DOCSLIB.ORG

2002-2004 BIENNIAL REPORT Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory the Earth Institute at Columbia University

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
2002-2004 BIENNIAL REPORT Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory the Earth Institute at Columbia University 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS LAMONT-DOHERTY EARTH OBSERVATORY IS RENOWNED IN THE INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY for its success and innovation in advancing understanding of Earth, for its unique geological and climatological archives and state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, and for the outstanding achievement of its graduates. Observatory scientists observe Earth on a global scale, from its deepest interior to the outer reaches of its atmosphere, on every continent and in every ocean. They decipher the long record Voyagers on the stern of the U.S. icebreaker Nathaniel B. of the past, monitor the present, and seek to foresee Earth’s future. From global climate change to Palmer look northward to the sun peeking over a tabular earthquakes, volcanoes, nonrenewable resources, environmental hazards and beyond, the Observatory’s iceberg, as the research vessel cuts through sea ice fundamental challenge is to provide a rational basis for the difficult choices faced by humankind in the and heads toward Antarctica. Aboard the Palmer to collect samples of Southern Ocean stewardship of this fragile planet. seawater for geochemical analyses was Dee Breger, G. Michael Purdy who operated the scanning electron microscope facility at Director, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Lamont-Doherty for decades. Breger, whose photography of the microscopic world has been widely acclaimed, cap- tured this macroscopic view. 2 Letter from the Director 3 Letter from the Director of The Earth Institute 4 Biology and Paleo Environment 8 Geochemistry 12 Marine Geology and Geophysics 16 Ocean and Climate Physics 20 Seismology, Geology and Tectonophysics 24 Office of Marine Affairs 28 Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences 34 Focused Initiative: Borehole Research Group 36 Focused Initiative: Remote Sensing 38 Focused Initiative: Data Management for the Geosciences 40 Special Events and Awards 44 Development 46 Lamont-Doherty Alumni Association 48 Administration 50 Staff Listings 56 Marie Tharp 1. A low-pressure system off the coast of Greenland. 1 6 2. Detail of 'Desolation Canyon' in Utah. Credit NASA 2 3. Lightening in Southeast Arizona 5 4. Volcanic activity in Hawaii National Park 3 5. Underwater sands in the Bahamas. Credit NASA 4 6. Sun scorched earth in India. Photo courtesy of Dee Breger, Drexel University 2 3 LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THE EARTH INSTITUTE “We all share one goal: to understand the Earth, “Lamont’s recruitment of world-class scientists upholds and in so doing, to benefit humankind.” the long tradition of consummate, unsurpassed expertise in earth sciences.” WE HAVE EXPERIENCED GREAT SUCCESS OVER THE TWO YEARS SINCE WE THIS HAS BEEN A MARVELOUS TWO YEARS OF ACCOMPLISHMENT BY THE published the first in this new series of biennial reports for the Observatory. Our core scientists of the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. After reading this biennial activity, of course, is understanding the Earth, and we have made notable advances report, you will agree that, under the dynamic leadership of Dr. G. Michael Purdy, the in our understanding of climate, earthquake dynamics, river processes, and many Observatory’s expert research staff has made many leaps forward in our fundamental other areas of Earth research—just a small number of which you will find described understanding of Earth processes across all the major disciplines. These include the in this all-too-brief overview. reconstruction of a history of drought over the last 2000 years from tree-ring Our Tree-Ring Laboratory has taken on a five-year challenge to unravel the records, retrospective prediction of El Niño over the last 148 years, new advances mysteries of the Asian monsoon with a landmark grant from the National Science in our understanding of tectonics, and the acquisition of a new research vessel that Foundation. We have developed important new facilities, including the expansion of will surpass our current ability to use acoustic and seismic technologies to better the Borehole Research Group to serve the newly established international Integrated understand Earth processes. In addition, Lamont’s recruitment of world-class scientists Ocean Drilling Program and the very recent acquisition of a new research vessel to upholds the long tradition of consummate, unsurpassed expertise in earth sciences. replace R/V Maurice Ewing in 2006. These are just two examples of Observatory I am also thrilled by the growing linkages between researchers at the Observatory facilities that have significant impact not just on Lamont-Doherty researchers, but and elsewhere in the Earth Institute. The other Earth Institute research units at the also on the international research community. As it always has throughout its Lamont-Doherty campus—the International Research Institute for Climate Prediction illustrious history, Lamont-Doherty continues to play a vital role at the vanguard of (IRI), the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), the global efforts to study our planet. Center for Hazards and Risk Research, the Center for Rivers and Estuaries, the We have made major investments in our future by attracting a substantial new Center for Nonlinear Earth Systems, and the Tropical Agriculture Program—have group of research staff and faculty from other universities and institutions to join our especially benefited from an exchange of knowledge and collaboration made possible team in its quest to build the pre-eminent multidisciplinary earth science research by their presence on the Lamont campus. center in the world. A notable example is the World Bank-sponsored Natural Disaster Hotspots Naturally we are not without challenges. There have been setbacks and there program, which involves scientists from Lamont-Doherty, IRI and CIESIN. As these will continue to be significant barriers to be overcome as we build this great academic relationships develop and mature, we continue to see the deep intellectual institution within the maturing construct of Columbia’s Earth Institute. But as benefits in fostering truly innovative new ways to address complex problems in earth carbon dioxide concentrations continue to build in our atmosphere, as populations and environmental sciences and to develop practicable solutions to meet the increase concentrations in coastal areas, as developing nations battle disease and challenges of achieving sustainable development. malnutrition, and as water supplies are stressed to meet the increasing demands The Earth Institute and the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory have continued of the developing world, global decision-makers increasingly will turn to earth to foster stronger connections as well between the Observatory campus and scientists for ideas and solutions. I sense a slow but heartening growth in public Columbia’s Morningside Heights and Health Sciences campuses, in particular understanding of the direct relevance that earth science plays in their lives. Our efforts at all levels of education through education programs. A new M.A. degree in Climate and Society is the most recent example, with are critical to maintain this trend—from our ever-popular October Open House to our prestigious Ph.D. program. research scientists at the Observatory and the IRI launching an educational program to train a new generation of I hope you enjoy reading this report and the tremendous diversity in intellectual pursuits and research topics, professionals well-versed in the application of climate forecast information to critical decisions involving water the global reach of our research efforts, and the vast array of research approaches—from real-time observations resources, health, and agriculture. The Ph.D. degree in Sustainable Development is another new educational to laboratory experimentation and theoretical computer modeling. Through all this, do not lose sight of the fact program that relies on the scientific leadership of Observatory scientists as we strive to train social scientists in that we all share one goal: to understand the Earth, and in so doing, to benefit humankind. The importance the natural sciences that underpin sustainable development. of this goal is gradually being realized. In human history, its priority has never been higher. I hope you will This is truly an auspicious time for the Observatory, and thus, for the Earth Institute as a whole. I am deeply appreciate the essential role that the Observatory is playing in this mighty endeavor. grateful for the work of our colleagues at Lamont-Doherty, and know that I speak for the entire Earth Institute community when I congratulate the Observatory for its continued excellence. G. Michael Purdy Director Jeffrey D. Sachs Director, The Earth Institute at Columbia University 2002-2004 BIENNIAL REPORT Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory The Earth Institute at Columbia University 4 5 BIOLOGY AND PALEO ENVIRONMENT BIOLOGY AND PALEO ENVIRONMENT Eddies: The ocean, like the Analyzing all the data they collected, the team All organisms are products of the environment in which summarized its findings in an article published in 2003 atmosphere, has “weather” in Deep-Sea Research. The researchers found that they exist, or existed. They influence their surrounding surface waters in the center of the eddy were cooler, IN OUR ATMOSPHERE, SWIRLING HIGH- AND saltier, and denser than waters outside the eddy. The environment, and they are influenced by it. low-pressure air masses form and interact in a interior waters were also full of nutrients and lush with fast-paced dynamic that generates
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Marie Tharp: Mapping the Seafloor of Back-Arc Basins, Mid-Ocean Ridges, Continental Margins & Plate Boundaries Vienna (Austria), EGU 2020-3676, 7/5/2020
    A Tribute to Marie Tharp: Mapping the seafloor of back-arc basins, mid-ocean ridges, continental margins & plate boundaries Vienna (Austria), EGU 2020-3676, 7/5/2020 Eulàlia Gràcia, Sara Martínez Loriente, Susana Diez, Laura Gómez de la Peña*, Cristina S. Serra, Rafael Bartolome, Valentí Sallarès, Claudio Lo Iacono, Hector Perea**, Roger Urgeles, Ingo Grevemeyer* and Cesar R. Ranero B-CSI at Institut de Ciències del Mar – CSIC, Barcelona *GEOMAR, Kiel, Germany **Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Facultad de Geologia, Madrid 1 The first steps of Marie Tharp • Marie Tharp, July 30, 1920 (Ypsilanti, Michigan) – August 23, 2006 (Nyack, New York) was an American geologist & oceano- graphic cartographer who, in partnership with Bruce Heezen, created the first scientific map of the Atlantic Ocean floor. • Tharp's work revealed the detailed topography and multi-dimensional geographical landscape of the ocean bottom. • Her work revealed the presence of a continuous rift-valley along the axis Fig. 1. A young Marie in the field helping his father, William E. of the Mid- Atlantic Ridge, causing a Tharp, a soil surveyor for United States Dpt. of Agriculture. Marie often paradigm shift in Earth Sciences that helped him with this task, which gave her an introduction to map- led to acceptance of Plate Tectonics making. From book “Soundings” by Hali Felt (2012). and Continental Drift. 2 Working at Columbia University Lamont Geological Observatory (NY) Fig. 2. Marie Fig. 3. at streets of Bruce New York, Heezen after she looking at a was hired to fathogram work by Dr. being Maurice produced by Ewing’, at an early the newly- echosounder formed (year 1940).
    [Show full text]
  • Marie Tharp, Oceanographic Cartographer, Dies at 86 - New York
    Marie Tharp, Oceanographic Cartographer, Dies at 86 - New York... http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/26/obituaries/26tharp.html?_r=0... August 26, 2006 By MARGALIT FOX Marie Tharp, an oceanographic cartographer whose work in the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s helped throw into relief — literally — the largely uncharted landscape of the world’s ocean floor, died on Wednesday in Nyack, N.Y. She was 86 and a resident of South Nyack. The cause was cancer, according to the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, which announced the death. Ms. Tharp was a researcher at the observatory from 1948 until her retirement in 1982. With her colleague Bruce C. Heezen (pronounced HAY-zen), Ms. Tharp compiled the first comprehensive map of the entire ocean bottom, illuminating a hidden world of rifts and valleys, volcanic ranges stretching for thousands of miles and mountain peaks taller than Everest. The map was published by the Office of Naval Research in 1977. In the revised edition of his book “The Mapmakers” (Knopf, 2000), John Noble Wilford, a science reporter for The New York Times, described their achievement this way: “Like other pioneering maps, the one by Heezen and Tharp is not complete and not always completely accurate. It is, nonetheless, one of the most remarkable achievements in modern cartography. It is the graphic summary of more than a century of oceanographic effort.” Ms. Tharp’s work in plotting the ocean’s bottom would also help gain acceptance for the theory of continental drift, still a fairly subversive proposition when she and Mr.
    [Show full text]
  • Cosmos: a Spacetime Odyssey (2014) Episode Scripts Based On
    Cosmos: A SpaceTime Odyssey (2014) Episode Scripts Based on Cosmos: A Personal Voyage by Carl Sagan, Ann Druyan & Steven Soter Directed by Brannon Braga, Bill Pope & Ann Druyan Presented by Neil deGrasse Tyson Composer(s) Alan Silvestri Country of origin United States Original language(s) English No. of episodes 13 (List of episodes) 1 - Standing Up in the Milky Way 2 - Some of the Things That Molecules Do 3 - When Knowledge Conquered Fear 4 - A Sky Full of Ghosts 5 - Hiding In The Light 6 - Deeper, Deeper, Deeper Still 7 - The Clean Room 8 - Sisters of the Sun 9 - The Lost Worlds of Planet Earth 10 - The Electric Boy 11 - The Immortals 12 - The World Set Free 13 - Unafraid Of The Dark 1 - Standing Up in the Milky Way The cosmos is all there is, or ever was, or ever will be. Come with me. A generation ago, the astronomer Carl Sagan stood here and launched hundreds of millions of us on a great adventure: the exploration of the universe revealed by science. It's time to get going again. We're about to begin a journey that will take us from the infinitesimal to the infinite, from the dawn of time to the distant future. We'll explore galaxies and suns and worlds, surf the gravity waves of space-time, encounter beings that live in fire and ice, explore the planets of stars that never die, discover atoms as massive as suns and universes smaller than atoms. Cosmos is also a story about us. It's the saga of how wandering bands of hunters and gatherers found their way to the stars, one adventure with many heroes.
    [Show full text]
  • Seabed Mapping: a Brief History from Meaningful Words
    geosciences Review Seabed Mapping: A Brief History from Meaningful Words Pedro Smith Menandro and Alex Cardoso Bastos * Marine Geosciences Lab (Labogeo), Departmento Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória-ES 29075-910, Brazil; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 19 May 2020; Accepted: 7 July 2020; Published: 16 July 2020 Abstract: Over the last few centuries, mapping the ocean seabed has been a major challenge for marine geoscientists. Knowledge of seabed bathymetry and morphology has significantly impacted our understanding of our planet dynamics. The history and scientific trends of seabed mapping can be assessed by data mining prior studies. Here, we have mined the scientific literature using the keyword “seabed mapping” to investigate and provide the evolution of mapping methods and emphasize the main trends and challenges over the last 90 years. An increase in related scientific production was observed in the beginning of the 1970s, together with an increased interest in new mapping technologies. The last two decades have revealed major shift in ocean mapping. Besides the range of applications for seabed mapping, terms like habitat mapping and concepts of seabed classification and backscatter began to appear. This follows the trend of investments in research, science, and technology but is mainly related to national and international demands regarding defining that country’s exclusive economic zone, the interest in marine mineral and renewable energy resources, the need for spatial planning, and the scientific challenge of understanding climate variability. The future of seabed mapping brings high expectations, considering that this is one of the main research and development themes for the United Nations Decade of the Oceans.
    [Show full text]
  • Marie Tharp: Seafloor Mapping and Ocean Plate Tectonics
    Marie Tharp: Seafloor mapping and ocean plate tectonics The pioneering seafloor mapping and visualization by Marie Tharp played a key role in the acceptance of the plate tectonic theory. Her physiographic maps, published with Bruce Heezen, covered the Earth’s oceans and revealed with astonishing accuracy the submarine landscape. Marie Tharp co-authored the first papers describing the major fracture zones in the Central Atlantic (Chain, Romanche, Vema), and her work directly contributed to the recognition of the role of mid-ocean ridges in plate tectonics and oceanic accretion. Heezen &Tharp physiographic diagram of the North Atlantic, painted by H.C. Berann in 1968 And at Lamont in July 2001, after she received the Lamont- Doherty Heritage Award. Photo credit: Bruce Gilbert Marie Tharp, July 30, 1920 (Ypsilanti, Michigan) in New York just after she was hired in Maurice Ewing’s lab at Lamont –August 23, 2006 (Nyack, New York). Mid-Atlantic Ridge Atlantis Seamount Meteor Seamount 10.1029/2008GC002332 2019 GMRT grid Version 3.7 Ryan, W.B.F. et al., 2009, Global Multi-Resolution Topography synthsis, Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst., 10, Q03014, doi: 1957 Heezen &Tharp physiographic diagram of the Azores region, Atlantic Ocean Tharp and Heezen opted for physiographic diagrams instead of maps to represent their bathymetric compilations. These diagrams look outdated, yet given the scarcity of actual bathymetric soundings Tharp and Heezen had to work with, they are remarkably detailed and probably more evocative than maps would have been. As an illustration we show their 1957 physiographic diagram for the Azores region, and as a comparison, a 3D view over the same region using the most recent global bathymetric mapping document: the 2019 GMRT grid.
    [Show full text]
  • Marie Tharp: ‘The Valley Will Be Coming up Soon’
    Earthlearningidea – https://www.earthlearningidea.com Marie Tharp: ‘The valley will be coming up soon’. Bruce Heezen: ‘What valley?’ ‘A woman scientist in a man’s world’ – what was it like? The story is told of Bruce Heezen and Marie you used echo sounding profiles in 1953 to Tharp on a ship measuring one of the early echo draw a map of the central Mid-Atlantic Ridge sounding profiles of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the valley, which you thought was a rift valley and 1950s. Marie said: ‘The valley will be coming up so supported the idea of ‘continental drift’ (as soon’ and Bruce said: ‘What valley?’ plate tectonic ideas were called then) but Bruce Heezen dismissed this idea as ‘girl talk’. If this story is true, it shows that Marie Tharp was your work, and other work showing that the first person to ‘discover’ an oceanic ridge rift earthquake epicentres also plotted the position valley. However, much of the credit was taken by of the rift valley, eventually persuaded Bruce Bruce Heezen because he was the ‘scientist’ and Heezen to accept the theory of plate tectonics; she was his assistant ‘cartographer’; he was a then he and others published several major man and she was a woman at a time when papers on plate tectonics, but your name did science was dominated by men. not appear on any of them. What could be done then? Use this background to discuss with your friends what Marie and woman scientists like her could do about these problems then. Write a list of what could be done.
    [Show full text]
  • EAPS 54-100 Lecture Hall Naming Contest Phase 1 Consolidated Nominations with Narrative Rationales
    EAPS 54-100 Lecture Hall Naming Contest Phase 1 Consolidated Nominations with Narrative Rationales 1 54-1.5 1.5 degrees C is the ambitious target of the Paris Agreement, limiting global temperature increase. The name both reflects the typical use of numbers for lecture halls at MIT, and serves as a reminder of the magnitude of the climate challenge. It also follows closely upon “54-100” which is what everyone calls that room -- referring to fifty- four-one-point-five would be an easy transition. 1.5 degrees is an ambitious (and some would say impossible) goal, but is a level at which the risks and impacts of climate change would be significantly reduced. Even when (if) 1.5 is in the rear view mirror, the name would also serve as a reminder of the human impact on the planet, the collective goals to mitigate this impact, and the universality of people across the globe working together towards a common ambition. 2 Room 417.07 417.07 ppm is the monthly average CO2 concentration at Mauna Loa, for May 2020. In keeping with MIT’s institutional naming traditions, which honor our collective numeric bent, naming the lecture hall Room 417.07, which is the monthly average CO2 concentration in ppm at Mauna Loa in May 2020 (could be changed to reflect CO2 at time of building or dedication) reflects the specific time and climate we live in, and is a prescient reminder of how we got here, where we’re going, and what we can do about it. 3 Tanya Atwater Tanya Atwater - pioneer in plate tectonics, inspirational woman geophysicist.
    [Show full text]
  • FALL 2017 in This Issue
    Official publication of the Ypsilanti Historical Society, featuring articles and reminiscences of the people and places in the Ypsilanti area FALL 2017 In This Issue... The Most Jacob Grobe – The Most Popular JACOB GROBE - Man in Ypsilanti in 1870! .................1 Popular Man in Ypsilanti in 1870! By Janice Anschuetz What Makes a Successful School .....6 BY JANICE ANSCHUETZ By Jack Minzey Hidden in Plain Site: Michigan Ladder Company in Ypsilanti ...........8 By Jorge Avellan Marie Tharp– Renowned Scientist from Ypsilanti .................................12 By Janice Anschuetz Class Renunion Poem .....................16 By Jo David Stockwell Eastern Michigan University Athletic Club ...................................18 By Jack Minzey The Strange Death of Edger Slater ....................................21 Jacob Grobe (at the back of the wagon) with his Peninsular ice wagon (c 1868). By James Mann The Plank Road Tavern ..................22 By James Mann This is another in the River Street This is how I first “met” Jacob Grobe. Saga series which I have been writ- The map clearly shows his residence Wedding: Was There or ing but I didn’t know it until my and place of business at the south Was There Not? ..............................24 story was finished! All roads seem west end of the wooden Forest Ave- By James Mann to lead me to River Street. Please nue bridge in the year 1888. He must come along on this journey and have been amongst the small town of Society Briefs discover how we get back to River Ypsilanti’s most popular men. Why? Street from the first commercial Because in the sweltering heat of an From the President’s Desk ................2 brewery in Ypsilanti.
    [Show full text]
  • Marie Tharp: Discoverer of the Rift Valley of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and Inventor of Marine Cartography Dawn J
    U22A-02 Marie Tharp: Discoverer of the Rift Valley of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and Inventor of Marine Cartography Dawn J. Wright Chief Scientist, Environmental Systems Research Institute (Esri) Professor, OSU College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences Hali Felt University of Alabama Author of Soundings: The Story of the Remarkable Woman Who Mapped the Ocean Floor I’m deeply honored to deliver this tribute, in collaboration with Hali Felt who has written the definitive biography, to Marie Tharp, a woman with a background and training unusual for her time in both geology and mathematics, coupled with art. A woman who had the courage of her convictions and of her intellect to posit one of the most fundamental proofs of continental drift: a rift valley caused by the faulting of seafloor spreading. But because she was a woman, her contributions were belittled or outright ignored at the time. https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm18/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/366409 ABSTRACT: By the latter half of the 20th century the technologies behind SONAR, marine gravity, and marine magnetics had advanced to the point that the complexities of the ocean floor and beneath could be unraveled in unprecedented detail. Hence, scientists would finally be able to provide conclusive evidence for plate tectonics by way of plausible, proven physical mechanisms. But it took a young woman with an unusual background in geology, mathematics, and art to use that info to posit one of the most fundamental proofs of continental drift: a rift valley caused by the faulting of seafloor spreading. She did this while a researcher at Columbia University, in the lab of the iconic Maurice “Doc” Ewing, founder of the Lamont Geological Observatory.
    [Show full text]
  • 18.1 Oceanography for Pdfs.Indd
    WOMEN IN OCEANOGRAPHY An Experiment in Institutional Transformation THE NSF ADVANCE PROGRAM FOR WOMEN AT THE EARTH INSTITUTE AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY BY ROBIN BELL, JENNIFER LAIRD, STEPHANIE PFIRMAN, JOHN MUTTER, ROBERTA BALSTAD, AND MARK CANE Following the Civil War, women in New economic importance of the common companions turned the estate house York City began to clamor for advanced mineral found in building stones: The into a geochemistry laboratory and the education at Columbia University. Al- relative effects of frost and the sulphate swimming pool into a seismic vault, a though the professors of the classics felt soda tests on building stones.” In 1929, small group of women—including re- that women in the classroom were a Katharine Fowler was the fi rst woman to nowned oceanographic cartographer distraction, women were welcomed into receive her Ph.D. from Columbia Uni- Marie Tharp—were fi nding their niche geology, physics, and chemistry classes versity based on major geological fi eld- at the Observatory. Women are promi- (Rosenberg, 2004). For almost thirty work studying anorthosites in Laramie, nent in the early photographs, but their years, women learned, side by side with Wyoming. She conducted two summers men, in geology classes until the School of fi eldwork with only a pistol and a dog Robin Bell ([email protected]) is of Engineering—then one of the largest as her fi eld assistants (Figure 1); no man Senior Research Scientist, Lamont-Doherty schools at Columbia University—deter- would accompany her to the fi eld. Fowl- Earth Observatory, Palisades, NY, USA. mined that it was improper for women er later went on to map Sierra Leone and Jennifer Laird is ADVANCE Coordina- and men to conduct fi eldwork together.
    [Show full text]
  • Marie Tharp, Oceanographic Cartographer, Dies at 86 - New York Times
    02.07.13 Marie Tharp, Oceanographic Cartographer, Dies at 86 - New York Times August 26, 2006 Marie Tharp, Oceanographic Cartographer, Dies at 86 By MARGALIT FOX Marie Tharp, an oceanographic cartographer whose work in the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s helped throw into relief — literally — the largely uncharted landscape of the world’s ocean floor, died on Wednesday in Nyack, N.Y. She was 86 and a resident of South Nyack. The cause was cancer, according to the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, which announced the death. Ms. Tharp was a researcher at the observatory from 1948 until her retirement in 1982. With her colleague Bruce C. Heezen (pronounced HAY-zen), Ms. Tharp compiled the first comprehensive map of the entire ocean bottom, illuminating a hidden world of rifts and valleys, volcanic ranges stretching for thousands of miles and mountain peaks taller than Everest. The map was published by the Office of Naval Research in 1977. In the revised edition of his book “The Mapmakers” (Knopf, 2000), John Noble Wilford, a science reporter for The New York Times, described their achievement this way: “Like other pioneering maps, the one by Heezen and Tharp is not complete and not always completely accurate. It is, nonetheless, one of the most remarkable achievements in modern cartography. It is the graphic summary of more than a century of oceanographic effort.” Ms. Tharp’s work in plotting the ocean’s bottom would also help gain acceptance for the theory of continental drift, still a fairly subversive proposition when she and Mr.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Do You Know of a Colleague And/Or Student Who Would Be Interested In
    Do you know of a colleague and/or student who would be interested in receiving these Bulletin Board listings? Please forward to them. A quick email to [email protected] with the word “subscribe” in the subject line and the email address will be added to the weekly distribution. Geosciences Bulletin Board – 5 September 2016 - compiled by Elaine J. Hanford 5.6M EQ in north-central Oklahoma on margin of injection area felt from North Texas to Iowa • https://www.yahoo.com/news/earthquake-shakes-swath-midwest-missouri-oklahoma- 121854867.html • https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/only-a-fraction-of-oklahomas-disposal-wells- shut-down-after-quake/2016/09/04/f5e62906-72d5-11e6-be4f-3f42f2e5a49e_story.html Aftershocks of the 6.2M Earthquake in Italy to be studied by international team • http://www.scotsman.com/news/environment/scientists-to-study-aftershocks-after- deadly-italy-quake-1-4218126 • No precursor events: http://www.nature.com/news/italian-scientists-shocked-by- earthquake-devastation-1.20513 Sentinel-1 provides space-borne radar mapping of area impacted by 6.2M EQ in Italy • http://m.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-1/Sentinel- 1_provides_new_insight_into_Italy_s_earthquake Marie Tharp produced maps to help prove continental drift • http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/seeing-believing-how-marie-tharp-changed- geology-forever-180960192/ Want to walk in and buy a map at CGS in Menlo Park? No, you can’t because of security reasons 1 • https://www.usgs.gov/news/menlo-park-map-store-changes-walk-policy
    [Show full text]