I see that Joaquin Ruiz, UA Dean of Sciences and geoscience prof, is the candidate for Vice President of the Geological Society of America for 2009-2010.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Joaquin for VP
I see that Joaquin Ruiz, UA Dean of Sciences and geoscience prof, is the candidate for Vice President of the Geological Society of America for 2009-2010.
Earth science matters
The National Academies online survey on What Matters Most to You? ranked Earth science topics among the highest.
Energy, Climate Change, Water Resources, and Space Science & Exploration ranked 1, 2, 4, and 9 respectively. Education and Learning is #3.
Thanks to Darlene Cavalier, who blogs at Science Cheerleader, for introducing me to her blog. I finally met Darlene over lunch at the Science Debate meeting at ASU last week. She is a leader in the COPUS - Year of Science Philadelphia hub and is just as enthusiastic in person as you'd expect from her blog and other activities.
80,000 maps moved into new Arizona state archives
Arizona's State Map Library moved their 80,000 maps into the new Polly Rosenbaum Archives and History Building in time for the building's formal dedication on Thursday in Phoenix.
The Arizona Geographic Information Council sent out a short list of the other collections moving:
- 60,000 books
- 900 periodical titles
- 500 newspaper titles on microfilm
- 400 newspaper titles on paper
- 125,000 photos
- audio and video tapes
- thousands of other maps, prison records, land surveys, court records and more
Willcox coal ash pond was lined to prevent leakage into earth fissure
The coal ash and sludge pond at the Apache Generating station near the Willcox Playa has a liner designed to keep any materials from flowing down an earth fissure into underlying ground waters. [right, location of earth fissure, pond, and power plant. Credit, Keaton et al, AEG SP 8]
Ever since the collapse of the TVA coal ash impoundment in Tennessee a few weeks ago, Congress and others are looking at increasing regulations on these facilities. News stories report that ash ponds in many locales are not regulated or done so, minimally.
The earth fissure was discovered in 1993 and subsequent geotechnical studies convinced AZ Dept. of Environmental Quality that a proposed ash sludge pond could be constructed safely. The original pond design was for a geomembrane under the entire pond. Subsequently, that was modified to add a second geomembrane liner over the earth fissure and extending across the pond site. It was built in 1994.
The geotech study (Geomechanical Analysis of an Earth Fissure Induced by Ground-Water Withdrawal for Design of a Proposed Ash and Sludge Impoundment, Southeastern Arizona) was published by Jeff Keaton, Mike Rucker, and Suange Cheng in:
Land Subsidence Case Studies and Current Research; Proceedings of the Dr. Joseph F. Poland Symposium on Land Subsidence, - Association of Engineering Geologists Special Publication No. 8, 1998.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Meteorologists in Phoenix, honor climate book
The American Meteorological Society wrapped up its annual meeting in the newly expanded Phoenix Convention Center with a week of perfect temperatures and blue skies.
More than 2,000 of the world’s leading atmospheric scientists were in town to discuss a broad range of weather and climate-related issues including hurricanes, climate change, space weather, drought, flash floods, 2008 weather highlights, atmospheric chemistry, observation systems, etc.
On Wednesday, author Chris Mooney was presented the 2009 Louis J. Battan Author’s Award by AMS for his book, Storm World: Hurricanes, Politics, and the Battle over Global Warming.
Chris' book was honored as “an accurate and comprehensive overview of the evolving debate on the impacts of global warming on hurricanes that illustrates the complexities of this significant scientific problem.”
He came to town a day earlier for a strategy meeting of the founders and leaders of Science Debate 2008, hosted by Lawrence Krauss at ASU. I joined them Tuesday afternoon and had the pleasure to sit between Chris and the utterly charming Sheril Kirshenbaum [right], who are coauthor
ing a new book due out this May, titled Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens Our Future.Chris was one of the dozen participants in the NSF-sponsored workshop that Judy Scotchmoor and I organized in 2006 that led to the formation of COPUS and the celebration of 2009 as the Year of Science.
Is that enough name-dropping for this post? People talk about 6 degrees of separation - I'm convinced that within the science community, it's really only a single degree. We are all closely connected.
Science, energy, education, research in House stimulus bill
The American Recovery & Reinvestment Act released yesterday is 258 pages long, with a long list of funding proposals but on my first pass through it, found appropriations that cover programs in water, energy, climate change, environmental clean-up, earthquake hazards, national map, science instruments-facilities-equipment, and more. AGU compiled key science investments:
"National Science Foundation: $3 billion, including $2 billion for expanding employment opportunities in fundamental science and engineering to meet environmental challenges and to improve global economic competitiveness, $400 million to build major research facilities that perform cutting edge science, $300 million for major research equipment shared by institutions of higher education and other scientists, $200 million to repair and modernize science and engineering research facilities at the nation's institutions of higher education and other science labs, and $100 million is also included to improve instruction in science, math and engineering."
"Department of Energy: $1.9 billion for basic research into the physical sciences including high-energy physics, nuclear physics, and fusion energy sciences and improvements to DOE laboratories and scientific facilities. $400 million is for the Advanced Research Project Agency Energy to support high-risk, high-payoff research into energy sources and energy efficiency."
"NASA: $600 million, including $400 million to put more scientists to work doing climate change research, including Earth science research recommended by the National Academies, satellite sensors that measure solar radiation critical to understanding climate change, and a thermal infrared sensor to the Landsat Continuing Mapper necessary for water management, particularly in the western states; $150 million for research, development, and demonstration to improve aviation safety and Next Generation air traffic control (NextGen); and $50 million to repair NASA centers damaged by hurricanes and floods last year."
"National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Satellites and Sensors: $600 million for satellite development and acquisitions, including climate sensors and climate modeling."
I went through the bill and found these additional items:
U.S. Geological Survey: Surveys, Investigations, and Research, $200 million for repair and restoration of facilities; equipment replacement and upgrades including stream gages, and seismic and volcano monitoring systems; national map activities; and other critical deferred maintenance and improvement projects.
NRCS ‘‘Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations’’, $350,000,000
Commerce: ‘‘Construction of Research Facilities’’ $300,000,000, for a competitive construction grant program for research science buildings.
NOAA: ‘‘Procurement, Acquisition and Construction’’, $600,000,000, for accelerating
satellite development and acquisition, acquiring climate sensors and climate modeling capacity, and establishing climate data records: not less than $140,000,000 shall be available for climate data modeling.
NASA: ‘‘Research and Related Activities’’, $2,500,000,000: $300,000,000 shall be available solely for the Major Research Instrumentation program and $200,000,000 shall be for activities authorized by title II of Public Law 100–570 for academic research facilities modernization.
NASA: ‘‘Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction’’, $400,000,000, which shall be available only for approved projects.
Bur. Reclamation: ‘‘Water and Related Resources’’, $500,000,000: not less than $126,000,000 shall be used for water reclamation and reuse projects.
Energy: “Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’’, $18,500,000,000, of which not less than $400,000,000 is for geothermal technologies.
Energy: ‘‘Fossil Energy’’, $2,400,000,000 for necessary expenses to demonstrate carbon capture and sequestration technologies.
Energy: ‘‘Science’’, $2,000,000,000: not less than $400,000,000 shall be used for the Advanced Research Projects Agency—Energy.
National Park Service: ‘‘Construction’’, $1,700,000,000, for projects to address critical deferred maintenance needs within the National Park System, including roads, bridges and trails, and for other critical infrastructure projects.
EPA: ‘‘Hazardous Substance Superfund’’, $800,000,000, which shall be used for the Superfund Remedial program.
EPA: ‘‘Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund Program’’, to carry out leaking underground storage tank cleanup activities, $200,000,000.
"National Science Foundation: $3 billion, including $2 billion for expanding employment opportunities in fundamental science and engineering to meet environmental challenges and to improve global economic competitiveness, $400 million to build major research facilities that perform cutting edge science, $300 million for major research equipment shared by institutions of higher education and other scientists, $200 million to repair and modernize science and engineering research facilities at the nation's institutions of higher education and other science labs, and $100 million is also included to improve instruction in science, math and engineering."
"Department of Energy: $1.9 billion for basic research into the physical sciences including high-energy physics, nuclear physics, and fusion energy sciences and improvements to DOE laboratories and scientific facilities. $400 million is for the Advanced Research Project Agency Energy to support high-risk, high-payoff research into energy sources and energy efficiency."
"NASA: $600 million, including $400 million to put more scientists to work doing climate change research, including Earth science research recommended by the National Academies, satellite sensors that measure solar radiation critical to understanding climate change, and a thermal infrared sensor to the Landsat Continuing Mapper necessary for water management, particularly in the western states; $150 million for research, development, and demonstration to improve aviation safety and Next Generation air traffic control (NextGen); and $50 million to repair NASA centers damaged by hurricanes and floods last year."
"National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Satellites and Sensors: $600 million for satellite development and acquisitions, including climate sensors and climate modeling."
I went through the bill and found these additional items:
U.S. Geological Survey: Surveys, Investigations, and Research, $200 million for repair and restoration of facilities; equipment replacement and upgrades including stream gages, and seismic and volcano monitoring systems; national map activities; and other critical deferred maintenance and improvement projects.
NRCS ‘‘Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations’’, $350,000,000
Commerce: ‘‘Construction of Research Facilities’’ $300,000,000, for a competitive construction grant program for research science buildings.
NOAA: ‘‘Procurement, Acquisition and Construction’’, $600,000,000, for accelerating
satellite development and acquisition, acquiring climate sensors and climate modeling capacity, and establishing climate data records: not less than $140,000,000 shall be available for climate data modeling.
NASA: ‘‘Research and Related Activities’’, $2,500,000,000: $300,000,000 shall be available solely for the Major Research Instrumentation program and $200,000,000 shall be for activities authorized by title II of Public Law 100–570 for academic research facilities modernization.
NASA: ‘‘Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction’’, $400,000,000, which shall be available only for approved projects.
Bur. Reclamation: ‘‘Water and Related Resources’’, $500,000,000: not less than $126,000,000 shall be used for water reclamation and reuse projects.
Energy: “Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’’, $18,500,000,000, of which not less than $400,000,000 is for geothermal technologies.
Energy: ‘‘Fossil Energy’’, $2,400,000,000 for necessary expenses to demonstrate carbon capture and sequestration technologies.
Energy: ‘‘Science’’, $2,000,000,000: not less than $400,000,000 shall be used for the Advanced Research Projects Agency—Energy.
National Park Service: ‘‘Construction’’, $1,700,000,000, for projects to address critical deferred maintenance needs within the National Park System, including roads, bridges and trails, and for other critical infrastructure projects.
EPA: ‘‘Hazardous Substance Superfund’’, $800,000,000, which shall be used for the Superfund Remedial program.
EPA: ‘‘Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund Program’’, to carry out leaking underground storage tank cleanup activities, $200,000,000.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Volunteers sought for Havasupai Canyon restoration
An outdoor company is organizing working trips to Havasupai Canyon to help clean up the damage from last August's flash flood and rebuild trails and facilities. Volunteer work will generally involve manual labor such as removing debris, clearing areas for campsites, filling wire baskets with rocks to create gabions for stream control.
The company is charging for the trip but says it is in no way a recreation event. All costs associated with joining the volunteer trips are for transportation, food and one pack animal for miscellaneous equipment to be carried into and out of the canyon. [right, my photo from this past Fall, showing erosion from the flood]
You can reserve a spot for this trip by calling Arizona Outback Adventures from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday at 866-455-1601 or by sending an email to havasupaivolunteer@aoa-adventures.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)