Elaine J. Hanford's Bulletin Boards: 1) Geoscience; 2) Environmental Science; 3) Coastal Zone Management - 9 October 2023

Geoscience Bulletin Board – 9 October 2023 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

Thermal kames in the glaciated terrain of Yellowstone

• https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/yvo/news/thermal-kames-unique-glacial-hills-yellowstones-geyser-basins 

New Twilight Zone Explorer (ZTEX) to track “marine snow”

• https://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/feature/a-new-way-to-track-marine-snow-blizzards/ 

Dynamics of complex continental collision and structural alignments beneath the Alps

• https://eos.org/editor-highlights/illuminating-the-complex-structural-fabric-beneath-the-european-alps 
• Paper:  https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2023JB027192

Visualizing the top diamond mining countries by carats and value

• https://www.visualcapitalist.com/cp/world-diamond-mining-by-country/ 

Another deadly glacial lake outburst in India 

• https://phys.org/news/2023-10-dead-india-glacial-lake.html

Jet stream pattern and patterns of extreme winter cold or wet spells – giant meanders

• https://phys.org/news/2023-10-jet-stream-pattern-extreme-winter-cold.html 
• Paper:  https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/bams/104/9/BAMS-D-21-0295.1.xml

Iron atoms in the solid Inner Core have wiggle room

• https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1003599 

Boundary between onshore glacier and floating ice shelf migrates for miles with the tide in Antarctica

• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/09/230927003412.htm
• Paper:  https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/17/4079/2023/ 

Footprints of extinct Cenozoic carnivorous terror bird have been identified

• https://www.sci.news/paleontology/terror-bird-footprints-12328.html 
• Paper:  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-43771-x 

Specimen of Ordovician Bohemolichas incola trilobite discovered with gut contents preserved

• https://www.sci.news/paleontology/bohemolichas-incola-diet-12313.html 
• Paper:  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06567-7 

The enigmatic early evolution of snakes

• https://www.sci.news/paleontology/early-snake-brain-12320.html
• Paper:  https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/sciadv.adi6888 

Using AUVs to characterize wide-area debris field and seabed of deep ocean toxic waste dump site

• https://www.usgs.gov/publications/wide-area-debris-field-and-seabed-characterization-a-deep-ocean-dump-site-surveyed 
• Paper:  https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.3c01256 

Pacific Walker Circulation and related El Niño and La Niña patterns weaken following volcanic eruptions

• https://new.nsf.gov/news/atmospheric-circulation-weakens-following-volcanic 
• Paper:  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06447-0 

Inuit hunters blame cruise ships for decline and disappearance of narwhals

• https://www.terradaily.com/reports/Inuit_hunters_blame_cruise_ships_as_narwhal_disappear_999.html 

China to complete first 3,000-meter deep-water stratigraphic structure map of the seabed using Haijing system

• https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-10-02/China-to-complete-first-3-000m-deep-seabed-geology-exploration-1nzgZCJIaEU/index.html 

Brief history of Lassen Volcano Observatory 1926-1935 in a tiny cabin

• https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/calvo/news/a-brief-history-lassen-volcano-observatory-1926-1935

Why rare earth elements are not so rare

• https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/geology/why-are-rare-earth-elements-so-rare 

Weathering of sedimentary rocks releases as much CO2 as all volcanoes

• https://scitechdaily.com/geological-surprise-ancient-rocks-release-as-much-co2-as-all-the-worlds-volcanoes/ 
• Paper:  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06581-9

US EPA releases tracking tool on website showing progress of applications to geologically sequester carbon

• https://www.bakerbotts.com/thought-leadership/publications/2023/october/epa-releases-tracking-tool-for-geologic-sequestration-permit-applications 
• EPA UIC permits:  https://www.epa.gov/uic/table-epas-draft-and-final-class-vi-well-permits 

“Enhanced Oil Recovery Insights” Series publishes discussion on Muddy Formation geology

• https://www.uwyo.edu/news/2023/10/uws-eori-publishes-discussion-on-muddy-formation-geology.html 
• Presentation:  https://www.eoriwyoming.org/projects-resources/publications/muddy-formation-geology/viewdocument/340 

Concerns about declining enrollment in geoscience programs across the US

• https://news.prairiepublic.org/local-news/2023-10-06/state-geologist-says-hes-concerned-about-declining-enrollment-in-geoscience-programs 

Advanced drilling technique applied to karst groundwater exploration in China

• https://english.news.cn/20231005/6c9913fa5d884a9c813564b7abdc2a8d/c.html 

Exploring for mineral deposits in Aroostook area of northern Maine & western New Brunswick, Canada

• https://www.bangordailynews.com/2023/10/07/news/aroostook/why-200-geologists-exploring-aroostooks-mineral-deposits-joam40zk0w/

Using glaciers as “icy thermometers” to monitor volcanoes

• https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2023/10/glaciers-could-become-icy-thermometers-used-monitor-volcanoes 

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Environmental Science Bulletin Board – 9 October 2023 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

Curbside pickup for organics will yield hardly any compost – will be turned into “engineered bio-slurry” that will boost production of methane gas – will there be environmental benefits or detriments?

• https://insideclimatenews.org/news/01102023/brooklyn-curbside-composting-is-digesting/ 

Tourons “pushing the limits of stupidity to a new level” at Yellowstone

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/travel/tourist-tempts-fate-by-sticking-hand-in-hot-pool-at-yellowstone-pushing-the-limits-of-stupidity-to-a-new-level/ar-AA1hxXKo

USDA refreshed the official soil survey database

• https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAFARMERS/bulletins/373abf8 
• Soil Data Access:  https://sdmdataaccess.sc.egov.usda.gov/Default.aspx 
• Soil Survey Database:  https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/WebSoilSurvey.aspx 

Fauci involvement in suppressing investigations into origins of covid

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/fauci-s-hand-in-covering-up-questions-about-covid-19-origins-runs-deep-report/ar-AA1hzJFE

EPA issues more guidelines to define “zero-emission” building

• https://www.popsci.com/technology/epa-zero-emission-guidelines/

Still awaiting cleanup of Buenavista del Cobre copper mine waste spill in northern Mexico – company lied about spill of millions of gallons of acids & heavy metals that contaminated two rivers – inadequate dam design

• https://apnews.com/article/copper-mine-sonora-mexico-spill-pollution-eff24daec766d4944ed2e990355ea43a 
• https://www.voanews.com/a/new-report-gives-mexicans-hope-for-long-awaited-cleanup-mine-cleanup-/7289748.html
• https://apnews.com/article/171bfd6bfcc447acaf5f2fcae9a3d58a 
• Lawsuit:  https://hazards.colorado.edu/quick-response-report/information-seeking-in-an-environmental-catastrophe-the-case-of-the-rio-sonora-copper-sulfate-acid-spill 

Humans introduced rats & goats to Redonda Island in the Caribbean that devastated the environment – goats were relocated & rats were eradicated – ecosystem has now recovered & seabirds have returned

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/this-caribbean-island-was-once-plagued-with-rats-that-destroyed-the-ecosystem-now-plant-biomass-has-increased-2-000-thanks-to-environmental-group-efforts/ar-AA1hxoiV  

Some jerk just chopped down the iconic “Robin Hood Tree”  at Sycamore Gap in Northumberland, England – 16-year old has been arrested

• https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sycamore-gap-tree-chopped-down_n_65167d4de4b0acbe63fa6824 

How can anything that is “high tech” be considered a carbon neutral product?  Skepticism is warranted!

• https://insideclimatenews.org/news/03102023/apple-claim-carbon-neutral-watch-draws-skepticism/

“too many decisions about the new covid vaccine are driven by politics” – more than half of Americans are not falling for the new, untested covid vaccine

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/americans-aren-t-falling-for-the-new-covid-vaccine/ar-AA1hDfo0 

Perspective:  Summer weather data (and media hype) don’t amount to climate catastrophe – it is just weather

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/summer-weather-data-don-t-amount-to-climate-catastrophe-opinion/ar-AA1hG7UJ 

“Growing nightmare situation” – EV prices will increase by $5,000 following UAW strike & a number of models will no longer be profitable as sales volumes drop & factoring in around $8B in wage increases

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/growing-nightmare-situation-ev-prices-increasing-5000-after-uaw-strike/ar-AA1hFD3y 

New York City sinking at an average rate of 0.06 inches (1.6 mm +/- .0.8 mm) per year – Hot spots = old landfills compacting and some areas uplifting – InSAR 30-m resolution

• https://climate.nasa.gov/news/3285/nasa-led-study-pinpoints-areas-of-new-york-city-sinking-rising/ 
• https://scitechdaily.com/nasa-uncovers-hidden-vertical-motion-areas-of-new-york-city-are-sinking-and-rising/
• Paper:  https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adi8259 

New cost estimate increases by $500M for post-flood rebuilding at Offutt AFB in Nebraska

• https://omaha.com/news/state-regional/offutt-post-flood-rebuilding-on-track-to-cost-500-million-more-than-expected/article_a01bb928-5c93-11ee-b135-cb4091c1e4cb.html 

US Southern Border not secure – Americans at risk – children assaulted in Minnesota by illegals

• https://currently.att.yahoo.com/news/desantis-campaign-blasts-biden-over-153223716.html

New report reveals toxic PFAS forever chemicals in toilet paper & wastewater sludge

• https://news.yahoo.com/toilet-paper-contains-toxic-forever-190833929.html 
• Paper:  https://wsvn.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/PFAS-in-Toilet-paper-and-impact-on-wastewater-systems.pd 

And now we need a “scalloped edge” on our toilet paper – global flushable toilet paper

• https://cnycentral.com/news/nation-world/toilet-paper-changing-for-the-first-time-in-100-years 
• https://menafn.com/1107193777/Global-Flushable-Moist-Toilet-Paper-Roll-Market-Research-Report-On-Regional-Size-And-Status-2023-2031 

They are recognizing an “acute and immediate need” for the wall at the Southern Border in Starr County, Texas – “waived 26 separate environmental laws to get it erected posthaste” – should have done this 2+ years ago

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/mayorkas-does-180-on-border-declares-wall-is-needed-in-texas-and-he-wants-it-done-fast/ar-AA1hJBBg 
• https://apnews.com/article/border-wall-biden-immigration-texas-rio-grande-147d7ab497e6991e9ea929242f21ceb2 
• DHS Determination:  https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2023-22176.pdf 

Podcast:  World’s oldest mummies survived more than 7,000 years – but are now starting to decompose

• https://www.npr.org/2023/10/04/1198908188/the-worlds-oldest-mummies-are-decomposing-after-7-000-years-heres-why 

New synthetic alternative to horseshoe crab blood may be used for testing vaccines & medical devices for contamination – new standard may be applied in 2024

• https://www.npr.org/2023/09/23/1200620535/vaccines-are-still-tested-with-horseshoe-crab-blood-the-industry-is-finally-chan 

Confirming link between degradation of Amazon rainforest and monsoon circulation

• https://phys.org/news/2023-10-amazonian-forest-degradation-monsoon-circulation.html 
• Paper:  https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.add9973

Toxic contaminants in drinking water across the US

• https://phys.org/news/2023-10-toxic-contaminants-scientist.html 
• Paper:  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41370-023-00597-z

Humans creating disasters by choosing to move into high-risk flood zones – rapid urban growth in flood zones

• https://phys.org/news/2023-10-humans-high-risk-zones.html 

People using popular injected weight loss drugs may be at higher risk for stomach paralysis, pancreatitis, and bowel obstructions

• https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/researchers-link-popular-weight-loss-drugs-to-serious-digestive-problems-for-hundreds-of-thousands-worldwide/ar-AA1hKnaz 

EPA is determining next steps for design of northern pits cleanup at the San Jacinto River in Texas

• https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/energy-environment/2023/09/29/465319/epa-to-take-over-cleaning-up-san-jacinto-rivers-waste-pits/ 
• EPA Superfund Site:  https://www.epa.gov/tx/sjrwp 

Humans kill prey at much higher rates than other predators – mammals living in Greater Kruger National Park are more afraid of human voices than lion vocalizations, dogs barking or gunshots

• https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1003161
• Paper:   https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(23)01169-7 

Assessing economic costs of non-structural damages from flooding at Lake Champlain

• https://www.usgs.gov/publications/flood-damage-costs-beyond-buildings-a-lake-champlain-case-study 
• Fact Sheet:  https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2023/3034/fs20233034.pdf

White-nose syndrome identified in Arizona while wind turbines kill half a million bats each year replacing humans as main direct cause of death 

• https://insideclimatenews.org/news/06102023/desert-bats-face-white-nose-syndrome-and-wind-turbines/

Environmental groups to sue Pennsylvania plastics manufactured for dumping plastic nurdles & violating CWA

• https://www.post-gazette.com/business/pittsburgh-company-news/2023/10/03/pennenvironment-three-rivers-waterkeeper-lawsuit-syropek-bvpv-styrenics-monaca/stories/202310030077 

New construction in Denver, Colorado, being built on sites with remnant contamination or landfill materials

• https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/soil-under-new-denver-construction-not-what-you-think/

Watchdog group reports on concerns for toxic PCBs and PFAS contamination at Santa Susana site in California suspected of contaminating aquifer and Los Angeles River – site of partial nuclear meltdown in 1959

• https://www.dailynews.com/2023/10/06/new-concerns-raised-about-toxic-chemicals-at-santa-susana-site/ 

Some US politicians want safety regulations promulgated before CO2 pipeline permits are issued

• https://www.upstreamonline.com/carbon-capture/friendly-fire-democrats-pressure-biden-for-executive-order-pausing-co2-pipeline-permits/2-1-1528831

Ongoing recovery in Vermont from flooding

• https://www.eenews.net/articles/vermont-struggles-to-recover-3-months-after-record-flooding/ 

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Coastal Zone Management Bulletin Board - 9 October 2023 - compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

Rising groundwater in coastal areas could release toxic chemicals from more than 132,000 sites

• https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2023/09/29/742135.htm 
• Paper:  https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2023EF003825 

The benefits of mangrove conservation

• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/10/231002211338.htm 
• Paper:  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-41333-3

Louisiana wants to bring back cypress forest as part of restoration efforts

• https://www.nola.com/louisiana_inspired/coastal-restoration-organizations-are-asking-residents-to-help-bring-back-a-cypress-forest/article_2f8fc57e-5e31-11ee-a469-938f22cd0639.html 

Blaming man-made global warming for rising sea levels and high-tide flooding in South Carolina

• https://www.wltx.com/article/weather/coastal-flooding-concerns-continue-south-carolina/101-4ee48a32-a725-4312-bace-1ead33823a3d 

Gulf Shores Council approves beach re-nourishment and $1.6M Coastal Gateway Park Design Contract

• https://www.obawebsite.com/coastal-gateway-park-design-contract-approved-by-gulf-shores-council 

Red paint dumped into a stormwater drain caused serious pollution in Te Haumi estuary in New Zealand

• https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/estuary-pollution-in-bay-of-islands-caused-by-dumped-red-paint/ASAJRKVOXVDEFBNPWQSLCKPKTA/ 

Homeless pirates (yes, pirates) marauding onto houseboats in San Francisco Bay

• https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12584341/Homeless-PIRATES-marauding-crime-ridden-San-Francisco-Bay.html 

Help with using lures to fish east coast rivers, estuaries, and salty lagoons in Australia

• https://fishingworld.com.au/how-to/estuary-lure-techniques/

Godwits have completed 12,000 km migration to Hawke’s Bay to summer in the Southern Hemisphere

• https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/godwits-return-from-12000km-trip-to-hawkes-bay-for-summer/DWHYFTRPW5CNJCV4MCSLHWS5EA/ 

Seeking public comment on draft management plan for Zandvlei Estuary in Muizenberg, South Africa

• https://www.dredgingtoday.com/2023/10/05/cape-town-zandvlei-estuarine-management-plan-on-display/ 

Dredging to begin in Murrells Inlet – some sand to be pumped to Garden City beach or marsh side of Hunting Beach State Park

• https://coastalobserver.com/federal-channel-is-just-the-start-for-dredging-projects/ 

Severn Bore due to arrive to delight of surfers and kayakers

• https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/severn-bore-live-huge-tidal-8789774 

Broken hydraulic sea gate raised at Glasson Dock in sea port joining tidal River Lune estuary & Irish Sea

• https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lancashire-66993000 

Predicting sea level rise impacts to barrier island habitats

• https://www.usgs.gov/publications/sands-time-predicting-sea-level-rise-impacts-barrier-island-habitats 
• Paper:  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989423002780?via%3Dihub 

New 53-story office/residential tower to be built on southern waterfront of Qingdao in northeastern China

• https://www.asce.org/publications-and-news/civil-engineering-source/civil-engineering-magazine/article/2023/10/sea-views-highlighted-in-foster-partners-qingdao-tower-design 

Cleanup of Maui fires complicated by logistical challenges and significant cultural sites 

• https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-maui-fires-epa-corp-of-engineers-landfills-a6e5d44293af87e957893dc42cb86621 

Number of settlements in built in flood-prone areas with highest hazard exposure increased by 122% from 1985-2015 across the world

• https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/04/world/flood-risk-cities-climate-change/index.html 

And in Florida, Hurricane Ian hit fastest-growing coastal areas – and the trend continues unabated

• https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/04/us/florida-population-growth-hurricane-ian-climate/index.html 

Galveston Wharves awarded $42.3M in TXDOT funding for major infrastructure projects

• https://www.houston.org/news/galveston-wharves-awarded-423-million-major-infrastructure-projects

Temporary delay until likely in November for saltwater wedge to reach drinking water intake for New Orleans

• https://www.eenews.net/articles/crisis-delayed-new-orleans-saltwater-intrusion-slows/ 
• Timeline:  https://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/Missions/Engineering/Stage-and-Hydrologic-Data/SaltwaterWedge/ 

“Fortify Lauderdale” hoping that new half-billion-dollar infrastructure plan will address stormwater and fight coastal flooding – elevating sea walls, more tidal control valves – skepticism is warranted

• https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/fort-lauderdale-mayor-to-introduce-plan-to-address-stormwater-infrastructure/ 

"We are pleased to announce our first class of ‘Adjunct Emeritus’ faculty. The reception will be held after the ‘new student reception’ with catering provided from the leftovers from the graduate student orientation." - @ass_deans