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Geosciences Bulletin Board – 19 October 2015 - compiled by Elaine J. Hanford
In aftermath of landslide, North Salt Lake considering stricter development ordinances requiring indepth geologic studies
 http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865638987/City-leaders-consider-stricter-developmentordinance-after-North-Salt-Lake-landslide.html
Crystallization of “hair ice” may be due to fungus
 http://www.earthmagazine.org/article/peculiar-shape-hair-ice-linked-fungus
Perspective: Why am I a geoscientist?
 http://www.earthmagazine.org/article/comment-why-i-am-geoscientist
TOPEX and Jason-2 satellites show El Niño sea surface heights are comparable to 1997
 http://www.livescience.com/52475-nasa-maps-reveal-strong-el-nino.html
If we use the metric system, then what exactly is a kilogram? Now the CIPM, at least in theory, will let
us know…
 http://www.nature.com/news/kilogram-conflict-resolved-at-last-1.18550
Is extreme weather “normal” or not? Humans make themselves more vulnerable
 http://www.dw.com/en/extreme-weather-whats-normal-what-isnt/a-18780989
Wind erosion is an important factor in shaping topography of snow in Antarctica
 http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-10/teia-ssp101215.php
Why does lava sometimes cool into hexagonal towers?
 http://phys.org/news/2015-10-riddle-lava-hexagons.html
Massive rock slide in Deep Lake in Beartooth Mountains, Montana, occurred near end of the Pinedale
glaciation
 http://www.kpax.com/story/30240792/beartooth-rockslide-may-be-the-biggest-in-north-america
As new chair of IPCC is installed, many climate scientists are censoring their own work in order for
their results to be more politically palatable
 http://phys.org/news/2015-10-climate-scientist-ipcc.html
Scientists with the ANSMET program will once again invade Antarctica looking for meteorites
 http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/space-rock-hunters-are-about-invadeantarctica-180956777/
Southern drift of East Asian monsoon rain belt will reverse itself and travel north
 http://phys.org/news/2015-10-global-east-asian-monsoon-belt.html
Celebrating Canadian geologist Sir John William Dawson
 http://palaeoblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/born-this-day-sir-john-william-dawson.html
Relationship between carbon cycles and climate
 http://www.enn.com/climate/article/49059
Study suggests marine food chain may be collapsing
 http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Global_marine_analysis_suggests_food_chain_collapse_99
9.html
Top 10 deadliest earthquakes in US history (video)
 http://www.newsy.com/videos/the-top-10-deadliest-us-earthquakes/
Dinosaurs were both warm-blooded and cold-blooded, sunning themselves for burst of energy
 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3271400/Dinosaurs-sunned-burst-energy-warmcold-blooded-researchers-say.html
 http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=136426&org=GEO&from=news
Volcanic eruptions in Central and South America
 http://www.wired.com/2015/10/lava-flows-and-restless-giants-in-latin-america/
When it comes to Antarctic ice, journalists tend to emphasize the worst case scenario
 http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2015/10/14/antarctica_ice_shelf_collapse_is_a_climat
e_opportunity.html
Satellite imagery and sensing from multiple sources used to monitor precipitation, runoff & flooding in
South Carolina
 http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/NASA_Eyes_on_Earth_Aid_Response_to_Carolina_Floodi
ng_999.html
Guatemala ends search and recovery efforts for those missing in landslide…death toll stands at
280…Official inquiry to be conducted in Pakistan landslide
 http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Guatemala_ends_search_for_landslide_missing_with_toll_a
t_280_999.html
Spinolestes xenarthrosus, a Cretaceous furball, discovery in Spain gives insight into early animals with
fur
 http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151014134535.htm
Perinatal group of Saurolophusangustirostris, a giant hadrosaur dinosaur, all likely from the same nest,
found at "Dragon's Tomb" in Mongolia
 http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151014144749.htm
Sonar detects rising mass of bubbles suggesting release of methane off Pacific NW coast
 http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151014132455.htm
Marine scientists discover four new deep-water coral reefs in the Atlantic Ocean west of Ireland using
predictive mathematical models
 http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151013111956.htm
Glaciers in warmer Patagonia moved faster and caused more erosion than in Antarctica
 http://phys.org/news/2015-10-latitudinal-variations-erosion-function-glacier.html
Dr. Luna Leopold (1915-2006) had superb understanding of rivers
 http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/lessons-learned-from-a-legend-lunaleopolds-view-of-the-river/
San Francisco area to drill four new water wells and convert two irrigation wells to drinking water
sources to respond to drought, EQs and other emergencies
 http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/113-Million-Groundwater-Wells-Built-EarthquakesDrought-332484852.html
 Project & EIR: http://www.sfwater.org/bids/projectDetail.aspx?prj_id=322
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Enviro-Sciences Bulletin Board – 19 October 2015 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford
FREE online course: “What a Plant Knows” helps humans understand how plants perceive their
environment (18 October – 12 December 2015)…enrollment open
 https://www.coursera.org/course/plantknows
Legacy of lead can potentially poison urban gardens
 http://www.earthmagazine.org/article/toxic-gardens-long-legacy-urban-lead
Mapping the future of human development urbanization, agriculture, energy, and mining impacts on
remaining ‘natural’ land on Earth
 http://www.citylab.com/politics/2015/10/the-future-of-global-development-mapped/409654/
Davos World Zoonosis Summit presents concerns for increasing avian influenza risks
 http://www.thepoultrysite.com/poultrynews/35935/davos-world-zoonosis-summit-ceva-warnsagainst-rising-risks-from-avian-influenza/
Government entities less likely than private ones to comply with environmental regulations
 http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151013103615.htm
Plant and insect diversity not as closely linked as previously thought
 http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151013103231.htm
Drug-resistant E. coli infections are on the rise in community hospitals
 http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151013135550.htm
The most scenic national parks in the US
 http://experience.usatoday.com/america/story/best-of-lists/2015/10/14/10-most-scenic-nationalparks/8820913/
DNA testing for future potential for chronic disease in animals and humans(?) sets the stage for some
serious ethical questions
 http://www.canadiancattlemen.ca/2015/10/13/dna-testing-for-disease-is-on-the-way/
Human genome editing and where might the first CRISPR baby be born?
 http://www.nature.com/news/where-in-the-world-could-the-first-crispr-baby-be-born-1.18542
Reflections on cholera epidemic in Haiti that followed the 2010 EQ
 http://fpif.org/haitis-earthquake-was-devastating-the-cholera-epidemic-was-worse/
Peto’s paradox – why elephants do not have more cancers than humans
 http://www.canberratimes.com.au/environment/animals/why-dont-elephants-have-more-cancerthan-humans-20151013-gk8cz3.html
Alternatives to toxic pharmaceutical drugs should be given respectful consideration
 http://www.nature.com/news/consider-all-the-evidence-on-alternative-therapies-1.18547
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, New Jersey adopting tougher standards for building in coastal zones
and higher flood insurance premiums may be levied
 http://www.app.com/story/news/local/ocean-county/sandy-recovery/2015/10/12/coastal-zonestandards-/72997856/
The environmental costs of the foods we consume from breakfast to burgers
 http://www.treehugger.com/sustainable-agriculture/i-ate-how-many-trees-breakfast.html
Sales of full-calorie soda dropped 25% in last 2 decades as Americans try a healthier diet
 http://www.allgov.com/news/unusual-news/soda-industry-reacts-to-plunging-sales151011?news=857610
Perspective: time to take action to protect the Grand Canyon is now
 http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/14/opinion/grand-canyon-waters-at-the-abyss.html
Florida will hold another public hunt in January 2016 for Burmese pythons in attempt to reduce the
numbers of this invasive species
 http://www.treehugger.com/animals/florida-hold-public-python-hunt-cull-invasive-species.html
Sea Shepherd environmental activists pursuit of illegal fishing vessel results in guilty verdict & $17M
fine on multiple counts including illegal fishing, forgery, pollution & environmental damage
 http://news.yahoo.com/one-world-most-notorious-illegal-fishing-crews-fined-204112348.html
Symbiosis among four biological kingdoms influences disease transmission in Monarch butterflies
 http://www.technology.org/2015/10/14/four-biological-kingdoms-influence-diseasetransmission-monarch-butterflies/
North & South Carolina farms & ranches can obtain flood recovery assistance from USDA
 http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAOC/bulletins/11e95eb
California becomes first state to restrict antibiotic use in livestock
 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-11/california-enacts-strictest-animalantibiotic-law-in-the-u-sThese viruses almost fit the human definition of living creatures…but they are again alive and growing!
 http://finance.yahoo.com/news/giant-ancient-viruses-thawing-siberia-181400241.html
Kids love petting zoos and that is a good thing…but they are also potential sources of
salmonella….take precautions by using soap & water to wash hands
 https://www.centralmaine.com/2015/10/09/maine-health-officials-identify-common-e-coli-strainin-that-sickened-2-toddlers/
Top seven diseases that infect cattle across the US cause significant health concerns
 http://kticradio.com/agricultural/cattle-diseases-the-nasty-seven/
National Park Service in agreement with plan to build landmark $76 million suicide barrier on Golden
Gate Bridge
 http://www.marinij.com/general-news/20151009/golden-gate-suicide-barrier-project-to-go-tobid-tuesday
If you have not visited and supported Wolf Haven International sanctuary in Washington State, I would
encourage you to go howl with the wolves…. (photos)
 http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/photos-sanctuary-wolves-180956689/
Recycled tires and steel bits may help improve road performance in Alaska
 http://www.adn.com/article/20151011/uaa-professor-floats-concrete-solution-alaskas-road-rutproblem
Flood waters in South Carolina, dams breached, death toll rises, damages continue
 http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-news/20151005-10-die-40000-without-water-as-rainspound-s.c.-for-week.ece
 Videos: http://www.wltx.com/story/news/2015/10/05/breaking-force-evacuations-forestdrive/73396450/
 http://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2015/10/06/despite-sunny-forecast-south-carolinaordeal-far-from-over
 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/fire-ant-island-flooding_5613c59ce4b022a4ce5f569a
 Emotional toll: http://news.yahoo.com/south-carolina-floods-leave-shared-sense-memorieslost-150804964.html
 Updates & photos: http://www.thestate.com/news/local/article37924887.html
Without intervention & management by US Cavalry, Yellowstone National Park might not have
survived 14 years of corrupt or incompetent management by political appointees
 http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-army-saved-our-national-parks-180956840/
Newly discovered tablet reveals lines of epic poem Gilgamesh that confirm human recognition of the
consequences of wrecking environmental damage
 http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/epic-of-gilgamesh-new-verses-discoveredworlds-oldest-story-180956844/
 Paper: http://www.thehistoryblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/jcunestud.66.0069_wfooter.pdf
Mega-cities continue to grow…3.7B now living in cities, with 1 billion living in urban slums (video)
causing urban problems, health care epidemics, pollution …
 https://www.yahoo.com/katiecouric/urbanization-explained-211051229.html
20-50X higher cancer rates in children living near Fukushima nuclear meltdown
 https://www.yahoo.com/health/researcher-childrens-cancer-linked-to-fukushima113206820.html
Pneumonia killing bighorn sheep in Joshua Tree National Park likely came from contact with carrier
domesticated sheep or goats (video)
 http://www.kesq.com/news/pneumonia-outbreak-strikes-bighorn-sheep-at-jtnp/35727912
Cloning great trees of the world in an effort to save them
 http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/race-save-worlds-great-trees-cloning-them180956832/
Why is the invasive salt cedar thriving in the Southwest? Likely because of humans
 http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-we-created-monster-americansouthwest-180956878/
Efforts to save the flat tailed horned lizards of the Sonoran Desert from the impacts that humans have
wrought upon their habitat
 http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/even-desert-lizards-feeling-heat-dueclimate-change-180956822/
In California, vineyards are turning less water into wine
 http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/10/07/446096090/california-s-vineyards-pressed-toturn-less-water-into-wine