Grad students! From @NSF - Pathways Program - @UNM and @WSUPullman!
Welcome to Partnerships Along the Headwaters of the Americas for Young Scientists (Pathways) Program! As part of the National Science Foundation’s International Research Experience for Students, Washington State University and the University of New Mexico are hosting the Pathways program. We will be seeking MS and PhD students to conduct research as part of the Transect of the Americas in Central and South America (Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, or Peru). A pre-application is due March 15, 2023. If you are invited to apply after the pre-application, the full application deadline will be due in July, 2023. Click here to start the pre-application.
Enjoy!
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Here are Elaine's BBs as PDF and Word documents:
PDF: Download EJH_Bulletin_WW_Boards_6Feb2023
Word: Download EJH_Bulletin_WW_Boards_6Feb2023
Note: If a link does not work, try pasting the URL into your browser.
The articles displayed herein are selected by Dr. Elaine J. Hanford. I do not necessarily agree with the viewpoints expressed and the article descriptions that precede each link.
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Geoscience Bulletin Board - 6 February 2023 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford
Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow – 6 more weeks of winter! But sadly, in eastern Quebec, “Fred la marmotte” passed away
- https://www.goerie.com/story/news/2023/02/02/groundhog-day-2023-punxsutawney-phil-sees-shadow-6-more-weeks-of-winter/69863506007/
- https://currently.att.yahoo.com/news/every-groundhog-day-punxsutawney-phil-004113780.html
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/instead-of-predicting-length-of-winter-groundhog-simply-dies/ar-AA172Cz6
Exploring the link between geology & culture
USGS seeking public comment on helium supply risk – not on 2022 final list of critical minerals
Legacy uranium mill groundwater contaminant plume with Little Wind River in Wyoming
- https://www.usgs.gov/publications/interaction-a-legacy-groundwater-contaminant-plume-little-wind-river-2015-through-2017
- SIR 2022-5089: https://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2022/5089/sir20225089.pdf
Effort to make 87Rb & 87Sr geochronology more cost accessible
Rock weathering occurs on geologic time scales – not the pace of human produced emissions
The impacts of Santa Ana winds
Highlighting 5 impact craters on Earth – Arizona, Mexico, South Africa, Australia & Germany
Gaming-based virtual field trips – whatever happened to real field geology?
Exploration update for Kabanga Jirani Nickel Project
Alert level raised around Lascar volcano in northern Chile – increased seismicity suggests possible eruption
Understanding rate-limiting factors for weathering of major rock types
Adding biogeochemistry & fisheries to models to forecast oceanic upwelling
- https://phys.org/news/2023-01-climate-ocean-biogeochemistry-fisheries-future.html
- Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-023-00681-0
Sequence of volcanic events for Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption of January 2022
- https://phys.org/news/2023-01-tonga-eruption.html
- Paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012821X22006021?via%3Dihub
Possible consequences of El Niño returning in 2023
Explaining the strength amplification of seismic shaking in the Nenana Basin in Central Alaska
US EPA vetoed proposed Pebble copper & gold mine in SW Alaska to protect Bristol Bay & salmon fishery
Update: Millennium Tower in San Francisco, California – hoping this time is the charm
India proposes stronger legislation to protect geological sites and fossils - infringing on science?
$60M infusion of ash to fund de-extinction of the woolly mammoth – still tweaking DNA
2nd session of Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-2) to begin in Paris in May 2023 to develop internationally legally binding instrument on full life cycle of plastic – will include marine pollution
- https://www.iucn.org/events/external-event/2nd-session-intergovernmental-negotiating-committee-inc-2-develop
- https://www.unep.org/events/conference/second-session-intergovernmental-negotiating-committee-develop-international
On 40th anniversary UNCLOS and 50th anniversary of MARPOL – addressing vessel-source marine pollution
Desert Varnish on the geologic landscapes of Valencia County, California
Tucson, Arizona, Gem Show is considered the gemstone capital of the world
Paper: Large-scale geological structures of the Egyptian Nubian Shield
Understanding relationships among glaciers, sea level temperatures & precipitation in Uganda
This was not a fossil but the remnants of a very recent beehive
- https://www.iflscience.com/-fossil-that-rewrote-indian-geologic-history-is-actually-a-very-recent-beehive-67370
- 2021 Paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1342937X20303038
- 2023 paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1342937X23000254?via%3Dihub
Thoughts on Darwin and the Origin of the Species
Teaching The Rock Cycle – using eggshell geodes!
Perspective: Geothermal energy once again “gaining traction”
Broad zones of disseminated nickel-copper sulfides identified outside existing high-grade platinum group elements (PGE) reef system at Panton Project in Australia
Portland, Oregon, again postpones Willamette River Crossing project to respond to future Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake - $38M spent so far – final estimated budget not announced
- https://www.swcommconnection.com/townnews/geology/second-west-portland-earthquake-recovery-project-delayed-by-city-officials/article_d679fe7a-a102-5b35-b038-ce3443c56441.html
- Project: https://www.portland.gov/water/improvements/willamette-river-crossing/construction/willamette-river-crossing-construction
Massive ash clouds from major volcanic eruptions caused cooler weather intervals noted in old records
Reconstructing the history of massive lava flows by combining field observations with thermal modeling
Visualizing global fossil fuel production
New phylogenetic family tree for evolution of paleognath birds
- https://www.sci.news/biology/paleognath-family-tree-11615.html
- Paper: https://elifesciences.org/articles/81092
Subsidence area in Joshimath is 15 km upstream of Tapovan-Vishnugad hydropower project
Deepest land trench lies beneath the Denman Glacier in Antarctica
Highly concentrated gold deposits discovered along Pliver River in NW Bosnia-Herzegovina
Simulation of Chicxulub mega-tsunami 66 myo (animation)
Frost quakes (cryoseisms) in the forecast for the Northeast and New England
Environmental Science Bulletin Board - 6 February 2023 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford
The hypocrisy of preaching environmentalism while using emissions-spewing private jets
Massive governmental spending (i.e., subsidies) does not equate with “clean energy” success
Siemens Gamesa, massive “green energy” company, reports nearly $1B in losses from Oct-Dec – wants even more massive government subsidies – déjà vu: Solyndra all over again
CDC reports less than 50% effectiveness from latest vaxx booster
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/new-booster-falls-short-on-us-protection-against-covid-new-cdc-report/ar-AA16Mnwj
- CDC report: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7205e1.htm
Big surprise: Covid drug inducing new virus mutations – akin to antibiotic resistance
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/merck-covid-drug-linked-to-new-virus-mutations-study-says/ar-AA170cuh
- Paper: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.01.26.23284998v2.full.pdf
Big Pharma has already made $billions – but now quadrupling price of vaxx which offers questionable protection but notes “weaker demand” –“obscene covid profits”
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/pfizer-and-moderna-quadrupling-price-of-covid-vaccine-raises-concerns/ar-AA16WuKW
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/pfizer-accused-of-obscene-covid-profits-after-posting-record-revenues/ar-AA171J94
Looking for true origin & gain-of-function research, abuse, fraud, over-reach, draconian measures, coercion… during the pandemic – lots to find – good luck getting to the truth
FDA removes positive test requirement for Rx for Paxlovid and Lagevrio antivirals
Use of anti-depressants (e.g., Zoloft & Prozac & Lexapro) linked to increasing antibiotic resistance in E. coli
Massive metastudy shows masks don’t stop spread of covid – don’t hold your breath waiting for an apology
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/a-major-new-study-shows-that-masks-don-t-stop-the-spread-of-covid-will-the-mandaters-apologize/ar-AA172j6T
- Paper: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD006207.pub6/full
Western bumble bee is a very effective pollinator but is imperiled by pesticides – 57% species decline
- https://www.usgs.gov/news/national-news-release/climate-change-and-pesticides-imperil-a-once-common-pollinator
- Paper: https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2211223120
It was not the “science” but politicized policy that needs to admit it was very wrong about covid
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/it-s-time-for-the-scientific-community-to-admit-we-were-wrong-about-coivd-and-it-cost-lives-opinion/ar-AA16TKn8
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/the-world-health-organization-should-look-in-the-mirror-regarding-covid-misinformation/ar-AA16V94C
Rez dogs may pose threat
- https://nativenewsonline.net/opinion/rez-dogs-are-a-real-and-sometimes-deadly-problem-on-indian-reservations
- https://nativenewsonline.net/currents/7-year-old-boy-dies-from-dog-attack-on-fort-hall-reservation
US Department of Interior issues 20-year moratorium on mining in Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Twenty-nine Palms Band of Mission Indians (TPBMI) will co-manage Joshua Tree National Park
Fort Mojave Indian Tribe pushes for protection for the Colorado River – “a living spirit”
Duke Energy 120-MV Jackpot Solar project in Twin Falls County, Idaho, now operational – how ugly is it?
- https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2023/01/idahos-largest-solar-project-is-now-connected-to-grid/
US Army COE has massive backlog of projects but can produce a “free” cat calendar
Voyageurs National Park Wolf Project in Minnesota – what do wolves do during the summer?
Contemplating removal of Glen Canyon Dam & future of Lake Powell on the Colorado River
Will Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park finally be designated a National Park in the State of Georgia? – potentially one of 11 additional NPS sites
The “end” of the pandemic? An end to vaxxing, fraud, and some socialist programs
Mexico proposed ban on import of genetically modified corn to be effective 2024
“Super meth” made and illegally transported to the US is causing uptick in overdose deaths
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/proliferation-of-super-meth-taking-toll-across-america/ar-AA16YvY7
EzriCare Artificial Tears eyedrops linked to antibiotic resistant eye infections in at least 11 States – one death & 3 with permanent vision loss – other infections
Tentative agreement negotiated on water usage from drought-stricken Colorado River – not California
Lots of hype about CO2, but emissions of potent sulfur hexafluoride are 56% higher than EPA estimates
ASCE to address construction standards for solar photovoltaic industry
Ugly 700-acre $140M Cutlass Solar Farm Project competed in Fort Bend, Texas – to power only 20,000 homes
Biden administration expected to approve oil drilling permits for Willow Project for 5 sites in Alaska
- https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-admin-relents-expected-approve-oil-drilling-permits-alaska-report
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/high-ranking-dem-turns-on-biden-after-admin-gives-major-oil-project-green-light/ar-AA1700ty
- https://insideclimatenews.org/news/01022023/biden-arctic-oil-willow-project/
Smuggling of illegal aliens and illicit drugs is big business at the US-Mexico Border
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/inside-the-smuggling-economy-on-the-us-mexico-border-big-take-podcast/ar-AA16NuSj
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/jim-jordan-says-biden-intentionally-caused-southern-border-crisis/ar-AA170gsz
Bald eagles suffering lead poisoning from ingesting lead bullets in scavenged carcasses & entrails left behind by hunters
Policy banning low-cost appliances and policy on gas stoves and electric cooking equipment is waffling in the wind – not an outright ban, yet
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/biden-admin-announces-new-crackdown-on-gas-stoves/ar-AA1711G1
- https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/gas-stoves-are-back-under-scrutiny-with-new-us-limits-proposed-1.1878025
- EP&C Act: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/COMPS-845/pdf/COMPS-845.pdf
- Amended: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2014-title42/html/USCODE-2014-title42-chap77.htm
- https://fee.org/articles/the-biden-administration-is-banning-low-cost-appliances-and-bragging-about-it/
Cost of Coastal GasLink project now escalating to $10.89B to complete 416-mile pipeline to LNB export terminal in British Columbia
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/1-tc-energy-raises-coastal-130115881.html
- Pipeline route map: https://map.coastalgaslink.com/
Still waiting for salmon to return to coastal rivers after California storms flushed and scoured riverbeds
Visitor center tunnel opens at former Niagara River falls power station – reveals long history
The value of abandoned shipping containers
“Wyoming has no desire to establish infrastructure that will likely fail” – will not build EV charging stations as part of national charging network
- https://www.eenews.net/articles/why-wyoming-wont-build-bidens-ev-chargers/
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/tax-dollars-are-wasted-building-electric-vehicle-charging-stations-in-cold-climates/ar-AA172qz3
GPS tracking of desert bighorn sheep reveals optimal locations for wildlife crossings
- https://today.oregonstate.edu/news/gps-tracking-simulations-show-optimal-locations-help-desert-bighorn-sheep-cross-freeways
- Project: https://dbsconnect.weebly.com/bighorn-movement-near-highways.html
- Paper: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10980-023-01600-6
Messing around with forces beyond their ability to grasp – genetically engineered alligator-catfish spawned in lab
Maryland commits to hiring more people at MDE to address backlog of expired pollution control permits
Visualizing per capita consumption in the US of fuel and materials
Recognizing the many benefits of cinnamon: unique flavor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer properties, and boosts immune system
Ephemeral wetlands, even small isolated ones, are pollution-catchers
- https://phys.org/news/2023-02-small-isolated-wetlands-pollution-catching-powerhouses.html
- Paper: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/acab17
Study finds 246% increase in number of homes & structures destroyed by US wildfires – human fingerprints all over the cause – 76% over two decades caused by human-related ignitions
Diverting Mississippi River water to drought-impacted West while technically feasible is cost-prohibitive and politically not realistic – then consider the massive environmental ramifications
- https://phys.org/news/2023-02-mississippi-river-west-solution-pipedream.html
- https://apnews.com/article/science-arizona-state-government-california-disaster-planning-and-response-automated-insights-earnings-be28e7e022007c82cdee63ca2b9ed555
1.5-degree goal to combat “man-made global warming” is not plausible – need to change social behaviors
- https://phys.org/news/2023-02-degree-goal-plausible-social-important.html
- HCFO2023: https://www.cliccs.uni-hamburg.de/results/hamburg-climate-futures-outlook/documents/cliccs-hh-climate-futures-outlook-accessible-2023.pdf
Need to better understand impacts of light pollution on migrating animals
- https://beta.nsf.gov/news/dark-study-reveals-need-better-understanding-light
- Paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0169534722003329?dgcid=coauthor
“Not Deer” in Appalachia are intelligent shape shifters – sometimes they do the hunting
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) plans to add more solar power
https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2023/feb/02/tva-turns-to-the-sun-for-more-power-tfp/
Coastal Zone Management Bulletin Board - Compiled by Elaine J. Hanford
Stream discharge & salinity in St Johns River channel in Jacksonville, Florida – deepened to accommodate shipping in Jacksonville Harbor
- https://www.usgs.gov/publications/continuous-stream-discharge-salinity-and-associated-data-collected-lower-st-johns-4
- OFR 2022-1111: https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2022/1111/ofr20221111.pdf
Ciba-Geigy Chemical Corp flushed toxic chemical into Toms River & Atlantic Ocean – cancer cluster
Marking 323 years since last major earthquake & tsunami along the Oregon Coast
US DOT announced $384.4M federal grant funding for expanding & improving US Ferry System
Predicting dramatic growth in LNG export capacity – why export when US fuel supplies are not adequate?
Mass die-off of crabs across Teesside and North Yorkshire, England – raises concerns about dredging
Call for “immediate moratorium” on offshore wind energy development to assess impacts on endangered & threatened whales
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/whale-deaths-along-east-coast-prompt-12-nj-mayors-call-for-offshore-wind-farm-moratorium/ar-AA16WJJ7
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/biden-admin-faces-blowback-over-wind-farm-construction-threatening-marine-life-put-whales-over-woke/ar-AA16XHkw
Sites of conservation interest identified in support of expansion of protected marine & coastal areas in Libya
Florida DEP will begin accepting applications for Hurricane Restoration Reimbursement Grant Program
- https://news.wgcu.org/section/hurricanerecovery/2023-01-31/dep-plans-hurricane-restoration-reimbursement-grant-program-for-impacted-coastal-homeowners
- https://floridadep.gov/hurricane
Rapid evolution of Chesapeake Bay wetland plants
Artificial lights in coastal megacities in Japan outshine the moon most of the year & put marine species at risk
New Jersey beach town that “fixed” eroding dunes can proceed with lawsuit to recover $21M
Louisiana coastal authority secures $2B for 2-mile-long Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion from Mississippi River to Plaquemines Parish
US F&WS awards nearly $19M for coastal wetlands for wildlife, coastal communities & recreation in 8 States
PiNC (Plumes in Nearshore Conditions) to use non-toxic pink dye & instrumentation to study coastal zone interaction at Torrey Pines State Beach in California
- https://today.ucsd.edu/story/pink-dye-experiment-to-reveal-mysteries-of-coastal-ocean-dynamics
- PiNC: https://pinc.ucsd.edu/
More dumb human activities: TikToker dies after falling off coastal cliff in Puerto Rico while shooting videos
Aquidneck Land Trust4.91-acre coastal conservation property includes salt marsh & scrub-shrub habitat
US Army COE proposal includes construction of 12 seawall barriers to “protect” NYC
- https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/sea-walls-could-be-installed-around-nyc-to-protect-us-from-coastal-storms-020123
- PPT: https://www.nan.usace.army.mil/Portals/37/NYNJHAT%20Presentation_Jan2023_for_upload_1.pdf
- https://www.thecity.nyc/2023/1/27/23573625/sea-wall-army-corps-nyc-coastal-plan
Update: Harbor Bridge at Corpus Christi, Texas
Saltwater intrusion in San Franciso Bay area potentially threatens levees & seawalls
"Let us permit nature to have her way. She understands her business better than we do."- Michel de Montaigne
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