I like to put a graphic in this space before getting to Elaine's posts. I was at a loss but then a few minutes ago I go a copy of AWRA's November issue of Water Resources IMPACT to proofread. It's a superb issue on Quenching Florida's Thirst: Innovative Solutions for Meeting Water Needs. Guest editors Claire E. Muirhead and Sandra Fox of the St. Johns River Water Management District have assembled quite an issue - 10 articles! It'll be available shortly.
The photo is of Rock Springs in Orange County, FL. SJRWMD scientists are sampling aquatic fauna. Photo by Jane Mace.
By the way, I am a sucker for Florida's 5 WMDs. My students get an earful. Same with Nebraska's NRDs. Go figure...
Enjoy!
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PDF: Download Bulletin_Boards_19October2020
Word: Download Bulletin_Boards_19October2020
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Check out Elaine's coronavirus/COVID-19 section in the ES BB.
Geoscience Bulletin Board – 19 October 2020 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford
New evidence suggests atolls are formed by cyclic changes in sea level – revising Darwin’s theory
Great Plains atmospheric dust levels increasing reflecting agricultural practices & climate trends
Pinpointing global metal deposits
In the 13th century Old Faithful geyser stopped erupting because of drought
Insight into the origins of earthquakes
- https://phys.org/news/2020-10-scientist-gains-fresh-insight-earthquakes.html
- Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-18937-0
Paper: combined effect of plant traits on eco-morpho-dynamics of gravel bars
Role of mycorrhizal fungi in preventing landslides
Was Tunguska explosion a 650 foot-wide asteroid near-miss with Earth?
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidbressan/2020/10/12/new-theory-suggests-tunguska-explosion-was-a-656-foot-wide-asteroids-near-miss-with-earth/#8780c8a43acb
- Paper: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2009.14234.pdf
New digital geologic map of the greater Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro area of Washington-Oregon
- https://www.usgs.gov/news/volcanoes-vineyards-new-geologic-map-reveals-portlands-deep-history
- SIM3443 & map links: https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/sim3443
- Publication: https://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3443/sim3443_pamphlet.pdf
Sierra Nevada formed in “geologic instant”
Book Review: Geology & caves of the Sultanate of Oman – register for Lecture on 21 Oct 2020
- https://themedialine.org/mideast-streets/the-geology-and-caves-of-the-sultanate-of-oman-2020-muscat-london/
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-geology-and-caves-of-the-sultanate-of-oman-2020-muscat-london-registration-116207231959
USGS Earth Mapping Resource Initiative – mapping for minerals
New hypothesis for predicting location of rare earth deposits
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201009162420.htm
- Paper: https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/41/eabb6570
The complex magmatic architectural system beneath volcanoes
Rock museum and hotel in Scotland Neck
Exploration of phosphate rock in Viru region of Estonia
250,000-ton boulder of Lewisian gneiss fell 1.2 byo along the northwester Scottish coast
Adapting fluvial models to predict amplitude & frequency of volcanic eruption tremor
Measuring vertical surface motion to predict hazards of faults in earthquake-prone region in California
Gulf of Alaska sediment cores reflect timing of Cordilleran Ice Sheet disgorging icebergs
Jellyfish & sea salps play important role in ocean carbon cycling
Meteorite NWA 11004 reflects melting prior to impact on Earth
Droughts originating over the ocean are more severe than those originating over land
- https://eos.org/editor-highlights/the-ocean-land-connection-of-droughts
- Paper: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2019WR026877
Visualizing the relative sizes of particles smaller than fine beach sand
Research suggests deep ocean temperatures fluctuate and are now in warming trend
- https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/The_deep_sea_is_slowly_warming_999.html
- Paper: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1029/2020GL089093
USGS O&G Assessment: The Eagle Ford Group in Texas
Eocene age glendonites found in Denmark are rare calcium carbonate crystals
- https://phys.org/news/2020-10-volcanic-eruptions-denmark-giant-mystery.html
- Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-18558-7
Putting current climate change in context of 66 million years
On the origin of complex teeth – Kalaallitkigun jenkinsi lived in Greenland about 215 myo
Numerical model simulates seismic cycles for subduction zones – potential worst-case scenario
Re-imaging the Walker Ridge in the Gulf of Mexico
Whale carcasses support food chain in the abyss
Paper: mechanical properties of Guiyag red clay
Owner of private school in Mexico City sentenced for 26 deaths during 7.1M earthquake
Asteroid and cometary impacts may also be a good thing
- https://www.airspacemag.com/daily-planet/when-asteroid-impacts-are-good-thing-180976054/
- Paper: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/pdf/10.1089/ast.2019.2203
Kansas Geological Survey online journal to focus on mid-continent research
Planetary geology – Venus is toxic twin of Earth - podcast
Geological history of Toronto influences dewatering solution
Understanding time – from astronomical and geological perspective
Ongoing prospecting & geological mapping program at Great Northern & Viking Projects
Science of wildfires considers terrain & topography, climatic & weather conditions
Exploration at Marimica Sulphide & Regional Targets
Indus Suture Zone (ISZ) between Indian & Asian Plates found to be tectonically active
Energy use since 1950 transformed geologic footprint of growing human population – nuclear, plastic & oil and gas
- https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-10/uoca-ueu101520.php
- Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-020-00029-y
Russia considers modifying cleanup levels for petroleum hydrocarbons in soil
Stressed out volcanoes more likely to collapse & erupt – potential for predicting events
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201016100930.htm
- Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-74361-w
University of Geological Sciences – foundation of third Renaissance
Newly discovered, large ancient landslides in Canada – Harrison Lake
Environmental Science Bulletin Board – 19 October 2020 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford
“Patterson’s Curse” invading grasslands in Australia – toxic to livestock
Technological hazard: truth decay – “the diminishing role of facts and analysis in American public life”
Forgotten story of the 1968 Hong Kong Flu - there were little widespread societal changes
- https://blog.onlinemeded.org/history-repeats-the-forgotten-story-of-the-1968-hong-kong-flu-pandemic/
Perspective: does Nature or society create risk? – No question it is caused by humans!
The next stage in human evolution – wisdom teeth disappear & more arteries added
Gynandromorphic grosbeak discovered in nature reserve in Pennsylvania
Warning to residents to avoid hairy, venomous caterpillars – larva stage of Southern flannel moth - Megalopyge opercularis
Cancel culture directed at Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson & other naval heroes
“Manifest destiny” sadly changed this map forever
- https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/tribal-map-america-shows-whose-202100342.html
- Interactive map: http://44.238.53.87/
CRS Report: Land & Water Conservation Fund – Allocating Funds
Proposed Highway 101 overcrossing in South San Francisco undergoing environmental review
Contemplating the future of aging dams across the Great Lakes region – to be or not to be?
Unmitigated global warming hype from the UN on “uninhabitable hell” & disasters
New Mexico free webinar series for greater agricultural community
- https://www.desertexposure.com/stories/state-land-office-and-healthy-soil-working-group-team-up-for-webinar-series,5012
- Webinar sign-up: https://www.nmhealthysoil.org/portfolio/collaborative-fall-webinar-series-on-soil-health/
Do smaller towns face higher disaster evacuation risk?
Construction continues for $130M Water Reclamation Facility in Morro Bay – still controversial
Technological hazard: “Stop lines” do not make a difference in intersection safety
- https://mntransportationresearch.org/2020/10/09/how-well-do-stop-lines-work-as-a-safety-feature/
- Report: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/research/reports/2020/202017.pdf
Complex hydrological processes help identify future malaria hot spots
- https://eos.org/articles/hydrology-helps-identify-future-malaria-hot-spots
- Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-18239-5
Geology & structure of Critical Zone control moisture storage potential & determine ecosystem resilience
Visualizing the relative sizes of particles smaller than fine beach sand
Smoky skies (i.e., unhealthy air quality) from wildfires are making people sick
Persistent PFAS chemicals are ubiquitous & threaten human health – will mitigation help?
EU Commission strategy for reducing use of hormone-disrupting chemicals
- https://www.ehn.org/roadmap-points-europe-toward-safer-sustainable-chemicals-2648204487.html
- Strategy: https://ec.europa.eu/environment/strategy/chemicals-strategy_en
- Report: https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/43a17056-ebf1-11e9-9c4e-01aa75ed71a1
Carnivores living near humans eat more human food – junk food in their diet disrupts ecosystem
Do emissions & methane leaks from new natural gas power plants negate CO2 cuts?
- https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gas-bridge-fuel_n_5f7f74f0c5b664e5babb0ea8
- Paper: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2020AV000162
Droughts are threatening wetlands
Trees really do grow in the deserts – 1.8B trees identified in Sahara & Sahel
Which “milk” do you drink? Impact of dairy, nut, soy, hemp & grain on the environment
Micro-plastics in freshwaters in Nigeria raise significant concerns
More “global warming” hype – nitrous oxide emissions pose increasing threat – threaten Paris Accord
Burn scars & winter storms threaten rare & endangered species in San Gabriel Mountains
California power blackouts – mathematically inconvenient as supply was low while demand was high – blame it on “global warming” not poor management & politics
- https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/10/report-details-causes-of-recent-california-rolling-blackouts/
- Report: http://www.caiso.com/Documents/Preliminary-Root-Cause-Analysis-Rotating-Outages-August-2020.pdf
Tracing concentrations of potentially toxic trace & heavy metal elements in the Ganges
Viet Nam not doing enough to protect environment around hydroelectric dams
Call for 25-member national commission focused on diminishing future wildfire disasters
US Army COE contractors surveying land for new levee system in Orange County - estimated at $5.6B – Video
485-MW Ohio Long Ridge Energy Terminal will be first power plant to combine natural gas & hydrogen – will transition to hydrogen – projected cost $588M
Water Infrastructure Finance & Innovation Act loan projects
- California: https://www.waterworld.com/drinking-water/infrastructure-funding/press-release/14185116/epa-announces-108m-to-improve-water-quality-in-the-california-delta
- Tennessee: https://www.waterworld.com/wastewater/press-release/14185138/city-of-memphis-tn-awarded-156m-wifia-loan
- Virginia: https://www.waterworld.com/drinking-water/infrastructure-funding/press-release/14185532/va-water-reuse-project-awarded-225m-wifia-loan
Upgrades to Glenmore Dam on Elbow River southwest of Calgary
Mexico-Canada transcontinental rail link proposed – current estimated cost $1B to $3B
CORONAVIRUS
Coronavirus COVID-19 statistics by country (click on USA to get State statistics)
- https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
- https://time.com/5800901/coronavirus-map/
- interactive maps: https://geodacenter.github.io/covid/map.html
Virus can survive on surfaces but not to worry
- https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/covid-19-can-survive-on-money-phone-for-weeks-but-experts-say-theres-limited-evidence-virus-spreads-this-way-162647882.html
- Paper: https://virologyj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12985-020-01418-7
Vaccine trials paused due to safety concerns for participants who developed transverse myelitis
Perspective: What the pandemic has taught us about science
- https://climatechangedispatch.com/what-the-pandemic-has-taught-us-about-science/
- https://www.naturalnews.com/2020-10-12-what-the-pandemic-taught-us-about-science.html
- https://windinmyface.com/blog/2020/20201009_1325-Wuhan-Coronavirus-SARS-CoV2-WSJ-WhatThePandemicHasTaughtUsAboutScience.html
Visualizing $2T drop in real GDP for each State due to lock-down – Utah, Tennessee, Nevada & Hawaii = worst
Is urban air pollution a comorbid factor? Near-real-time monitoring of global emissions
- https://www.treehugger.com/air-pollution-covid-19-more-deadly-5081431
- https://phys.org/news/2020-10-real-time-covid-massive-impact-global.html
- Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-18922-7
Vaccine trials paused due to safety concerns for participants who developed transverse myelitis
Technological hazards of working from home
Many college students not buying “performative” safety measures
Infectious disease epidemiologists & public health scientists issue The Great Barrington Declaration supporting herd immunity – motivated by damaging physical & mental health impacts of shut-downs
- https://news.yahoo.com/white-house-embraces-declaration-scientists-121853918.html
- Petition: https://gbdeclaration.org/
Significantly more men die of the virus than women – exhibit weaker immune response
Media headline selectively emphasizes “cases” rather than decline in deaths
Hawaii reopens without mandatory quarantine upon arrival
No tour boats – animals in the Galapagos Islands are loving it
“Pandemic fatigue” – enough is enough - lock-downs have consequences
Coastal Zone Management Bulletin Board – 19 October 2020 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford
Stratford Point Living Shoreline given “Restored Shore” award for coastal protection
New tidal flood barriers in Venice, Italy, hold back acqua alta
• https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/venice-flood-barrier/index.html
Port of Longview reviewing options for estimated $76M Industrial Rail Corridor expansion
Warning issued: Deformed farm-raised salmon escaped – invading rivers & breeding with wild purebreds – bread to be fat for eating – less likely to survive in the wild
• https://www.yahoo.com/news/escaped-salmon-deformed-fins-threaten-135433407.html
Estimating future rates of coastal erosion in Seaton
• https://seaton.nub.news/n/university-research-estimates-future-rates-of-coastal-erosion-inseaton
Bikini Atoll was turned into nuclear wasteland by atomic bomb testing
• https://daily.jstor.org/bombs-and-the-bikini-atoll/
1968 National Flood Insurance Program set off disastrous & expensive 50-year coastal building boom
• https://issues.org/national-flood-insurance-has-ruined-americas-beaches/
Planting seagrass to protect vulnerable coastal areas
Wetlands can protect coastal communities in China
• https://chinadialogueocean.net/15385-wetlands-protect-chinas-coastal-communities/
Disaster aid was worse than the 2004 tsunami on Nicobar Islands – “culturally inappropriate”
• https://www.irishtimes.com/news/science/was-the-aid-worse-than-the-tsunami-1.4372619
Long-term impacts and adjustments for crops & livestock raised on North Carolina Coastal Plain
Sea level change not often factored into maritime infrastructure designs
• https://eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-10/uori-pen101320.php
Atlantic Harbor Improvement project in Carteret County, North Carolina “slightly” more expensive (4%) than original $2.115M budget
• https://www.coastalreview.org/2020/10/atlantic-harbor-project-just-over-budget/
Coastal flooding will impact human populations on river deltas
Part 2: Cape Fear Lifesavers’ Daring 1893 Rescue
• Part 2: https://www.coastalreview.org/2020/09/cape-fear-lifesavers-daring-1893-rescue/
• Part 1: https://www.coastalreview.org/2020/09/saving-the-crew-of-the-charles-c-dame/
Coral reef diversity losses in Greater Bay Area of China – importance of regional stressors
• https://phys.org/news/2020-10-hong-kong-coral-reef-paradise.html
• Paper: https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/40/eabb1046
21 houses & caravan park at risk of coastal erosion
WHOI will investigate processes leading to extreme sea-level high-tide events that cause flooding
• https://www.whoi.edu/news-insights/content/learning-the-recipe-for-high-tide-floods/
Japan plans to release radioactive water from Fukushima into ocean – 1.23 million tons in storage & reaching capacity – environmental concerns
• http://www.arirang.com/news/News_View.asp?nseq=266361
"Insanity is relative. It depends who has who locked in what cage." - Ray Bradbury (quoted in @TIME via @TheWeek)
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