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Geoscience Bulletin Board – 5 August 2019 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

Perspective: The great climate conundrum – “how much of the 19th-century warming is attributable to a recovery from volcanic cooling versus the influence of human activity, and whether there are any artefacts from splicing together proxy-based records and instrumental observations”

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-019-0428-1

UC-Merced student helps unearth Triceratops skull in Hell Creek Formation in Badlands, North Dakota

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/triceratops-skull-65-million-years-old- unearthed-by-college-student-23/ar-AAEVnLn

Robert Ballard found the Titanic – now he will hunt for the Amelia Earhart airplane https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/2019/07/bob-ballard-found-titanic-can-find-

amelia-earhart-airplane/

Toxic food & toxic water could be killing Orca whales in British Columbia – PCBs, microplastics https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/killers-jpod-oceans-harming-orcas-

1.5220773

Cobriza Mine tailings failure – high resolution image from SkySat https://blogs.agu.org/landslideblog/2019/07/28/cobriza-mine/

Abundance of ammonia-oxidizing Archaea (AOA) in deep biosphere in seafloor sediments https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/news/the-abundance-of-ammonia-oxidizing-archaea-in-the-

deep-biosphere/

Paper: https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/5/6/eaaw4108

Octopi are notorious for camouflage – they also make quicksand https://daily.jstor.org/how-to-make-quicksand-like-an-octopus/

Small piece of Juan de Fuca plate beneath central Oregon is “dying” – hole is actually a tear https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/a-tectonic-plate-is-dying-under-oregon-heres-

why-that-matters/ar-AAF1Cf6 Paper: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2019GL083437

Method to predict seismic activity resulting from injection of wastewater https://phys.org/news/2019-07-earthquake-hazards-wastewater.html

Sea spray is an important component of air-sea interface exchange https://eos.org/research-spotlights/detailed-origins-of-sea-spray-revealed-one-droplet-at-a-

time

Increase in rainfall leads to increased activity of hundreds of slow-moving landslides in California https://eos.org/editor-highlights/landslide-activity-ramps-up-with-extreme-rainfall

NASA Picture of the Day: Lightning strike on peak of Volcán de Agua https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap190729.html

Most precise map of Antarctic ice velocity derived from 25 years of satellite data https://phys.org/news/2019-07-glaciologists-unveil-precise-antarctic-ice.html

Professor Emerita Tanya Atwater receives Penrose Medal – geophysicist & marine geologist https://www.news.ucsb.edu/2019/019569/mother-plate-tectonics

Pioneering geologist Marie Tharp noted bathymetry of valleys & ridges of Mid-Atlantic Ridge https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidbressan/2019/07/30/how-pioneering-geologist-marie-

tharp-changed-our-view-of-earth/#72a914607514

Just how old is the Moon? 100M years older than previously thought https://www.geek.com/news/study-moon-is-100m-years-older-than-we-thought-1798002/

Extremes in the ocean https://www.howitworksdaily.com/amazing-facts-6-facts-about-extreme-oceans/

Shape of meteorites drastically changed by interaction with atmosphere https://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2019/july/what-gives-meteorites-their-

shape--new-research-uncovers-a--gold.html

Meteotsunami in the Persian Gulf https://eos.org/articles/meteotsunami-spotted-for-the-first-time-in-the-persian-gulf

Cambroraster falcatus - 500 myo fossil species in Burgess Shale named after “Millennium Falcon” https://eos.org/articles/newly-discovered-fossil-species-named-after-star-wars-starship

Ice cores may help resolve conflict of models with actual tropospheric ozone levels & mixing https://eos.org/articles/how-ice-cores-are-helping-to-track-preindustrial-ozone

11 facts about blue whales https://www.treehugger.com/animals/11-facts-about-blue-whales-largest-animals-ever-

known-earth.html

Chemistry of drop of water influences thinking on origins & timeline of plate tectonics https://phys.org/news/2019-08-ancient-rewrites-earth-history.html

Maryborough Meteorite: 17-kg massive stony chondrite found in Australia http://www.sci-news.com/space/maryborough-meteorite-07443.html

New model may help predict most damaging volcanic eruptions https://www.iflscience.com/environment/new-model-may-predict-the-most-damaging-

volcanic-explosions/

Vacationing school teacher finds 2.12 carat brown diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park https://www.foxnews.com/science/vacationing-schoolteacher-finds-2-12-carat-brown-

diamond

Best landslide videos of 2019 https://blogs.agu.org/landslideblog/2019/07/31/2019-landslide-videos/

Ambassador to Zambia calls for geological information of mineral resources https://www.lusakatimes.com/2019/08/01/us-ambassador-to-zambia-calls-for-geological-

information-on-zambias-mineral-resources/ Putting an end to the hot spot debate? Hot spots do move

https://phys.org/news/2019-08-hot-debate.html Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-11314-6

Understanding Sahelian thunderstorms improves forecasts of mid-latitude weather Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-11081-4

Vertical redistribution of salt and changes in salinity layering in the ocean Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-11436-x

Mesoproterizoic Velkerri Formation provides weathering record in absence of biological influence Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-11421-4

Want to buy an extinct volcano? Posbury Clump is for sale in Devon, England https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/for-sale-extinct-volcano

*****************************

Environmental Science Bulletin Board – 5 August 2019 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

July 29 was Earth Overshoot Day – one full year of resources already used by humans https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/causes/earth-overshoot-day-shows-were-tearing-through-

resources-faster-than-ever/ar-AAF0Q1J

Why there are almost no mosquitoes in Disney World – unlike the majority of Florida swampland https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/article/this-is-why-you-never-see-mosquitoes-at-disney-

world/ar-AAEULel

US fertility rates decline 2% to “all-time low” in the US https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-fertility-rates-low-teen-birth-rate-cdc-report-

20190725-itjjzyvz6vehjekt7egfrtyrcu-story.html

Megadroughts may once again occur in the American Southwest – Note: 14 megadroughts occurred BEFORE “man-made global warming” between 800 and 1600 AD

https://start.att.net/news/read/article/newsweek- decades_without_rain_america_set_for_megadroughts-rnewsweek/category/news

Paper: https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/5/7/eaax0087

“Airbnb bill” in Arizona allowing developers to overrun towns – limits local control – increasing noise, trash & traffic in neighborhoods

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/they-killed-our-city-locals-feel-helpless-as-vacation- rentals-overrun-sedona-arizona/ar-AAEWSal

Anthrax is endemic to parts of Texas – Situational Update 4 https://www.tahc.texas.gov/news/2019/2019-07-29_AnthraxUpdate.pdf

Abandoned Usolyekhimprom chemical manufacturing facility in Siberia poses toxic environmental risk

https://siberiantimes.com/ecology/casestudy/news/the-abandoned-chemicals-plant-that- could-trigger-an-environmental-disaster-akin-to-chernobyl/

Rebuilding following Nepal 2015 M7.8 Earthquake is an ongoing activity https://canada.constructconnect.com/joc/news/associations/2019/07/b-c-engineer-leads-

canadian-team-post-nepal-earthquake-rebuild

Davenport, Iowa, re-considering wall to protect city from floods https://www.apnews.com/c074a4e4698a4e62a84d5e720461904d

Honolulu pondering flood risk project for Ala Wai Canal & plan to clean up most polluted waterway https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/hawaii/articles/2019-07-30/honolulu-flood-risk-

project-awaits-state-and-city-agreement http://www.honolulumagazine.com/Honolulu-Magazine/July-2019/Take-a-closer-look-at-a-

mud-ball-designed-to-clean-up-Hawaiis-most-polluted-waterway/

Oregon is lagging in disaster preparedness for wildfires & earthquakes https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2019/07/28/scientists-oregon-behind-disaster-

preparedness-wildfires-earthquakes/1848135001/

Perspective: Agroecology – improved seed & fertilizer are not sufficient for productivity https://foodtank.com/news/2019/07/opinion-agroecology-as-innovation/ Paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306919217308618

Will a “virtual border wall” be effective in protecting our national security? https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/a-26-year-old-billionaire-is-building-virtual-border-walls-

—-and-the-federal-government-is-buying/ar-AAF1oK9

Why you might want to think twice before going to a water park https://start.att.net/news/read/article/newsweek-

water_park_shuts_down_after_30_children_become_vio-rnewsweek/category/news

UT-Arlington developing method to test seismic vulnerability of water pipeline systems https://www.uta.edu/news/releases/2019/07/shahandashti-pipes-quakes.php

Using AI to manage city water https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/how-ai-and-data-turn-city-water-management-from-

an-art-to-a-science/559424/ White Paper:

https://iwa-network.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/IWA_2019_Digital_Water_Report.pdf

Will smart roofs help urban heat islands? https://www.architectmagazine.com/technology/to-fight-climate-change-roofs-need-to-chill-

out_o

Photo-essay: Baikalsk: a horrifying example of a high-risk waste storage facility in Russia https://blogs.agu.org/landslideblog/2019/07/30/baikalsk-1/

Austin, Texas, re-thinking transportation path to cope with considerable traffic congestion https://www.govtech.com/fs/transportation/Growth-Spurt-Forces-Austin-to-Rethink-Its-

Transportation-Path.html

High-tech biosecurity combines software & GPS for immediate outbreak containment https://www.nationalhogfarmer.com/animal-health/rapid-fire-quarantine-and-much-more

USDA proposed amendments to Great Sage Grouse Land Management Plans https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2019/08/01/usda-releases-proposed-

amendments-greater-sage-grouse-land

Songbirds are being poached from the forests around Miami, Florida – sold illegally https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/07/songbirds-are-being-snatched-from-

miamis-forests/

Climate warming up? – raccoons are loving it and expanding their range https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/07/raccoons-expanding-range-climate-

change

Call for review of failure of the 92-year-old Spencer Dam in March 2019 in Nebraska https://www.omaha.com/news/nebraska/nebraska-asks-for-national-review-of--year-old-

spencer/article_88f3da17-29e6-5ca4-90a6-26cf89d1e15e.html

Massacre Rim in NW Nevada is largest and newest Dark Sky Sanctuary https://www.npr.org/2019/08/01/747037627/this-remote-corner-of-nevada-is-one-of-the-

darkest-places-in-the-world

Perspective: Massive amount of plastic waste – change plastic or change humans? https://www.npr.org/2019/07/30/744099949/plastics-or-people-at-least-1-of-them-has-to-

change-to-clean-up-our-mess https://www.treehugger.com/plastic/even-when-it-doesnt-kill-them-plastic-hurts-seabirds.html

There have been no reported polar bear attacks on humans in Alaska since 1993 https://www.treehugger.com/animals/why-alaska-hasnt-had-polar-bear-attack-1993.html

Phasing out certain toxic PFAs chemicals – replacements may be just as bad https://www.ehn.org/forever-chemical-replacements-on-the-rise-in-the-great-lakes-

2639219145.html

Perspective: Some actions to help stratospheric ozone recover may be prolonging the process https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/07/climate-change-and-ongoing-emissions-pose-risks-

to-ozone-recovery/

New partnership intended to build public awareness of global earthquake risk https://www.usgs.gov/news/new-partnership-build-public-awareness-global-earthquake-risk?

qt-news_science_products=1#qt-news_science_products

Persistent pollutants accumulating since the 1940s are washing out of melting glaciers

https://phys.org/news/2019-08-decades-old-pollutants-himalayan-glaciers.html

“slum upgrading” where do billions of slum-dwellers go when push comes to shove? https://phys.org/news/2019-08-billion-slum-dwellers.html

Who is to blame for recycling crisis? Government, business, us https://phys.org/news/2019-08-dont-blame-business-recycling-crisis.html

Whaley Bridge dam collapse – Toddbrook Reservoir could fail – town evacuated https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-derbyshire-49189955 https://www.apnews.com/869680915e6841f094948793d21ff1f1

Reducing & stabilizing human population numbers globally important for rebalancing the planet https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/07/190731171719.htm

Pericosine A reacts with skunk spray secretions & transforms them to odorless products http://www.sci-news.com/othersciences/chemistry/skunk-spray-odor-07435.html

Wild boars are wreaking havoc on cities across Europe https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/30/boar-wars-how-wild-hogs-are-trashing-

european-cities

NY Power Authority plans $1.1B modernization of Niagara Power Project https://buffalonews.com/2019/07/31/power-authority-to-invest-1-1-billion-in-niagara-power-

project-over-15-years/

Butterfly genetic diversity determined by long-term population size & effects of selection Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-11308-4

*************************************

Coastal Zone Management Bulletin Board – 5 August 2019 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

40,000 liters of diesel spilled near remote island off coast of Guarello Island in Patagonia https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/chile-says-40000-liters-of-oil-spilled-into-sea-off-

remote-patagonian-island/ar-AAF0Po0

5 pilot whales beached in Pinellas County, Florida https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/florida/os-ne-beached-whales-pinellas-20190729-

gurznuovxnawjfjfk6ies75pou-story.html

4th Circuit Court of Appeals vacated permits for proposed 600-mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline https://www.utilitydive.com/news/4th-circuit-court-vacates-permits-for-dominions-atlantic-

coast-pipeline/559692/

US Coast Guard seized 26,000 pounds of cocaine from smugglers in Pacific waters https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/07/28/coast-guard-brings-haul-seized-cocaine-san-

diego.html https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/drug-smugglers-dump-cocaine-into-ocean-in-us-

coast-guard-chase-a4200096.html

Anti-litter groups in Georgia are targeting cigarette butts on beaches or flicked into water https://www.wtoc.com/2019/07/29/anti-litter-groups-target-cigarette-butts-georgia-coast/

NOAA exploring methane seep field off the North Carolina coast https://www.wunc.org/post/marine-scientists-explore-methane-seep-field-nc-coast

Deserted, rusting oil tanker off coast of Yemen holds more than million barrels of oil that could leak https://www.npr.org/2019/07/26/745731884/deserted-oil-tanker-off-yemens-coast-could-

create-an-environmental-disaster

More than 150 illegal migrants may have drowned in Mediterranean – 137 returned to Libya https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/07/26/migrants-off-libya-coast-drown-

shipwreck-mediterranean-tragedy/1835645001/

Mysterious disease infecting coral species in Dry Tortugas National Park https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gulf-coast-mysterious-underwater-disease-ravages-coral/

Is your marine “eco-tour” eco-conscious? https://daily.jstor.org/how-eco-conscious-is-your-eco-tour/

Old coastal landfills at risk of erosion & flooding pose toxic risk to coastal regions http://geographical.co.uk/places/wetlands/item/3303-toxic-beaches

Houston is a flood-prone city – always has been – but some still hopeful infrastructure will prevent it https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/katy/news/article/Barker-Flood-Prevention-co-founder-

talks-about-14189220.php https://www.texastribune.org/2019/07/29/rice-university-plan-texas-coast-barrier/

Extensive freshwater aquifer imaged off coast of New England – something for humans to exploit with collateral damages?

https://eos.org/articles/huge-aquifer-imaged-off-the-atlantic-coast

MOOSE (Mediterranean Ocean Observing System for Environment) to detect long-term anomalies https://eos.org/science-updates/monitoring-the-environment-in-the-northwestern-

mediterranean-sea

Sabine Neches Waterway to be deepened by dredging to 52 feet – estimated cost of $1.2B https://www.12newsnow.com/article/news/local/energy-matters/sabine-neches-waterway-

deepening-project-to-begin-in-september/502-a3bf78f2-6156-48c2-a7d3-e29e4be683b3

Concrete tide pool being tested along Harbor Island in San Diego to protect coastline https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/concrete-tide-pools-tested-along-harbor-island-in-

san-diego-bay

7 years after Superstorm Sandy -planning levee system & seawall to guard south shore Staten Island

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/7-years-after-superstorm-sandy-615m- project-funded-to-guard-against-next-monster-storm/70008851

Plan: https://www.nan.usace.army.mil/Portals/37/docs/civilworks/projects/ny/frm/South%20Shore%20Staten%20Island/SSSIPlacematJun19FORPUBLIC.pdf?ver=2019-06-24-105055-620

Cliff collapses onto beach in Encinitas, California – not caused by “global warming” https://news.yahoo.com/one-person-dead-beach-cliff-001011513.html https://ktla.com/2019/08/02/1-dead-after-beachside-bluff-collapses-in-encinitas-report/