VOL. 100 • NO. 6 • JUNE 2019 Titan’s Lakes Run Deep Science in a Divided Europe California’s Overdue 100 YEARS Earthquake Tab Announcing Susan Trumbore as Editor in Chief of AGU Advances. A new Gold Open Access journal Pre-submission inquires may be sent to [email protected] FROM THE EDITOR Editor in Chief Heather Goss, AGU, Washington, D.C., USA; [email protected] Science in the Deep Editorial Manager, News and Features Editor Caryl-Sue Micalizio Senior News Writer aurice Ewing was blowing things up oped a way to track Randy Showstack News Writer and Production Associate Kimberly M. S. Cartier in the name of science. With a little acoustic floats over Editorial and Production Coordinator Liz Castenson M dynamite, the Lehigh University long ranges, enabling News and Production Intern Jenessa Duncombe physics professor spent all the time he could them to make long- find developing field experiments—specifi- term observations Production & Design cally, ones using seismic waves to study sub- under the surface. Manager, Production and Operations Faith A. Ishii Senior Production Specialist Melissa A. Tribur surface geology. In 1934, he was approached by Today fleets of these Assistant Director, Design & Branding Beth Bagley a couple of geologists who urged him to use acoustic floats are Senior Graphic Designer Valerie Friedman his techniques to study the seafloor. Eager for anchored under water any opportunity to probe Earth, Ewing and his and ballasted to drift Marketing explosions pioneered an entirely new way to at a certain pressure Director, Marketing, Branding & Advertising Jessica Latterman study the oceans. or density within a region for years before Assistant Director, Marketing & Advertising Liz Zipse Marketing Program Manager Angelo Bouselli Ewing went on to have a distinguished being released to the surface to send their data Senior Specialist, Digital Marketing Nathaniel Janick career, including 25 years as director of the to a satellite for collection. These float studies Digital Marketing Coordinator Ashwini Yelamanchili Lamont-​­Doherty Earth Observatory, where he have revealed a wealth of information about lifted up the entire field of oceanography with the complexity of deep-sea currents around Advertising his insight into instrument development. the world—that archive of information has Display Advertising Dan Nicholas [email protected] Ewing served as AGU’s president in the late been collected into a new database, which you 1950s, and since 1976, AGU has awarded a can read about on page 34. Recruitment Advertising Heather Cain [email protected] medal in his honor, recognizing significant Getting these instruments out into remote original contributions to ocean science. This areas of the ocean is a major challenge to sur- Science Advisers month, as we continue to celebrate our Cen- mount before the science can even start. In Atmospheric Sciences Mark G. Flanner tennial, Eos is recognizing the ongoing contri- our cover story, on page 28, a group of ocean- Space Physics and Aeronomy Nicola J. Fox butions by those who study Earth’s massive, ographers reports on their recommendations Biogeosciences Steve Frolking interconnected ocean systems. to make everyone’s lives a bit easier when Study of the Earth’s Deep Interior Edward J. Garnero Hydrology Michael N. Gooseff Scientists in Australia are building on nearly planning research cruises. They offer new Geodesy Brian C. Gunter a century of seafloor mapping progress that protocols for navigating the increasingly com- History of Geophysics Kristine C. Harper began with Ewing, using modern techniques plex coordination of large and diverse teams of Planetary Sciences Sarah M. Hörst to create an entirely novel marine habitat scientists with governments around the Natural Hazards Susan E. Hough Volcanology, Geochemistry, and Petrology Emily R. Johnson map. On page 22, read about how the team at world—on top of the typical challenges of Seismology Keith D. Koper Seamap Australia is using high- resolution sourcing a vessel, crew, and funding. As the Geomagnetism, Paleomagnetism, and Robert E. Kopp bathymetric data to extract information about authors write, “Collaboration continues to be Electromagnetism Tectonophysics Jian Lin seafloor geomorphology and using it to visual- a hallmark of U.S. oceanographic research,” Near-Surface Geophysics Juan Lorenzo ize which reefs, sea grasses, and other habitats and building on those skills to streamline Earth and Space Science Informatics Kirk Martinez need the most protection. This isn’t just about access to research cruises will lay the course Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology Figen Mekik doing the science; it’s about the heavy lifting for the future of the field. Mineral and Rock Physics Sébastien Merkel Ocean Sciences Jerry L. Miller of coordinating efforts across a continent to This month we look closer at the scientists Cryosphere Sciences Thomas H. Painter collect the data and develop a scalable, usable whose creativity (and, in Ewing’s case, explo- Global Environmental Change Philip J. Rasch tool. That tool is already helping, the team sive innovation) has allowed us to know the Education Eric M. Riggs writes, to “inform policies for a well- oceans much more intimately than a glimpse Nonlinear Geophysics Adrian Tuck Earth and Planetary Surface Processes Andrew C. Wilcox functioning ocean, one of the two major goals from the shoreline. Our observations into Atmospheric and Space Electricity Earle Williams of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science space so far have shown us just how rare and Societal Impacts and Policy Sciences Mary Lou Zoback for Sustainable Development, which supports special our oceans are. Every day, oceanogra- the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Develop- phers look into the deep to show us again. ©2019. AGU. All Rights Reserved. Material in this issue may be photocopied by ment.” individual scientists for research or classroom use. Permission is also granted to use short quotes, figures, and tables for publication in scientific books and journals. Studying our vast oceans demands innova- For permission for any other uses, contact the AGU Publications Office. tion. When oceanographers needed a way to Eos (ISSN 0096-3941) is published monthly by AGU, 2000 Florida Ave., NW, study deep-sea currents, they had to stray Washington, DC 20009, USA. Periodical Class postage paid at Washington, D.C., and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Member from techniques such as using satellites and Service Center, 2000 Florida Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20009, USA. surface floats. In the 1970s, scientists devel- Heather Goss, Editor in Chief Member Service Center: 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Eastern time; Tel: +1-202-462-6900; Fax: +1-202-328-0566; Tel. orders in U.S.: 1-800-966-2481; [email protected]. Use AGU’s Geophysical Electronic Manuscript Submissions system to submit a manuscript: eos-submit.agu.org. Views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect official positions of AGU unless expressly stated. Christine W. McEntee, Executive Director/CEO Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 1 CONTENTS 18 22 34 28 Features Cover Story 18 Bridging the Gap Between Science and Action 28 Navigating the Future of Oceanographic Research By Richard Moss et al. By Alice Doyle et al. 22 Where the Reef Meets Scientists planning research cruises must develop new systems to handle the massive logistics involved today. the Seafloor By Vanessa Lucieer et al. On the Cover Argentina’s oceanographic ship ARA Puerto Deseado near the South Shetland 34 Deep Floats Reveal Islands in Antarctica Complex Ocean Circulation Patterns By Andrée L. Ramsey et al. 2 // Eos June 2019 CONTENTSNEWS 8 42 Columns From the Editor AGU News 1 Science in the Deep 39 Mapping Heat Vulnerability in Communities 40 AGU Launches Ethics and Equity Center News 4 Global Tree Cover Loss Continues but Is Down Research Spotlight from Peak Highs 41 A New Way to Analyze Evidence of Martian Oceans 5 Satellite Imagery Reveals Plastic Garbage 42 How Do Main Shocks Affect Subsequent Earthquakes? in the Ocean 42 Explaining the Genesis of Superdeep Diamonds 6 Titan’s Northern Lake District Has Hidden Depths 43 Very Warm Water Observed Along West Antarctic 7 Looking for Climate Solutions Down in the Dirt Ice Shelf 8 Reassessing California’s Overdue Earthquake Tab 44 Ocean Warming Resumes in the Tropical Pacific 9 National Volcano Warning System Gains Steam 10 A United Europe Benefits Global Science Positions Available 12 The Ice Nurseries of the Arctic Are Melting 45 Current job openings in the Earth and space sciences Opinion Postcards from the Field 13 Let’s Teach Scientists How to Withstand Attacks on Fact 48 Scientists recover HOV Alvin to the deck of R/V Atlantis 16 Will the Desert Darken Your Door? following a dive. AmericanGeophysicalUnion @AGU_Eos company/american-geophysical-union AGUvideos americangeophysicalunion americangeophysicalunion Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 3 NEWS from fresh wounds. It’s death by a thousand Global Tree Cover Loss Continues cuts.” The data derive from the University of but Is Down from Peak Highs Maryland’s annual tree cover loss data set, which measures the complete removal of tree cover canopy in 30- × 30-​­meter pixels, accord- “Continued tropical forest loss pulls the rug out from under efforts to stabilize the global climate.” ing to WRI. That measurement does not dif- ferentiate between permanent and temporary land cover change or between natural and human causes of the loss. Why the Forest Loss Matters “Continued tropical forest loss pulls the rug out from under efforts to stabilize the global climate,” Seymour said. She noted that for- ests store carbon in addition to providing habitat for numerous species and resources for people. “For every area of forest loss, there is likely a species that’s 1 inch closer to extinction,” she said. “And for every area of forest loss, there is likely a family that has lost access to an important part of their daily income from hunting, gathering, and fishing.” The World Resources Institute’s Global Forest Watch released new data on 25 April about global tree cover loss.