VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS at PLATE BOUNDARIES Give Your Research the Visibility It Deserves

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VOL. 97 NO. 13 1 JUL 2016 Career Paths for African-American Students

Did Solar Flares Cook Up Life?

High Energy Growth Forecast Through 2040

VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS AT PLATE BOUNDARIES Give Your Research the Visibility it Deserves

Abstract Submission Deadline: 3 August

Submit by 27 July and Win Big Submit your abstract by 27 July for the chance to win Fall Meeting VIP status, including front row seats for two at all keynote lectures, and more fallmeeting.agu.org Earth & Space Science News Contents

1 JULY 2016 PROJECT UPDATE VOLUME 97, ISSUE 13

Creating Career Paths for African-American Students in Geosciences A new initiative at Stony Brook University teaches marketable skills, engages students in research projects, and fosters professional career tracks of underrepresented minorities.

NEWS

Advisory Panel Calls for Large Increase for Ocean Exploration The recently established Ocean Exploration Advisory Board also urged the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 12 to increase its role in federal coordination of exploration.

COVER RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

Understanding Volcanic Eruptions Researchers Attribute Where Plates Meet 31 Human Inﬂ uence on Climate Back to 1930s A new project clarifies the relationships between tectonics and A new study finds that humans likely have volcanic systems and how they influence hazards on Italy’s Mount triggered the past 16 record-breaking hot Etna and Vulcano and Lipari islands. years on Earth, up to 2014.

Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 1 Contents

DEPARTMENTS

Editor in Chief Barbara T. Richman: AGU, Washington, D. C., USA; eos_ [email protected] Editors Christina M. S. Cohen Wendy S. Gordon Carol A. Stein California Institute Ecologia Consulting, Department of Earth and of Technology, Pasadena, Austin, Texas, USA; Environmental Sciences, Calif., USA; wendy@ecologiaconsulting University of Illinois at [email protected] .com Chicago, Chicago, Ill., USA; [email protected] José D. Fuentes David Halpern Department of Meteorology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pennsylvania State Pasadena, Calif., USA; University, University davidhalpern29@gmail Park, Pa., USA; .com [email protected] Editorial Advisory Board M. Lee Allison, Earth and Space John W. Lane, Near-Surface Geophysics Science Informatics Jian Lin, Tectonophysics Mark G. Flanner, Atmospheric Figen Mekik, Paleoceanography Sciences and Paleoclimatology Nicola J. Fox, Space Physics Jerry L. Miller, Ocean Sciences and Aeronomy Michael A. Mischna, Planetary Sciences Steve Frolking, Biogeosciences Thomas H. Painter, Cryosphere Sciences Edward J. Garnero, Study of the Philip J. Rasch, Global Environmental 30 Earth’s Deep Interior Change Michael N. Gooseff, Hydrology Eric M. Riggs, Education Brian C. Gunter, Geodesy Adrian Tuck, Nonlinear Geophysics Kristine C. Harper, History Sergio Vinciguerra, Mineral 18–28 AGU News of Geophysics and Rock Physics Susan E. Hough, Natural Hazards Andrew C. Wilcox, Earth and Planetary How on Earth to Decide Where on Emily R. Johnson, Volcanology, Surface Processes Mars to Land?; Recognizing 2015 Geochemistry, and Petrology Earle Williams, Atmospheric Keith D. Koper, Seismology and Space Electricity Reviewers for AGU. Robert E. Kopp, Geomagnetism Mary Lou Zoback, Societal Impacts and Paleomagnetism and Policy Sciences 30–32 Research Spotlight Staff Streamlining Rapid Tsunami Production and Design: Faith A. Ishii, Production Manager; Melissa A. Tribur, Senior Production Specialist; Liz Castenson, Editorial and Production Coordinator; Elizabeth Forecasting; Researchers Attribute Jacobsen, Production Intern; Yael Fitzpatrick, Manager, Design and Branding; Valerie Human Influence on Climate Bassett and Travis Frazier, Electronic Graphics Specialists Back to 1930s; The Role of Water Editorial: Peter L. Weiss, Manager/Senior News Editor; Mohi Kumar, Scientific Content Editor; Randy Showstack, Senior News Writer; JoAnna Wendel, News Writer; in Earth’s Tectonic Plumbing Amy Coombs and Elizabeth Deatrick, Editorial Interns Systems; Martian Carbonates Marketing: Angelo Bouselli, Marketing Program Manager; Jamie R. Liu, Manager, 7 Spotted by the Orbiter; Improving Marketing the Identification of Extreme U.S. Advertising: Christy Hanson, Manager; Tel: +1-202-777-7536; Email: advertising@ agu.org Precipitation Trends. 3–6 News ©2016. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. Material in this issue may be photocopied by individual scientists for research or classroom use. Permission is also High Energy Growth, Fossil Fuel 33–35 Positions Available granted to use short quotes, figures, and tables for publication in scientific books and Dependence Forecast Through Current job openings in the Earth journals. For permission for any other uses, contact the AGU Publications Office. 2040; Did Solar Flares Cook Up Life and space sciences. Eos (ISSN 0096-3941) is published semi-monthly, on the 1st and 15th of the month by the American Geophysical Union, 2000 Florida Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20009, on Earth?; Storms Cause Infrequent USA. Periodical Class postage paid at Washington, D. C., and at additional mailing Turbulence for Aircraft, New Study offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Member Service Center, 2000 36 Postcards from the Field Florida Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20009, USA. Finds; Advisory Panel Calls for A view of Edinburg of the Seven Member Service Center: 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Eastern time; Tel: +1-202-462-6900; Large Increase for Ocean Seas, the main settlement on Fax: +1-202-328-0566; Tel. orders in U.S.: 1-800-966-2481; Email: [email protected]. Exploration. Tristan da Cunha, an island in the Use AGU’s Geophysical Electronic Manuscript Submissions system southern Atlantic Ocean. to submit a manuscript: http://eos-submit.agu.org. Views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect official 7–8 Meeting Reports positions of the American Geophysical Union unless expressly stated. Extending Recent Seismic Imaging On the Cover Christine W. McEntee, Executive Director/CEO Successes to South America; Lava flows from Italy’s Mount Etna Norway and Cuba Evaluate Bilateral on the island of Sicily.Credit: Getty Climate Research Results. Images/DEA/F. Barbagallo

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High Energy Growth, Fossil Fuel Dependence Forecast Through 2040

he world’s energy consumption will The EIA report includes some details from through 2040 coming from China, India, Indo- increase by 48% between 2012 and 2040, the Paris agreement but notes uncertainty nesia, and other developing countries in Asia. Twith fossil fuels accounting for more about whether countries will meet their cli- EIA’s Sieminski said at the briefing that than 75% of world energy use in 2040, accord- mate targets. EIA head Adam Sieminski said at some global issues increase the uncertainty of ing to the U.S. Energy Information Adminis- the briefing that incorporating country cli- the forecast, including economic growth rates tration (EIA). Fossil fuels supplied 83% of mate pledges into the forecast “is compli- in China and elsewhere, technological innova- global energy demand in 2015. cated” but that the next IEO in 2017 “will tions, the future of nuclear generating capac- Energy- related carbon dioxide (CO2) emis- probably have more to say” about those com- ity, the implementation and strength of cli- sions will increase 34% during that time span, mitments. mate policies, and unrest in oil-producing with annual emissions rising from 32 billion countries. metric tons in 2012 to 43 billion metric tons in Renewables on a Fast Track 2040, the agency projects. Coal will continue According to the EIA, renewable energy will be to generate the most energy-related CO2 the fastest growing energy source, climbing by By Randy Showstack, Staff Writer emissions worldwide, although its share will 2.6% per year, and decline from 43% in 2012 to 38% in 2040, nuclear energy will according to International Energy Outlook 2016 increase from 4% to (IEO), an EIA report released in May at a brief- 6% of the energy pie. ing in Washington, D. C. (see http://bit.ly/ Coal, which the EIAreport -2016). report deemed “the world’s slowest Meeting Climate Targets growing energy The numbers in the 11 May report “indicated source,” will rise by the challenge for the world to reduce global about 0.6% per year. CO2 emissions substantially by 2040 and In 2040, coal, natural beyond,” Jan Mares, senior policy adviser gas, and renewables with Resources for the Future, told Eos. The each will contribute organization is a Washington, D. C.–based just under 30% of the U.S. Energy Information Administration U.S. think tank that focuses on natural resources world’s net electricity Fossil fuels continue to play a key role in meeting energy demands through 2040, and environment issues. Other energy and generation, the according to EIA’s energy outlook. Btu = British thermal unit (~1055 joules). climate analysts said the new projections report states. indicate that the means of energy production Cleetus told Eos need to shift soon if the world is to achieve that the EIA forecast climate targets. likely underestimates “The low hanging fruit, which is substitut- contributions from ing [natural] gas for coal, seems to be on track renewables and and looks pretty robust,” David Goldwyn, energy efficiency and president of Goldwyn Global Strategies, an does not address the international energy advisory consultancy, implications of rising told Eos. “But it’s also clear that we need a big methane emissions technological step change to get to 2 degrees associated with natu- [Celsius] or even frankly to stabilize emissions ral gas use. The fore- at the level we have right now. We’re not there cast “illustrates the yet, and the growth in renewables, which is pitfalls of an over mostly hydro, is not going to get us there.” reliance on natural “A business- as- usual scenario, with no new gas as we shift away policies beyond those that exist right now, from coal,” she also would be disastrous from a climate perspec- said. tive,” Rachel Cleetus, lead economist and climate policy manager for the Union of Con- Asian Energy cerned Scientists, told Eos. “The good news is Consumption we are not in a business-as- usual world,” she Continues Rapid Energy Information Administration U.S. said, citing the recent Paris climate agreement Growth The energy outlook forecasts that energy-related carbon dioxide emissions will increase (see http://bit .ly/ COP21 -signed) and commit- The outlook forecasts 34% between 2012 and 2040. This chart shows historical and projected world energy- ments by major emitters to cut carbon and more than half of the related carbon dioxide emissions by fuel type, from 1990 through 2040, in billions of increase renewables and efficiency. energy growth metric tons.

Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 3 NEWS

an atmospheric model using scientists’ best Did Solar Flares Cook Up estimates of concentrations of different gases in the atmosphere 4 billion years ago; at that Life on Earth? time, molecular nitrogen (N2) was a main component of the atmosphere, along with carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, and water vapor. They then subjected their model atmo- pace weather today threatens our satel- they released huge bursts of radiation and sphere to simulated super solar flares that lites, our space station, and our tele- magnetic energy, Airapetian said. These they suspect the young Sun produced—some- Scommunications, but 4 billion years bursts, called super flares, can be quite fre- times multiple times per day—and studied ago, large solar flares and their associated quent—observers see some of these stars what happened to the model atmosphere. energetic particles could have provided the belching out 10 of these super flares in a day. The researchers found that energetic parti- planet its first ingredients for life. Using these observations, Airapetian and cles associated with super solar flares com- Researchers at NASA have found that when his team extrapolated that when our Sun was pressed Earth’s magnetic field and created the Sun was about half a billion huge gaps at the poles, which years old, large solar flares— allowed highly energetic solar larger than any recorded by protons to pierce the atmosphere. humans—could have changed the Those protons knocked electrons very chemistry of Earth’s atmo- around like bowling pins, which sphere. What’s more, bombard- knocked into more electrons in an ment of the planet by high- “avalanche of electrons,” Airape- energy particles from those jets of tian said. This “avalanche” ion- superhot solar plasma might have ized atoms and tore apart existing prompted organic molecules con- carbon dioxide, methane, and sidered precursors to life to form water vapor molecules, as well as from simpler inorganic molecules molecular nitrogen—an then abundant on primordial extremely unreactive and strongly Earth. bonded molecule, Airapetian said. One of the types of molecules The resulting highly reactive sub- that could have newly formed stances acted as building blocks back then is a potent greenhouse for new substances. gas. Thus the findings may illu- “Once you have those building minate a long- standing mystery blocks, you have a fertile environ- about how Earth could have been ment to start reactive chemistry,” so warm and hospitable to life at a Airapetian said. time when, despite the solar One molecule that may have flares, the Sun was significantly formed in Earth’s infant atmo- less bright than it is today. sphere was hydrogen cyanide “To make organic stuff out of (HCN)—a molecule considered inorganic stuff, you need a lot of vital to life’s origins (see http://

energy,” said Vladimir Airapetian, NASA/Goddard/SDO bit.ly/ origins - solution). The an astrophysicist at NASA’s God- Solar flares, the largest explosions in our solar system, took place much more frequently newly formed HCN in a turbulent dard Space Flight Center in 4 billion years ago than today, bombarding Earth with energetic protons and radiation. atmosphere would have dissolved Greenbelt, Md. Airapetian, the into clouds and rained out, Aira- lead author on a paper about the petian said, likely interacting with research published recently in Nature Geosci- about half a billion years old, it likely bom- water to form other molecules necessary for ence, explained that perhaps that energy came barded Earth with a constant stream of super life, like formaldehyde, amino acids, and com- from solar flares (see http://bit .ly/ super -flares solar flares—up to 5 times larger than the plex sugars. -life). infamous Carrington event in 1859 (see http:// This barrage of solar flares could have been The new findings may also affect how bit.ly/ Carrington - Superstorm). That magnetic like a worldwide version of the Miller-Urey researchers assess the prospects for life on storm, the largest ever recorded by humans, experiments, Airapetian said, when scientists worlds orbiting other stars by putting a new knocked out telegraph operations around the sparked artificial “atmospheres,” full of gases emphasis on young, active stars. world and sent the aurora borealis streaming like carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, and as far south as Miami, Fla. A similar event water vapor, with electrical charges and found Solar Flares from Young Suns today would cause trillions of dollars in dam- that this gave rise to amino acids, one of the For almost 10 years, NASA’s Kepler telescope age to telecommunications, Airapetian said, building blocks of life (see http://bit.ly/M has been closely observing stars across the and throw cities around the world into cata- -Uexperiment - video). galaxy and the exoplanets that orbit them. strophic power outages. Previous observations by the telescope have Faint Young Sun revealed that stars similar to our Sun and All About Energy Another molecule that may have formed in younger than a billion years old temporarily To find out how these super flares may have this energized atmosphere was nitrous oxide brightened from time to time, indicating that affected infant Earth, the researchers created (N2O). You’ve probably heard this gas called

4 // Eos 1 July 2016 NEWS

laughing gas for its ability to calm even the most anxious dental patients. Storms Cause Infrequent Turbulence However, “laughing gas is not a laughing matter for early Earth,” Airapetian said. This for Aircraft, New Study Finds nitrous oxide was important for young Earth, he said. Although the Sun persistently showered Earth in solar flares 4 billion years ago, it was 30% dimmer than it is now. Earth should have been a ball of ice, Airapetian said, but evidence shows there was liquid water (life cannot form without it). So how did Earth heat up enough to sustain this water? Scientists call this the faint young Sun paradox (see http://bit.ly/ Reviews - Geophys - FaintSun). Today carbon dioxide drives warming of Earth’s atmosphere in a big way, but 4 billion years ago, if there had been enough CO2 in the atmosphere to heat the planet, Earth’s oceans iStock.com/RayOneMedia would have been too acidic for life to evolve, Turbulence affecting air travel results from storms only about a sixth as often as other studies have estimated, new Airapetian said. Nitrous oxide, however, data suggest. warms the atmosphere 300 times more effec- tively than CO2. Even though N2O was—and remains today—a small portion of the atmo- ast studies have found that convective sensors can triangulate the location of light- sphere, perhaps it played the major role in storms, like thunderstorms, cause a ning strikes. The areas with the most light- heating the planet, Airapetian and his col- Plarge portion of turbulence that plagues ning strikes represented the centers of con- leagues propose in their 23 May paper. commercial airliners. Using those findings, a vective storms, the researchers said. The new study “is a viable additional piece research team in the United Kingdom recently Comparing these data with more commonly in the long-scattered puzzle of how adequate set out to create an automated system for tur- used indicators of turbulence sources, includ- supplies of biologically available nitrogen and bulence detection that relies on lightning sen- ing satellite imagery of clouds and velocity a warm atmosphere were maintained during sors to alert airlines of dangerous winds. data from aboard airplanes, allowed the Earth’s earliest history,” said Timothy Lyons, Now, following the first tests of this new researchers to study the effects of turbulence a biogeochemist at the University of Califor- system, the researchers from the Met Office in from those storms on airplanes flying near nia, Riverside, who was not involved in the Exeter have found that airplanes flying near them. research. “This is an exciting idea that could convective storms experience much less tur- Sharman said he holds some doubts about kill two birds with one stone.” bulence than they expected: Just 14% of turbu- the accuracy of lightning as a storm detection lence events were associated with convective method, saying that lightning may not always Implications for Extraterrestrial Life storms. be concentrated in the center of a storm. Beyond offering new insight into how early This finding sharply contrasts with results Moreover, he said, it’s not clear “just because Earth might have become a crucible for life, of some previous studies that estimated that there’s lightning that there’s turbulence.” the new work has broader implications, Aira- between 82% and 86% of turbulence encoun- The new study’s disagreement with pre- petian said. “Our model expands the tradi- ters were associated with convective storms. vailing wisdom “may also indicate that con- tional definition of habitable zones of habit- The authors of the new study (see http://bit.ly/ vection is relatively less important as a source able exoplanets,” he noted. Now scientists can JAMC-turbulence) suggest that other sources of turbulence over Europe and the northeast- also consider exoplanets that may be orbiting of turbulence, such as winds forced up over ern Atlantic than over other regions (such as young, energetic, Sun-like stars, where suffi- mountain ranges, should receive a greater North America and the tropics),” the team cient energy could become available to make share of researchers’ attention in the future. noted in the paper’s conclusions. Many prior organic molecules out of inorganic molecules. The Met Office team published its results in turbulence studies took place over North In the habitable zone around a star, liquid the May issue of the Journal of Applied Meteo- America. water can persist on a planet’s surface, but a rology and Climatology. However, Sharman said that it’s unlikely new type of habitable zone could be termed Some turbulence researchers found the that significantly less turbulence occurs over the “biogenic zone,” Airapetian said. There numbers surprising. The frequency of turbu- Europe compared with North America. not only does water stay liquid, “but also the lence from convective storms “seems a little The Met Office team ran its tests for two planetary atmosphere receives enough energy low, at least compared to over the continental 6-month periods (May through October) in to make biomolecules of life, setting a path- U.S.,” said Robert Sharman, an atmospheric 2013 and 2014. The researchers noted that a way to [forming] RNA and DNA.” scientist with the National Center for Atmo- future study “over a significantly longer time He and his colleagues are also currently spheric Research in Boulder, Colo., who was period” would help test the validity of the studying how super solar flares could have not involved with the new study. patterns they found. affected Mars. The Met Office researchers used an uncon- ventional tool to pinpoint turbulent locations: a network of lightning sensors scat- By Elizabeth Deatrick, Writer Intern; email: By JoAnna Wendel, Staff Writer tered across Europe and North Africa. These [email protected]

Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 5 NEWS

coordinating ocean exploration among federal Advisory Panel Calls for Large agencies. The board’s letter calls upon NOAA also to work more vigorously to draw in federal Increase for Ocean Exploration and private funding for ocean exploration and to provide some specific ocean observations that are needed in certain regions, including the Arctic, among other measures. NOAA, through its Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER), coordinates the only federal program to systematically explore the oceans.

Board Chair Sets a Higher Funding Goal “America’s future depends on understanding the oceans,” the OEAB mentioned in a statement that the group approved at its recent meeting about why more exploration is needed. “We explore the oceans because their health and resilience are vital to our economy and to our lives: climate, food, shipping, national security, medicine, and natural resources,” the summary also said. The U.S. national ocean exploration program “probably should be at least $200 million,” Vice Admiral Paul G. Gaffney II, U.S. Navy (Ret.), chair of the OEAB, told Eos in an interview. “I just think it hasn’t earned all the respect that it’s due yet.”

NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research Office of Ocean Exploration and NOAA The White House requested $19 million for The Okeanos Explorer carries out scientific research of the ocean for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. FY 2017, the same amount it requested for FY 2016, whereas the FY 2018 budget request, already in early formulation, shows hints of n the United States, federal funding for lished OEAB, an independent U.S. federal some improvement, according to OEAB (see exploration of the nation’s offshore exclu- advisory committee, in 2014 to provide advice http://bit .ly/ OEABchair-slides). I sive economic zone and of the global ocean on ocean exploration to NOAA and the nation should be much higher than currently bud- (see http://bit .ly/ OEABsite). “Given the budget geted, according to a recent letter that the The ocean exploration program within Ocean Exploration Advisory Board (OEAB) sent NOAA received approximately $32 million for resources that we have, to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric fiscal year (FY) 2016. However, in a 27 April Administration (NOAA). The agency estab- letter to NOAA’s chief scientist and other can we accomplish agency officials, the everything?” board wrote that pre- Call for Ocean Discovery Lecturers vious national studies “envision annual funding of $75 mil- Gaffney said that NOAA, an agency within The U.S. Science Support Program (USSSP) is seeking dynamic speakers to lion to execute ocean the Department of Commerce, doesn’t have convey the excitement of the International Ocean Discovery Program exploration activi- the same budgeting flexibility as the Depart- (IODP) to geoscience communities and the United States public. ties.” A report of the ment of Defense or even NASA and that it Since 1991, more than 750 presentations have been made to audiences at President’s Panel for might be difficult to move funding around. U.S. colleges, universities, and informal learning centers. Your help is Ocean Exploration Alan Leonardi, NOAA’s OER director, called requested to identify scientists interested in participating in the Ocean issued in 2000 rec- the advice to the agency “positive.” He did not Discovery Lecture Series Program during the 2017-2018 academic year. ommended that comment specifically on budget levels but told and are primarily aimed at undergraduate and graduate students, amount (see http:// Eos that “there are a lot of competing Lectures focus on the discoveries and results of scienti�ic ocean drilling bit.ly/ ocean - panel demands for federal resources.” museums,If you or someone science youdepartments, know is interested and the scienti�ically in becoming literate an Ocean public. Discovery -report). Leonardi said he agrees with much of the Lecturer, email their name, institution, and potential lecture topic to the The board’s letter board’s advice to NOAA. “My reservations are and a related one that given the budget resources that we have, July 22, 2016. USSSP Of�ice ([email protected]) by the nomination deadline of sent to NOAA admin- can we accomplish everything?” he said. He istrator Kathryn Sul- added that NOAA officials will respond to the Deadline: livan the same day board after reviewing the letters. also recommend that July 22, 2016 NOAA play a more proactive role in By Randy Showstack, Staff Writer

6 // Eos 1 July 2016 MEETING REPORT

vices and potential collaborations available Extending Recent Seismic Imaging from the IRIS community. The workshop concluded with all partici- Successes to South America pants having a fundamental understanding of the ANT method and the ability to continue Ambient Noise Tomography Workshop (MIMOSA) applying this method at their home institu- Tucson, Arizona, 17–23 January 2016 tions. To extend the ANT method across the South American continent, participants were encouraged to seek out additional collaborations with neighboring countries. In view of the recent increase in broadband seismic networks in South America and growing interest among their operators, attendees agreed that more of these kinds of workshops are needed. A unique opportunity exists for researchers to cultivate this growing scientific interest through mutually beneficial international collaborations, leading to a better understanding of the geodynamic and tectonic history of the South American continent. For more on this meeting, see http://bit.ly/ 1sKuDvC.

By Kevin M. Ward, Jonathan R. Delph, and Susan L. Beck, Geosciences Department, Uni- versity of Arizona, Tucson; email: wardk@email .arizona .edu Klaus Balzano, CC BY-NC 2.0 (http://bit.ly/ccbync2-0) 2.0 CC BY-NC Klaus Balzano, Torres del Paine, Chile. What structures underlie these mountains and other features in South America?

ne of the main scientific goals of the As part of the MIMOSA project, research- EarthScope transportable array (see ers from five South American countries Ohttp://www . earthscope .org/) is to along with other visiting researchers from investigate the structure, dynamics, and tec- around the world gathered at the University tonic history of the North American continent. of Arizona in January for a weeklong work- But what about South America? shop on ambient noise tomography (ANT). A Although South America does not have the seismic imaging technique refined by scien- seismic station distribution and near-real- tists working on EarthScope, ANT methods time data access associated with a transport- allow scientists to use low-amplitude back- able array, a developing collection of national ground seismic noise to create images of the broadband seismic networks is beginning to crust and uppermost mantle at depth. populate the South American continent. In Because no earthquake source is needed, the addition, there have been a large number of technique can produce accurate cross sec- portable broadband deployments producing tions from local to unprecedented continen- seismic data across South America. tal scales. The recent increase in instrumentation Workshop participants included a wide paired with growing interest from individual range of scientists at different career stages, network operators to expand the scope of their including seismic network operators, gradu- seismic research capabilities has opened up ate students, postdoctoral researchers, and the possibility of new collaborations with U.S. professors. Time spent during the workshop

research institutions. With the ambitious goal was split between presentations focusing on Ward Kevin of extending the recent seismic imaging suc- developing an understanding of the ANT Map of the South American continent showing known cesses of EarthScope to the South American methodology and work time for the partici- seismic stations appropriate for an ambient noise tomog- continent, the Multiscale Imaging of Modern pants to apply what they learned to their raphy (ANT) study. Portable station deployments are Orogenic South America (MIMOSA) project, own data sets. In addition, the International shown as red circles, and permanent stations are shown funded by the U.S. National Science Founda- Development Seismology section of the as yellow circles. Although significant spatial and tempo- tion, aims to develop these mutually beneficial Incorporated Research Institutions for Seis- ral gaps still exist with the current station geometry, the international collaborations (see http://bit.ly/ mology (IRIS) included a presentation that potential for extending a continental- scale ANT study 1TWPaYp). helped make all participants aware of the ser- across South America is rapidly becoming a possibility.

Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 7 MEETING REPORT

Norway and Cuba Evaluate Bilateral Climate Research Results XCUBE Workshop Camagüey, Cuba, 16–18 November 2015

gian Embassy in Cuba sees the contribution of researchers from Camagüey as an important part of the XCUBE project; the workshop and field visits were key to the collaboration. In addition, the World Food Program repre- sentatives in Cuba have expressed interest in the results of the ongoing (and upcoming) research, which are relevant for their food security assessment in Cuba. The lessons learned from the XCUBE project and the workshop discus- sions have provided

Juan Carlos Antuña-Sánchez the framework for a The Grupo de Óptica Atmosférica de Camagüey instruments at Camagüey Meteorological Centre in Camagüey, Cuba. From left to right, the Cimel- new proposal for the 318 Sun photometer and the suction nose for the low- volume particle impactor are on the red roof of the instrument control room (small white struc- continuation of ture). The GPS automatic meteorological station is the white cylindrical instrument behind and slightly to the right of the control room. The white XCUBE cooperation, sphere in the center rear is the RD-200SX Doppler radar, designed and built by the National Radar Center in Camagüey. The small gray dome on the which will have a far right is a GPS antenna. major focus on the hydrological effects of climate change ince 2013, the Future of Climate Weather Forecasts Reanalysis (ERA)- Interim and future food security for Cuba. Alan Robock Extremes in the Caribbean (XCUBE) Reanalysis for Cuba was also discussed (see from Rutgers University (New Brunswick, N.J.) Sproject has studied the vulnerability of http://bit .ly/ ERA - Interim). will be leading the work on food security with the Caribbean to future climate extremes. The results achieved are encouraging the cooperation of Roger Rivero Vega from XCUBE is funded by the Norwegian Directorate because they identify, quantify, and make pre- INSMET/Camagüey, an expert on potential cli- for Civil Protection on assignment of the Nor- liminary attribution of ERA-Interim Reanaly- mate change effects on food production. We wegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In Novem- sis biases for Cuba. For example, the study expect that this and the next phase of the ber 2015, the Grupo de Óptica Atmosférica de found that 2-meter surface air temperature in project will enhance scientific understanding Camagüey (GOAC; http://www.goac.cu) of the the ERA-Interim model is warmer than of climate variability in the Caribbean. Cuban Meteorological Institute (INSMET) observed. Further work will be conducted to hosted an XCUBE workshop at which compare temperature at mandatory levels researchers discussed advances in bilateral from Caribbean sounding stations (based on By Juan Carlos Antuña- Marrero, Grupo de scientific cooperation between Cuba and Nor- the Integrated Global Radiosonde Archive data Óptica Atmosférica de Camagüey, Meteo- way on climate change. set) and ERA- Interim Reanalysis. rological Institute, Camagüey, Cuba; email: Workshop participants discussed a recently The workshop also included a visit to the anadelia@ caonao .cu; Michel d. S. Mesquita, Uni published paper on sea surface temperature Camagüey Meteorological Centre (CMC), the Research Climate and the Bjerknes Centre for trends in observations and models for the GOAC facilities, the National Radar Center, the Climate Research, Bergen, Norway; and Albeth Caribbean and the Antilles. A follow-up study CMC Forecast Department, and a local facility Rodriguez, Grupo de Óptica Atmosférica de looking at an intercomparison of station data developed jointly by Norway and Cuba to con- Camagüey, Meteorological Institute, Camagüey, and European Centre for Medium- Range duct capacity- building activities. The Norwe- Cuba

8 // Eos 1 July 2016 Creating Career Paths for African-American Students in Geosciences

By Robert Liebermann, Lars Ehm, and Gabriel Gwanmesia

n the morning of 6 February 2015, Melissa Sims walked the short path to the podium in the lecture hall of the newly constructed National Synchro- Otron Light Source II facility, a building of Brookhaven National Labora- tory. This was no ordinary lecture. At age 28, Sims was a graduate student studying how feldspar minerals com- press during meteorite impacts. In the audience sat Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, whom she was tasked with introducing at the new facility’s dedication. It’s not every day that a graduate student gets to open for a cabinet member. Rarer still is Sims, an African-American woman geoscien- tist in a field dominated by white men. As she sat on stage, Sims Mmdi/Getty Images

Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 9 ences to African-Americans in the 5-year period of 2000–2004. The dearth of degrees awarded to African- Americans is even more pronounced at the master’s level, despite the fact that more than 500,000 such degrees are awarded each year in the United States. As the report notes, “The geosciences have the unenviable distinction of having the poorest representation of African Americans (1%) among master’s degree recipients” [Czujko et al., 2008].

Framework for Training and Employment To address this poor record, the National Sci- ence Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Geosci- ences established in 2006 a program called Brookhaven National Laboratory Opportunities for Enhancing Diversity in the Melissa Sims from Stony Brook University (right) introducing Secretary of Energy Ernest Geosciences (OEDG). Stony Brook’s new ini- Moniz (left) at the dedication of the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) II facility in tiative is a product of OEDG. February 2015 with NSLS director Steve Dierker (far right) looking on. The initiative has a few key steps. First, project leaders seek to recruit undergraduate science and engineering students from under- remembers thinking, “How did I end up here, on a stage represented groups into the graduate program with someone appointed by the president?” in the Department of Geosciences at Stony Brook Univer- Sims is the product of a new initiative at Stony Brook sity. For expediency, efforts are focused on historically University called “A Career Path for African-American black colleges and universities, such as Delaware State Students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities University. to National Laboratories.” The initiative teaches market- Next, the recruited students take courses and develop able skills, places students in internships, and fosters the research projects toward an M.S. in geosciences instru- professional career tracks of underrepresented minorities. mentation—a degree provided by Stony Brook. Thus far, We offer this initiative as a proof of concept example of project leaders have chosen to focus on instrumentation so how and what institutions can do to address the shortage that students could develop marketable skill sets in an of African- Americans in the geosciences. emerging field between science and technology. Finally, students receive training that prepares them for The Scope of Underrepresentation employment as science associates in national user facilities The geosciences have the lowest African-American repre- of the U.S. Department of Energy. All graduates of the pro- sentation of all the science, technology, engineering, and gram have conducted their research projects at the mathematics disciplines [Huntoon et al., 2015]. National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) of the Brookha- A report from the American Institute of Physics entitled ven National Laboratory (BNL). “Untapped Talent: The African American Presence in Physics and the Geosciences” [Czujko et al., 2008] gives Building on Existing Foundations some background on the root causes of this underrepre- The new program has taken advantage of the long- sentation. standing relationship between professors from historically The report emphasizes that although many African- black colleges and universities and BNL. An important ele- American students have the necessary high school back- ment of this relationship is the Interdisciplinary Consor- grounds to succeed in physics, “these prepared students tium for Research and Educational Access in Science and are more likely to choose math or sciences other than Engineering (INCREASE), an organization that supports physics and geosciences.” In fact, “compared to other sci- access to research facilities not typically available to fac- entific disciplines, physics and the geosciences consis- ulty at historically black colleges and universities (see tently come out near the bottom in terms of their ability to http://www.increaseonline.org/). To enhance its ability to attract and retain African Americans,” the report notes attract African-American undergraduates, Stony Brook [Czujko et al., 2008]. For example, in 2004, 4% of African- University has capitalized on its connection with col- American undergraduates earned a bachelor’s degree in leagues in INCREASE institutions to help identify and physics and only 2% in the geosciences (compared with recruit students. 9% for all sciences, which is still below the 13% of African- In addition to INCREASE and NSLS at BNL, partners in Americans in the U.S. population). this new initiative include the Center for Inclusive Educa- Czujko et al. [2008] also examine the state of African- tion and the Graduate School of Stony Brook University Americans within the larger context of the U.S. educational (see http://bit.ly/1Zc41hJ). All of these organizations have system and social structure, including geography and eco- provided matching funds to complement the National Sci- nomics. Most African-American students go to college ence Foundation support. near their homes, and more than 70% of U.S. universities The M.S. in geosciences instrumentation program and colleges awarded no bachelor’s degrees in the geosci- includes both formal courses and hands-on research proj-

10 // Eos 1 July 2016 Lars Ehm Lars (left to right) Melissa Sims, Adairé Heady, and Ashley Thompson examining one of NSLS’s beamlines. Beamlines are paths for accelerated particles, used in this case to study properties of crystal structures.

ects at the NSLS. The projects typically involve the study of returning to his home institution to teach for a year before the physical and chemical properties of minerals under deciding whether to pursue further graduate study. high-pressu re conditions, which is the major focus of the Stony Brook’s program shows how science-minded stu- Consortium for Materials Properties for Research in Earth dents, through mentoring and research opportunities, can Sciences, which operates synchrotron beamlines for high- change their expectations to embrace geoscience research. pressu re research in the United States. For example, Sims was an undergraduate in exploration geophysics and headed toward a career in the oil industry. But Program Successes when she learned about Stony Brook’s program, she shifted To date, the initiative has graduated three M.S. students: her ambitions to a more academic direction. Similarly, Ashley Thompson from Delaware State University, Melissa Rhymer initially was considering opportunities in engineer- Sims from the University of South Carolina, and Adairé ing but changed his focus to study geophysics after spending Heady from Delaware State University. All graduated from two summers at BNL in the Science Undergraduate Labora- Stony Brook within a 2-year period. tory Internship program (see http://1.usa.gov/1XOleiB). Thompson is now in a Ph.D. program in mechanical engineering at Stony Brook; Sims, who was awarded a The Future prestigious graduate fellowship from Stony Brook, is The NSF Directorate for Geosciences has approved a studying for her doctorate in geosciences at the university; no-cost extension of Stony Brook’s grant, which allows the and Heady is seeking employment at a national laboratory program’s time period to run to 2016. Unfortunately, NSF such as BNL. has temporarily suspended funding for the OEDG program, In September 2014, Brandon Rhymer from the Univer- so Stony Brook is seeking new funding to extend the pro- sity of the Virgin Islands enrolled in Stony Brook’s initia- gram beyond 2016. However, both Brookhaven National tive. He graduated with his M.S. degree in May 2016 and is Laboratory and the Graduate School at Stony Brook have extended their funding for another 2 years. For tips on how to implement such a program in your institution, contact Robert Liebermann.

References Czujko, R., R. Ivie, and J. H. Stith (2008), Untapped talent: The African American presence in physics and the geosciences, Publ. R-444, 22 pp., Am. Inst. of Phys., College Park, Md. Huntoon, J. E., C. Tanenbaum, and J. Hodges (2015), Increasing diversity in the geosciences, Eos, 96, doi:10.1029/2015EO025897.

Author Information Robert Liebermann, Department of Geosciences and Mineral Physics Institute, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, N.Y.; email: robert.liebermann@stonybrook.edu; Lars Ehm, Mineral

Gabriel Gwanmesia Physics Institute, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, N.Y., Brandon Rhymer with the 2000-ton uniaxial split sphere apparatus in and Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, N.Y.; and Gabriel the Stony Brook High Pressure Laboratory. The apparatus helps scien- Gwanmesia, Department of Physics and Engineering, Dela- tists simulate the high pressures of Earth’s deep interior. ware State University, Dover

Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 11 UNDERSTANDING VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS WHERE PLATES MEET

By Raffaele Azzaro and Rosanna De Rosa

A new project clarifies the relationships between tectonics and volcanic systems and how they influence hazards on Italy’s Mount Etna and Vulcano and Lipari islands.

Mount Etna erupting at dusk.

12 // Eos 1 July 2016 VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS

ount Etna and the Aeo- a cluster of volcanoes, some of the most active lian Islands in southern in Europe. Italy represent ideal nat- The region’s proximity to major urban centers ural laboratories to study is a double-edged sword. Researchers have little how magma and tectonics trouble visiting volcanoes to study how tectonics interact in active volcanic influence volcanic plumbing. At the same time, zones and their associated hazards. The geo- this proximity presents hazards to inland com- Mdynamic context of both areas is characterized munities and those on nearby shores. by a tectonic compression running north and To take advantage of this natural laboratory south, related to the convergence of the Afri- and to help protect people living nearby, sev- can and Eurasian plates in the central Medi- eral branches of Italy’s government research

Antonio Zimbone/AGF/UIG/Getty Images Antonio Zimbone/AGF/UIG/Getty terranean (Figure 1). This compression creates community established the V3 Project—so

Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 13 R. Azzaro

The active crater of Vulcano (in the background) viewed from Lipari, in Italy’s Aeolian Islands. The cliffs in the foreground are governed by tectonics.

named because it is project number 3 of the Italian Civil frequent, but also the volcano emits a greater volume of Protection Department’s Volcanological Research Pro- lava. gram. Data collection for the project ran from 2012 to At Vulcano and Lipari, in the Aeolian Islands, volcanic 2015; now researchers are analyzing the data to build bet- unrest is much less frequent but produces more intense ter hazards maps and strengthen understanding of how explosive activity and emissions of viscous and thick lava tectonic and volcanic processes work together to exacer- flows. The previous outbreak at Lipari, in 1230, produced a bate risk. renowned eruption of pumice and obsidian. Vulcano erupted more recently, in 1888–1890, but since then it has Tectonic Setting exhibited only high-temperature fumarolic activity. A remnant of the Ionian slab (African plate) is subducting The hazards in active volcanic areas are generally related toward the northwest beneath the Calabrian Arc, which to eruptive activity: lava and flows of hot gas and rock, forms the toe of Italy’s boot [Gvirtzman and Nur, 2001]. The tephra fallout, fast moving mudflows (lahars), or volcanic resulting Tindari Fault is a right-lateral strike-slip struc- gas emissions. However, other less devastating kinds of ture capable of generating moderate earthquakes (the most events may also threaten local communities living on the recent event, in 1978, was M6.2) that extends from the flanks of a volcano, mostly because these events occur fre- central sector of the Aeolian Archipelago (islands of Vul- quently or almost continuously. cano and Lipari) in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea toward the At Etna, recurrent volcano-tectonic seismicity poses a Etna region to the south [Billi et al., 2006]. This tectonic serious hazard to the 400,000 or so people who live in feature, located in eastern Sicily, is considered to represent urbanized areas and to important infrastructure (roads, a stress transfer zone between the two volcanic areas water/gas/power lines, hospitals, schools, etc.) [Azzaro [De Guidi et al., 2013]. et al., 2016]. At Vulcano, rockfalls and landslides affecting the active crater put the village and its tourist facili- A System of Volcanoes ties at risk [Marsella et al., 2015]. These instabilities can Mount Etna (3340 meters above sea level) is the most happen unexpectedly because of variations in volcanic active volcano in Europe. It features nearly constant sum- activity or such other triggering processes as rainfall and mit activity and frequent flank eruptions, with extended seismic activity. Ongoing sea flooding in Lipari’s main lava flows and copious ashfall. Its activity has increased town provides overwhelming evidence of land subsid- significantly in recent years—not only are eruptions more ence that, coupled with the expected sea level rise in the

14 // Eos 1 July 2016 Modified from Billi et al. [2006] Fig. 1. (a) Tectonic map showing the geodynamic framework of the Mediterranean region. (b) Main structural features of Sicily and location of the volcanic areas studied in the V3 Project.

next decades [Anzidei et al., 2014], will lead to future per- The V3 Project had four goals: manent inundations. • to define the tectonic framework controlling the volcanic systems Addressing the Issues to analyze the exceptionally long time series of instru- To tackle hazards and risk in this seismically active volca- • mental data acquired by the multiparametric monitoring nic zone, the Italian Civil Protection Department (DPC), and define the relationships among them with the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology to characterize processes connected with the interaction (INGV, through branches in Catania, Palermo, and Rome), • between tectonic structures and volcanic systems three Italian universities (Cosenza, Catania, and Rome), to produce hazards maps aimed at mitigating the effects and the National Institute of Oceanography and Experi- • of earthquakes, landslides, and land subsidence mental Geophysics (Trieste), launched the V3 Project. According to the project’s mission statement, V3 aimed The results of the project have been presented at confer- to develop “multidisciplinary analysis of the relationships ences and are being published in technical reports [Azzaro between tectonic structures and volcanic activity.” The and De Rosa, 2016] and scientific papers. project extended previous research programs on the same areas funded by DPC. It dealt with various methodological Assessing Hazards at Etna approaches—tectonic, geophysical, geochemical, petro- As a result of the V3 Project, we now have a greater under- logical, and geotechnical investigations—to interpret standing of the volcanic and tectonic mechanisms that ongoing phenomena and assess related hazards. drive hazards in the region. We found significant correla- tions in the eastern flank of Etna among active fault zones, seismic patterns, variations of crustal geodetic strain, and fluids circulation. This opens new perspec- tives to understand faulting at Etna. We have obtained an ana- lytical estimation of creep processes, indicating that about 40% of the deformation occurs aseis- mically. Moreover, we recognized that the pore pressure of fluids circulating in the volcanic rocks (chiefly groundwater) depends on variations in the crustal strains related to volcanic or seismic activity [Mattia et al., 2015].

M. Anzidei We performed a full probabi- Scientists measure land subsidence effects along the shoreline of Lipari. listic seismic hazards assessment

Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 15 at Etna through local seismic sources defined with instrumental and historic earthquake data sets [Azzaro et al., 2015]. The obtained estimations (Figure 2) show that relevant values of ground accelerations are probabilisti- cally likely to occur also in short times (5–30 years) and are intended to complement the 50-year seismic hazards map of Italy [Stucchi et al., 2011]. The assessment can be used to establish priorities for seismic retrofitting of the more exposed municipalities. V3 efforts improved knowledge of the geometry and structural setting of the sedimentary basement underlying Etna using high-resolution aeromagnetic surveys and offshore seismic profiles. They reveal magnetic anomalies associated with important faults [Nicolosi et al., 2014] and shallow- seated batches of crystallized magma in a framework of active compressive and extensional tectonic structures related to the African plate colliding with Europe [Polonia et al., 2016].

C. Federico Hazards Elsewhere Scientists sample bubbling gases from mofettes—vents where chiefly carbon dioxide The regional pattern of north–south crustal escapes—around Etna. shortening in the southern sector of the Aeo- lian Islands is associated with a diffuse subsidence [Esposito et al., 2015], but at a local scale the dynamics reflect different processes (Figure 3a). At Vulcano a shallow (4-kilometer-deep) deflating magmatic source in the northernmost part of the island is periodically fed by deep fluids coming from the underlying reservoir. At Lipari, long- term land subsidence [Anzidei et al., 2016] is enhanced by coastal dynamics (retreating of submarine canyons into the shelf), with a maximum sea level rise of up to 2.2 meters expected in 2100. We confirmed the existence of a common plumbing system responsible for the historic eruptions (less than 1000 years ago) of Lipari and Vulcano. This plumbing system, which lies at a depth of 20 kilometers, periodically feeds shallow magma storage zones where processes of magma crystallization occur [Fusillo et al., 2015]. The eruptive activity took place contemporaneously at both islands along a narrow zone characterized by a dominant east–west extensional stress field (Fig- ure 3b). Any future eruption is likely to take place in this narrow zone [Ruch et al., 2016]. The susceptibility of the active crater of Vulcano to landslides, which endanger the main village, is enhanced by hydrothermal alteration of rock mass due to hydrothermal fluid circulation (fumarolic fields, indicated by red in Figure 3a). Fractures and volcano strati- graphic discontinuities control the locations of areas potentially affected by shallow (debris avalanches/flows and rockfalls) and deep- seated instability processes [Cangemi et al.,

16 // Eos 1 July 2016 Full assessments can be found on V3’s Web pages (http://bit.ly/ 20Ss8mk).

References Anzidei, M., et al. (2014), Coastal structure, sea- level changes and vertical motion of the land in the Mediterranean, Geol. Soc. Spec. Publ., 388, 453–479, doi:10.1144/SP388.20. Anzidei, M., et al. (2016), New insights on the subsidence of Lipari island (Aeolian Islands, southern Italy) from the submerged Roman age pier at Marina Lunga, Quat. Int., 401, 162–173, doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2015.07.003. Azzaro, R., and R. De Rosa (2016), Project V3: Multi-disciplinary analysis of the relationships between tectonic structures and volcanic activity (Etna, Vulcano-Lipari system), final report, Misc. INGV 29, 1722 pp., Ist. Naz. di Geofiz. e Vulcanol., Rome. [Available at https://sites.google.com/a/ ingv.it/volcpro2014/.] Azzaro, R., et al. (2015), Towards a new generation of seismic hazard maps for the volcanic region of Mt. Etna, in Proceedings of the 34° GNGTS Meeting, 17–19 November 2015, Trieste (Italy), [2016] Azzaro and De Rosa pp. 5–11, Ist. Naz. di Oceanogr. e di Geofis. Sper., Fig. 2. (a) Shallow (depth ≤5 kilometers) seismicity recorded at Mount Etna from 2005 to 2014 (circles) Trieste, Italy. and main historic, damaging earthquakes (stars) occurring since 1600. Areas enclosed in yellow lines Azzaro, R., S. D’Amico, and T. Tuvè (2016), Seismic hazard assessment in the volcanic region of indicate the studied seismic zones embracing active faults (black lines): FF, Fiandaca; MF-SLF, Mt. Etna (Italy): A probabilistic approach based Moscarello–San Leonardello; PF, Pernicana; STF-SVF, Santa T ecla–Santa Venerina. (b) Example of on macroseismic data applied to volcano- tectonic seismicity, Bull. Earthquake Eng., probabilistic seismic hazards map: spectral acceleration at 0.2 second, probability of exceedance of doi:10.1007/s10518-015-9806-2, in press. 10% calculated for an exposure time of 50 years. (c) Relevance of local site amplification effects on the Billi, A., et al. (2006), Tectonics and seismicity of maximum value of expected acceleration due to shaking. Colors in Figures 2b and 2c represent the the Tindari Fault System, southern Italy: Crustal deformations at the transition between ongoing values of estimated ground acceleration, from red (maximum) to blue (minimum, close to zero). contractional and extensional domains located above the edge of a subducting slab, Tecton- ics, 25, TC2006, doi:10.1029/2004T C001763. Cangemi, M., et al. (2016), Shallow hydrothermal alteration and permeability changes in pyro 2016]. This makes large rock volumes prone to slide sud- clastic deposits: A case study at La Fossa cone (Vulcano Island, Italy), Geophys. Res. denly, as occurred in 1988. Abstr., 18, EGU2016-2821-1. De Guidi, G., et al. (2013), Multidisciplinary study of the Tindari Fault (Sicily, Italy) sepa- rating ongoing contractional and extensional compartments along the active A frica– Science to Mitigate Risk Eurasia convergent boundary, Tectonophysics, 588, 1–17, doi:10.1016/j. tecto.2012.11.021. Similar to other coordinated research funded by DPC, the Esposito, A., et al. (2015), Eighteen years of GPS surveys in the Aeolian Islands (southern Italy): Open data archive and velocity field, Ann. Geophys., 58, S0439, doi:10.4401/ findings of the V3 Project represent the efforts of the sci- ag-6823. entific community to provide authorities with appropriate Fusillo, R., et al. (2015), Deciphering post- caldera volcanism: Insight into the Vulcanello instruments to mitigate risks in volcanic areas. To do this, (Island of Vulcano, southern Italy) eruptive activity based on geological and petrological constraints, Bull. Volcanol., 77, 76, doi:10.1007/s00445-015-0963-6. V3 endeavored to improve knowledge on inadequately Gvirtzman, Z., and A. Nur (2001), Residual topography, lithospheric structure and sunken studied processes. slabs in the central Mediterranean, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 187, 117–130, doi:10.1016/ S0012-821X(01)00272-2. Marsella, M., et al. (2015), Terrestrial laser scanning survey in support of unstable slopes analysis: The case of Vulcano Island (Italy), Nat. Hazards, 78, 443–459, doi:10.1007/s11069-015-1729-3. Mattia, M., et al. (2015), A comprehensive interpretative model of slow slip events on Mt. Etna’s eastern flank, Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst., 16, 635–658, doi:10.1002/2014GC005585. Nicolosi, I., et al. (2014), Volcanic conduit migration over a base ment landslide at Mount Etna (Italy), Sci. Rep., 4, 5293, doi:10.1038/ srep05293. Polonia, A., et al. (2016), The Ionian and Alfeo-Etna fault zones: New segments of an evolving plate boundary in the central Mediterranean Sea?, Tectonophysics, 675, 69–90, doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2016.03.016. Ruch, J., et al. (2016), Magmatic control along a strike-slip volcanic arc: The central Aeolian arc (Italy), Tectonics, 35, 407–424, doi:10.1002/ 2015TC004060. Stucchi, M., et al. (2011), Seismic hazard assessment (2003–2009) for the Italian building code, Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am., 101(4), 1885–1911, doi:10.1785/0120100130. Modified from Ruch et al. [2016] Fig. 3. The Vulcano-Lipari system (Aeolian Islands). (a) Location of the regional (Tindari Author Information Fault zone, responsible for the M6.2 1978 earthquake) and volcanic sources acting in Raffaele Azzaro, Osservatorio Etneo, Istituto this region. Red squares with connected lines are GPS and electronic distance mea- Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Catania, surement networks; blue triangles are leveling benchmarks. (b) Sketch to explain the Italy; email: raffaele.azzaro@ingv.it; and Rosanna transition from strike-slip kinematics along the Tindari Fault (horizontal tectonic stress De Rosa, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, (σ1t) dominant) to extension (vertical magmatic stress (σ1m) dominant, orange in Fig- Università della Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende ure 3a) responsible for magma intrusions in the past 20,000 years. (CS), Italy

Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 17 AGU NEWS

unique trajectory, but all are united by their How on Earth to Decide fascination with Mars. Their backgrounds speak to the power of collaborative work and Where on Mars to Land? diverse teams. These three experts involved in planning the Mars 2020 mission will provide a lively discussion and question and answer session: • Michael Meyer does research primarily on microorganisms living in extreme environments. As one of the Mars 2020 mission’s architects and leaders, he will provide key insights about the mission (see http://bit.ly/ Meyer - webpage). • Bethany Ehlmann’s specialties include sorting out the compositional surface, environmental change, and weathering processes on the Red Planet. She has lent her expertise to the exploration of Mars since she first served as a student scientist collaborator for the Spirit and Opportunity missions (see http://bit .ly/ Ehlmann - Caltech). She said that when running a Mars rover mission from Earth, the mission team shares “a strange, slightly jet-lagged experience of living on Mars time together.” • Alex Longo, a rising junior at Cardinal

NASA Gibbons High School in Raleigh, N.C., became An artist’s concept of a rover on the Martian surface. The Mars 2020 rover will resemble the Curiosity vehicle shown in fascinated with planetary science before he this image. could read, leading him to this unique role for a high schooler. Longo notes the importance to his career plans of the Spirit rover, which efore NASA’s next robotic explorer of of Mars in areas ranging from geochemistry to “transformed Mars from a distant place I was the Red Planet can collect geological paleoclimate and has collected images on taught about in a book to a dynamic place that Bsamples, complete measurements, and scales from micrometers to kilometers. The I could visit someday.” He participates in take “selfies” like its predecessor Curiosity, 2020 rover will study the rocks and soil of the numerous NASA planetary activities and pre- the Mars 2020 rover has to successfully land. new landing site and gain further insights into sented at landing site selection conferences in Deciding on a landing spot for rovers or the planet’s geological and astrobiological 2014 and 2015 alongside NASA scientists (see humans is no trivial task. Three experts—an history. In addition, Mars 2020 will collect and http://bit .ly/ Longo - article). astrobiologist, a geomorphologist, and a high store on the surface of Mars a set of soil and Save the date—Sunday, 11 December 2016, school student talented in planetary science— rock samples that could be picked up and from noon to 1:00 p.m., Pacific Standard Time will discuss the process behind selecting a returned to Earth by a future mission. (PST)—to learn more at AGU’s Public Lecture landing site during the Public Lecture at this February 2021 marks the scheduled landing about what leads up to the event that Meyer year’s AGU Fall Meeting in San Francisco, date for the new rover, which will spend at describes as the “existential moment” of Calif. least one Mars year (two Earth years) on the landing a rover on Mars. “The search for the best landing site is an Red Planet. Deciding where and how the rover This annual public talk is free, family exciting science discussion about Mars—what will land rests with a collaborative team of the friendly, and geared toward nonscientists. No we know, what we think we know, and what best and brightest engineers and scientists. reservation is required. Each year, the Public we really don’t know,” according to astrobiol- Tasked with sorting through 27 terabytes of Lecture strives to connect AGU members with ogist and lead scientist of the Mars Explora- data, the team uses high-resolution images the public—in this case, scientists at Fall Meet- tion Program at NASA Michael Meyer, who will gained from orbiters to identify specific min- ing with local San Francisco Bay Area residents. speak first in the Sunday, 11 December, panel. erals in the terrain and then must patiently Immediately following the lecture, Explora- The Mars 2020 mission seeks to build on wade through a multitude of scenarios. Meyer tion Station, a free event lasting until discoveries made by previous rovers (Spirit, noted that an improved ability of the Mars 5:00 p.m. PST, will provide a rich assortment Opportunity, and Curiosity) by expanding our 2020 spacecraft to precisely identify where it of hands-on science activities for families and understanding of the potential for past or is above the Martian surface, called “terrain children of all ages. For more information on present life beyond Earth. Although we think relative navigation,” will expand the pool of both of these events, visit AGU’s education of Mars as a cold, red-toned rockscape with a potential landing sites, giving the team “even programs website (http://bit .ly/ AGU razor-thin atmosphere, the planet once har- more spectacular places to compare” and -Education - PublicOutreach). bored expansive oceans and a thick sheath of leading to “the hard part, deciding on the one atmospheric gases. The Curiosity rover, one of place on Mars to explore.” NASA’s flagship missions, which landed in Each of the three Public Lecture speakers By Claire Wilson, Intern, Education and Public August 2012, has advanced our understanding came to a spot on the upcoming panel via a Outreach, AGU; e-mail: cwilson@ agu .org

18 // Eos 1 July 2016 AGU NEWS

Recognizing 2015 Reviewers for AGU

eviewers play an essential role in the and prominent collective recognition of the arths uture journals and books of AGU. They elevate importance of peer reviews in advancing sci- Radio Science hart D quality and help authors and editors to ence. Reviewing for publications represents JGR: lanets JGR: Solid arth R Revision s improve the content, organization, logic, just one way in which many scientists pro- o ReadGeochemistry integrity, and impact of published papers. vide additional effort and benefit for their Geohysics Geosystems

Once again, AGU recognizes reviewers scientific community and society overall. cles eer r es Research y e a ticle sics across all our journals and for Eos.org who Many of these same AGU reviewers also y y Ar ersion V dit ah provided exceptional reviews during the past assess grants, advise on promotions, and tmosheres ter Resourc t

year; outstanding reviewers for 2015 are listed contribute to departmental reviews for their Wa of Geoh JGR: A eanogr below. Many of these, and other reviewers home institutions or others. e dit s able rit e W orma Global Biogeochemical Journal also, reviewed multiple times; we had several cc et

Draft eer igur aleoc A GS Revie D

os arth Surface reviewers who provided more than 15 reviews Expanding Reviewer Diversity os JGR: Biogeosciences just for AGU over the course of the year. We consider it important for the scholarly arth and Sace Science GS ticle AGU provides other recognition as well to community to recognize this full picture and eans Revie

Ar JGR: Sace hysics Sace Weather reviewers: Each AGU journal is publishing an find ways to better reward these volunteer JAS ectonics editorial acknowledging all of its reviewers, contributions while improving efficiency. AGU JGR: c Geohysical Research and AGU now officially recognizes their editors have been striving to expand the etters reviews on their Open Researcher and Con- diversity of reviewers as one way to make effi- tributor Identification (ORCID) record, if ciency gains as well as to help develop new 19 countries, including about 30% women—up requested. scientists. AGU journals receive and publish in both measures from earlier years. papers from authors worldwide—about one Appreciation for Reviews and More third of submissions come from each of North We hope that these multiple forms of America, Europe, and Asia/Australasia. In By Brooks Hanson, AGU Director of Publications; acknowledgment and appreciation of keeping with our move toward greater diver- email: [email protected]; and Rob van der Hilst, reviewers provide both individual thanks sity, we recognize this year reviewers from Chair, AGU Publications Committee

Jennifer Adam Duncan Carr Agnew Newsha Ajami John T. Allen Cited by Ben van der Pluijm Cited by Uri ten Brink Cited by Alberto Montanari Cited by Noah Diffenbaugh Earth’s Future JGR: Solid Earth Water Resources Research Geophysical Research Letters

Anton V. Artemyev Kirsti Ashworth Jean-Philippe Avouac Rebecca Barnes Cited by Benoit Lavraud Cited by James Crawford Cited by Andrew Newman Cited by Miguel Goni Geophysical Research Letters JGR: Atmospheres Geophysical Research Letters JGR: Biogeosciences

Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 19 AGU NEWS

Max Berkelhammer Daniele Bianchi Andrea Billi Kristie Boering Cited by Allison Steiner Cited by Tatiana Ilyina Cited by Claudio Faccenna Cited by Geoffrey Tyndall JGR: Atmospheres Geophysical Research Letters Tectonics Geophysical Research Letters

Diogo Bolster Bruce Buffett Michael Scott Chaffin Eric Christian Cited by M. Bayani Cardenas Cited by Michael Wysession Cited by William Peterson Cited by JGR: Space Physics Editors Geophysical Research Letters Geophysical Research Letters Geophysical Research Letters JGR: Space Physics

Housen Chu Ingrid Cnossen Mihail V. Codrescu Laura E. Condon Cited by Ankur Desai Cited by JGR: Space Physics Editors Cited by Phil Wilkinson Cited by Noah Diffenbaugh JGR: Biogeosciences JGR: Space Physics Radio Science Geophysical Research Letters

Tim M. Conway Vernon Cormier Ingrid J. Daubar Eric Debayle Cited by Mary-Elena Carr Cited by Michael Wysession Cited by David Baratoux Cited by Uri ten Brink Global Biogeochemical Cycles Geophysical Research Letters JGR: Planets JGR: Solid Earth

20 // Eos 1 July 2016 AGU NEWS

Emily Riley Dellaripa Blaize A. Denfeld Sebastian Dötterl Samuel Doyle Cited by Chidong Zhang Cited by Miguel Goni Cited by Susan Trumbore Cited by Wendy S. Gordon JGR: Atmospheres JGR: Biogeosciences Global Biogeochemical Cycles Eos

Douglas Edmonds Katherine Ellins Jerry P. Fairley Xueshang Feng Cited by M. Bayani Cardenas Cited by Carol A. Stein Cited by Alberto Montanari Cited by JGR: Space Physics Editors Geophysical Research Letters Eos Water Resources Research JGR: Space Physics

Ken Ferrier Baylor Fox-Kemper Ryoichi Fujii Jason Furtado Cited by JGR: Earth Surface Editors Cited by Lisa Beal Cited by JGR: Space Physics Editors Cited by Kim Cobb JGR: Earth Surface Geophysical Research Letters JGR: Space Physics Geophysical Research Letters

Dennis L. Gallagher Nicholas R. Golledge Salvatore Grimaldi Jasper Halekas Cited by William Peterson Cited by Julienne Stroeve Cited by Alberto Montanari Cited by Andrew J. Dombard Geophysical Research Letters Geophysical Research Letters Water Resources Research Geophysical Research Letters

Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 21 AGU NEWS

Roberta C. Hamme Jeanne L. Hardebeck Ciaran Harman Judith Haschenburger Cited by Sara Mikaloff Fletcher Cited by Uri ten Brink Cited by M. Bayani Cardenas Cited by JGR: Earth Surface Editors and Mary-Elena Carr JGR: Solid Earth Geophysical Research Letters JGR: Earth Surface Global Biogeochemical Cycles

Judith Hauck Katharine R. Hendry Stephanie Henson Tessa Hill Cited by Tatiana Ilyina Cited by Ellen Thomas and Heiko Paelike Cited by Tatiana Ilyina Cited by Kim Cobb Geophysical Research Letters Paleoceanography Geophysical Research Letters Geophysical Research Letters

Ann Holbourn Mashor Housh Martin Hurst Jennifer Hutchings Cited by Ellen Thomas and Heiko Paelike Cited by Alberto Montanari Cited by Michael Ellis Cited by Andrey Proshutinsky Paleoceanography Water Resources Research Earth’s Future JGR: Oceans

Yoshihiro Ito Jennifer Jackson Bijaya B. Karki Ryuho Kataoka Cited by Andrew Newman Cited by Andrey Proshutinsky Cited by Michael Wysession Cited by Benoit Lavraud Geophysical Research Letters JGR: Oceans Geophysical Research Letters Geophysical Research Letters

22 // Eos 1 July 2016 AGU NEWS

Richard Katz Gemma Kelly Sonia Kreidenweis Jian Lan Cited by Thorsten Becker Cited by Michael Hapgood Cited by Lynn Russell Cited by Leo Oey Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems Space Weather JGR: Atmospheres JGR: Oceans

Michelle L’Heureux Manuel López Puertas Nicole Suzanne Lovenduski Paul Lundgren Cited by Paul D. Williams Cited by JGR: Space Physics Editors Cited by Tatiana Ilyina Cited by Andrew Newman Geophysical Research Letters JGR: Space Physics Geophysical Research Letters Geophysical Research Letters

John MacLennan Andrew R. Mahoney Ward Manchester Gerhard Masselink Cited by Thorsten Becker Cited by Andrey Proshutinsky Cited by Delores Knipp Cited by JGR: Earth Surface Editors Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems JGR: Oceans Space Weather JGR: Earth Surface

Thorsten Mauritsen Matthew R. Mazloff Brendan T. McCormick Leo F. McNamara Cited by Jonathan Jiang Cited by Don Chambers Cited by James Crawford Cited by Phil Wilkinson Earth and Space Science JGR: Oceans JGR: Atmospheres Radio Science

Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 23 AGU NEWS

Nadine McQuarrie Brian Medeiros Mark A. Merrifield Gretchen R. Miller Cited by John Geissman Cited by Robert Pincus Cited by Leo Oey Cited by Alberto Montanari Tectonics Journal of Advances in Modeling JGR: Oceans Water Resources Research Earth Systems (JAMES)

Kevan Moffett Annalisa Molini Stephen Montzka Julia Moriarty Cited by Alberto Montanari Cited by Paul D. Williams Cited by Joel Thornton Cited by Robert Hetland Water Resources Research Geophysical Research Letters Geophysical Research Letters JGR: Oceans

Tsugunobu Nagai Heidi M. Nepf Roseanna Neupauer Insa Neuweiler Cited by William Peterson Cited by Alberto Montanari Cited by Alberto Montanari Cited by Alberto Montanari Geophysical Research Letters Water Resources Research Water Resources Research Water Resources Research

Andre Niemeijer Steve Norton Wolfgang Nowak T. Paul O’Brien Cited by Uri ten Brink Cited by Miguel Goni Cited by Alberto Montanari Cited by JGR: Space Physics Editors JGR: Solid Earth JGR: Biogeosciences Water Resources Research JGR: Space Physics

24 // Eos 1 July 2016 AGU NEWS

Eitarou Oka Friederike Otto Minna Palmroth Mark P. Panning Cited by Meghan Cronin Cited by Noah Diffenbaugh Cited by JGR: Space Physics Editors Cited by Thorsten Becker Geophysical Research Letters Geophysical Research Letters JGR: Space Physics Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems

Athanasios Paschalis Paola Passalacqua Daniele Pedretti Anne Pluymakers Cited by Alberto Montanari Cited by Alberto Montanari Cited by Alberto Montanari Cited by Uri ten Brink Water Resources Research Water Resources Research Water Resources Research JGR: Solid Earth

Michael P. Poland Sally L. Potter-McIntyre Yun Qian Vladimir Rakov Cited by Andrew Newman Cited by Steven Hauck Cited by Zhanqing Li Cited by Steven Ghan Geophysical Research Letters JGR: Planets JGR: Atmospheres JGR: Atmospheres

T. S. Ramakrishnan Alan Robock Michael Roderick Barbara A. Romanowicz Cited by Alberto Montanari Cited by José D. Fuentes Cited by Ruby Leung Cited by Uri ten Brink Water Resources Research Eos JGR: Atmospheres JGR: Solid Earth

Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 25 AGU NEWS

Daniel Rosenfeld Charles Rougé John F. Rudge Audrey Sawyer Cited by Zhanqing Li Cited by Alberto Montanari Cited by Thorsten Becker Cited by Noah Diffenbaugh JGR: Atmospheres Water Resources Research Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems Geophysical Research Letters

Jacob Scheff Erik E. Scherer Brandon Schmandt Christopher H. Scholz Cited by Steven Ghan Cited by Thorsten Becker Cited by Michael Wysession Cited by Uri ten Brink JGR: Atmospheres Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems Geophysical Research Letters JGR: Solid Earth

Russell L. Scott Victor A. Sergeev David R. Shelly Steven Sherwood Cited by Ankur Desai Cited by JGR: Space Physics Editors Cited by Michael Wysession Cited by Noah Diffenbaugh JGR: Biogeosciences JGR: Space Physics Geophysical Research Letters Geophysical Research Letters

Martin Singh Miriam Sinnhuber Giorgio Spada Hui Su Cited by Paul D. Williams Cited by Ulrike Langematz Cited by Fabio Florindo Cited by Jonathan Jiang Geophysical Research Letters JGR: Atmospheres Reviews of Geophysics Earth and Space Science

26 // Eos 1 July 2016 AGU NEWS

Zhenpeng Su Ryan Sullivan Jason D. Surratt Kazue Takahashi Cited by Benoit Lavraud Cited by Joel Thornton Cited by Lynn Russell Cited by JGR: Space Physics Editors Geophysical Research Letters Geophysical Research Letters JGR: Atmospheres JGR: Space Physics

Yukari N. Takayabu Toshiro Tanimoto Mary-Louise Timmermans Victor Tsai Cited by Paul D. Williams Cited by Uri ten Brink Cited by Andrey Proshutinsky Cited by Michael Wysession Geophysical Research Letters JGR: Solid Earth JGR: Oceans Geophysical Research Letters

Bruce T. Tsurutani Geert Jan van Oldenborgh Angelos Vourlidas Yoshihide Wada Cited by JGR: Space Physics Editors Cited by Chidong Zhang Cited by JGR: Space Physics Editors Cited by Paul Dirmeyer JGR: Space Physics JGR: Atmospheres JGR: Space Physics Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems (JAMES)

Thomas Wahl Aihui Wang Sam Wilson Paul Withers Cited by Don Chambers Cited by Ruby Leung Cited by Tatiana Ilyina Cited by Andrew J. Dombard JGR: Oceans JGR: Atmospheres Geophysical Research Letters Geophysical Research Letters

Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 27 AGU NEWS

2015 Cited Referees Not Pictured

Stephen Monismith Richard Penney Cited by Lisa Beal Cited by Phil Wilkinson Geophysical Research Letters Radio Science

Natalia P. Perevalova Frank Ryan Cited by JGR: Space Physics Editors Cited by Phil Wilkinson JGR: Space Physics Radio Science

Brian Yanites Chidong Zhang Francesco Serinaldi Kevin Speer Cited by Nathan Niemi Cited by Eelco Rohling Cited by Alberto Montanari Cited by Lisa Beal Tectonics Reviews of Geophysics Water Resources Research Geophysical Research Letters

Now Accepting Applications for Natural Hazards Editor of Earth’s Future

AGU is seeking an editor specializing in natural hazards papers for Earth’s Future. The ideal candidate should be able to combine specialized knowledge with a broad, transdisciplinary approach. The editor will handle manuscripts from all areas related to natural hazards, including hydrology, atmospheric science, oceanography, solid Earth, and disaster science. If you would like to be considered for this position, please send your curriculum vitae with a letter of interest via email to [email protected].

28 // Eos 1 July 2016 Vote in the upcoming election and take part is influencing the direction of AGU.

 Ensure your AGU membership and section/ focus group affiliations are current in order to be eligible to vote by 1 August

 29 August: Polls open

 Cast your vote 29 August - 27 September

elections.agu.org

Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 29 RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

Streamlining Rapid Tsunami Forecasting Daniel Zietlow

n 28 October 2012 the Haida Gwaii earthquake (magnitude 7.8) On the deck of the R/V Oceanus, engineers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution struck off the coast of British Columbia. Tsunami warnings decommission an ocean bottom seismometer and differential pressure gauge deployed Otriggered coastal evacuations in Canada, the northern United as part of the Cascadia Initiative to study the Juan De Fuca and Gorda plates offshore States, and Hawaii, but no deaths or significant structural damage of Oregon and Washington. Data from the seafloor pressure gauges were used in a tsu- occurred. Those tsunami warnings were generated by traditional nami study by Gusman et al. methods that rely on a fault model of the tsunami source. Now Gus- man et al. suggest that source data may not be necessary for real- time tsunami forecasts. and simulate tsunami size and timing. The second method ignored The researchers compiled Haida Gwaii tsunami data from dozens the earthquake source. Instead, pressure gauge data continuously fed of ocean bottom seismometers, equipped with pressure gauges, that and refined a wave field model that predicted the tsunami’s move- had been installed offshore of Oregon and California. Spaced 10–50 ment. kilometers apart, these gauges directly sense a passing tsunami When the researchers compared the simulations with observations wave, providing much denser data than are normally collected for of the Haida Gwaii tsunami, they found that both methods accurately tsunamis. The authors used these data to compare two different forecast tsunami timing and amplitude, with a warning time of forecasting methods. 30 minutes or longer. The success of the second method suggests In the first method, the scientists used pressure gauge data and a that with a dense enough sensor array, real-time tsunami predic- fault model to estimate the locations of fault slip that caused the tions do not require a fault model. (Geophysical Research Letters, tsunami. This allowed them to calculate sea surface displacement doi:10.1002/2016GL068368, 2016) —Sarah Stanley, Freelance Writer

30 // Eos 1 July 2016 RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

Researchers Attribute Human Influence on Climate Back to 1930s

n recent years, as the effects of climate change have become more apparent, scientists have attempted to Idetermine whether specific extreme weather events, such as heat waves, droughts, and cold spells, are more likely to occur. Researchers have also tried to figure out whether past extreme events can be attributed to human influences on global climate. Here King et al. examined past hot years and seasons that exceeded the range of natural variability, going back to 1900 or as far back as observational data allowed. They used a climate model to compare the likelihood of these events occurring when looking at only natural climate influences and when including both natural and human influences. Examining extreme heat events in five different regions—central England, central Europe, central United States, East Asia, and Australia—the researchers found NASA/GSFC/Scientific Visualization Studio Visualization NASA/GSFC/Scientific that humans have likely caused the 16 most recent This visualization illustrates Earth’s long-term warming trend, showing temperature changes from 1880 record-breaking hot years experienced on Earth, up to to 2015 as a rolling 5-year average. Orange colors represent temperatures that are warmer than the 2014. 1951–1980 baseline average, and blues represent temperatures cooler than the baseline. A new study They found that this influence on global climate goes shows that humans have likely triggered the past 16 record-breaking hot years experienced on Earth. back as far as 1937, an effect that has been masked until recent decades by the wide use of industrial aerosols, which have a cooling effect on temperatures. human influence on climate. The researchers concluded that without According to the study, aerosol concentrations in central England, human-induced climate change, recent hot summers and years central United States, central Europe, and East Asia caused cooling would not have occurred. (Geophysical Research Letters, doi:10.1002/ periods during the 1970s that delayed the emergence of a clear 2015GL067448, 2016) —Lauren Lipuma, Contributing Writer

The Role of Water in Earth’s Tectonic Plumbing Systems

hen tectonic plates collide and sep- examine and assess the hydrogeologic prop- is novel. Taken together, however, the perme- arate, fractures spread across erties of the San Andreas Fault. ability and storativity of all four wells result in W Earth’s crust. Beneath the planet’s The researchers looked at four monitoring a relative uniform hydraulic diffusivity mea- surface these fractures act like a natural wells in a quartz gabbro quarry in Aromas, sure of 0.01 square meter per second. The uni- plumbing system, carrying water down from Calif., located at varying distances from the form diffusivity structure suggests that the the surface. San Andreas Fault. Between April 2014 and permeability contrast might not efficiently The hydrogeological characteristics of July 2015 the team used pressure sensors to trap fluids near faults during the interseismic these fault zones—the properties that affect measure the water level in each well every periods. The team also examined data from a how groundwater moves around the fault— 10 minutes. The sensors picked up both water broadband seismic station to assess the effect are hugely important for faulting processes and barometric pressure; to account for baro- of earthquakes on the permeability of wells’ and stability. However, the hydrogeological metric pressure separately, the researchers surrounding formation. They found that properties of faults are difficult to measure placed a sensor inside a well above the water quakes increased the permeability of some and remain somewhat poorly defined. level. wells by as much as 160%. Fortunately, well systems can provide a The water level response to tidal forcing The measures of specific storage are par- window into the unseen hydrological pro- within wells is a product of the permeability of ticularly relevant for understanding fault cesses going on underground. Tidal forces the crust material around a well and its stor- mechanics, as storage capacity can influence influence the hydraulic head of aquifers—a ativity—the amount of water that is released the fault’s response to stress. The study measure of water pressure and elevation in from an aquifer as the hydraulic head declines. shows that well water response to tidal forc- groundwater that determines the direction of The researchers found that the two wells clos- ing can be a valuable proxy for hydrogeologi- water flow—which, in turn, influences the est to the fault were roughly 10 times more cal structures beneath Earth’s surface. (Geo- height of water in wells. Here Xue et al. take permeable than the two wells farthest away. chemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, doi:10.1002/ advantage of this relationship, measuring The specific storage capacity of the closer wells 2015GC006167, 2016) —Kate Wheeling, Freelance well water responses to Earth’s tides to was also larger. The observed storage structure Writer

Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 31 RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

Martian Carbonates Spotted by the Orbiter

he search for life on Mars has been The researchers fueled by findings that suggest the Red detected iron- and T Planet may have once been a wet one, calcium-rich with ancient lakes, rivers, and oceans flowing carbonate-bearing over its surface. Where there is water, there rocks in the Huygens can be life, if Earth is any example. Scientists basin, a basin greater believe that if water did once flow on the sur- than 450 kilometers face of Mars, the planet’s bedrock should be wide that is rimmed full of carbonates—minerals that would have with impact craters formed when paleoatmospheric carbon diox- and troughs that ide was trapped in ancient surface waters. expose ancient, sub- Such minerals could provide further evidence surface materials. that Mars was once host to habitable, watery The widespread environments, but researchers have struggled detection of to find physical evidence for a carbonate-rich carbonate-bearing bedrock. rocks in the basin of Arizona NASA/JPL/University Now Wray et al. provide new evidence for suggests that at least Aeolian bedforms overlie ancient layered, ridged carbonate-rich outcrop exposed in the the existence of buried deposits of iron- and regionally, conditions central pit of Lucaya crater, northwestern Huygens basin, Mars. The image was taken calcium-rich Martian carbonates. The were once suitable for by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) instrument aboard the researchers identified carbonates on the carbonate formation. Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. planet with the Compact Reconnaissance The strong carbon- Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) ate signals in impact aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The craters such as the Lucaya crater suggest that the surface, impacts may be one of the only tool picks up on the unique spectral signa- the minerals may have been previously buried ways to excavate deposits of carbonate-rich tures carbonate ions give off during vibra- as deep as 5 kilometers below the surface in rocks. tional transitions. The team paired CRISM ancient rock more than 3.8 billion years old. The global distribution of Martian carbon- data with images from the High Resolution Thus they represent a window into a time ates has yet to be resolved. Still, the authors Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) and when the climate on Mars was very different note, the ancient carbonates could serve as a Context Camera (CTX) on the orbiter and the than today. The depth and age of these rocks point of comparison for organics found on Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) on the may partially explain why researchers failed to Mars to identify biosignatures of ancient life Mars Global Surveyor to gain insights into the find large areas of carbonate-loaded bedrock on the Red Planet. (Journal of Geophysical geologic features associated with carbonate- in the past. Without a plate tectonic system Research: Planets, doi:10.1002/2015JE004972, bearing rocks. like that of Earth to push buried materials to 2016) —Kate Wheeling, Freelance Writer

Improving the Identification of Extreme U.S. Precipitation Trends

ecause extreme precipitation events share chosen model parameters within each is much better at discerning them, the have the potential to cause severe dam- group. Because this new approach greatly authors report. In this analysis, all 14 sta- Bage and economic loss, many studies reduces estimation uncertainties, it improves tions in the Midwest displayed a significant have searched for trends in heavy precipita- the detection of statistically significant statistical trend, compared with only four tion across the United States. However, these trends at regional and local scales. stations when a previous single-site analysis previous analyses either have failed to The team used this model to search for is used. include common regional information that trends in the maximum daily precipitation This new approach results in predictions could reduce uncertainty and improve trend across the United States each year from 1941 that are more precise, including for extreme detection or have focused only on small and to 2010. After analyzing data collected events. The authors argue that the reduction homogeneous regions. from 90 HadEX2 weather observation sta- in model uncertainty is especially important To better identify significant spatial tions, the researchers identified statistically for engineering design standards and for trends—especially across larger areas—Sun significant trends of increasing precipitation improving the seasonal forecasting of rare and Lall have developed a new statistical in the Midwest, the Northeast, and the events, including those related to the “clustering” model that analyzes multiple northern reaches of the Southeast. Although El Niño–Southern Oscillation. (Geophysical sources of data to identify statistically homo- these trends are consistent with the results Research Letters, doi:10.1002/2015GL066483, geneous areas, group these data together, and of a number of other studies, the new model 2015) —Terri Cook, Freelance Writer

32 // Eos 1 July 2016 POSITIONS AVAILABLE

AGU’s Career Center is the main resource for recruitment advertising. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE synergies with our program in Global Environmental Change and Sustain- All Positions Available and additional job postings can Faculty Positions in Geosciences and ability. be viewed at https://eos.org/jobs-support. in Environmental Sciences Opportunities exist for the suc- The Department of Earth and Plane- cessful candidate to forge research AGU offers printed recruitment advertising in Eos to tary Sciences at Johns Hopkins Univer- and teaching ties with other parts of sity invites applications for multiple the Johns Hopkins community that reinforce your online job visibility and your brand. tenure-track or tenured faculty posi- are active in the earth and environ- tions. The positions can be filled at the mental sciences, and sustainability. Visit employers.agu.org to view all of the packages Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor They include multiple engineering available for recruitment advertising. level, starting as early as Fall 2016. The departments, Environmental Health successful candidates are expected to Sciences at the School of Public develop internationally recognized and Health, the Applied Physics Labora- externally funded research programs, tory, and the cross-departmental SIMPLE TO RECRUIT to help develop and participate in Environment, Energy, Sustainability, undergraduate and graduate teaching, and Health Institute. There are excel- • online packages to access our Career Center audience and to supervise graduate student lent opportunities for additional col- • 30-day and 60-day options available research. In the case of an appoint- laborations within the Balti- more-Washington region, including • prices range $475–$1,215 ment with tenure, the candidate must already be internationally recognized with the Carnegie Institution, the and have a demonstrated record of Smithsonian Institution, the U.S. CHALLENGING TO RECRUIT external research funding. A Ph.D. is Geological Survey, the University of required in the Earth Sciences or a Maryland, and NASA Goddard Space • online and print packages to access the wider AGU community related natural sciences discipline; Flight Center. • 30-day and 60-day options available post-doctoral experience is desirable. Applications must be submitted Applicants are sought for two focus electronically using Interfolio http:// • prices range $795–$2,691 areas: apply.interfolio.com/34960, should DIFFICULT TO RECRUIT Geosciences including low-tem- indicate the relevant focus area and perature geochemistry and studies of must include a cover letter, a curricu- the early Earth, cosmochemistry, geo- lum vitae, statements of research and our most powerful packages for maximum multimedia exposure • physics and geodynamics, volcanology teaching interests, and the names and to the AGU community and igneous petrology. We are particu- complete contact information of at • 30-day and 60-day options available larly interested in candidates whose least three references. Questions con- research has synergies with our recent cerning submission of application • prices range $2,245–$5,841 hires with expertise in sedimentary, materials should be directed to Kristen metamorphic and tectonic processes, Heisey ([email protected]). Other FREE TO RECRUIT planetary geology, and planetary requests for information may be atmospheres. directed to Professor Sverjensky, Geo- • packages apply only to student and graduate student Environmental Sciences including: sciences, Search Committee Chair roles and all bookings are subject to AGU approval natural resources (including water, ([email protected]) and/or Professor Waugh, Environmental Sciences Search eligible roles include: student fellowships, internships, metals, soils, and energy), ecology, • critical zone science, marine sciences, Committee Chair ([email protected]). assistantships, and scholarships cryospheric sciences, geomorphology, Review of the applications will begin landscape hydrology, environmental immediately and will continue until the change, air pollution, and, biogeo- positions are filled. Applications chemistry. We are particularly inter- received by 30 June, 2016 will receive ested in candidates whose research has full consideration.

• Eos is published semi-monthly on the 1st and 15th of every month. Deadlines for ads in each issue are published The Collaborative Research Center TRR 181 "Energy transfers in at http://sites.agu.org/media-kits/eos-advertising- Atmosphere and Ocean" invites applications for 32 PhD and 14 Research deadlines/. Associate positions. TRR 181 is a co llaborative between the German Universities Hamburg and Bremen and further participating institutions funded by DFG for initially four years. Phys. oceanographers, meteorologists • Eos accepts employment and open position advertisements and applied mathematicians work together in the project to understand the from governments, individuals, organizations, and academic energy transfers between the different dynamical regimes - smallscale institutions. We reserve the right to accept or reject ads at turbulence, internal gravity waves and geostrophically balanced motion in both atmosphere and ocean to develop, to test, and to implement new and our discretion. consistent parameterisations in models, and to develop mathematical and numerical methods featuring consistent energetics. Requirements: MSc or Phd degree in physical oceanography, meteorology, applied mathematics or • Eos is not responsible for typographical errors. a related field, high motivation to work in an interdisciplinary environment. The Collaborative Research Center TRR 181 aims to increase the number of women in research and teaching in this field and explicitly encourages women to apply. The openings may be situated at any of the participating * Print-only recruitment ads will only be allowed for those whose requirements include that positions institutions. The earliest start of the positions is 1. July 2016. Applications, must be advertised in a printed/paper medium. including a letter of motivation and CV (pdf, one document, not more than 8 MB) should be sent to [email protected]. More information can be found on the TRR project website http://www.trr-energytransfers.de.

Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 33 POSITIONS AVAILABLE

Johns Hopkins University is com- urban planning, public policy, Water and food security: Ten- above) to learn more about research mitted to active recruitment of a hydrology, water resources, ecosys- ure-track Assistant Professor in the strengths and programs. With this diverse faculty and student body. The tems, earth system science, and cli- Department of Earth System Science cluster hiring initiative, UCI aspires University is an Affirmative Action/ mate change and will be uniquely (http://www.ess.uci.edu) with partic- to identify exceptionally talented Equal Opportunity Employer of positioned and supported to grow ular interest in candidates with candidates who share our vision and women, minorities, protected veterans new multidisciplinary collaborations expertise and interest in understand- will increase our capacity for world and individuals with disabilities and across campus emphasizing new par- ing water at the intersection of opti- leadership. encourages applications from these adigms of sustainability and ecosys- mizing food production and environ- Applicants are expected to have and other protected group members. tem resilience for metropolitan areas. mental sustainability in water-scarce advanced degrees and publication Consistent with the University’s goals We are seeking candidates whose environments. records commensurate with appoint- of achieving excellence in all areas, we research involves field studies, mod- Water and resource economics: ment levels in the department of will assess the comprehensive qualifi- eling and theory and, based on aca- Tenured Associate or Full Professor in interest. Successful candidates will cations of each applicant. demic preparation and research the Department of Planning, Policy be expected to develop externally interests, would fit into one of the and Design (http://ppd.soceco.uci. funded research programs, engage in HYDROLOGY following four Departmental posi- edu/) with particular interest in can- both undergraduate and graduate tions: didates with expertise and interest in education, and contribute their lead- Faculty Cluster Hire in WATER. Water resources: Tenured Associ- the area of environmental economics, ership and innovative thinking The University of California Irvine ate or Full Professor in the Depart- natural capital, valuation of ecosys- towards global prominence in water, announces an interdisciplinary clus- ment of Civil and Environmental tem services, urban planning, and cities, and the environment. Teach- ter hire of four faculty members to Engineering (http://engineering.uci. public policy. ing opportunities will vary by Depart- increase its capacity and world lead- edu/dept/cee) with particular interest UCI has an exceptional array of ment and teaching qualifications will ership in tackling the grand chal- in candidates who integrate field field sites, open-space preserves, be a consideration for fit with the lenges related to water in urbanized studies, modeling and theory to partner relationships, and research respective unit. Successful candi- environments, including water-re- advance understanding of water cycle facilities that are strategically dates will also be expected to contrib- lated environmental and food secu- dynamics in coupled human-natural aligned in the context of geography, ute towards a campus-wide initiative rity issues. Southern California is a systems. climatology, economic and social to create more field-based (off-cam- mosaic of cities and open spaces Water and ecosystems: Tenured structures of southern California. pus) student learning opportunities whose history and future are inextri- Associate Professor in the Depart- Bringing faculty and students with the goal of increasing the num- cably tied to water, and whose experiment of Ecology and Evolutionary together around the theme of WATER ber of students (especially underrep- ences with water are paralleled by Biology (http://ecoevo.bio.uci.edu/) offers a unique opportunity to create resented minority students) pursuing coastal metropolitan areas around the with particular interest in candidates exceptional research capacity at UCI graduate degrees in water-related world facing population growth, who pursue predictive understanding for addressing challenges at the programs. development pressure, demands for of ecosystem processes and their water-food-energy nexus under Applications should include a cover ecosystem protection, and water response to climate and human pres- increasing climate and human pres- letter, a description of research inter- scarcity. The cluster hire will build on sures via theoretical, field work, and sures. Applicants are encouraged to ests illuminating potential to support UC Irvine’s existing strengths in modeling approaches. visit Departmental websites (shown the goals of the cluster hire, a PLACE YOUR AD HERE

Visit Careers.agu.org to learn more about employment advertising with AGU

34 // Eos 1 July 2016 POSITIONS AVAILABLE

description of teaching interests SPACE PHYSICS including ability to contribute to Departmental and interdisciplinary Postdoc - Ionospheric radio occul- programs, a curriculum vitae, a state- tations at Saturn, Titan, and Mars ment describing commitment to The Center for Space Physics at diversity, and the names of at least Boston University invites applications four references. (References would for a postdoctoral researcher position Tools to Help You not be contacted until the later stages supervised by Professor Paul Withers. of consideration, after consultation.) The research will involve the analysis Manage Your Career To be considered for one of the four of radio occultation observations of available positions, apply electroni- the ionospheres of Saturn, Titan, and cally at: Mars. Candidates should possess a With the AGU Career Center you can: Department of Civil and Environ- PhD degree in a relevant field. Experi- mental Engineering: https://recruit. ence conducting research on planetary l Search and respond to job listings ap.uci.edu/apply/JPF03389 ionospheres is desirable. The salary Department of Ecology and Evolu- offered will be competitive and com- tionary Biology: https://recruit.ap. mensurate with experience. Funding l Participate in Career Advice Webinars uci.edu/apply/JPF03408 is available for two years with the pos- Department of Earth System Sci- sibility of extension. The appointment ence: https://recruit.ap.uci.edu/ is expected to begin as soon as possi- l Update your resume to manage and apply/JPF03396 ble after 1 September 2016. Please track your career accomplishments Department of Planning, Policy contact Paul Withers (withers@bu. and Design: https://recruit.ap.uci. edu) for further information. edu/apply/JPF03377 Applications should be sent by l Access information from past Career The University of California, Irvine email to Paul Withers (withers@bu. Advice Workshops and Webinars is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative edu). The application should be sub- Action Employer advancing inclusive mitted in PDF format and contain a excellence. All qualified applicants curriculum vitae, statement of l Access resources to help will receive consideration for research interests, and contact infor- manage your current and employment without regard to race, mation for three referees. Review of color, religion, sex, sexual orienta- applications will begin on 15 July future career tion, gender identity, national origin, 2016. Women and underrepresented disability, age, protected veteran sta- minorities are particularly encour- tus, or other protected categories aged to apply. Boston University is an covered by the UC nondiscrimination equal opportunity/affirmative action policy. employer. careers.agu.org

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Earth Science Office

The Earth Science Office at Marshall Space Flight Center is soliciting statements of interest for full-time PhD level scientist positions for early-and mid-career positions in the following areas:

Hydrologic Processes Atmospheric Remote Sensing Radio Frequency Engineer for Microwave Remote Sensing Climate Science Applications of Synthetic Aperture Radar

Visit our website (http://weather.msfc.nasa.gov/esohome/MSFC_ESO_rfi.pdf) for full descriptions. Interested candidates may respond to this Request for Information (RFI) by submitting a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and statement of research interests in a single pdf file to [email protected]. This submission will not replace the formal application process for the anticipated positions when/if they are advertised on USAJOBS (https://www.usajobs.gov).

Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 35 Postcards from the Field

Dear Everyone,

We are offshore waiting for calmer waters before landing at the settlement of Edin- burgh of the Seven Seas on Tristan da Cunha in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean. After sailing in rough seas from Cape Town for 5 days, we are eager to have some solid ground underneath our feet. The new tide gauge and permanent Global Navigation Satellite System station we bring will provide important observations for sea level studies. Wish you were here to meet the most wel- coming Tristanians with us.

Norman Teferle, University of Luxembourg

View more postcards at http://americangeophysicalunion.tumblr .com/ tagged/postcards-from-the-ﬁ eld.

36 // Eos 1 July 2016 Earth and Space Science (ESS) welcomes high-quality original research papers spanning all of the Earth, planetary, and space sciences, including related fields in environmental science, geo- and space-engineering, and biogeochemistry. ESS particularly welcomes papers presenting and interpreting key data sets and observations that are critical, singularly or in aggregate, for a broader scientific understanding of the Earth and its environment, as well as our solar system and beyond, or papers that add to the understanding of such observations (e.g., methodology, theory, mapping, and modeling). In particular, ESS is seeking papers that highlight methods, instruments, sensors, data and algorithms that contribute to the Earth and space sciences. The papers must highlight the application of these methods to specific data.

Editor in Chief John A. Orcutt, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, [email protected]

Editors Andrea Donnellan, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, [email protected] Jonathan H. Jiang, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, [email protected] Benoit Pirenne, University of Victoria, [email protected] Frank Vernon, University of California, San Diego, [email protected]

[email protected] • earthspacescience.agu.org