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Geosciences Bulletin Board – 27 February 2017 - compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

Understanding the crater-dome illusion in interpreting space or aerial imagery http://earthsky.org/space/the-crater-dome-illusion

Cosmic rays, clouds, and variation in solar output responsible for 1,500 year climate cycle http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2017/02/

democrats_real_global_warming_fraud_revealed.html CERN Courier: https://cds.cern.ch/record/2235066/files/vol56-issue10-p026-e.pdf

Amount of summer sunlight in the Northern Hemisphere & length of preceding glaciation can predict the length of an interglacial

http://www.popsci.com/formula-interglacial-ice-age-prediction

New study assesses risk for rapid cooling in the North Atlantic subpolar gyre this century https://phys.org/news/2017-02-rapid-north-atlantic-cooling-21st.html Paper: http://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms14375

Rift in Larsen C ice shelf in Antarctica puts spotlight on advances in glaciology http://www.nature.com/news/giant-crack-in-antarctic-ice-shelf-spotlights-advances-in-

glaciology-1.21507

Tuatara went extinct in Europe 70 myo, but now one has hatched at the Chester Zoo

http://www.zooborns.com/zooborns/2017/02/chester-zoo-releases-rare-footage-of-tuatara- hatching.html

http://www.chesterzoo.org/whats-happening/zoo-news/2016/02/tuatara-breeding-first

Ice shoves beginning to form on Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin http://www.jsonline.com/picture-gallery/news/2017/02/24/ice-shoves-are-starting-to-form-

on-lake-winnebago-in-oshkosh/98351832/

15 of the best locales for watching the total solar eclipse across the US on 21 Aug 2017 http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/perfect-spots-watch-total-solar-eclipse-us-

180962253/

Alaska must be experienced first-hand as pictures never quite capture the grand scale http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/everlasting-awe-inspiring-power-alaska-180962126/

Surprise! Researcher says “atmospheric rivers” are wet & windy! Guess he never lived in Reno! http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/02/20/515838078/new-research-shows-how-

atmospheric-rivers-wreak-havoc-around-the-globe

Microbes in giant crystals in Naica, Mexico, live on iron, sulfur and other chemicals http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/02/crystal-caves-mine-microbes-mexico-boston-

aaas-aliens-science/

Video of fracture in Larsen C Ice Shelf http://www.universetoday.com/133612/heres-aerial-view-massive-iceberg-shearing-away-

antarctica1/

This remotely controlled machine is designed to “pluck” manganese nodules from the ocean floor http://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21717351-fruits-de-mer-plucking-

minerals-seabed-back-agenda

Giant oarfish described as “messengers of the sea” foretelling of an earthquake http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4252426/Mysterious-thirty-foot-sea-serpent-

PREDICT-earthquakes.html

“Everything you need to know” about the formation of volcanoes http://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/nature-travel/how-volcanoes-are-formed

Micro-fractures and garnet crystals reveal age (420 myo) and amout of slippage during ancient EQ

https://phys.org/news/2017-02-garnet-crystal-microstructures-ancient-earthquake.html http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/how-track-down-earthquake-that-happened-420-million-years-

ago-using-precious-stones-1608006

Toward a better understanding of the timing and magnitude of a future EQ https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/02/170222113802.htm

Canadian Armed Forces preparing for the “Big One” in British Columbia

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/canadian-forces-bc-earthquake- preparedness-1.3995258

O&G wastewater spills alter microbial communities in West Virginia https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-02/ru-oag022117.php

Planetary geology: explaining unusual dune-like patters on comet 67P http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2017/02/22/Astronomers-explain-unusual-dune-like-

patterns-on-comet-67P/3341487799432/

Planetary geology: On adopting a new geophysical definition of the term “planet” https://phys.org/news/2017-02-geophysical-planet-definition.html

16 locations newly listed as major active faults in Japan http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0003536694

Satellite images of Earth from January 2017 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/feb/22/satellite-eye-on-earth-january-2017-

in-pictures

Overview of the precipitation-triggered 170 km/h Sanxicun landslide in Sichuan Province, China http://blogs.agu.org/landslideblog/2017/02/22/sanxicun-landslide/

Theory of chaotic variations in the orbit and spin vector of Earth confirmed by Cretaceous geological evidence

https://phys.org/news/2017-02-colorado-evidence-chaotic-solar.html

“Pineapple Express” or “atmospheric river” results in large amounts of precipitation along the West Coast

https://www.usgs.gov/news/stormy-weather-how-usgs-goes-work-monitoring-its-effects

An “early Spring” or as Punxsutawney Phil predicted: 6 more weeks of winter https://www.usgs.gov/news/just-how-early-spring-arriving-your-neighborhood-find-out-0

40 years of subsidence due to fluid withdrawals in the Houston-Galveston, Texas, area https://www.usgs.gov/news/land-elevation-changes-due-groundwater-withdrawals-indicate-

regional-shifts-houston-galveston Links to report & maps: https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/sim3365

Reassessing old data to predict seismic activity in the Central US https://www.usgs.gov/news/a-fresh-look-old-data-sheds-light-central-us-quake-origins-and-

potential Paper: http://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms14314

Sediment and freshwater flows into Galveston bay improve understanding of the watershed https://www.usgs.gov/news/sediment-flows-galveston-bay-studied-help-understand-health-

watershed USGS report: https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/sir20165177 PDF: https://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2016/5177/sir20165177.pdf

Websteroprion armstrongi - a monster worm with snapping jaws prowled the Devonian seas http://www.sci-news.com/paleontology/websteroprion-armstrongi-04645.html

Adult and juvenile fossils of Miocene age Isostylomys laurdillardi raise questions about classification in rodent family Dinomyida

http://www.sci-news.com/paleontology/dinomyidae-family-tree-04643.html

Hatzegopteryx, a flying reptile with 10-m wingspan & body mass of 220 kg, was dominant predator during late Cretaceous time in what is now Romania

http://www.sci-news.com/paleontology/hatzegopteryx-late-cretaceous-romania-04630.html

New research questions origin of unique iron composition of Earth http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/

Experiments_call_origin_of_Earths_iron_into_question_999.html

Argentine volcanologist & Nicaraguan guide fell into active Masaya Volcano, were rescued by firemen

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/ Argentine_researcher_falls_into_Nicaragua_volcano_999.html

Ocean currents, like the Agulhas, are broadening and growing more chaotic – may take less heat poleward

https://www.earthmagazine.org/article/broadening-ocean-current-could-carry-less-heat- poleward-climate-change

Down to Earth: Mountain biking geologist Kurt Refsnider https://www.earthmagazine.org/article/down-earth-mountain-biking-geologist-kurt-refsnider

Digital Rock Physics and the Digital Rocks Portal scan rock fragments at high resolution to reconstruct 3-D structure and create virtual simulations and experiments

https://www.tacc.utexas.edu/-/digital-rock-physics-helps-scientists-understand-porous- media

Portal: https://www.digitalrocksportal.org/

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Environmental Sciences Bulletin Board – 27 February 2017 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

Murkowski family once again urging oil drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska https://www.yahoo.com/news/lawmakers-renew-push-drilling-alaska-wildlife-refuge-

081322200--politics.html

Determining why the Oroville Dam spillway failed – “an accident waiting to happen” http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-ln-oroville-spillway-damage-20170220-

story.html

First partially drug-resistant malaria parasite identified in Africa http://www.terradaily.com/reports/First_drug-

resistant_malaria_parasite_detected_in_Africa_999.html

Why do cities sink? Natural and man-made causes http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2017/02/economist-explains-18

There is still so very much that humans do not understand about our Earth environment http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/eo-wilson-urges-tomorrows-scientists-

seek-earths-undiscovered-riches-180962241/ “Social Conquest of the Earth” http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/edward-o-

wilsons-new-take-on-human-nature-160810520/

President expected to sign measure to rescind EPA Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-order-reversal-obama-water-regulation-rule-official- 214851408.html

Mapping the regions in the country at risk from declining bee populations & rising crop pollination demand

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-map-highlights-bee-population-declines- across-us-180962268/

3,000 chemical substitutes developed for cancer-linked PFCs may also be harmful http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/02/substitute_chemicals_for_cance.html

In Africa, cassava, cyanide, poverty, conflict and konzo are linked http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/02/23/515819034/poverty-plus-a-poisonous-plant-

blamed-for-paralysis-in-rural-africa

Was a catastrophic outbreak of salmonella responsible for collapse of Aztec society? http://www.nature.com/news/collapse-of-aztec-society-linked-to-catastrophic-salmonella-

outbreak-1.21485

China creates more than 520,000 tons per day of trash – question is: what to do with it? http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2017/02/20/515814016/the-burning-problem-of-

chinas-garbage

Chatham House report identifies UK claim of burning biomass as a carbon-neutral source of energy is a flawed assumption – UK Renewable Energy Association responds

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-02-23/u-k-claim-that-burning-biomass-is- clean-seen-as-flawed

http://www.r-e-a.net/blog/misleading-statements-in-chatham-house-report-on-biomass- answered-23-02-2017

Chatham Paper: https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/files/chathamhouse/publications/research/2017-02-23-impacts-demand-woody-biomass-climate-forests-brack-final.pdf

14,000 evacuated from homes so far in San Jose, California, due to flooding – more storms to come

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/02/22/516700121/floods-in-san-jose-push-14- 000-people-out-of-their-homes

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/california-deadly- storms_us_58a9dba8e4b045cd34c2b194

EU hesitant on gene-editing rules…but given ethical questions, should scientists push the issue? http://www.nature.com/news/gene-editing-in-legal-limbo-in-europe-1.21515

Legal challenges and questions about ownership & ethics re: CRISPR gene editing – is it worth doing?

http://www.nature.com/news/why-the-crispr-patent-verdict-isn-t-the-end-of-the-story- 1.21510

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/crispr-will-never-be-good-enough-to-improve- people_us_58a90dcbe4b0b0e1e0e20c00

People in the Quebrada Camarones region of the Atacama Desert in Chile have evolved to detoxify potentially deadly arsenic in their water supply

https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23331144-200-desert-people-evolve-to-drink- water-poisoned-with-deadly-arsenic/

Wastewater from O&G operations contained petroleum & other pollutants that altered diversity, number s & functions in microbial community downstream

http://www.news-medical.net/news/20170223/Wastewater-releases-from-oil-and-gas- operations-at-West-Virginia-alter-microbes-study-finds.aspx

Scott Pruitt confirmed as new head of EPA – predictions for the Agency http://www.cbsnews.com/news/scott-pruitt-confirmation-vote-epa-administrator/ http://www.newyorker.com/news/amy-davidson/scott-pruitt-the-e-p-a-and-the-republicans-

bargain-with-trump https://cleantechnica.com/2017/02/20/epa-almost-immediate-castrated-scott-pruitts-senate-

confirmation/ http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/pruitt-confirmation-adds-another-strong-anti-

marijuana-voice-to-trump-cabinet/article/2615318

Maximum-security biolab in China will be part of network of BSL-4 facilities http://www.nature.com/news/inside-the-chinese-lab-poised-to-study-world-s-most-

dangerous-pathogens-1.21487

Should climate models focus more on human sociology? Is their reasoning supported by sound analysis (see especially figure 1 in paper)?

http://www.treehugger.com/climate-change/new-model-climate-change-anthropocene- epoch.html

Paper: https://academic.oup.com/nsr/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/nsr/nww081

Ammunition made with lead poisons wildlife, but hunters say it is too expensive to change http://www.npr.org/2017/02/20/514290612/lead-ammunition-poisons-wildlife-but-too-

expensive-to-change-hunters-say

Los Angeles ranks highest as the most traffic-clogged city in the world http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-traffic-los-angeles-20170220-story.html http://inrix.com/press-releases/los-angeles-tops-inrix-global-congestion-ranking/ INRIX scorecard: http://inrix.com/scorecard/

Illegal migration can turn deadly – 74 bodies wash ashore in western Libya, 12 missing, https://www.yahoo.com/news/red-crescent-74-bodies-migrants-wash-ashore-libya-

091944692.html

USDA announces it will invest $103M in 2017 to protect lives & property after natural disasters https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAOC/bulletins/188f731

As population numbers of giraffes are plummeting, we need better understanding of the species http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/save-giraffes-put-our-necks-out-

180962128/

Is a virtual game version the next best thing to actually walking in the footsteps of Henry David Thoreau at Walden Pond? I don’t think it quite compares (video trailer)

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/can-video-game-capture-magic-walden- 180962125/

The game: http://waldengame.com/

Famine is declared in parts of South Sudan http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/people-facing-starvation-declared-parts-of-

sudan- 180962242/

Like polar bears, reindeer (caribou) are adapting to climatic conditions – if only humans would do so

http://www.npr.org/2017/02/17/515621902/in-massachusetts-coastal-residents-consider- how-to-adapt-to-climate-change

How to treat back pain effectively and reduce the likelihood of opioid drug additions

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/lower-back-pain- treatment_us_58a5e282e4b037d17d25b4ab

Ongoing questions regarding Bears Ears National Monument in Utah http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jason-chaffetz-bears-ears-tweet-probe-

us_us_58acc6a8e4b03d80af70717b

Have you ever heard the sound of a starling murmuration? (video) http://www.treehugger.com/animals/sounds-starling-murmuration-are-mesmerizing-sight-

it.html

Construction of two nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle in Georgia is delayed http://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Westinghouse-delays-Georgia-reactor-

construction

Aging dams in the US pose potential risks for those who live and work downstream https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/02/23/us/americas-aging-dams-are-in-need-of-

repair.html

Addressing the cultural and economic downsides of counterfeit makeup – what about the safety of the ingredients and potential for health impacts?

https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2017-counterfeit-makeup/

Only about 14 percent of plastics are recycled – can technology improve on that? https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2017/feb/22/plastics-recycling-trash-

chemicals-styrofoam-packaging https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/news/new-plastics-economy-report-offers-

blueprint-to-design-a-circular-future-for-plastics Report: https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/assets/downloads/New-Plastics-

Economy_Catalysing-Action_13-1-17.pdf Dell project intends to recycle “ocean plastic” into product packaging

https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/02/recycling-plastic-trash-before-it-can-reach-the- ocean/

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

Coastal Zone Management Bulletin Board – 27 February 2017 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

China to debut world's first bird 'airport' http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/blogs/china-debut-worlds-first-bird-airport

Sediment Flows into Galveston Bay Studied to Help Understand Health of Watershed http://www.enn.com/pollution/article/50626

Process of drafting new Coastal Zone Management Plan set in motion – Panjim, India http://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/Process-of-drafting-new-Coastal-Zone-Management-Plan-set-

in-motion/111706.html

A disaster that’s still unfolding – oil spill along Chennai coast, India http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-disaster-thats-still-unfolding/article17348719.ece

Desalination plants face roadblock – Chennai, India http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/desalination-plants-face-roadblock/

article17349406.ece

Traditional fishermen wary about tourism sheds on Goa beaches - India http://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay.aspx?newsID=439482 http://www.navhindtimes.in/gczma-issues-stop-order-to-cavelossim-sea-wall-works/

No “I do” near sand dunes, turtle nesting sites – Goa, India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/report-no-i-do-near-sand-dunes-turtle-nesting-

sites/articleshow/57115749.cms

Sea Change: Washington Supreme Court Decision Affects Coastal Energy Projects http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/sea-change-washington-supreme-court-51343/

Exxon Wants In on California Coastal Fracking, Acidizing Suits https://www.law360.com/articles/890458/exxon-wants-in-on-calif-coastal-fracking-acidizing-

suits Beaches: Challenge to DeBordieu seawall starts over – South Carolina

http://www.coastalobserver.com/articles/2017/021617/1.html

South Africa: Critical Court Showdown on Mining and Environment http://allafrica.com/stories/201702220775.html

Along the hotly disputed Pinelands pipeline's path, hopes, fears, and doubts – New Jersey http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_jersey/In-Pinelands-proposed-gas-pipeline-gets-

mixed-reaction-.html

Topsail Beach’s Request for Sand Site Stalled – North Carolina http://www.coastalreview.org/2017/02/topsail-beachs-request-for-sand-site-stalled/

EU opening a new chapter of relations with The Gambia http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-230_en.htm

Marquette Street development finally approved – Oceanside, California http://www.thecoastnews.com/2017/01/27/marquette-street-development-finally-approved/

Vietnam’s coastal zones boast rich resources http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/environment/172227/vietnam-s-coastal-zones-boast-rich-

resources.html

Coastal Commission locks in Banning Ranch denial, though developer vows to fight on – California

http://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-me-banning-ranch-20170209- story.html

In Carova, a battle rages over commercial development – North Carolina https://outerbanksvoice.com/2017/01/30/in-carova-a-battle-rages-over-commercial-

development/

In Massachusetts, Coastal Residents Consider How to Adapt to Climate Change http://www.npr.org/2017/02/17/515621902/in-massachusetts-coastal-residents-consider-

how-to-adapt-to-climate-change