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Geosciences Bulletin Board – 4 January 2016- compiled by Elaine J. Hanford
In homage to the success of the new “Star Wars” movie, what was the first reference to the demon star?
We might now be in “volcano season”
Nevada Seismological Laboratory recorded more than 17,000 earthquakes in 2015 in the State
Recent moderate EQs in British Columbia raise concerns
Pompeii was destroyed, then preserved by the volcano…then exposed by humans to risk of time and weathering….now six ruins are restored again
Hayward fault & Rogers Creek fault in San Francisco region may be connected…pose greater risk (video)
Did volcanic activity help spark human intelligence?
Serpentinization at submarine hydrothermal vents potentially contributes to the origin and evolution of life
El Niño continuing to strengthen in eastern Pacific comparable to 1997-1998 conditions and will impact weather in the US
Top 15 images from the International Space Station in 2015
Transient Climate Response (TCR) and Equilibrium Climate Sensitivity (ECS) values need to be determined to improve climate models
The deadliest natural hazards (floods, cyclones, wildfires, heat waves, earthquakes and landslides) around the world in 2015
Synchronization of ice cores from Dome Fuji (DF) and EPICA Dome C (EDC) in Antarctica will help develop timeline of historical climate stages
Newly invented “Seabin ocean bucket” could help clean up trash & oil from the ocean
First open-ocean test for floating dam that traps plastic bags, bottles and other waste
GOES Satellite images provide animation of the progress of winter storm “Goliath”
- IMERG data:
Seattle is a beautiful city in which to live, but it is still prone to natural hazards: EQs, tsunamis & seiches, liquefaction, landslides and flooding
- Seattle Natural Hazard Explore interactive map:
Fossils on the Altiplano in South America may help resolve tectonic activity since the Miocene
Evidence suggests that cavity-dwelling bacteria survived environmental conditions 3B years ago
Winter storm “Goliath” predicted to become a “bomb cyclone” to impact Iceland, UK and the Arctic
Frictional heat in rising magma can drive outgassing of water vapor, which contributes to the dehydration of molten magma
Most accurate mapping of the sea floor reveals topography and tectonic features (interactive graphic)
3-foot shell found in riverbank in Argentina which may be from a glyptodont, a prehistoric giant armadillo
Next phase of USGS topographic maps to include Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing(TIGER) data
Falling 100 kg (220 pound) rock on Mt Ngauruhoe, New Zealand, caused serious injury to climber
Geomorphic impacts on watersheds in north-central Pennsylvania from Tropical Storm Lee in 2011
Ground sloths, camels, long-horned bison, mammoths and mastadons lived the high life in Colorado
Overdrawing groundwater for irrigation in California creates collateral damages
Planetary geology: New NASA images of the surface of dwarf planet Ceres
Discovering rocks right in one’s own backyard…not need to go looking elsewhere for them
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Enviro-Sciences Bulletin Board – 4 January 2016– compiled by Elaine J. Hanford
Microbead Free Waters Act of 2015 signed into law, requires phase out beginning 1 July 2017
- HR1321 (one page):
Italian government-mandated health study confirms high incidence of cancer & death around Naples resulting from decades of toxic waste dumping by local Camorra mob
- “Triangle of Death”
10 stories that reflect just how unique things are in nature…be sure to see the “sea bunny”
Animated history of space junk accumulation...from 1957 through 2015…all that clutter
Poor construction of school and homes resulted in more risk and damage from winter storm Goliath across North Texas
Environmental contaminants are identified as another cause of antibiotic resistance
In Kansas, number of cases of rabies in cattle is rising
Continuing to wage war against feral hogs in Texas as E. coli level in streams is unsafe
As deforestation increases, so too does transmission of monkey malaria to humans
Second contagious form of cancer found in Tasmanian Devils
Humans did some things in 2015….I’m just not sure they should all be labeled “good” for the environment
TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) stopping barge traffic, opening gates to cope with floods
Is there a cure for “affluenza”?….perhaps justice will be served this time around…
One would hope that those who are in our military are healthy and fit…but
First aerial video of Aliso Canyon gas leak in California …spewing since October 2015
Sea World files lawsuit challenging breeding ban on Orcas
Louisiana issues warning to livestock owners to be prepared for flooding in January
Nevada trying to end subsidies of solar power as it supports Clean Power Plan
- Clean Power Plan:
Risk factors identified in outbreaks of plague across the Western US – factors include precipitation, human activity & elevation which all influence deer mice habitat
After 42 days with no new cases, Guinea is declared Ebola free
- Timeline:
Legal challenges to “buy American” when it comes to steel and government contracts
Using imaging spectroscopy to assess impacts of drought on the forests in California
Despite plunging oil prices and a 15-year battle by environmentalists, Obama administration allows oil drilling in wilderness of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska
Trying to grow trees from shoots of 2,000 year old “Lady Liberty” Cypress tree in Florida
Historic and prehistoric peoples who had created vulnerabilities to food shortfall were especially susceptible to impacts from climate challenges
Read more at:
Earthquake preparedness: what to do before, during, and after an EQ
Development creating “the great wall of the Chesapeake Bay” is armoring the shoreline and degrading habitats
This newly discovered species of shark, Ninja Lantern shark is black & glows in the dark
Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Zion National Parks set record levels for attendance in 2015 & anticipate more visitors in 2016
Population growth rates for pre-historic hunter-gatherers in North America grew at the same rate as farming societies in Europe
Coastal communities in northern Japan hit by 2011 Tsunami show significant decline in population over last five years
Derailed freight train spills sulfuric acid in northwest Queensland, Australia raising concerns about impacts on water
Possible consequence of reduction of mercury emissions might be significant economic growth
DEQ Director resigns as consequence of lead contamination in drinking water in Flint, Michigan
Australorp chooks have become the best egg layers in the world
Number of Americans who are drinking themselves to death reaches record level
A number of major cities around the world are trying to cope with hazardous air pollution levels