Geosciences Bulletin Board 22 February 2016 - Compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

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Geosciences Bulletin Board – 22 February 2016 - compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

Animation video of the last day of Pompeii when Mount Vesuvius erupted  https://www.youtube.com/embed/dY_3ggKg0Bc

Tropical Cyclone Winston is first Cat 5 storm to ever hit the island of Fiji (satellite sequence & video)  http://www.accuweather.com/en/features/trend/lifethreatening_tropical_cyclo/5552380 4

Turning climate change graphs into 21 works of art (images)  http://www.fastcoexist.com/3056398/these-beautiful-paintings-turn-depressing-climate- change-graphs-into-art

Series of small earthquakes hit the Big Pine, California, area with largest so far measuring M4.3  http://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article60714351.html

One possible explanation on why it is getting harder to find meteorites in Antarctica  http://www.smithsonianmag.com/articles/iron-meteorites-play-hide-and-seek-under- antarctic-ice-180958153/ Just how did Cambrian trilobites attack their prey? (video)  http://phys.org/news/2016-02-million-year-old-fossils-extinct-prey.html

The Constuctal Law of physics applies to rolling boulders and turbulent eddies in water and air  http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-02/du-rst021716.php

Solar storms interact with the magnetic field of Earth  http://www.earthmagazine.org/article/comment-weathering-perfect-storm-space

Warmer water temperatures linked to die-off of millions of starfish, a keystone species in the ocean  http://news.yahoo.com/scientists-killed-millions-starfish-141250503.html

International Mineralogical Association has inventoried & categorized all known rare mineral species, of which Sardinian ichnusaite is likely the rarest  http://www.sci-news.com/geology/earths-mineral-kingdom-03635.html

Oldest Permian ichnites (footprints) of temnospondyls (the predecessors of today's amphibians) found in Catalonia  http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Oldest_footprints_in_Catalonia_999.html

Uranium contamination of aquifers may be linked to nitrate  http://www.earthmagazine.org/article/uranium-contamination-aquifers-could-be-linked- nitrate

Hadesarchaea group of microbes were first discovered deep in South African gold mine  http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Scientists_discover_new_microbes_that_thrive_deep _in_the_earth_999.html

A Jurassic romance links Mary Anning, fossils and a life-changing moment  http://www.earthmagazine.org/article/geologic-column-jurassic-romance

Chemists predict the existence of the eighteenth crystalline form of water called Ice XVII  http://www.sci-news.com/othersciences/chemistry/ice-xvii-chemists-predict-existence- new-form-ice-03633.html

Working to decipher what triggers an avalanche  http://www.earthmagazine.org/article/slipping-point-snow-scientists-dig-decipher- avalanche-triggers

This 4-mile long river in Peru is so hot it boils (video)  http://www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/mysterious-4-mile-long-river-peru-so-hot- it-actually-boils.html

Plankton network is linked to the biological carbon pump in the ocean  http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Plankton_network_linked_to_oceans_biological_car bon_pump_revealed_999.html Single fossil toe bone of the 53 myo, 6-foot tall, several-hundred-pound bird found on Ellesmere Island above the Arctic Circle  http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Study_confirms_giant_flightless_bird_wandered_th e_Arctic_50_million_years_ago_999.html

During the M7.2 El Mayor-Cucapah earthquake in 2010 in Gulf of California, the keystone fault ruptured first and released seven subsidiary faults and jumped a 5 mile gap  http://phys.org/news/2016-02-strongest-link-triggered-big-baja.html

Hyperactive magnetic field may have led to Kotlinian Crisis extinction event at the end of the Ediacaran Period roughly 550 mya  http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/02/hyperactive-magnetic-field-may-have-led- one-earth-s-major-extinctions

Sedimentary, clay mineralogy and geochemical experiments on hominoid fossil help explain survival of the last hominoids in the Eurasian continent in the Miocene  http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-02/16/c_135103582.htm

Using bales of leaves to reduce coastal beach erosion along the Atlantic City shoreline  http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/how-to-use-leaves-to-protect-the- shore/article_4bfa28bc-d040-11e5-bf15-bf458fac7a62.html

New geologic map shows geologic diversity and may reveal the chronologic evolution of Pluto, including its “floating” hills  http://www.gizmag.com/nasa-pluto-geological-map/41827/  http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/plutos-floating-hills-02152016/

Federal budget proposed for 2017 includes $1.2B for USGS  http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=4452#.VsPThvkrKM8

In response to increased frequency of EQs, Oklahoma wants 40% reduction in fracking wastewater injection  http://www.allgov.com/news/controversies/oklahoma-wants-40-cut-in-fracking- wastewater-burial-to-counter-dramatic-increase-in-earthquakes-160217?news=858311

NRC to conduct deep borehole feasibility study in North Dakota to store hottest nuclear waste  http://www.allgov.com/news/where-is-the-money-going/energy-department-considers- burying-nuclear-waste-in-3-mile-deep-holes-160215?news=858295

Sediments in Orakei Basin to reveal 140,000 year volcanic history  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/science/news/article.cfm? c_id=82&objectid=11591296&ref=rss

Activists are seeking revision to building code to limit construction along faults following the 6.4M EQ that leveled a number of buildings in Taiwan  http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/02/18/2003639649 Exploring Patagonia by sea  https://www.lonelyplanet.com/south-america/travel-tips-and-articles/sailing-south- patagonia-by-sea

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Enviro-Sciences Bulletin Board – 22 February 2016 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

Tourists taking selfies apparently are more important than respecting the life of this baby dolphin – it died  http://news.yahoo.com/baby-dolphin-dies-after-tourists-pull-it-from-124230809.html

Ships that carried miners to the gold rush of 1849 also found guano - riches in its own form  http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-gold-rush-led-real-riches- bird-poop-180957970/

Experts are calling for re-evaluation of the significant health impacts from use of glyphosate pesticide  http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2016/feb/glyphosate-roundup- monsanto-cancer-endocrine-disruptor-science  Paper: http://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-016-0117-0  Testing for glyphosate in food: http://civileats.com/2016/02/17/fda-to-start-testing-for- glyphosate-in-food/

New thoughts on the collapse of Easter Island  http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-evidence-finds-that-easter-island- wasnt-destroyed-war-after-all-180958159/

GE & EPA in dispute over clean-up and disposal of PCBs from the Housatonic River in Massachusetts  https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/02/16/and-epa-dispute-over-federal-plan- clean-polluted-housatonic-river/uVpQQLSBKecI9vcRD5gAqK/story.html

Understanding how birds stay healthy while carrying potentially deadly (for humans) Cryptococcus neoformans  http://www.technology.org/2016/02/17/scientists-discover-bird-blood-cell-which- destroys-fatal-fungal-infection/

Where do invasive species rank among the most significant causes of extinction?  https://www.newscientist.com/article/2077702-invasive-species-blamed-as-second- biggest-cause-of-extinctions/  Paper: http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/12/2/20150623

Remnant Neanderthal DNA associated with immunological, dermatological, neurological, psychiatric and reproductive diseases in modern humans, even increasing nicotine addiction  http://www.sci-news.com/medicine/neanderthal-derived-dna-impact-modern-human- traits-03629.html

Close encounter between skier and snow leopard on the mountain in Kashmir, India (video)  http://www.canberratimes.com.au/environment/animals/snow-leopard-captured-on- camera-on-indian-mountainside-20160217-gmw935.html  Fighting to protect snow leopards: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science- nature/hunters-become-conservationists-fight-protect-snow-leopard-180958105/

Chlamydia can be deadly for koalas…a cull may be the key to helping the species survive  http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/researchers-say-culling-koalas-may-save- them-chlamydia-180958131/

Durban, South Africa, uses decentralized strategy and less expensive tools that worked to deliver clean water and sanitation services to the poor  http://www.citylab.com/housing/2016/02/how-durban-set-the-global-standard-for- providing-water-and-sanitation-for-the-poor/462957/

Texting may pose a technological hazard that reduces communication & impairs social skills  http://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/texting-isnt-first-new-technology-thought- impair-social-skills-180958091/

Poor air quality results in 5.5 million deaths each year across the world (infographic)  http://phys.org/news/2016-02-poor-air-quality-million-worldwide.html

Two species of fungus seem to be responsible for die-off among amphibians around the globe  http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/ban-salamanders-just-part-fight- against-deadly-fungus-180958143/

Impacts of wildfires on water in the Western US (infographic)  http://blogs.usda.gov/2016/02/08/western-water-threatened-by-wildfire/

New USDA report on the effect of drought on forests & rangelands across the US  http://blogs.usda.gov/2016/02/11/from-devastation-to-restoration/  Full Report: http://www.fs.fed.us/sites/default/files/DROUGHT_book-web-1-11-16.pdf

Eight Presidents have shaped our public lands… from Jefferson to Lincoln to Roosevelt and others  https://www.doi.gov/blog/8-presidents-who-shaped-americas-public-lands

Surge in Guillain-Barre paralysis cases may be related to increase in cases of Zika virus  http://news.yahoo.com/doctors-upsurge-paralysis-condition-accompanies- 050831706.html  https://www.yahoo.com/health/who-issues-56-million-plan-to-combat-zika-virus- 151220478.html

January flood waters carried sediment to lower Mississippi River…US Army Corps of Engineers wants to speed up dredging schedule  http://theadvocate.com/news/14778410-123/early-flooding-on-mississippi-brings-large- amount-of-sediment-calls-for-early-dredging-to-keep-shipp

Global energy infrastructure is at risk from technological hazard: cyber attacks  http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2016/02/15/why-protecting-critical-infrastructure-from- cyberattacks-is-global-emergency.html

USDA proposes rule changes to ensure healthy food options for low-income SNAP users  http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2016/02/0045.xml  http://www.allgov.com/news/unusual-news/usda-wants-retailers-who-take-food-stamps- to-stock-healthier-foods-160217?news=858310

Californians now want water more than an over-budget, not yet completed bullet train  http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-bullet-train-ballot-20160215-story.html

Sequencing genome of the deer tick lends optimism that method of thwarting Lyme disease will follow  http://in.reuters.com/article/science-ticks-idINKCN0VJ0CZ  New species of Borrelia: http://www.nature.com/news/new-cause-for-lyme-disease- complicates-already-murky-diagnosis-1.19393 TVA will not move forward with “under construction” or with new nuclear power plants due to escalating costs and decreased demand….while Vogtle plant construction continues in Georgia… and others  http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2016/feb/13/tvabandons-new-reactor- design-bellefonte/349984/  http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/metro/2016-02-13/plant-vogtle-construction- continues-despite-setbacks-cost-overrun  http://www.platts.com/latest-news/electric-power/birmingham-alabama/tva-puts- bellefonte-nuclear-power-units-on-hold-21942467

Perspective: The latest and perhaps another futile promise “to eliminate cancer as we know it” and spend $1B  http://www.nature.com/news/back-to-earth-1.19377

The Great Backyard Bird Count wrapped up another successful event  http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/02/12/466557474/ready-set-watch-the- great-backyard-bird-count-starts-today  http://gbbc.birdcount.org/uncategorized/gbbc-2016-halftime-report/

Perspective: Paying attention to “you are what you eat” when it comes to animals in the laboratory  http://www.nature.com/news/chow-down-1.19378

Program to limit marine catches saves species and also reduces risky behavior by fishermen  http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/02/16/466612148/study-program-to-protect- fish-is-saving-fishermens-lives-too

Dallas, Texas, to begin yet another structural attempt to reduce flooding, this one will cost at least $319M  http://cityhallblog.dallasnews.com/2016/02/construction-of-5-mile-319-million-drainage- tunnel-to-begin-in-east-dallas-this-spring.html/

Corrosion of pipeline identified as cause of oil spill in May 2015 along the Santa Barbara, California, coast  http://fuelfix.com/blog/2016/02/17/regulators-say-pipe-corrosion-led-to-california-oil- spill-in-may/