So why is this classic USGS photo of Dr. Joe Poland and land subsidence in California's San Joaquin Valley here? This:
Interested in 'California Groundwater'? Write a Short Article for AWRA's Water Resources IMPACT! bit.ly/3fm5H9H
No, this is not a premature April Fools' Day joke - it's the real deal! Everyone's favorite California WaterWonk Lisa Beutler and yours truly - ex-New Yorker and erstwhile Golden Stater (Truckee and Santa Cruz) WaterWired/Aquadoc are co-editing the May-June 2021 issue of Water Resources IMPACT with the theme 'California Groundwater' We need your help in populating the issue with 6 - 8 short (800 - 1300 words, more or less) articles. Go here for more information.
Enjoy!
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Word: Download Bulletin_Boards_29March2021
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Check out Elaine's coronavirus/COVID-19 section in the Environmental Science Bulletin Board.
Geoscience Bulletin Board – 29 March – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford
On the importance of structural geology
SCOTUS rejected appeal of fishing group challenging creation of Northeast Canyons & Seamounts Marine National Monument – but raised questions
- https://www.yahoo.com/news/high-court-wont-hear-fishermen-184847475.html
- https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2021/03/supreme-court-declines-challenge-obama-designated-monument-raises-questions
Low-Ti-K tholeiitic basalt derived from highly refractory mantle sources
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/scientists-discover-new-type-of-ancient-rock-deep-beneath-the-ocean/ar-BB1eT2Yk
- Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-21980-0
Magneto-stratigraphy provides timeline for dinosaur migration across Pangaea
Atmospheric turbulence causes local variation in relative humidity leading to cloud droplet formation
Graduate geoscience students should put effort toward studying – not playing racist politics
New species of Cretaceous plankton-eating shark had hypertrophied, slender pectoral fins
Modeling rates of change of sea level at points along the US East Coast – fastest rates of rise in southern New Jersey driven by glacial isostatic adjustment
- https://phys.org/news/2021-03-sea-level-20th-century-fastest-years.html
- Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-22079-2
Naturally occurring climate variations explain long-standing difference between models & satellite observations
Macroscopic fossils of multiple species of algae thrived on seafloor about 950 myo
Supercell tornados are likely bigger and stronger than classification based on damage ratings
- https://phys.org/news/2021-03-evidence-tornados-bigger-stronger.html
- Paper: https://www.pnas.org/content/118/14/e2021535118
Precipitation caused maximum advance of Alpine glaciers during last ice A\age in the Alps
- https://phys.org/news/2021-03-ice-age-precipitation-maximum-advance.html
- Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-22090-7
International Heigh Reference System (IHRS) is needed because sea level is not level
- https://phys.org/news/2021-03-sea.html
- Paper: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00190-021-01481-0
Just how old are cephalopods? 522 myo fossils from Newfoundland could be the first
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210323131233.htm
- Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-021-01885-w
Glacier melt in southeast Alaska could influence timing and location of earthquakes of M5.0 or greater
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210318170319.htm
- Paper: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2020JB020411
This gauge has been monitoring streamflow in Utah for 100 years
Streams adapt to changes in climatic conditions – contributions from groundwater
- https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=302328&org=NSF&from=news
- Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-21651-0
Perspective: “The Great Mass Extinction” presents geological evidence of the Biblical Flood
Population of Pompeii died in 17 minutes of eruption of pyroclastic density currents on Mount Vesuvius
- https://www.iflscience.com/environment/vesuvius-killed-the-people-of-pompeii-in-just-17-minutes-new-study-suggests/
- Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-84456-7
Close up drone footage of eruption of Fagradalsfjall volcano in Iceland
- https://www.cnet.com/news/drone-footage-gets-incredibly-close-to-icelandic-volcano-eruption/
- https://petapixel.com/2021/03/22/drone-footage-shot-over-icelands-erupting-volcano-is-incredible/
The chemical processes underlying creeping landslides
Preserving the legacy of geologic mapping in Yellowstone
Celebrating the Arches of Utah – vote in Arch Madness 2021
- https://www.ksl.com/article/50129704/this-is-arch-utah-geologists-begin-arch-madness-to-highlight-states-many-arches
- Vote: https://geology.utah.gov/arch-madness/
Celebrating the legacy of David Owen – first state geologist of Arkansas in 1857
Lost Greenland Ice Core reveals history
Exploring the history of Cave Ice - video
Meet Jessica Watkins – NASA Astronaut & Artemis Team member – geologist & researcher
In Memoriam: Kenneson G. “Ken” Dean (1949-2020) – co-established International Circumpolar Remote Sensing Symposium
In Memoriam: J Jeffrey Fawcett (1936-2021) – Petrologist & High Pressure Lab researcher & teacher
In Memoriam: Michael Tuohy (1954-2021) – Groundwater Hydrologist & Renaissance man
In Memoriam: Jack Krajewski (1946-2021) – geologist & founding father of Rugby in Western NY
Marking 73 years since the first tornado forecast in the US
Did you see the “worm moon” on 28 March?
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/worm-moon-to-light-up-last-weekend-of-march/vi-BB1eT9lT
None of the “global warming alarmists” are ready for the next Ice Age – Gulf Stream getting weaker
- https://www.wgbh.org/news/commentary/2021/03/24/weve-known-for-years-global-warming-could-lead-to-a-new-ice-age-why-is-no-one-doing-anything
- Flip-Flop: http://williamcalvin.com/1990s/1998AtlanticClimate.htm
- https://gothamist.com/news/gulf-stream-weakening-and-it-promises-stronger-storms-ny-and-nj
Great Lakes are going through a warming interval – seasonal overturn & stratification
- https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2021/03/26/climate-change-study-finds-lake-michigan-warming-500-foot-depth/6983199002/
- Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-21971-1#Abs1
GeoPRISMS project led to increased understanding of continental margin evolution
How have cratons survived plate tectonics over geologic time
Evolving understanding of hydrologic cycle and cycling of volatile gases and carbon
First clues to start of supercontinent cycle
Coachella Valley segments of San Andreas Fault is about 80 years overdue for seismic release
- https://phys.org/news/2021-03-la-biggest-quake-threat-overlooked.html
- Paper: https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/7/13/eaaz5691
Process of rifting of Africa and North America as Pangea broke apart
Geodetic observations reveal insights into start-stop and slow-motion behavior of subduction zones
Arctic lighting increase identified by one 11-year study
Volcanic evolution of basaltic eruption of Sierra Negra in the Galapagos Islands
System of highly consistent climate-observing sites may help resolve issues with climatological data
Pacaya volcano in Guatemala continues to erupt
Fissure eruption near Mount Fagradalsfjall may persist in Iceland
Strontium isotopes in marine sediments help reveal relationships between ocean chemistry & climate over past 35M years
Extinct Late Pleistocene giant mihirungs (dromornithid birds) had well-developed stereoscopic vision & small brains
- http://www.sci-news.com/paleontology/dromornithid-vision-brain-09488.html
- Paper: https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/3/124/htm
USGS dye-tracing Kansas River to assess rates of water flow
Eroded seabed rocks are source of essential nutrition for drifting marine organisms
New flexible finite-fault inversion framework based on P waves reveals shape of M7.9 Gulf of Alaska EQ
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210322093727.htm
- Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-85522-w
Environmental Science Bulletin Board – 29 March – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford
Average annual rainfall fell within just a few days in New South Wales & Queensland - floods
Spiders, snakes, and people coping with flood waters in New South Wales
https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/22/australia/spider-exodus-australia-scli-intl/index.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-56485246
Images: https://news.yahoo.com/photos-thousands-evacuated-australia-flood-050426363.html
Nuclear waste – need to clarify disposal option for cleanup at West Valley Site in New York
- https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-21-115
- Highlights: https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-21-115-highlights.pdf
- Full Report: https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-21-115.pdf
Technological hazard: cybersecurity of the public core
Technological hazard: Threats to our drinking water supplies
Solar fires being investigated – safety concerns regarding fire risks and defective TESLA installations
Perspective: consider ASR (using deep injection wells) to help restore Lake Okeechobee & Everglades
Interim instream flow standard (IIFS) to ensure flows in protected Lāwa‘i Stream on Kaua‘i
Pennsylvania governor touts project to produce half of government electricity from solar power by 2023
Deep waters of Lake Michigan adapting to environmental conditions
- https://www.kake.com/story/43534827/winter-is-vanishing-from-the-deep-waters-of-lake-michigan
- Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-21971-1
Tahoe Conservancy authorized almost $1.4M for reduction of wildfire risk & improved forest health
When politics gets enmeshed in commerce – battery plant in Georgia & history of lawsuits
Analysis of environmental costs (impacts & human health) of O&G & coal
- https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/03/unpaid-environmental-damages-from-fossil-fuels-are-a-600b-annual-subsidy/
- Paper: https://www.pnas.org/content/118/14/e2011969118
Can we say: “Big Brother” wants to control you? – requiring delivery drivers to sign “biometric consent”
Human modifications of stream channels alter carbon cycling on continental scale
- https://eos.org/editor-highlights/how-river-engineering-alters-carbon-cycling
- Paper: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2020AV000273
Critical water shortage in drinking water aquifers beneath Louisiana – overuse & unregulated pumping
Despite not being a geoscientist Bill Gates still wrote a book “How to avoid a climate disaster”
Perspective: An uncertain future for the Joshua Trees of the Mojave National Preserve
Deb Haaland of Laguna Pueblo welcomed as new Secretary of the Interior
Lawmakers urging Pennsylvania Governor to take action follow EHN fracking investigation
- https://www.ehn.org/pennsylvania-policymakers-call-for-fracking-action-fractured-2651091362/lawmakers-letter
- EHN 4-Part series: https://www.ehn.org/fractured-series-on-fracking-pollution-2650624600/listen-kristina-marusic-discusses-the-fractured-investigation
Alkaline “Real Water” linked to liver failure in children – FDA warns against using it
New species of holo-parasitic Rafflesia discovered in Malaysia – largest flower smells like rotting flesh
Jaguars along the US-Mexico border region – slowly rebounding after extermination by hunters
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/why-a-new-jaguar-sighting-near-the-arizona-mexico-border-gives-experts-hope/ar-BB1eT26d
- USGS Lecture: https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/2021-march-public-lecture-flyer-0
Lightning strikes facilitated origin of life on Earth
- https://www.terradaily.com/reports/Lightning_strikes_played_a_vital_role_in_lifes_origins_on_Earth_999.html
- Paper: https://www.terradaily.com/reports/Lightning_strikes_played_a_vital_role_in_lifes_origins_on_Earth_999.html
Drought may lead to increased arsenic exposure in drinking water wells
- https://www.usgs.gov/news/drought-may-lead-elevated-levels-naturally-occurring-arsenic-private-domestic-wells
- Paper: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.est.9b05835
Economics of Rube Goldberg scheme to cover California water system with solar panels
Mapping “undiscovered” biodiversity – where to look
Yet another summit – October 2021 in Kunming, China, to set more guidelines to protect biodiversity
Warning issued to residents to stay off Morrow Dam impoundment sediments in Michigan – like quicksand
Glacier NP in Montana and Killarney NP in County Kerry, Ireland, are officially sister national parks
Unsustainable development in the Himalayas
Bald Eagle population in the US continues to soar
- https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDOI/bulletins/2c94218
- Fact Sheet: https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/pdf/management/bald-eagle-fact-sheet.pdf
- Report: https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/pdf/management/bald-eagle-population-size-2020.pdf
Ship runs aground in Suez Canal & blocks trade – about 10% of global seaborne oil passes through canal
Delay likely in construction schedule for Vogtle nuclear plant unit
Waste car tires being incorporated in road pavement in Britain
14 states file lawsuit challenging the legality of the Executive Order to “pause” new O&G leases
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) impact report for 2020
- https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/stakeholder-info/administrator-letters-to-stakeholders/2019-impact-report
- Report: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/aphis_general/rpt-aphis-impact-2020.pdf
How can “biomass power” possibly be considered zero-emissions renewable energy – political agenda driven that subsidizes clear-cutting of forests, shipping internationally and then burning - $50B industry
African elephants threatened by habitat loss and poaching – critically endangered on IUCN list
Managing & disposing of high salinity brines as by product of carbon sequestration will impose significant energy & emissions penalties – questions regarding economic feasibility
- https://woods.stanford.edu/news/revealing-cost-key-climate-solution
- Paper: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.0c06017
New documentary: “Cher & the Loneliest Elephant”
- https://www.huffpost.com/entry/cher-worlds-loneliest-elephant-documentary_n_605b4f34c5b65d1c28119428
Virtual forum was held on O&G Program
- https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDOI/bulletins/2c9aefb
- Recording of forum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRIb-fzIqcY
Progress report on Kentucky Lock cofferdam
The dangers of geoengineering to attempt to control the climate – dystopian nightmare
- https://www.yahoo.com/huffpost/solar-geoengineering-climate-change-155607557.html
- Link to download report: https://www.nap.edu/catalog/25762/reflecting-sunlight-recommendations-for-solar-geoengineering-research-and-research-governance
EU experts calling nuclear power “green” demonstrates ‘green’ has no meaning
Mass bird die-off linked to wildfires and toxic gases across Western & Central US
Is farming fish on land in freshwater more “sustainable” than mariculture?
Humans have been fascinated by polar bears for a long time
Humans like pets that tend to be invasive species
Protecting biodiversity and fish stocks with limited marine protection areas
A meaningless gesture: cities turned lights off to mark Earth Hour
Human impact on energy budget of Earth
Assessing the integrity of O&G wells
- https://phys.org/news/2021-03-oil-gas-wells-multiple-states.html
- Paper: https://www.pnas.org/content/118/14/e2013894118
Understanding the complexity of water scarcity dynamics
- https://phys.org/news/2021-03-exposes-global-ripple-effects-regional.html
- Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-22194-0
Surge in illegal mining on Yanomami indigenous land is leading cause of environmental destruction of Amazon rainforest
- https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Illegal_mining_surges_on_Yanomami_indigenous_land_report_999.html
Understanding links between terror, poverty & climate in the Sahel
North American deserts host tremendous butterfly diversity
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
Stopping the drama – good advice for the pandemic and for life in general
Low-dose aspirin may reduce risk of infection and length of illness if infection does occur
Pandemic consequence: weight gain – worst co-morbidity for virus: obesity
Italians calling the pandemic a “syndemic” – illness plus consequent psycho-socio-economic conditions
New protease inhibiting drug brought into human trials
Why should rhetoric be dialed down when people are dying from the AZ vaccine?
Visualizing the deadliest pandemics – the virus has killed only 0.03% of population – a small fraction compared to other pandemics
“Are schools safe?” is the wrong question
Here we go again….as they track number of “cases” … is another lockdown looming despite vaccines & decrease in mortality?
Coastal Zone Management Bulletin Board – 29 March – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford
Great Lakes restoration program – Audubon’s Vision: Restoring the Great Lakes for Birds & People”
• https://www.audubon.org/conservation/great-lakes-restoration
• Report: https://nas-national-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/restoring_the_great_lakes_web_60mb.pdf
New Jersey cataloguing vulnerable communities - Coastal Ecological Restoration & Adaptation Plan
California Coastal Commission finally decides off-roading at Oceano Dunes – 3-year phase out – could cause traffic hazards
Examining sea level & wastewater leakage to coastal waters in Honolulu, Hawaii
• https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2021/03/14/wastewater-leakage-coast-water/
• Paper: https://aslopubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/lol2.10186
North Carolina to begin removing derelict boats from coastal waters & restore habitat
• https://www.coastalreview.org/2021/03/groups-partner-on-habitat-restoration-effort/
California Coastal Commission approved changes to Local Coastal Program for 71 unit affordable housing in Moss Beach
Queens, New York, approved resiliency design guidelines for coastal communities
Application for C$100M Inuvialuit Energy Security Project in Mackenzie Delta
• https://www.naturalgasintel.com/canadian-arctic-natural-gas-project-eyed-to-serve-mackenzie-delta/
Nature Conservancy issues survey of reefs off West Maui
• https://www.thegardenisland.com/2021/03/18/hawaii-news/tnc-publishes-coral-reef-atlas-for-west-maui/
• Atlas: https://www.nature.org/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/documents/Atlas-of-the-Reefs-of-West-Maui.pdf
Mississippi River Rescue Plan to “save disappearing wetlands” called “too big to fail” -- yeah right
• https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mississippi-river-rescue-plan-called-too-big-to-fail/
• Paper: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/rec.13024
Book Review: ‘Coastal Ecosystems in Transition – Comparative Analysis of the Northern Adriatic and Chesapeake Bay’
• https://eos.org/editors-vox/coastal-ecosystems-under-pressure-worldwide
• Book excerpt: https://www.wiley.com/enus/
Trawlers banned along Sussex coast to improve habitats and protect fisheries & kelp
• https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/19179081.david-attenborough-success-sussex-kelp-forest-campaign/
Loss of kelp along Northern California coastline spurred by purple sea urchin
Predator-free islands support seabird diversity in Mercury archipelago
• https://www.stuff.co.nz/science/124584918/predatorfree-islands-have-richer-sea-life
East Maui proposing protected fishing area for Kipahulu to protect depleting resources
Perspective on the future of mobile oceanic fish farms along New Zealand coastline
• https://www.nzherald.co.nz/brand-insight/fishings-never-been-like-this/MKY6DM3CMAJ4FT5VAZ4NIQLEQQ/
A limit to how high Florida can build seawalls – but government taking “climate action” is not the solution
• https://www.yahoo.com/news/florida-t-build-higher-seawalls-223556649.html
Interactive map by California Geological Survey for Los Angeles County Tsunami Hazard Area
• Maps: https://www.tsunamizone.org/california/
Survey to investigate cliff erosion at Pennington Point in Devon
• https://www.sidmouthherald.co.uk/news/pennington-point-cliff-erosion-survey-7815388
Tension between Maine lobster fisherman and proposed Aqua Ventus floating wind project
3 cities agree to share EPA permit costs for nitrogen pollution control measures in Great Bay
National Park Service closes most roads in Tidal Basin in advance of the cherry blossoms in DC
• Interactive Cherry Blossom Map: https://caseytrees.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6b44d537d8fe49eebdc41c9e2c21ee9e
First major ship tunnel project in the world will pass underneath Stad Peninsula in Norway
Proposed construction of multiple fresh tidal lagoons for tidal energy production in Wales
• https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/fresh-tidal-lagoon-challenge-launched-in-wales-26-03-2021/
Proposed settlement to conduct remediation & remove mercury of Penobscot River Estuary
• https://mainebeacon.com/proposed-settlement-aims-to-clean-up-mercury-in-penobscot-river-estuary/
Investigation begins in anticipation of returning Lower Otter Estuary to natural floodplain
• https://www.exmouthjournal.co.uk/news/lower-otter-ground-investigation-works-7836760
Investigation into flood defense work on estuaries in Suffolk
• https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/alde-ore-estuary-flood-defence-investigation-continues-7854872
Large estuaries on the South Coast will take time to recover from floodwaters in Australia
Project to use clean dredged material in the Rhine-Meuse Estuary
• https://www.dredgingtoday.com/2021/03/22/spotlight-on-sustainable-sediment-management/
Health of Chesapeake Bay has declined due to salinity balance and pollutant runoff
Application for solar farm near Kidwelly has been turned down due to impacts on semi-wild grassland home to numerous bird species
• https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/solar-farm-carmarthneshire-kidwelly-council-20244196
Low oxygen levels in Delaware River Basin & Estuary emphasize need for protection
Audubon plans to restore nearly 300K acres of Great Lakes coastal wetlands for marsh birds
Pilot project to restore Indian River Lagoon habitats needs volunteers
Plan to catalog vulnerable coastal communities in New Jersey
• https://whyy.org/articles/bottom-up-plan-underway-to-catalogue-n-j-s-vulnerable-coastal-communities/
California Coastal Conservancy awards $16.9+M to protect & restore coast & San Francisco Bay
• https://www.dredgingtoday.com/2021/03/26/restoring-california-coast-and-san-francisco-bay/
Visualizing the impacts of blockage of the Suez Canal
• https://www.visualcapitalist.com/suez-canal-critical-waterway-comes-to-halt
"We discovered there’s still a taxonomy major on campus, with three faculty. It’s like having our own uncontacted Amazonian tribe on campus." - @ass_deans
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