
UARS data released
Authors: Anonymous  
Published: October 2006

NASA's Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite is a major mission aimed at improving the understanding of the structure and behavior of the Earth atmosphere between 15 and 100 km. The first year of data, covering September 1991 to September 1992, is now available from the Distributed Active Archive Center at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center. These data provide the most complete view of stratospheric composition, dynamics, and energy input currently available.The remaining data will be released in 3‐month intervals until all data has been released.
Outstanding student paper awards
Authors: Anonymous  
Published: October 2006

Six Outstanding Student Paper awards were given in the Space Physics and Aeronomy Section at the AGU Spring Meeting, held last May in Baltimore, Md.David Walthour, who presented “Satellite Data Analysis of Two‐Dimensional Magnetopause Structures,” is a doctoral student at the Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College. He received a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Cincinnati. His research interests include field‐aligned MHD flows, the development of data analysis techniques for examining transient events at the Earth magnetopause, and the study of anomalous MHD wave properties in anisotropic plasmas with application to reconnection.
Foreign companies’ access to U.S. universities questioned
Authors: Jones Richard M. 
Published: October 2006

On October 28, the House Subcommittee on Science tackled what one congressman described as “one of the thorniest issues in science policy”—the relationship between foreign corporations and American research universities. The 2‐hour hearing probably raised more questions than it answered.Congress has been looking at this issue with an eye toward whether changes in existing U.S. law are needed. Last year, the Senate discussed this matter during its consideration of the National Institutes of Health authorization bill. Current legislation governing foreign access to federally funded research at U.S. universities dates back to 1980.
U.S./Russia sign landmark agreement for space cooperation
Authors: Mockler Susan Bucci 
Published: October 2006

Announcing the completion of deliberations between the United States and Russia on space cooperation in a teleconference to NASA Headquarters from Moscow, NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin said that December 16 “was a great day.” Yuri Koptev, director general of the Russian Space Agency (RSA), added that it is a “great day for our two nations and our space agencies.”Agreement on the nature of this cooperation was marked by the signing of a protocol between NASA and the RSA outlining the significant increase in U.S.‐Russian cooperation in human space flight. This agreement provides for flights of Russian cosmonauts and American astronauts on the space shuttle and the Mir orbital station, as well as for an extensive scientific and technological research program during 1995–1997. The first phase of this project is expected to begin soon.
Reconstructing the last glacial and deglacial ice sheets
Authors: Anonymous  
Published: October 2006

It has been over a decade since publication of the CLIMAP [Denton and Hughes, 1981] global reconstruction of ice sheets at the last glacial maximum for the CLIMAP Project. To an extent never envisaged at the time, this reconstruction has been used by groups worldwide as boundary‐condition input for general circulation models (GCMs) and other numerical experiments to reconstruct glacial‐maximum atmospheric and oceanic circulation. Other GCM experiments based on rough approximations of ice‐sheet size through the deglacial interval also have been run [Kutzbach and Guetter, 1986], and the climatic output has in turn been compared against ground‐truth data such as vegetation and lake levels [COHMAP, 1988].Recently, several results have provided fresh impetus for updating the CLIMAP reconstruction: coral reef data [Fairbanks, 1989] placing sea level near ‐120 m at the last glacial maximum at Barbados, which also provide a deglacial record of sea level; U‐series dates on these corals [Bard et al., 1990] showing that 14C chronologies are anomalously young through the deglaciation, which place the last glacial maximum at 21,000–20,000 years ago; major improvements [Tushingham and Peltier, 1991] in iteratively matching hypothesized ice‐sheet thickness histories based on an independent model of the Earth's visco‐elasticity to radiometrically dated sea‐level rebound histories; and glacial and marine geological fieldwork by many scientists. These findings provide significant new constraints on the past size of the ice sheets at the last glacial maximum and throughout deglaciation. As an added impetus, the NATO Paleoclimate Modeling Intercomparison Project (PMIP) has called for an updated reconstruction of glacial‐maximum ice sheets. Their objective is to compare the performance of GCMs when tested on a realistic (glacial) world having ice‐sheet boundary conditions very different from today's.
New gravity field for Mars fuels research
Authors: Smith D. E. , Zuber M. T. 
Published: October 2006

An new gravitational field model for Mars sheds new light on the structure and composition of many short‐wavelength features on the planet's surface. The model, Goddard Mars Model‐1 (GMM‐1) (Figure 1), holds great promise for future Mars research.Besides resolving more short‐wavelength features than previous Mars gravity models, most major features have higher magnitude anomalies. For example, GMM‐1 details the Valles Marineris canyon near the center of the map and reveals structures of several major impact basins and shield volcanos never before observed. Interestingly, several prominent anomalies in GMM‐1 fail to correlate with surface features. Two prominent anomalies of this type in the northern hemisphere (Ion=−160°, lat=+30° and Ion=105°, lat=+50°) may indicate features covered by volcanic flooding.
Reply [to “Is the AGU headquarters bond issue really a boon?”]
Authors: Ostenso Ned A. 
Published: October 2006

Dick Von Herzen raises two issues that affect us all: our Union's economic health and the role of a headquarters building in our financial portfolio. These issues deserve the widest possible ventilation among our total membership, and I am grateful that Dick's comments offer yet another opportunity to address them. I assume this responsibility in my capacity as chairman of the ad hoc Real Estate Committee and as the “continuity” member of the Budget and Finance Committee.In responding, I want to make two salient points: the AGU is financially healthy and the role of the headquarters building in our asset mix is established by formal policy. By extension, the new building is derived from a series of explicit Council decisions.
Don't give an inch!
Authors: Geller Robert J. 
Published: October 2006

The camera ready copy (CRC) procedures for Geophysical Research Letters are now being revised. As one of the new editors, I looked through preliminary versions of the new forms and instructions for authors. Remarkably, all of the units (for example, maximum length = 75 inches or 189.9 cm) are given in both British and metric units, despite the fact that AGU's style guide for authors (Eos, October 11, 1988) states that “all quantities must be in metric units.”When I contacted the AGU staff to ask them to eliminate the anachronistic British units they refused, claiming that “In the word‐processing packages with which we are familiar all margins are given in inches. It is inconvenient for folks not to have both measurements if the software they are using for making CRC requires them to give commands in the British system.” They did not, however, cite any examples of a software package that will not also accept metric units, perhaps because none exists. All packages with which I am familiar accept both inches and metric units.