So what are these things? Rare ice balls ro;;oing up onto the shore of Lake Michigan. See the story here - or go to Elaine's very last post at the bottom.
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Geoscience Bulletin Board – 17 February 2020 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford
Video of Pine Island Glacier spawning iceberg “piglets”
- https://phys.org/news/2020-02-video-island-glacier-spawns-piglets.html
- http://www.digitaljournal.com/tech-and-science/science/satellite-images-show-pine-island-glacier-spawning-iceberg/article/566935
- https://www.inverse.com/science/time-lapse-video-captures-massive-iceberg-breaking-off-glacier-antarctica
What were the conditions on Earth when life originated?
- https://www.airspacemag.com/daily-planet/what-was-it-really-early-earth-180974176/
- Hadean geodynamo paper: https://www.pnas.org/content/117/5/2309
- Atmospheric CO2 paper: https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/4/eaay4644
- Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-13985-7
Re-evaluating carbon gases & effects of volcanism on climate & mass extinctions
Climate change (going on for billions of years) is not a problem – unless humans make it one
“Geobank 2020” software released for geological data management
100,000 years of climatic conditions in southern California – sediment core reveals effects on vegetation, fire & erosion
Improving our understanding of natural gas hydrates
Anticipating an increase in lightning across northern Europe
Interpreting oxygen isotope ratios in cave deposits to assess past climatic conditions
Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) & Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) prediction relationship
- https://eos.org/editor-highlights/emerging-controversy-in-madden-julian-oscillation-prediction
- Paper: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2019JD031416
Oceanic turbulence regulates sea surface temps as El Niño Southern Oscillation cycle evolves
Predicting mudflows on hillsides stripped bare by bushfires in Australia
Thantotheristes degrootorum– newly discovered T. rexrelative – name is Greek for “reaper of death”
Artemis Program - NASA estimates price of 2024 Moon landing will be $35B
Thawing of Arctic permafrost – a gradual process or sudden change?
Proposed budget includes $971M for USGS in FY2021 prioritizes effective stewardship of natural resources & natural hazard monitoring and assessments
New landslide guidebook for Puerto Rico residents – understanding hazards & impacts
- https://www.usgs.gov/news/new-landslide-guidebook-puerto-rico-residents
- Guidebook: https://hazards.colorado.edu/uploads/documents/PuertoRico_LandslideGuide_2020.pdf
Update on aftershocks of M6.4 EQ in southwest Puerto Rico
- https://www.usgs.gov/news/magnitude-64-earthquake-puerto-rico
- Report: https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2020/1009/ofr20201009.pdf
US mine production increasing with estimated $86.3B value
- https://www.usgs.gov/news/us-mine-production-increasing-estimated-value-863-billion-minerals
- Mineral Commodity Summaries 2020: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2020/mcs2020.pdf
This Jurassic pterosaur preyed on soft-bodied cephalopods
Karst topography in southeast Minnesota
Video from remotely operated vehicle “Yogi” beneath Yellowstone Lake
Take it from a geologist – we live on a very old & durable planet – temporal illiteracy of human culture
Substantial increase in conductivity is associated with phase change at the PPv boundary
Mount Merapi in Indonesia is spewing ash & lava
Better approaches are needed to address informal gold mining in Myanmar
Months of torrential rains resulting in floods & landslides in Kenya attributed to Indian Ocean Dipole
Relating an Aboriginal tale of an ancient volcano – oldest story ever told?
- https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/02/aboriginal-tale-ancient-volcano-oldest-story-ever-told
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidbressan/2020/02/13/aboriginal-myth-may-inspired-by-37000-year-old-volcano-could-be-the-oldest-story-ever-told/#4cc4b0925e71
Environmental Science Bulletin Board – 17 February 2020 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford
Coronavirus & other new zoonotic infections – how much of the “acceleration” is simply due to awareness and media attention in an increasingly human-dominated world
Coronavirus gets new politically correct name: COVID-19 – mortality rate still about 2% in China and less than 1% in other countries
Will more money stop the next epidemic in a world of 7+ billion people?
Perspective: how media coverage of epidemics, disasters & crises stokes fear and panic
Four endangered mountain gorillas killed by lightning strike in Mgahinga National Park in Uganda
UT-San Antonio wins research funding to develop tularemia vaccine
$11B Tunnel under the Hudson River not funded – remains in dispute
Take it from a geologist – we live on a very old & durable planet – temporal illiteracy of human culture
US Army COE allocates $100M to keep construction of Fargo-Moorhead diversion project on schedule
Increased flow in Minnesota River increases erosion along its banks as land use changes
Harris County Flood Control District, Texas, begins construction of wetland mitigation bank near Katy Hockley Road to serve as natural flood mitigation tool
Legislative call for reducing plastics pollution
Analysis of Daxuopu glacier in Central Himalayas shows traces of toxic metal byproducts of the start of the Industrial Revolution 240 years ago
- https://www.iflscience.com/environment/coal-emissions-from-the-industrial-revolution-found-in-himalayan-glacier/
- https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/240-year-old-pollution-imprint-on-himalayas/cid/1744405
US GAO report on water quality issues along US-Mexico Border – ongoing sewage spills & storm water runoff in the Santa Cruz River Basin & Tijuana River Valley watershed
- https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-20-307
- Report: https://www.gao.gov/assets/710/704289.pdf
- https://phys.org/news/2020-02-allies-white-house-pollution-tijuana.html
Understanding fate of mercury in glacial landscapes and potential role of vegetation
“Pesticide police” ask US EPA for assistance in responding to Dicamba complaints
Conservation & death services – alternative to traditional cemeteries
Survival rate of bumble bee populations is declining significantly
Perspective: Balancing energy needs, pollution, and community health
Modified smectite clay mineral can remove herbicide Chloridazon & metabolites from water
- https://phys.org/news/2020-02-clay-herbicide.html
- Paper: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2020/EN/C9EN00974D#!divAbstract
Tracking dust pollution & health data to assess health risks in Dakar, Africa
New method for measuring thio-arsenates in rice fields
Years-long drought in Australia will not be ended by current heavy rains and flooding
CREA & Greenpeace Southeast Asia assess global cost of air pollution is $8B per day
- https://phys.org/news/2020-02-air-pollution-trillion-year-ngo.html
- Report: https://energyandcleanair.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Cost-of-fossil-fuels-briefing.pdf
First global map of fish genetic diversity
- https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Biologists_publish_first_global_map_of_fish_genetic_diversity_999.html
- Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-14409-7
Estimated half million insect species face extinction – warning to humanity
- https://www.sciencealert.com/half-a-million-insect-species-face-extinction-and-we-re-doing-nothing-about-it
- Paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320719317823
How much road salt is too much? Time to use less
Secondary forests provide deforestation buffer for old-growth forests
Yaravirus discovered in lake in Brazil
Bayer trying to end lawsuits over Roundup (glyphosate) but still sells product
Not all scientists are not completely ethical – allegations of fabricated data on spider research
California High-Speed Rail cost now estimated at $80.3 billion with potential 2031 completion
France will limit access to Mont Blanc to protect biodiversity of tallest mountain & famous tourist attraction in Western Europe
On the anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin – natural selection & evolution
Warm climate and human mining of groundwater results in depletion and migration of arid conditions toward the east
- https://phys.org/news/2020-02-groundwater-depletes-arid-american-west.html
- Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-14688-0
Majority of Americans rarely discuss environmental impact of their food
- https://phys.org/news/2020-02-americans-rarely-discuss-environmental-impact.html
- Report: https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/climate-change-american-diet.pdf
African DNA reveals more complexity to evolution of the human species
Locust plague spreading in East Africa
Microbes in spent barley from local breweries facilitate wastewater treatment in Bozeman, Montana
Coyotes are expanding their range - poised to enter South America
- https://theconversation.com/coyotes-are-poised-to-enter-south-america-for-the-first-time-129297
- Paper: https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article/100/6/1819/5637222?guestAccessKey=ecba036e-bfe7-49d3-ace5-e34e823e70b2
Alabama is only state lacking dam safety infrastructure
• https://www.cbs42.com/news/local/alabama-remains-only-state-without-state-dam-safetyinfrastructure/
Human behaviors impact life expectancy: smoking and obesity
Coastal Zone Management Bulletin Board – 17 February 2020 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford
Cluster of great white sharks off Carolina coast is growing
• https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article240146368.html
Coastal Rail Trail finally getting started in Santa Cruz County, California
CRC will review new nourishment & shellfish lease regulations in North Carolina
• http://www.carolinacoastonline.com/news_times/article_3aab6b34-4ac6-11ea-992fdf1103ffda5b.html
OWWL developed and will be made available to predict over-topping hazards
• https://phys.org/news/2020-02-coastal-overtopping.html
Florida residents deny predicted risks to their property
• https://www.ecowatch.com/florida-coastal-flooding-maps-2645087745.html
Latest “save the ocean” effort – eat sea urchins
• https://www.treehugger.com/ocean-conservation/eat-sea-urchins-save-oceans.html
Coastal wetlands of the Great Lakes generate unique biodiversity & conservation opportunities
US Army COE revises coastal barrier proposal but residents remain wary & suspicious
Colossal oysters are missing from the Gulf Coast of Northern Florida
• https://eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-02/uosf-coh020520.php
• Paper: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2019.0865
Pondering a bridge to link Scotland and Northern Ireland
• https://theconversation.com/scotland-northern-ireland-bridge-how-to-make-it-a-reality-131577
Photo-essay: Gerald Desmond Bridge replacement in Long Beach
Louisiana to use $130M in BP spill money to reconnect Mississippi River to coastal Maurepas Swamp
• https://apnews.com/795e891759a276dd9633e7c18466b6ff
Global offshore wind capacity predicted to increase 7-fold by 2028
• https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/woodmac-offshore-wind-capacity-to-rise-7xby-2028
Perspective: Cheap offshore wind energy is worst idea ever
• https://cleantechnica.com/2020/02/12/worst-idea-ever-meet-cheapest-offshore-wind-energyever/
New study suggests 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill spread significantly farther than previous estimates and had 30% larger “toxic impact”
• https://www.eenews.net/stories/1062336345
• Paper: https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/7/eaaw8863
Block Island offshore wind farm faces shutdown as cables “not buried deep enough”
Australia may increase oil & gas production with new projects in Oceania region
3 oil platforms off Point Arguello, California, with 62 wells will be shut down and plugged
• https://www.independent.com/2020/02/05/three-offshore-oil-platforms-to-shut-down/
• Final Environmental Assessment: https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/documents/aboutboem/Final-Arguello-Environmental-Assessment.pdf
Grad student design may result in longer life of seawalls in Biscayne Bay, Florida
Swamps & marshes significantly reduce phosphorus entering Lake Erie & reduce toxic algae blooms
Ice balls roll onto shore of Lake Michigan
• https://www.yahoo.com/news/thousands-rare-ice-balls-appear-214118455.html
"We should take care not to make the intellect our god; it has, of course, powerful muscles, but no personality." - Albert Einstein
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