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VOL. 96 • NO. 19 • 15 OCT 2015 A Civil War–Era Painting of the Aurora Borealis

What Darkens the Greenland Ice Sheet? Earth & Space Science News Dunes’ Importance on Planetary Surfaces DRONES TAKE EARTH MONITORING TO NEW HEIGHTS Thank You to Our 2015 Supporters Circle Donors*

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15 OCTOBER 2015 PROJECT UPDATE VOLUME 96, ISSUE 19

Aurora Painting Pays Tribute to Civil War’s End Frederic Edwin Church’s 1865 arctic landscape, Aurora Borealis, is a beautiful depiction of nature. It might also be a memorial reflection on the end of the war.

OPINION

What Darkens the Greenland Ice Sheet? Limited observational data sets and incomplete surface energy balance models constrain understanding of the driving 8 processes for Greenland’s ice sheet.

COVER RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

Drone Squadron to Take Earth Monitoring Simulating a Warmer, to New Heights 24 Drier Arctic Field experiments examine the effect of Drones can be a potentially transformative scientific tool, but rising temperatures and drying soils on operating them comes with numerous challenges. carbon dynamics in the Arctic.

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 Xin-Zhong Liang, Global Science Informatics Environmental Change Lora S. Armstrong, Volcanology, Jian Lin, Tectonophysics Geochemistry, and Petrology Figen Mekik, Paleoceanography Michael A. Ellis, Earth and Planetary and Paleoclimatology Surface Processes Jerry L. Miller, Ocean Sciences Arlene M. Fiore, Atmospheric Sciences Michael A. Mischna, Planetary 17 Nicola J. Fox, Space Physics Sciences and Aeronomy Thomas H. Painter, Cryosphere Steve Frolking, Biogeosciences Sciences Edward J. Garnero, Study of the Roger A. Pielke Sr., Natural Hazards Earth’s Deep Interior Michael Poland, Geodesy 17–21 AGU News Michael N. Gooseff, Hydrology Eric M. Riggs, Education Riding a “Roller Coaster” at National Kristine C. Harper, History Adrian Tuck, Nonlinear Geophysics of Geophysics Sergio Vinciguerra, Mineral Geographic; AGU Sections and Focus Keith D. Koper, Seismology and Rock Physics Groups Announce 2015 Awardees. Robert E. Kopp, Geomagnetism Earle Williams, Atmospheric and Paleomagnetism and Space Electricity John W. Lane, Near-Surface Mary Lou Zoback, Societal Impacts 23–24 Research Spotlight Geophysics and Policy Sciences Staff Simulating a Warmer, Drier Arctic; Production: Faith A. Ishii, Production Manager; Melissa A. Tribur, Senior Production Predicting Space Weather on a Specialist; Liz Castenson, Editor’s Assistant; Yael Fitzpatrick, Manager, Design and Satellite Superhighway; Cool Branding; Valerie Bassett and Travis Frazier, Electronic Graphics Specialists Downdrafts in Large Thunderstorms Editorial: Peter L. Weiss, Manager/Senior News Editor; Mohi Kumar, Scientific Content Editor; Randy Showstack, Senior News Writer; JoAnna Wendel, Writer Captured by Satellite. Marketing: Angelo Bouselli and Mirelle Moscovitch, Marketing Analysts Advertising: Christy Hanson, Manager; Tel: +1-202-777-7536; Email: advertising@ agu.org 25–31 Positions Available ©2015. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. Material in this issue may be photocopied by individual scientists for research or classroom use. Permission 24 Current job openings in the Earth is also granted to use short quotes, figures, and tables for publication in scientific and space sciences. books and journals. For permission for any other uses, contact the AGU Publications Office. Eos (ISSN 0096-3941) is published semi-monthly, on the 1st and 15th of the month 3 News except the 1st of January 2015 by the American Geophysical Union, 2000 Florida Priorities for Antarctic Research: 32 Postcards from the Field Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20009, USA. Periodical Class postage paid at Washington, D. C., and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Glaciers, Genomes, and Cosmic A drone survey of the River Glyme Member Service Center, 2000 Florida Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20009, USA. Waves. in Oxfordshire, U.K. 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: [email protected]. Use AGU’s Geophysical Electronic Manuscript Submissions system to submit a 4 Meeting Report manuscript: http://eos-submit.agu.org. The Importance of Dunes on a On the Cover Views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect official positions of the Variety of Planetary Surfaces. American Geophysical Union unless expressly stated. Drones, like this one being tested Christine W. McEntee, Executive Director/CEO in Nevada, can monitor the 5–7 Opinion environment, but they require What Darkens the Greenland Ice resources to operate and maintain. Sheet? Credit: David Calvert for Eos.

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2 // Eos 15 October 2015 NEWS

Priorities for Antarctic Research: Glaciers, Genomes, and Cosmic Waves 0) NC 2.0 (http://bit.ly/ccbync2- NC 2.0 CC BY- Woan, Ronald A new U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report recommends research priorities for the future of Antarctic and Southern Ocean research.

nderstanding how melting sea ice con- A Strategic Vision for NSF Investments in Ant- ern Ocean, scientists can begin to understand tributes to sea level rise, learning how arctic and Southern Ocean Research (http://bit.ly/ how living things are adapting to the chang- U organisms evolve and adapt to chang- NAS_report)—which was commissioned by ing environment, the report says. In addition, ing environments, and using Antarctica’s the National Science Foundation—emphasizes by installing new telescopes in the Antarc- unique environment to study cosmic wave the need to study how loss of glacier mass tic’s dry, stable atmosphere, scientists can background radiation should be top research affects sea level rise, to research how the investigate the universe’s earliest moments, goals for Antarctic and Southern Ocean sci- genomes of organisms change with shifting the report says. ence. So says a report released 11 August by the environmental conditions, and to further The recommendations were developed fol- U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engi- understand the universe’s “fossil light”—the lowing input from more than 450 scientists in neering, and Medicine (NAS). cosmic microwave background that is more 10 meetings in the United States and around “Change in Antarctica and the Southern easily detected in the clear Antarctic skies. the world and in a virtual town hall, Bell said. Ocean has global ramifications for sea level The report maps out strategies to achieve The report also advocates for expanded rise,” explained Robin Bell, a professor of these research goals over the next 10 years. access to remote areas, acquiring new heavy geology and geophysics at the Lamont- The report suggests studying how Antarc- icebreakers for polar research, improved tech- Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia Uni- tica’s ice sheets are changing now and also nology for data transmission, and a more open versity in New York and cochair of the report examining new ice cores and sediment sam- system of sharing and communicating data. committee. “There are also key records of past ples to understand how the ice sheets change that inform our understanding of changed in the past. By sequencing genomes change in the future,” she told Eos. of species living in Antarctica and the South- By JoAnna Wendel, Staff Writer

Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 3 MEETING REPORT

The Importance of Dunes on a Variety of Planetary Surfaces The Fourth International Planetary Dunes Workshop: Integrating Models, Remote Sensing, and Field Data Boise, Idaho, 19–22 May 2015

Idaho, to discuss remote sensing observations, in situ studies, and computer models of aeolian activity. Jani Radebaugh The workshop, the fourth in a Workshop attendee Devon Burr, walking in the saltation series focusing on planetary cloud on the summit of a dune during the workshop’s dunes, brought together terres- field trip to Idaho’s Bruneau dune field. trial and planetary researchers from diverse backgrounds with the goal of fostering collaborative width, may be long-lived, yet currently active, interdisciplinary research. The and thus can dominate many locations on small-group setting facilitated planetary surfaces. intensive discussions of many Speakers highlighted how conditions aspects of aeolian processes on required for megadune growth are not fully Earth, Mars, Venus, Titan, and understood, although the importance of winds even comets. that elongate the dune through down-axis sand transport is becoming clearer. New stud- Transverse Aeolian Ridges ies using fieldwork as well as physical and

HiRise/NASA/JPL/University of Arizona HiRise/NASA/JPL/University Especially noteworthy discus- mathematical modeling are quickly improving Dark dunes within Mars’s Herschel Crater, most likely composed of sions were related to features understanding of linear dune initiation and basaltic sand. The dunes are barchans; steep faces on the bottom called transverse aeolian ridges propagation. edges of these features show the dominant direction of prevailing (TARs), aeolian bed forms on winds. Pits and smaller ripples on the dunes point to complex interac- Mars that may have formed The Search for Sand Sources tions between multiple aeolian and other geological processes. either as large ripples or small Sand sources for dunes remain an important dunes. The research on TARs is topic for dune research, as these vary widely. ongoing, including the recent Several talks focused on these diverse sources. cientists observe aeolian bed forms, or hypothesis that TARs may have formed On Earth, most dunes are made from the dune-like structures, throughout the through deposition of dust carried by wind, in slow, steady process of the creation of quartz S solar system in a range of locations, a manner comparable to antidunes in a fluvial grains through plate tectonics–related uplift from bodies with only transient atmospheres, setting on Earth. and volcanism followed by erosion. On Mars, such as comets, to places with the sand is basaltic and likely thick atmospheres, such as Venus from explosive volcanism, impact and the Earth’s ocean floor. The presence of vast sand seas of large, cratering, and the action of wind. Determining the source of sand On Venus there appear to be few and the different dune formations linear dunes on Titan highlights the dunes, perhaps because atmo- that result is thus important to importance of understanding megadunes spheric constraints limit the vol- understanding solar system and ume of sand created by explosive planetary evolution. in the solar system. volcanism and impact cratering. Curiously, aeolian bed forms On Titan, sand production contin- appear to maintain similar mor- ues to be a question, but ulti- phologies over a large range in mately, these materials are size, from centimeter-scale sand ripples to A field trip on 20 May to the Bruneau Dunes thought to be derived from the photodissocia- kilometer-scale megadunes. Their occurrence allowed workshop attendees to observe tion of methane in the upper atmosphere. across environments and their diversity in size reversing dunes, another possible Earth ana- For more details, visit http://bit.ly/dunes suggest that a variety of processes all produce logue for TARs. _workshop. similar landforms. This phenomenon, called equifinality, requires an interdisciplinary Importance of Megadunes approach to research. The presence of vast sand seas of large, linear By Timothy Titus, U.S. Geological Survey, Flag- To advance understanding of aeolian bed dunes on Titan has highlighted the impor- staff, Ariz.; email: [email protected];James Zimbel- forms and processes, 60 scientists and stu- tance of understanding megadunes in the man, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C.; dents representing eight countries (from four solar system, attendees noted. These land- and Jani Radebaugh, Brigham Young University, continents) gathered in May 2015 in Boise, forms, reaching more than 1 kilometer in Provo, Utah

4 // Eos 15 October 2015 OPINION

What Darkens the Greenland Ice Sheet?

ost of the massive ice sheet that covers roughly four fifths of Greenland M melts at the surface in summer. As long as the ice sheet regains its mass in the winter, this is not catastrophic. However, if the ice sheet melted entirely, sea levels would rise by more than 7 meters, with obvious and severe consequences for human civilization. Not surprisingly, scientists are working hard to determine if and when the ice sheet will transition (or if it has already transitioned) from a stable state to a net mass loss state. The impact of increasing greenhouse gas levels on the Greenland ice sheet (GrIS) depends on many complex and interacting factors. One is the ice sheet’s albedo—the fraction of incoming solar radiation that is reflected from the surface of the ice sheet. Indeed, scientists have determined that net solar radiation reaching the ice is the largest contributor to the energy balance driving melting [e.g., van den Broeke et al., 2011]. Despite the crucial role of albedo in energy balance, we have yet to quantify the role of the different processes driving it. Such an understanding is crucial to determining the past behavior of the GrIS and pro- jecting its future contribution to sea level rise. Scientists seeking to quantify how much various factors contribute to ice sheet albedo face numerous challenges. These include Marco Tedesco intrinsic limitations in current observational Aerial photograph taken on 24 July 2015 over the southwest portion of the Greenland ice sheet, near Kangerlussuaq. capabilities (e.g., spatial and radiometric reso- The meltwater stream divides dirty ice on the left and metamorphosed snow with a relatively low amount of impurities lution of currently available spaceborne sen- on the right. Because ice grain growth can reduce albedo, the clean portion might actually absorb more solar radia- sors) and limitations on how accurately sur- tion than the dirty side. The meltwater streams, the impurities on the ice surface, and the metamorphosed snow all face energy balance models handle ice sheet contribute to the processes driving albedo changes. albedo. Moreover, the sparseness in space and time of in situ observations of quantities such as impurity concentrations, biological pro- Surface impurities can indeed reduce albedo of melt pools, and the combined effects and cesses, and grain growth impedes our ability in the visible part of the electromagnetic feedbacks associated with all of these factors. to separate their respective contributions to spectrum—light with wavelengths from 400 We briefly discuss these processes below. broadband albedo (integrated over the entire to 700 nanometers—and make snow and ice We assert that each is potentially significant spectrum). appear darker to our eyes. Images of “dirty” enough that the scientific community must snow or ice are therefore visually appealing quantify its role in GrIS darkening. Because Darkening: A Complex Suite of Processes and can be powerful communication tools. each process responds positively to warming The GrIS albedo has declined substantially in However, half the solar energy Earth (i.e., albedo decreases as warming increases), recent decades [Tedesco et al., 2014], attracting receives is at near-infrared wavelengths they are all likely to become increasingly interest from both the scientific community (between 700 and 2500 nanometers), which is important in the future. and news media. Media reports, many using invisible to our eyes. At these wavelengths, the term “darkening,” have emphasized that other powerful means of albedo reduction Snow Grain Growth: an increase in light-absorbing impurities, become important. Hence, a comprehensive An Invisible Effect on Albedo particularly black carbon and dust, in Green- assessment of GrIS darkening must account Soon after snow falls, its grains begin to land snow could be responsible for the for all processes that contribute to albedo change shape and size. Snow grains become observed albedo reduction. The idea is that reduction. Important factors include snow rounded. Large grains grow at the expense of such impurities absorb incoming sunlight, grain size, the impurity content of snow, bio- small grains, so the average grain radius heating up and accelerating snow and ice melt. logical activity, exposure of bare ice, formation increases with snowpack age.

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

plex terrain and by the difficulty of separating black carbon from other particles (e.g., dust) in the snow. Although some scientists have hypothesized that dust may be darkening the ablation zone in southwest Greenland in particular, nobody has quantified the relative roles of black carbon, dust, and other darkening agents in these regions. Additionally, insoluble impurities concen- trate at the surface when snow melts since meltwater percolates down through the snowpack more efficiently than do particulates [e.g., Doherty et al.,2013]. This further lowers the albedo and enhances melting, leading to more consolidation [Flanner et al., 2007]. This positive feedback gives rise to high concentrations of impurities in the ablation zones in particular. Because of this feedback loop, in a snowpack that has partially melted, it is not possible to distinguish whether elevated impurity concentrations caused enhanced melting or resulted from enhanced melting (or both).

Life on Snow and Ice Organisms on the ice sheet’s surface also reduce the ice’s albedo. Green, pink, purple, brown, and black pigmented algae can grow in melting snow and ice. On ice, cryoconite (a Marco Tedesco mixture of dust, pebbles, soot, and microbes) Aerial photograph taken on 24 July 2015 over the southwest portion of the Greenland ice sheet, near Kangerlussuaq. also absorbs sunlight. Furthermore, microbes (left) The turquoise color is characteristic of meltwater on the shore of a supraglacial lake. (middle) Area from which the can bind to particulates like black carbon, lake water has receded, removing impurities and leaving bare ice. (right) Ice and snow covered by surface impurities. retaining them at the surface in higher concentrations than in the parent snow and ice. As with black carbon, nobody has quantified At near-infrared wavelengths, coarse- reduce broadband albedo by around 10%. By the magnitude of this source of darkening. As grained snow has lower albedo than fine- comparison, adding 20 parts per billion of the climate warms and melt seasons lengthen, grained snow. Warming accelerates this snow black carbon, a concentration typical of those biological habitats will expand, and their con- aging process, leading to further albedo reduc- that scientists have found in the top layer of tribution to darkening will likely increase tion. In melting snow, grains become further melting GrIS snow in the percolation zone, [Benning et al., 2014]. rounded and clump reduces albedo by into clusters. Thus, only 1% to 2%. Bare Ice and Water Pools there is a positive At infrared wavelengths, The exposure of bare ice and development of feedback between other powerful means of Dirt on the surface meltwater pools also reduces surface warming, snow Surface albedo, primarily in the near-infrared but also aging, increased albedo reduction become at visible wavelengths. The total albedo of solar absorption, Light-absorbing clean glacier ice is around 60%, compared to and reduced important. impurities such as 72% for clean melting snow. albedo. black carbon, Ice albedo decreases further, to between Since the reduc- organic carbon, and 20% and 50%, when it has high concentrations tion of albedo by dust are deposited of impurities, as is common in the ablation grain growth is confined to the near infrared, on the GrIS from the atmosphere. Over most zone. The albedo of melt pools is even lower, it is mostly invisible to our eyes. This means of the central GrIS, however, the impurity typically reaching values of 20%–30%. that a clean snowpack (one with no impuri- content in cold snow is quite low—about an Meltwater lakes on the ice sheet’s margin ties) that has melted at the surface can have a order of magnitude lower than in the low- have also expanded substantially inland to lower broadband albedo than a cold snowpack altitude Arctic. This is because of the high ele- higher elevations with warming, decreasing with impurities, despite the fact that the clean vation of the central GrIS: Pollutant fluxes are albedo over sizable areas of the ice sheet snowpack might still appear brighter to our mostly confined to lower altitudes. [Howat et al., 2013]. eyes. To date, the amount of black carbon in the For pure snow, grain growth from new snow region of the GrIS that is losing mass, known Recommendations (grains around 0.1 millimeter in radius) to old as the ablation zone, has not been quantified. To determine exactly what causes the GrIS melting snow (radius around 1 millimeter) can Measurements here are complicated by com- albedo to change, the scientific community

6 // Eos 15 October 2015 OPINION

We need to communicate tion of satellite observations, among other References things. We therefore need airborne campaigns Benning, L. G., A. M. Anesio, S. Lutz, and M. Tranter (2014), Biological impact on Greenland’s albedo, Nat. Geosci., 7, 691. the important processes or improved spaceborne sensors to collect Doherty, S. J., T. C. Grenfell, S. Forsström, D. L. Hegg, R. E. Brandt, and finer spectral and spatial remote sensing data S. G. Warren (2013), Observed vertical redistribution of black car- involved in albedo sets. bon and other insoluble light-absorbing particles in melting snow, J. Geophys. Res., 118, 5553–5569. reduction to scientists We also need in situ measurements in the Flanner, M. G., C. S. Zender, J. T. Randerson, and P. J. Rasch GrIS’s ablation zone that can distinguish the (2007), Present-day climate forcing and response from black carbon in snow, J. Geophys. Res., 112, D11202, and the general public. relative contributions of different impurity doi:10.1029/2006JD008003. types (e.g., black carbon, dust, algae) to albedo Howat, I. M., S. de la Peña, J. H. van Angelen, J. T. M. Lenaerts, and reduction as well as models that accurately M. R. van den Broeke (2013), Expansion of meltwater lakes on the Greenland ice sheet, Cryosphere, 7, 201–204. must first quantify the contributions made by simulate the GrIS surface energy balance and Tedesco, M., J. E. Box, T. S. Jensen, T. Mote, A. K. Rennermalm, L. C. all of the processes described above. Cur- mass balance. For example, regional climate Smith, R. S. W. van de Wal, and J. Wahr (2014), Greenland, Bull. Am. rently, no such assessment exists. Instead, models need to refine the modeling of snow Meteorol. Soc., 95, S136–S138. van den Broeke, M. R., C. J. P. P. Smeets, and R. S. W. van de Wal black carbon’s role in reducing visible albedo grain size and exposure of bare ice and need to (2011), The seasonal cycle and interannual variability of surface has attracted most of the attention. We need include impurities and biological activity in energy balance and melt in the ablation zone of the west Greenland ice sheet, Cryosphere, 5, 377–390. to communicate the other important pro- their albedo schemes. Warren, S. G. (2013), Can black carbon in snow be detected by remote cesses involved in albedo reduction to both sensing?, J. Geophys. Res., 118, 779–786. scientists and the general public. A Critical Understanding Remote sensing data can provide large- Given the role of warming in albedo change scale information, at high temporal resolu- and the projections of increased warming and By Marco Tedesco, The City University of New tion, on processes occurring on the ice sheet enhanced melting, future changes in the GrIS York, New York, N.Y.; email: [email protected]; surface. Measuring and attributing albedo albedo will likely result largely from warming Sarah Doherty and Stephen Warren, University variations by means of satellite retrievals is and associated feedbacks. We need to quan- of Washington, Seattle; Martyn Tranter, University challenging [Warren, 2013], however, because tify and understand these feedbacks so that of Bristol, U.K.; Julienne Stroeve, University of Col- of the relatively low concentration of impuri- we can assess the energy budget at the ice orado Boulder, Boulder; Xavier Fettweis, Univer- ties on the surface of the GrIS and the rela- sheet surface and predict future changes in sity of Liege, Belgium; and Patrick Alexander, The tively coarse spatial and radiometric resolu- ice mass. City University of New York, New York, N.Y.

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Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 7 DRONE SQUADRON TO TAKE EARTH MONITORING TO NEW HEIGHTS

By John Selker, Scott Tyler, Chad Higgins, and Michael G. Wing

8 // Eos 15 October 2015 Drones can be a potentially transformative scientific tool, but operating them comes with numerous challenges.

ne of the hottest technology trends of the past few years has been the emergence of the small remotely piloted aircraft commonly known as drones. Buzzing quadcopters have taken the Internet by storm with Obreathtaking aerial videos of their attempts to deliver pack- ages, beer, and even marriage proposals—but they also have immense potential for Earth science by offering scientists an airborne platform to monitor the environment. However, drones come at a cost, and they are often difficult for research teams to maintain. Operating them requires competent (and licensed) pilots, navigating relevant regulations (which are still in flux), and the money to purchase both the airframes and the equipment they will carry—all in addition, of course, to the scientific expertise of the researchers themselves. To help scientists address these challenges, the Center for Transformative Environmental Monitoring Programs (CTEMPs; David Calvert for Eos

Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 9 http://ctemps.org/), a community user facility for environmental sensing supported by the National Science Founda- tion (NSF), is expanding its instrumentation this year to include drones—also known as unmanned aircraft systems (UASs). It will take on the operational burden and allow researchers to deploy UASs to their Earth study sites, free- ing users to focus on their science. UASs represent a significant advance in remote sensing, with the capability to rapidly deploy and to image terrain at very high resolutions in the visible and infrared spectrum. In particular, they have tremendous potential for environmental monitoring, as they can capture data at scales that are more detailed than traditional aircraft and broader than point sensors. This neatly fills a gap in current instrument capabilities.

Building a Scientific Drone Fleet Since 2009, the NSF has funded CTEMPs to operate environmental sensing equipment to serve the scientific community, with centers at Oregon State University; University of Nevada, Reno; and Smith College. CTEMPs traditionally deploys fiber optic–based temperature monitoring systems to researchers’ field sites across the United States and internationally. As drones become more widely available, CTEMPs is seeking to expand its instrument suite to include drones capable of covering areas large enough for hydrologic and ecological field studies and observatories—roughly from 1 to 100 square kilometers. In December 2014, NSF awarded funds to CTEMPs, in the new “AirCTEMPs” service pack- age, to add drone operations. David Calvert for Eos The CTEMPs campuses already have more than a dozen Chris Sladek tests a small drone at the Reno Remote Control Club’s airframes, outfitted with laser terrain scanners (lidar), flying site in the Hungry Valley, north of Reno, Nevada. These drones visible-light cameras, and infrared and thermal sensors. will be sent to Mongolia to photograph giant trout for fisheries research. AirCTEMPs staff have obtained dozens of certificates from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that autho- any single investigator. By providing instrumentation rize drone flights in states including Oregon, Nevada, when it is needed, the instruments can serve a much Montana, and Oklahoma. larger community.

Drones on Demand A Proven Operating Model Drones can be a potentially transformative scientific tool, CTEMPs launched 5 years ago, applying this operational but operating them comes with numerous challenges. model to a then new technology—distributed tempera- First, UAS equipment is expensive. The current ture sensing (DTS), which uses fiber-optic cables to CTEMPs lidar costs almost $30,000, the monorotor heli- record environmental temperatures. Whereas a tradi- copter that carries the lidar is more than $20,000, and tional thermometer takes a measurement at a single the software to digest these data is another $10,000. point, DTS works by measuring how changes in tempera- Second, drones require teams to staff up—for exam- ture affect the fiber’s optical properties along its entire ple, currently, most FAA-approved UAS flights in length. In this way, scientists can obtain tens of thou- the United States require that two pilots be present. sands of simultaneous measurements to accuracies of This creates staffing challenges for most university nearly 0.01°C. researchers. Although the technology might have great potential, its Finally, the FAA application process for a Certificate of successful adoption often depends more on the people Authorization to operate a UAS is highly technical and than the instrument. For example, to successfully use time-consuming. Programming flight paths, organizing DTS, researchers must understand the optics, cables sys- the data, and interpreting results requires specialized tems, cross-sensitivities, and performance trade-offs. technical skills that most Earth scientists do not have or Therefore, from the start, CTEMPs has focused on need to use on a regular basis. training potential users and has presented 16 multiday CTEMPs aims to acquire and operate expensive and hands-on training sessions that have introduced more sophisticated equipment that would normally be prohib- than 300 users to this technology. To ensure successful itive for single investigators and make it widely accessi- instrument deployments, CTEMPs then supports all ble to the community. CTEMPs also focuses on instru- potential users with extensive online resources (e.g., mentation that is unlikely to be used continuously by training videos, data processing scripts, and a compen-

10 // Eos 15 October 2015 dium of key literature) and direct support from the CTEMPs technical team of engineers, as well as logistical CTEMPs exists for the and data support staff.

CTEMPs’s Scope benefit of the Earth and The focus on users pays off: Through work on all seven continents and over landscapes ranging from the Dead Sea to Antarctica, more than 60 projects using CTEMPs services environmental science and equipment have studied oceanic, atmospheric, geologic, and hydrologic systems. Such research efforts led to the publication of at least 27 peer-reviewed papers in 2014. community. CTEMPs’s expansion into drones follows this same con- ceptual model and operational philosophy to develop successful deployment of instruments and to ensure that the instrumentation is continuously used. We hope that stud- the University of Nevada, Reno, brought a fleet of drones to ies with drones can be as ubiquitous and as fruitful. an active wind farm. The drones lifted a DTS fiber to a CTEMPs will also comply with current and future U.S. height of 120 meters, gathering temperature profiles once flight regulations, including securing flight authorization every second at a resolution of 0.1 meters to quantify the and providing drone pilots and observers for each deploy- dynamics of atmospheric mixing caused by large wind ment. The regulatory environment for small drones is rap- farms (see http://bit.ly/drone_video). idly evolving in the United States, and CTEMPs plans to CTEMPs anticipates having a fleet of three aircraft by continually update its operational model as these new reg- late summer 2015 capable of 20- to 40-minute flights with ulations are adopted. payloads ranging from 2 to 4 kilograms. These aircraft will be capable of surveying regions as large as 200 square kilo- Flight Tests meters over the course of several days, with the exact flight As an early test of CTEMPs’s capabilities combining drones time depending upon the user’s resolution requirements. and DTS, investigators from Oregon State University and They will be able to carry lidar and thermal and multispec- tral sensors and also to capture high- resolution visible imagery.

Using CTEMPs for Your Research CTEMPs exists for the benefit of the Earth and environmental science community, and all workshops, instruments, and advice are available to the research community. It reports to an external advisory panel that includes the Consortium of Universities for the Advance- ment of Hydrological Sciences, Inc. (CUAHSI). CTEMPs also collaborates with its sister facilities, including Incorporated Research Institu- tions for Seismology (IRIS), the University NAVSTAR Consortium (UNAVCO), the National Center for Airborne Laser Mapping (NCALM), and other federal agencies. A UAS training workshop, focusing on all aspects of a UAS mission from planning to data analysis, was held on 23–25 June 2015, and CTEMPs holds an annual DTS training workshop prior to AGU’s Fall Meeting (sched- uled in 2015 for 12–13 December).

Author Information John Selker, Department of Biological and Eco- logical Engineering, Oregon State University, Corvallis; Scott Tyler, Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno; email: [email protected]; and Chad Higgins and Michael G. Wing, Forest Engineering, Resources and Management Department, Ore-

Robert Predosa Robert gon State University, Corvallis. Selker and Tyler A remotely controlled quadcopter carries a temperature-sensing fiber-optic cable to are codirectors of CTEMPs. Wing is the director of investigate atmospheric mixing in an active wind farm. AirCTEMPs.

Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 11 12 // Eos 15 October 2015

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC/Art Resource, NY Aurora Painting Pays Tribute to Civil War’s End

By Jeffrey J. Love

his year marks the sesquicentennial anniversary of the end of the American Civil War, a conflict that Abraham Lincoln called a “mighty scourge.” It was one of the most poignant periods in U.S. history, laying bare political, economic, social, and moral divergence between Northern and South- ern states. The cause of the divergence that led to war was slavery [e.g., McPherson, 1988, chap. 3]—an institution that, by the 19th Tcentury, had been effectively abolished in the North but remained firmly entrenched in the South. War erupted in 1861 after a confederacy of Southern states declared secession from the Union of the United States. When the war finally ended in 1865, the Union had prevailed, and afterward, slavery was

Aurora Borealis, Frederic Edwin Church, 1865. Aurora silently illuminates a barren and frozen world of mountains, a schooner locked in sea ice, and a man with a dog-drawn sled in this richly symbolic landscape painting.

Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 13 abolished throughout the United States. This outcome was obtained at the cost of 750,000 American lives and substantial destruction, especially in the South [e.g., Gug- liotta, 2012]. In 1865, the same year the war ended, the American landscape artist Frederic Edwin Church unveiled Aurora Borealis (pictured on the previous pages), a dramatic and mysterious painting that can be interpreted in terms of 19th century romanticism, scientific philosophy, and Arctic missions of exploration. Aurora Borealis can also be viewed as a restrained tribute to the end of the Civil War—a mov- ing example of how science and current events served as the muses of late romantic artists [e.g., Carr, 1994, p. 277; Avery, 2011; Harvey, 2012].

Background and Style Frederic Edwin Church was born in 1826 in Hartford, Conn. His family’s wealth enabled him to pursue his interest in art from an early age. When Church was 18, a family friend introduced him to Thomas Cole, a prominent landscape painter who had founded an important American romantic artistic movement known as the Hudson River School [e.g., D. C. Handy Collection, Washington, Howart, 1987; Warner, 1989]. With Cole as his tutor, Church learned to paint landscapes in meticulous detail, emphasizing natural light. Other prominent artists within the Hudson River School included Albert Bierstadt and Thomas Moran, but Church

became perhaps the school’s most technically accom- Library of Congress, Brady- plished artist [e.g., Huntington, 1966]. In 1849, Church A portrait photograph of Frederic Edwin Church taken between 1855 became the youngest artist ever elected as an associate of and 1865. the National Academy of Design. Public showings of Church’s major works were often accompanied by advance publicity and fanfare. scape painting, which he said “must be a result at once of a Church was well known for painting large panoramas deep and comprehensive reception of the visible spectacle with waterfalls, sunsets, and high mountains—scenes that of external nature, and of [an] inward process of the mind” appealed to many Americans of the 19th century. The [Humboldt, 1850, part I.II]. In other words, landscape paint- United States was, at the time, seemingly destined for ter- ing can facilitate a contemplation of nature that Humboldt ritorial expansion. And although the vastness of untamed believed could be personally beneficial. wilderness was slowly diminishing, daily life for most From 1799 to 1804, Humboldt traveled extensively in Americans remained relatively close to nature. The major- South America, mapping rivers, measuring mountains, and ity of Americans lived in the rural countryside and worked cataloging flora [e.g., Gillis, 2012]. Half a century later, on farms. Even for those living in cities, the starry beauty Church followed some of Humboldt’s journeys, visiting of the nighttime sky had not yet been completely obscured. many of the places Humboldt had visited, painting many of the same mountains and waterfalls that Humboldt had The Influence of Humboldt seen and sketched. Subsequently, in his own continuous Church’s attentive depiction of nature on canvas was search for the sublime, Church turned his attention north- inspired in no small part by Alexander von Humboldt, the ward, visiting Labrador, Canada, in the summer of 1859, great Prussian geographer and explorer, who promoted a where he sketched and painted icebergs and, not surpris- holistic view of the universe as one giant interacting sys- ingly, witnessed beautiful aurorae [Noble, 1861]. tem. In the early 19th century, Humboldt was a celebrity, and it is noteworthy that Church’s personal library The Scene of Aurora Borealis included a copy of Humboldt’s masterwork Kosmos [e.g., After the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, it would have Baron, 2005]. A multivolume treatise, Kosmos covers an been reasonable to predict Union victory in the American amazing diversity of subjects, many of them scientific but Civil War [e.g., McPherson, 1988, chap. 21]. In that same some also historical and cultural. There is even a section year Church began working on Aurora Borealis, assembling devoted to aurorae, which Humboldt understood (cor- elements taken from different sources to form what is rectly) to be related to magnetic storms. essentially a fictional scene [e.g., Truettner, 1968]. The Like other romantic intellectuals of the 19th century, painting, oil on canvas, is physically large: 143 × 212 centi- Humboldt believed that one could obtain inspiration and meters. From an elevated and exhilarating perspective, we understanding of one’s place in the world by studying the look out over a far northern, nighttime scene. Auroral light cosmos and reflecting on its grandeur [e.g., Walls, 2009]. casts a pale illumination across a still world of barren Humboldt devoted an entire chapter in Kosmos to land- mountains and a broad expanse of frozen sea. In the fore-

14 // Eos 15 October 2015 ground, we see a small boat and a man with a dog-drawn aurorae near the horizon as curtains with vertical rays; sled. otherwise, auroral rays would appear to converge to a van- Church never saw the landscape presented in Aurora ishing point high overhead, essentially orthogonal to the Borealis. As it happened, Church taught the arctic explorer depiction chosen by Church. Isaac Israel Hayes the fine arts of drawing and painting. Perhaps Church was using the rays of the auroral arc to Church and Hayes became close friends, and the landscape convey the sense of a broad panorama, with us, the in Aurora Borealis is based on drawings made by Hayes observers, at its center. Or he may have simply intended to during an 1860 expedition [e.g., Truettner, 1968]. The ice- draw our attention from the heavens above down to the locked boat is Hayes’s schooner, the United States [Hayes, Earth and humankind below. 1867, p. 211]. The mountains are a depiction of those on Some of Church’s manipulation of form might reflect Ellesmere Island, the northernmost land in Canada. And in the fact that Aurora Borealis was executed simultaneously the background is a sharp peak that Hayes called Church with another painting, Rainy Season in the Tropics, which Peak (81.26°N, 65.62°W), named in honor of his friend and shows a double rainbow over a Central American moun- art instructor [Hayes, 1867, p. 351]. tainscape. The two paintings, both crowned by curving arcs With respect to the auroral light depicted in Aurora Bore- of light, are complementary [e.g., Avery, 2011; Harvey, alis, Church might very well have recalled the brilliant dis- 2012]—one shows night, the other day; one depicts a high- plays of aurora borealis latitude scene, the other that came before the war low; one is cold, the in August and September other warm. 1859. These were caused Another curiosity is by solar and magnetic the color palette of storm events that are now Aurora Borealis. The collectively called the Car- dominant color in auro- rington event [e.g., Clark, ral light is usually green, 2007]. emitted by atomic oxy- The 1859 aurorae were gen at a wavelength of widely reported in news- 557.7 nanometers. Yet papers and seen across the Church largely omits United States, even in the green from Aurora Borea- South, where some lis, placing emphasis on observers interpreted red, blue, and yellow them as portending war light. Furthermore, [e.g., Love, 2014]. Still, it is auroral light is usually

worth recognizing that NY DC/Art Resource, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, seen as a sort of vertical Church would have seen Detail from Aurora Borealis, showing an ice-bound schooner and a man stack of colors, with red aurorae many times while with a dogsled. In this painting, humanity is depicted as tiny and seemingly light on top, blending living in New England and insignificant. into green and then blue New York and during his and sometimes dark red trips to Labrador. Indeed, on the bottom. In con- the shape of the auroral arc in Aurora Borealis is taken from trast, Church shows an auroral arc with red light at the a sketch that Church made in September 1860 while visit- same horizontal level as blue. ing Maine [e.g., Truettner, 1968, note 36]. Interpreting Aurora Borealis as a Civil War Icon Artistic License Aurora Borealis is thick with symbolism. The auroral arc of When Aurora Borealis was first publicly displayed in March light encompasses a dark void in the sky that might repre- 1865, a reviewer described its depiction as “beauteously sent the uncharted north or some greater unknown. Below strange aerial phenomena … rendered with wonderful viv- this, and at the foot of dark mountains, Church depicts idness and delicacy of feeling” [Bayley, 1865, p. 266]. humanity—the forlorn man with his sled dogs—as tiny Church’s artistic abilities were certainly impressive, but we and seemingly insignificant (see detail). The challenge of can recognize that Church did not necessarily strive to exploring the unknown is represented by the placement of depict nature with rigorous accuracy. He was an “inter- the schooner: locked in the ice, facing a vast frozen sea. Its preter of nature, rather than a transcriber” [Warner, 1989, crew might be in search of the Northwest Passage or the p. 185]. mythical ice-free polar sea [Hayes, 1867]. They may or may Church painted the rays of the aurora converging toward not succeed in their search; regardless, the universe will a vanishing point on the horizon. Normally, auroral rays carry on. Still, despite seemingly overwhelming chal- result from charged particles descending from the magne- lenges, there is a small sign of optimism: light shines tosphere into the atmosphere, guided along the field lines through a window on the ship. of the Earth’s magnetic field. On their way down, collisions Such a summary is straightforward and consistent between these particles and atmospheric molecules cause with traditional romantic ideas, but it is possibly not the the charged particles to glow. The magnetic field lines whole story behind Aurora Borealis. Some art historians descend at high latitudes and converge toward the mag- see the social and political tension and turbulence in netic poles. Thus, normal artistic perspective would show mid-19th century America reflected in landscape paint-

Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 15 ings of the era [e.g., Harvey, 2012]. Although Church clouds, the red light of a sunrise, a convenient patch of never commented on the meaning of his paintings and blue sky, and a bright star. It was an unsophisticated, but he left few written records, we can contemplate the pos- popular, piece, resonating with the flag adulation emo- sibility that Church intended to paint something rather tion that had swept through the North soon after the war profound in Aurora Borealis. Considering the circum- started [e.g., Burke, 1982; Avery, 2011]. But the war did stances of the time, it is not much of a stretch to inter- not, as many had hoped, come to a quick and tidy end. pret Aurora Borealis as a tribute to an expected end of the Instead, it continued on until 1865, after the toll of American Civil War. destruction and death had reached frightening levels. If Church meant the light in Aurora Borealis to be a In contrast to the overtly nationalistic Banner, the metaphor for the end of the Civil War, then he was in the message of Aurora Borealis is subdued, even ambiguous company of poets. Herman Melville, author of the epic [e.g., Avery, 2011]. A visitor to Church’s studio who saw novel Moby Dick, penned a melancholy poem on the Aurora Borealis in March 1865 likened it to the frozen course of the war entitled “Aurora-Borealis” [Melville, ninth circle of Dante’s Inferno, a terrible place for those 1866], writing of a supernatural march of a “million who have committed treachery; the same visitor even blades that glowed” and which had been disbanded with suggested that such might be the fate for the entire the rising Sun of the war’s end. Christopher Cranch, a nation [Barbone, 1865]. Some have suggested that the preacher and fellow painter from the Hudson River drapery of light in Aurora Borealis represents the Ameri- School, wrote of the injury and seeming necessity of the can flag [e.g., Carr, 1994, p. 277]. If so, then it has been war in “The Dawn of Peace” [Cranch, 1890]: “We wake to unfurled across a cold and barren landscape, not in see the auroral splendors stream across the battle smoke extravagant celebration of the war’s anticipated end, but from opening skies. The demon, shrieking, tears us as he in subdued and somber recognition of the reality of flies exorcised from our wrenched and bleeding frame. O postwar desolation and an uncertain future. costly ransom!” Church certainly harbored nationalistic feelings. This Acknowledgments is vividly demonstrated in his 1861 painted sketch enti- I thank C. A. Finn, E. J. Rigler, J. McCarthy, and J. L. Slate tled Our Banner in the Sky, where an American flag is seen for reviewing a draft manuscript. I thank W. S. Leith for as a miraculous materialization in the sky from white useful conversations.

References Avery, K. J. (2011), Rally ’round the flag: Frederic Edwin Church and the Civil War, Hud- son River Valley Rev., 27(2), 66–103. Barbone (1865), Art in New York, March 18, Daily Evening Bull. (Philadelphia), 21 March, 8. Baron, F. (2005), From Alexander von Humboldt to Frederic Edwin Church: Voyages of scientific exploration and creativity, Int. Rev. Humboldtian Stud., 6(6), 1–15. Bayley, W. P. (1865), Mr. Church’s pictures, Art J., 4, 265–267. Burke, D. B. (1982), Frederic Edwin Church and “The Banner of Dawn,” Am. Art J., Wilhelm Heraeus Awards Spring, 39–46. Carr, G. L. (1994), Frederic Edwin Church: Catalogue Raisonne of Works of Art at Olana State Historic Site, vol. 1, Text, 565 pp., Cambridge Univ. Press, New York. 2015 and 2016 Clark, S. (2007), The Sun Kings: The Unexpected Tragedy of Richard Carrington and the Tale of How Modern Astronomy Began, 211 pp., Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton, N.J. Goethe University Frankfurt am Main Cranch, C. P. (1890), The Bird and the Bell, 327 pp., Houghton, Mifflin, Boston, Mass. will award the prestigious title of Gillis, A. M. (2012). Humboldt in the New World, Humanities, 33(6), 18–21, 41. »Wilhelm Heraeus Visiting Professor« Gugliotta, G. (2012), New estimate raises Civil War death toll, New York Times, 2 April. Harvey, E. J. (2012), The Civil War and American Art, 352 pp., Yale Univ. Press, New to scientists of high international Haven, Conn. standing in the ﬁ elds of physics (2015) Hayes, I. I. (1867), The Open Polar Sea, 407 pp., Sampson Low, Son, and Marston, and geophysics /geosciences (2016). London. Howart, J. K. (Ed.) (1987), American Paradise: The World of the Hudson River School, The prize is sponsored by funds from the 347 pp., Metropolitan Mus. of Art, New York. Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Foundation Humboldt, A., von (1850), Cosmos, English translation of Kosmos by E. C. Otté, vol. 2, and endowed with 40.000 Z, plus Harper, New York. [Reprint, Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, Baltimore, Md., 1997.] Huntington, D. C. (1966), The Landscapes of Frederic Edwin Church, 210 pp., Braziller, additional funding for research and New York. scientiﬁ c exchange. Love, J. J. (2014), Auroral omens of the American Civil War, Weatherwise, 67(5), 34–41, doi:10.1080/00431672.2014.939912. McPherson, J. M. (1988), Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era, 952 pp., Oxford Univ. The deadline for nominations for 2015 and 2016 Press, New York. is 31 October 2015. Self-nomination is not Melville, H. (1866), Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War, 272 pp., Harper, New York. Noble, L. L. (1861), After Icebergs with a Painter, 336 pp., D. Appleton, New York. permitted. Recommendations should be sent Truettner, W. H. (1968), Genesis of Frederic Edwin Church’s Aurora Borealis, Art Q., 31, to the Goethe University. 266–283. Walls, L. D. (2009), Introducing Humboldt’s Cosmos, Minding Nat., August, 3–15. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION SEE Warner, C. D. (1989), An unfinished biography of the artist, in Frederic Edwin Church, www.uni-frankfurt.de/45302866/ edited by F. Kelly, pp. 174–199, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. stellenausschreibungen Author Information Jeffrey J. Love, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colo.; email: [email protected]

16 // Eos 15 October 2015 AGU NEWS

stories for me to discover and develop from Riding a “Roller Coaster” the endless and ever-changing mass of scientific literature. But they could be the most at National Geographic rewarding to write.

Highs and Lows Every flavor of story at National Geographic he elevator dings and I step out, glancing articles. One afternoon, with only a couple of offered its own subtleties and joys. And I one last time at the historical black- hours to deliver a story about the Curiosity savored each one that came my way. (Visit T and-white photos lining the corridor rover’s third anniversary on Mars, my editor http://bit.ly/wei-haas to read my stories from one floor below the National Geographic and I worked on the document simultane- the National Geographic newsroom.) offices. I wander down the dim hallway and ously: She edited each section immediately I’m not saying the fellowship wasn’t a chal- enter an office with a sign marked “security.” after I wrote it. lenge. During this thrilling ride, there were Reluctantly, I hand over my credentials that Writing about scientific papers moves at a definitely times when it seemed to go off the identify me as a member of the National Geo- slower pace, requiring finesse to transform rails. For one week in the middle of the sum- graphic family. complex research into conversational stories. mer, everything ground to a halt. I just “Is that it?” I ask the security guard at the As the reporter, I sifted through details, couldn’t find a story to write and ended each desk. extracting only the most salient points and “That’s it,” he says. incorporating just enough background to help I love using science to That moment marked the end of my roller the audience understand the science. coaster ride in a fellowship program with the Although more leisurely to produce than explain all the amazing American Association for the Advancement of breaking news, these paper-centric stories Science (AAAS) in which scientists work sum- don’t rank as the slow food of the journalism and puzzling oddities of mer stints as reporters in news outlets across world. Reporters get access to peer-reviewed our world. the country. articles for only a short period at best before Fellows in the AAAS Mass Media Science and public release. Stories must be polished and Engineering Fellows Program (http://bit.ly/ ready to go as soon as any embargo lifts, else MMFprogram) learn how to communicate sci- risk getting buried under a barrage of timelier day with the sinking feeling that I was an ence to the public and, at the same time, lend pieces. imposter. But by the end of my 10 weeks as a valuable scientific expertise to newsrooms. Across my National Geographic desk also reporter, I started to fall into a rhythm, savor- AGU sponsored me in this intense 10-week came stunning photos or viral videos and the ing the anticipation of mounting each hill and welcome to the ups and downs of journalism. task of quickly explaining their underlying sci- then joyfully plunging into another madcap ence in a light-hearted, punchy article. assignment. Need for Speed Last, there were enterprise stories, as my Writing breaking news is a sprint: contacting editor called them—bigger projects like writing To Do or Not to Do experts, scanning published coverage, and up a budding field of research or digging into On my last day at National Geographic, one of pounding out 600 words or less in a matter of some intriguing scientific question triggered my editors asked me to write about one last hours. My heart often raced as I wrote these by other discoveries. Those were the toughest viral video—this one of a great white shark that was supposedly the largest ever filmed. As I scrambled to find experts to interview and assembled my notes into a story, I kept thinking how I never wanted this to end. I love doing science: the instruments quietly humming in the lab, with their promise of eye-opening data; the endless sizes and shapes of glassware, begging for creative experiments; the trials and tribulations of fieldwork in unspeakably gorgeous locations. But this summer I discovered that even more than doing science, I love using science to explain all the amazing and puzzling oddities of our world to anyone willing to listen. Though turning over my badge at the National Geographic security office felt like the end of an epic adventure, my story is not over yet. Last month I started as an assistant web editor for Smithsonian.com.

Greta Weber By Maya Wei-Haas, AGU 2015 Mass Media Sci- Maya Wei-Haas holds up a copy of National Geographic at her desk at the magazine where she wrote science stories ence and Engineering Fellow; email: mweihaas@ this summer as AGU’s 2015 Mass Media Fellow. gmail.com

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

AGU Sections and Focus Groups Announce 2015 Awardees

Lu Receives the 2015 James R. Holton Junior Scientist Award and help and Dr. Yangang Liu at Brookhaven National Labora- tory, United States, for giving me the freedom and encour- Chunsong Lu will receive the 2015 James R. Holton Junior Scientist Award at the 2015 AGU Fall agement to explore the research topics of my interest. I am Meeting, to be held 14–18 December in San Francisco, Calif. The award recognizes “outstanding grateful to the two institutions and fortunate to have worked research contributions by a junior atmospheric scientist within three years of his or her Ph.D.” with many outstanding colleagues. I am also grateful to my family and my friends for their unconditional support at home Citation Response as well as abroad. The Atmospheric Sciences section of It is a great honor to be selected as the 2015 Atmospheric I have been focusing on understanding entrainment- AGU is pleased to present the 2015 Sciences section Holton Award honoree. The prestigious mixing processes, turbulence, and their interactions with Holton Junior Scientist Award to award named after James Holton is particularly inspiring at cloud physics and trying to improve their representation in Dr. Chunsong Lu, Nanjing University this early stage of my career. climate and weather prediction models. I regard the presti- of Information Science and Technol- I thank the Atmospheric Sciences section of AGU and the gious Holton Award as an encouraging message from the ogy, for “his original contributions in members of the award committee for the award. I am truly scientific community and will continue to pursue the chal- observational and modeling studies grateful to my two dissertation advisers; I thank Dr. Shengjie lenges in atmospheric science. of cloud microphysics, turbulent mix- Niu at the Nanjing University of Information Science and —Chunsong Lu, Nanjing University of Information Sci- Chunsong Lu ing, and convective entrainment.” Technology, China, for his constant and invaluable guidance ence and Technology, Nanjing, China Chunsong has demonstrated exceptional purposefulness, creativity, and originality in the challenging and critical problems of convective entrainment, turbulent mixing processes, and their interactions with cloud/fog microphysics. Following from his Holben and Zerefos Receive 2015 Yoram J. Kaufman Unselfish Cooperation Ph.D. dissertation, Chunsong has (1) proposed new dynamical in Research Award and microphysical measures to quantify different mixing mechanisms that likely occur in ambient clouds, (2) developed a new Brent Holben and Christos S. Zerefos will receive the 2015 Yoram J. Kaufman Unselfish Cooperation parameterization for mixing mechanisms based on the rela- in Research Award at the 2015 AGU Fall Meeting, to be held 14–18 December in San Francisco, Calif. tionship between the two measures, (3) elucidated the effects The award recognizes “broad influence in atmospheric science through exceptional creativity, of secondary entrainment-mixing events on the new parame- inspiration of younger scientists, mentoring, international collaborations, and unselfish cooperation terization, (4) proposed an approach for distinguishing and in research.” linking entrainment mixing and collision coalescence in clouds, and (5) explored the scale dependence of mixing mechanisms. Citation for Brent Holben Asia. He has published journal articles with over 700 dif- In the words of one of the supporting letters, Chunsong’s work The AGU Atmospheric Sciences ferent scientists, including scientists from more than “opens the door for possible routine monitoring of entrainment section is pleased to present the 50 countries. As of March 2015, he has 27,970 article cita- profiles using environmental soundings and surface-based 2015 Yoram J. Kaufman Unself- tions, with an h-index of 79, and his work has penetrated microwave radiometer remote sensing of cloud liquid water ish Collaboration for Research the communities of ground-based and satellite remote content.” His research has tremendous implications for improv- Award to Brent Holben of the sensing of aerosol properties. Among his 372 publications ing cumulus parameterization in global climate models, for Goddard Space Flight Center, to date, his singular AERONET overview paper of 1998 has improving the representation of intrinsic atmospheric convec- NASA, for “his seminal theoreti- garnered over 2420 citations alone—a rare record in the tive processes from the diurnal cycle to the Madden-Julian cal and experimental contribu- field of geosciences. Brent Holben Oscillation. tions to the remote sensing of The following statements from one supporting letter suc- In his very young scientific career, Chunsong has already clouds and aerosol properties, cinctly summarize Brent’s spirit of unselfish collaboration: published a total of 35 peer-reviewed papers; for 18 of them, particularly in the development “Brent has always been exceedingly generous with his time, he has the prestigious role of first author. He is the principal of AERONET.” with his knowledge and with his resources. … I was a recipi- investigator of many research projects and the recipient of Brent’s vision and pioneering work led to the creation ent of Brent’s mentoring and encouragement, even through numerous awards, including, among others, an AGU Outstand- of the AERONET (Aerosol Robotic Network) project in some tough times.” ing Student Paper Award and the Meteorological Science which a worldwide network of Sun/sky radiometers Another supporting letter stated, “It is beyond my imagi- Award for Young Scientists from Peking University, China. In enabled observations of the aerosol optical thickness, size nation what formidable tasks Brent has faced in establish- summary, Chunsong’s accomplishments are truly outstanding distribution, and refractive index at numerous sites ing and operating all of these AERONET sites for the past on several fronts, including academic research and leadership, around the world. AERONET is the first and continues to two decades. The most challenging among all tasks is which epitomize the spirit of the Holton Award. be the only global network of ground-based aerosol mea- undoubtedly countless travels required to set up, inspect We are extremely pleased to present the Atmospheric surements, embraced and supported by countries and sci- and trouble-shoot any problems that arise.” Sciences section Holton Junior Scientist Award to Dr. Chun- entists throughout the world. Throughout his illustrious We are extremely pleased to present the 2015 Kaufman song Lu. career, Brent has taken special pride in working with stu- Award to Brent Holben. —William K. M. Lau, University of Maryland, College dents and collaborating with a large number of scientists —William K. M. Lau, University of Maryland, College Park in Europe, the United States, South America, Africa, and Park

18 // Eos 15 October 2015 AGU NEWS

Response Citation for Christos Zerefos tion and ultraviolet B threats and as the science-policy inter- It is indeed a great honor for me to receive the Kaufman The AGU Atmospheric Sciences face at the EU with similar responsibilities. Award. I worked with Yoram, who shared his intellect, insight, section is pleased to present the In the words of one of the supporting letters, “his knowl- and unbridled curiosity with all he touched. For me, this 2015 Yoram J. Kaufman Unselfish edge and enthusiasm in promoting atmospheric science honor is an opportunity to recognize the very large and Cooperation in Research Award to were an inspiration for all who came in contact with him, par- diverse community that shaped my oftentimes circuitous Professor Christos Zerefos, ticularly the young generations of atmospheric scientists.” career through their generous cooperation. My work is most Research Center for Atmospheric We are extremely pleased to present the 2015 Kaufman easily road-marked by the ground-based Aerosol Robotic Physics and Climatology, Academy Award to Professor Christos Zerefos. Network (AERONET). of Athens, for “his outstanding con- —William K. M. Lau, University of Maryland, College Although I can’t possibly acknowledge all those who Christos S. Zerefos tributions in advancing the sciences Park influenced my career, I would like to cite a few here, includ- of ozone, aerosols and ultraviolet ing my older brother, Rick, who blazed the path from farm radiation through international col- Response to academia. My colleague Compton Tucker inspires sci- laborations.” It is a great honor for me, and I am humbled to receive the ence with art, humor, and friendship. Robert S. Fraser, a pio- Professor Zerefos is known internationally for his research 2015 Yoram Kaufman Award from AGU. I was even more neer in the field of aerosol remote sensing, spent endless in stratospheric ozone depletion and his studies demonstrat- touched when one of several supporters of my candidacy hours with me shaping my early understanding of remote ing the interconnections between ozone, tropospheric aero- congratulated me by saying that “I think that you really sensing science at NASA. Yoram, from the Goddard Space sols, and ultraviolet radiation. Over the past several decades, deserve this recognition on a great research carrier and ser- Flight Center, and Didier Tanré, from Laboratoire d’Optique he has been a leading force in developing and promoting vice to our community. It is very rare that a non-American Atmosphérique (LOA), were ever present in the formative ozone and ultraviolet radiation measurements in Greece and wins such an AGU prize, making it even more special.” years of AERONET, and indeed, LOA remains an integral around the world. Among other awards, I will particularly treasure this part of the global AERONET program today. The AERONET Professor Zerefos has over 200 publications in peer- award because it will remind me of the decades of collabora- folks at Goddard are brilliant and dedicated, led by Tom Eck reviewed journals, about 25% of which are in AGU journals. tion with both younger and elder colleagues in a period when and Ilya Slutsker, who have been with the program from the These publications are only a small part of his contributions man-made global changes have been on the front page in all beginning. Michael King, from the Earth Observing System to the advancement of ozone science. Most important, international media. I would like to thank my colleagues who (EOS) Project Science Office, provided the resources, intel- throughout Professor Zerefos’s career, he has worked tire- have offered me this honor, which also treasures the memory lect, and autonomy to allow the project to grow to a global lessly to train and promote young scientists, including devel- of an important scientist and colleague, who left us tragically resource for the remote sensing community. oping numerous research programs at traditionally non in 2006, Yoram Kaufman. Thus, my job was simple: use AERONET to understand research institutions. He has organized several large Not only tragedy but also the science of the atmosphere aerosol properties for satellite validation. The project international ozone conferences, including the 1988 and and the observations of our environment have been invented expanded, the collaborations grew, and research flour- 2004 Quadrennial Ozone Symposia and a symposium to cel- and thoroughly studied in Greece in the past 25 centuries. My ished. I have been extremely fortunate to be affiliated ebrate the 20th anniversary of the Montreal Protocol. In rec- base of activities has always been in this beautiful, but unfor- with NASA, researchers, educators, students, and mov- ognition of his leadership, he was elected president of the tunate in history, country. Working always with the interna- ers of various types in over 80 countries. It is those peo- International Ozone Commission in 2008. tional community on the complex processes in nature kept ple who have participated with me, the AERONET pro- Professor Zerefos’s record of research and service in me and still keeps me involved in the fast-growing scientific gram, and like-minded researchers across the globe to ozone studies was recognized at the 10th anniversary of the cloud of global change. foster aerosol research for the benefit of all. It is in rec- Montreal Protocol with the award of the prestigious United Today’s research can be successful only through team ognition of those people that I humbly accept this honor Nations Environment Programme Global Ozone Award. In work, something that I have incorporated in all my life. This is inspired by Yoram and as a tribute to his legacy of self- addition to his role as both scientist and mentor, Professor why I feel great respect for all the excellent scientists with less cooperation. Zerefos has applied this scientific expertise in the service of whom I have collaborated over the past 40 years. As Socrates —Brent Holben, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, the government of Greece and the European Union (EU). He said, “γηράσκω αεί διδασκόμενος” (“As I age, I always learn”). Greenbelt, Md. served as an adviser at the ministerial level on ozone deple- —Christos S. Zerefos, Academy of Athens, Greece.

Fan, Gettelman, Robinson, and Steiner Receive the 2015 Atmospheric mining whether aerosols invigorate or suppress convec- Sciences Ascent Award tion and that aerosol microphysical invigoration is a dominant mechanism explaining the ubiquitously observed Jiwen Fan, Andrew Gettelman, Allen L. Robinson, and Allison L. Steiner will receive the 2015 increase of cloud cover and cloud top height by aerosols Atmospheric Sciences Ascent Award at the 2015 AGU Fall Meeting, to be held 14–18 December in are widely recognized. Additionally, Jiwen has also been San Francisco, Calif. The award recognizes “research contributions by exceptional mid-career scientists at the forefront of addressing the challenge of improving in the fields of atmospheric and climate sciences.” cloud microphysics parameterizations, particularly on ice nucleation for models. Citation for Jiwen Fan Jiwen’s research covers a broad scope ranging from Her accomplishments and contributions are succinctly The Atmosphere Sciences section of tropospheric chemistry to aerosol-cloud interactions. summarized in a statement in one of her supporting letters: AGU is pleased to award one of the Among her most impressive contributions is her dedicated “I consider that the combination of the breadth, productivity, four 2015 Ascent Awards to Dr. Jiwen effort in providing better understanding of aerosol effects and impact of her research most uniquely distinguishes her Fan of the Atmospheric Sciences and on deep convective clouds. Over the last 10 years, she from most of her peers.” Another stated that “she is the most Global Change Division, Pacific conducted a series of seminal studies in which she used creative, productive, and diligent young scientist I have ever Northwest National Laboratory advanced methodologies and computationally intensive known and worked with.” (PNNL) for “her outstanding contri- modeling tools to demonstrate how aerosols can impact We are extremely pleased to present a 2015 Atmospheric butions in improving understanding convection, clouds, weather, and climate through various Sciences Ascent Award to Dr. Jiwen Fan. Jiwen Fan of fundamental physical processes mechanisms. Of these studies, her findings that vertical —William K. M. Lau, University of Maryland, College in aerosol-cloud interactions.” wind shear is one of the key environmental factors deter- Park

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

Response atmospheric scientists at his stage of career whose accom- densation of organic oxidation products as secondary organic Thank you, Bill, for the generous citation. I am honored to be plishments have Andrew’s breadth and depth.” aerosol. selected as one of the recipients of the Ascent Award. I am We congratulate Dr. Andrew Gettelman, winner of a 2015 Allen and his research group have systematically explored grateful to the AGU Atmospheric Sciences section and the Ascent Award “for outstanding contributions to the under- this cycle of emission, evaporation, oxidation, and secondary selection committee for this recognition. I humbly accept on standing of stratosphere-troposphere exchange and modeling condensation for major primary organic aerosol sources. behalf of the many people who helped make this possible. and understanding of cloud effects in the climate system.” Another paper in Science (Jimenez et al., 2009, doi:10.1126/ Deepest thanks to Zhanqing Li for the nomination and to —William K. M. Lau, University of Maryland, College science.1180353) put into context ambient observations Daniel Rosenfeld, Bob Houze, and Gerald North, who wrote Park using an aerosol mass spectrometer, which almost always supporting letters. reveal that most organic particulate matter is highly oxi- I am extremely grateful to my Ph.D. dissertation adviser, Response dized, with only a small fraction consisting of reduced mate- Renyi Zhang, for introducing me to the atmospheric field, It is a great honor to receive this award. I have been fortu- rial characteristic of primary emissions. This contradicts mentoring me in my efforts to become a scientist, and guid- nate in my career to have had the support and the opportu- predictions by chemical transport models representing the ing my career development over the years. I extend many nity to learn from some fantastic mentors. These include state of the art in the mid-2000s that most organic aerosols thanks to my postdoc mentors Jennifer Comstock and some who are no longer with us. I want to recognize the were primary. The Robinson cycle was key to resolving this Mikhail Ovchinnikov for bringing me to PNNL and to the field enduring impact of Professor Jim Holton, my adviser, and Dr. apparent contradiction. The same cycle also explains aero- of atmospheric observation. Byron Boville, one of my postdoctoral supervisors and men- sol observations off of the Deep Water Horizon spill (de I consider myself very fortunate to be able to sustain long- tors as a young scientist. I learned from them explicitly and Gouw et al., Science, 2011, doi:10.1126/science.1200320). term collaborative relationships with several people through by example not just how to do research but to conduct sci- Allen is a fantastic colleague and collaborator. Collabora- working on challenging problems in the field of aerosol-cloud- ence collaboratively. Their examples taught me how to criti- tion comes so easily that it is hard to write the detailed man- climate interactions. I would like to mention especially Zhan- cally work with data and models together and also how to agement plans for proposal calls that presume it is hard; “he qing Li, Danny Rosenfeld, Ruby Leung, Alex Khain, Wei-Kuo work with a community of researchers. sits on the couch in my office and we figure it out” does not Tao, and, more recently, Guang Zhang, Kuan-Man Xu, and Science, particularly atmospheric science, does not take always review well. He sees real-world problems with clarity Steve Ghan. Whatever success I have had in research is due in place in a vacuum. I have also been privileged to work with and depth and makes the work easy and fun. large part to them, as well as to my past and current postdocs, expert collaborators over the years as well, from whom I —Neil M. Donahue, Carnegie Mellon University, Pitts- visiting scientists, and graduate students. I hope that we are have learned much, including Qiang Fu, Bill Randel, Phil burgh, Pa. able to keep working together in the future as well. Rasch, Hugh Morrison, and Vincent Larson. I thank many dif- In my very early career, I learned a lot from colleagues in ferent other mentors at the National Center for Atmospheric Response Renyi’s group, Wei-Kuo Tao’s group, and Zhanqing’s group, Research and beyond for believing in me and supporting my I am grateful for and humbled by the acknowledgement of and I appreciate their help and collaboration. I wish to thank work and providing an exciting and amazing environment in this award. Thank you to my nominators and the AGU Atmo- my PNNL colleagues and managers for their help and support which to conduct research and a platform for collaborating spheric Sciences section awards committee for this honor. of my professional growth. with and communicating that research to others. I have so much appreciation for all of those who have I also want to thank Department of Energy program man- I hope I can justify my colleagues’ confidence in me with influenced my path, starting with my mother, my uncle (Nick agers Ashley Williamson, Sally McFarlane, Renu Joseph, and high-quality and impactful future research and by instilling in Latham), and my grandfather (Allen Latham Jr.). They instilled Dorothy Koch and PNNL project managers Ruby Leung, Steve the next generation of scientists some of the things that I a love for the outdoors and engineering. I was introduced to Ghan, and Jerome Fast for their funding support of my have learned from the previous generation. environmental engineering as student at Stanford and Berke- research. Finally, I wish to thank my family, especially my wife, Fran- ley. As a postdoctoral fellow at Sandia, I learned about com- Finally, I want to thank my family, my parents, sisters, and cesca, and our kids, Fiona and Natalie, for their support and will- bustion and emissions. I am grateful for sage advice from my brother and my husband and our two sons, for their love and ingness to explore new opportunities and new places with me mentors (Gil Masters at Stanford, Rich Sextro and Bill Naza- support. as I have collaborated with other researchers around the world. roff at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory/University of —Jiwen Fan, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, —Andrew Gettelman, National Center for Atmo- California, Berkeley, and Larry Baxter at Sandia). Richland, Wash. spheric Research, Boulder, Colo. My career took a strong turn toward the atmosphere when I joined the faculty at Carnegie Mellon. The Environ- Citation for Andrew Citation for Allen L. Robinson mental Protection Agency had recently promulgated a new Gettelman Allen Robinson has transformed standard for fine particulate matter. I can still remember my Andrew is best known for his pow- our understanding of primary aero- lunch with Spyros Pandis that started me down the path of erful contributions to the under- sol emissions. Fine particles domi- characterizing particle emissions from combustion systems. I standing of exchange processes nate uncertainties in climate forc- cannot thank my colleagues at Carnegie Mellon enough— between the stratosphere and tro- ing and health effects from Spyros Pandis, Cliff Davidson (now at Syracuse), Neil Dona- posphere and the representation pollution. Atmospheric evolution hue, and Peter Adams. I attribute much of my success to our of clouds in global climate models. receives substantial focus, but vigorous collaboration. I especially want to thank Neil, with His work led to substantially sources are often neglected. This is whom I have explored problems ranging from organic aero- Andrew Gettelman improved understanding of the Allen L. Robinson a pity; without good emissions sols to bike wobble. He is an incredible colleague. I also want mechanisms responsible for the data, model results are guaranteed to thank my many other colleagues at Carnegie Mellon and dehydration of air entering the to be garbage. For whatever rea- other institutions with whom I have worked and from whom I tropical stratosphere. His transformative studies on the son, particle nucleation is a hot topic generating frequent have learned over the years. Finally, none of this would have tropical tropopause layer helped define a new research papers in Science and Nature, but primary emissions are an been possible without the many fantastic students and post- area. “Andrew’s studies on tropical tropopause layer, cloud “engineering” problem. Robinson et al. (Science, 2007, docs with whom I have had the honor to work. It really takes microphysics and aerosol-cloud interactions place him at doi:10.1126/science.1133061) is a counterexample. Allen’s a village. the top of his field,” stated one of the supporting letters. His paper established that primary organic emissions are sub- To my amazing and supportive wife, Kathy, and our two sons, nominator pointed out that “Andrew’s work is unique in that stantially semivolatile, with a great deal of evaporation hap- Jack and Gus, thank you for being a constant source of joy. it links basic processes and observations with global mod- pening while plumes dilute down to ambient conditions, —Allen L. Robinson, Carnegie Mellon University, els. Andrew is an exceptional scientist: I know very few along with simultaneous oxidation chemistry driving recon- Pittsburgh, Pa.

20 // Eos 15 October 2015 AGU NEWS

Citation for Allison Steiner ing, and Medicine panel tasked to help chart the future path for amazing example of the ingenuity and commitment The Atmosphere Sciences section the atmospheric chemistry discipline. required for this career. I thank my postdoctoral advisers at of AGU is pleased to award one of In addition to her outstanding research contributions, Alli- the University of California, Berkeley, including Allen Gold- the four 2015 Ascent Awards to son has also been a pioneer and leader in strengthening the stein, Ron Cohen, and Rob Harley, as well as Inez Fung for Professor Allison Steiner, Depart- geoscience community. Examples include serving as founder providing an extremely exciting and rewarding place to be a ment of Atmospheric, Oceanic and and leader of the Earth Science Women’s Network and as edi- postdoc. I would also like to thank my colleagues at Michi- Space Sciences, University of Mich- tor for Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, with gan and members of my research group over the past 10 igan, for “her outstanding contribu- special responsibility in biosphere-land- atmosphere areas. years for helping me to grow as a scientist and develop the tions to interdisciplinary studies We are extremely pleased to present a 2015 Atmospheric research that is being honored today. And perhaps just as Alison L. Steiner encompassing biosphere- Sciences Ascent Award to Professor Allison Steiner. important as the formal mentors has been my peer network, atmosphere interactions, regional —William K. M. Lau, University of Maryland, College including the founding members of the Earth Science Wom- climate, air-quality and chemistry- Park en’s Network (ESWN). ESWN grew out of conversations at a climate connections.” 2002 AGU meeting, and these women continue to advise and Dr. Steiner is a world leader in the field of biosphere- Response inspire me throughout my career. atmosphere interactions. She employs a variety of tools and Thank you very much for this award, and I am very grateful to Finally, a special thank you to my family and my husband, techniques involving both physical and chemical process mod- my nominators and the Atmospheric Sciences section awards Deryl Seale, for his constant support and covering childcare els, regional chemistry-climate models, and laboratory mea- committee for this honor. I pursued a degree in atmospheric to enable me to take “just one more trip.” surements. With these tools, she has positioned her research sciences as a way of trying to understand the world around —Allison L. Steiner, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor group for decades of discovery at the intersection of fields me—looking up at the sky, watching the trees, and visualiz- often considered separately, including climate, atmospheric ing the chemistry of these interactions are a constant source chemistry, air pollution, and land-biosphere- atmosphere of inspiration to me. Visit http://eos.org/agu-news exchange. Allison’s scientific leadership, communication skills, This award is particularly meaningful to me as I realize and engaging personality make her a highly sought after that this pursuit is as much about the scientific community to read more announcements speaker at major conferences and workshops. As a testimony as it is about the science, and I would not be at this point of AGU section and focus to her stature in the field, she was invited by the National Sci- without this community support. I would like to thank my ence Foundation and the National Research Council to serve dissertation adviser at Georgia Tech, Bill Chameides, for group awards. on a highly visible National Academies of Sciences, Engineer- allowing me to find my own scientific path and providing an

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Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 21 Using Earth and space science and cloud computing to advance community solutions Call for Projects

Submit your proposal for a project that uses cloud computing and Earth and space science to advance solutions to community challenges related to natural resources, climate change, and natural hazards.

Deadline: 16 October 2015

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22 // Eos 15 October 2015 RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

Simulating a Warmer, Drier Arctic Sue Natali An automated flux chamber collects continuous measurements of carbon dioxide exchange at a drying and permafrost thaw experiment in Alaskan subarctic tundra.

he Arctic tundra is a natural carbon ever, this kind of soil drying is often over- trols and caused an increase in carbon dioxide sink. As temperatures continue to rise looked in research on the impacts of thawing released from plant and microbial respira- T around the globe, more vegetation will permafrost. tion. The authors found that, together, spring up in the frigid region, potentially Recognizing this oversight, Natali et al. took warming and drying increased ecosystem pulling even more carbon dioxide from the a first look at how thawing permafrost and respiration by 20% over the 3-year experi- atmosphere due to increased plant productiv- soil moisture dynamics combined will affect ment, the same amount that warming and ity. carbon in the Arctic tundra. The team docu- drying increased respiration individually. The However, the warming carries other conse- mented carbon dioxide exchange during results indicate that temperature and mois- quences too. Even though carbon uptake 3 years of growing seasons in an upland tun- ture levels may disparately affect carbon during the growing season increased in dra ecosystem in the northern foothills of the release from plants and microbes within the recent years, observations show annual net Alaska Range. plots when they work in concert. losses of carbon to the atmosphere—as Arctic Critically, the research team manipulated In addition, the amount of decomposition soils thaw, a vast reservoir of carbon locked some plots to experimentally induce warming in the top 10 centimeters of soil was nearly up in the permafrost can be released to the and drying. They simulated winter warming 2 times greater in the warming condition and atmosphere as greenhouse gases. Continued by insulating vegetation with increased in the dry condition compared with controls. releases could shift the region from a carbon snowpack and summer warming by covering The study also detected methane emissions— sink to a source by the end of this century. plants with open-topped greenhouses. They which can have a much larger impact on Previous research has shown that soil also manipulated water table levels with an global warming than carbon dioxide—across moisture plays a critical part in both perma- automated pumping system. The team then all plots, even controls, but emissions were frost thaw and carbon exchange with the measured the effects of their changes on highest for the warmed plots. (Journal of Geo- atmosphere—as the permafrost breaks down, fluxes of both carbon dioxide and methane. physical Research: Biogeosciences, doi:10.1002/ surface water may drain away to deeper soil The warming treatment increased ground 2014JG002872, 2015) —Kate Wheeling, Freelance layers, leaving the topsoil high and dry. How- thaw by approximately 15% compared to con- Writer

Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 23 RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

Predicting Space Weather on a Satellite Superhighway

There disparate forces from Alamos National Laboratory satellites over the two regions act on clouds of 17 years and one and a half solar cycles. electrically charged gas particles Because the spacecraft are closely calibrated, known as plasma. Charged par- the authors combined the data sets from ticles can interfere with satellite seven satellites for a total of 82 satellite years functioning, so spacecraft users of observations. and operators need to under- The authors analyzed the massive database stand the plasma environment along with data on solar activity, geomagnetic in this popular path for military, activity, energy, and local time to create an scientific, and communications empirical model that is capable of much satellites. improved ion and electron flux predictions at Scientists, for the most part, geosynchronous orbit. As the model matures, create current models of the the authors hope it will eventually be used to plasma environment with satel- predict fluxes for satellites in geosynchro- lite operators in mind. They nous orbit as a function of solar wind speed Greg Shirah and Tom Bridgman/NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Bridgman/NASA Greg Shirah and Tom focus on predicting how fluxes and magnetic field orientation. Scientists hope a new model of electron and ion fluxes will benefit of energetic electrons and ions, To validate the model, the authors com- spacecraft orbiting in Earth’s magnetosphere, a giant magnetic bubble which can cause a buildup of pared its predictions with spacecraft data col- that surrounds our planet. charge on spacecraft materials, lected by another set of satellites during a will affect satellite systems. 5-day period of both calm and active space Denton et al. sought to create a weather. They found that the new model’s ore than 400 satellites sit in geo- more comprehensive picture by examining predictions of plasma flux generally agreed synchronous orbit far above our how factors such as solar wind and geomag- with the satellite observations. M planet’s surface, where the space- netic activity can influence these fluxes in The team has already made a beta version craft, orbiting at the same rate that our plasma. of the model freely available. The authors planet is spinning, occupy a fixed region in The study looked at the largest existing hope that the new model will be useful for Earth’s sky. This region—some 36,000 kilo- data set of electron and ion fluxes. The mea- scientists as well as spacecraft operators. meters above the Earth—marks the boundary surements were collected by magnetospheric (Space Weather, doi:10.1002/2015SW001168, of Earth’s inner and outer magnetosphere. plasma analyzer instruments on board Los 2015) —Eric Betz, Freelance Writer

Cool Downdrafts in Large Thunderstorms Captured by Satellite

he burst of cool air you feel on a hot neighboring regions, setting off a chain reac- 0) summer day can be the final warning tion. In this study, scientists detected the cool T before a thunderstorm arrives with downdrafts over the ocean with the Advanced heavy rainfall. The air you feel is cooled by Scatterometer satellite, which calculates sur- evaporating raindrops and descends in the face wind speed and direction by shooting interior of the storm before spreading outward. microwaves at the ocean surface and measur- These cool downdrafts form an integral ing the reflected signal. part of the bigger thunderstorms known as Using this technique, the team was able to mesoscale convective systems (MCSs), which identify more than 1300 of the cool downdrafts produce a large proportion of tropical rainfall from 2009 to 2014. The scientists confirmed and play a crucial role in the global atmo- that the wind signals are real by comparing (http://bit.ly/ccby2- 2.0 CC BY John Lemieux, spheric circulation. Accordingly, it is import- them to data from ocean buoys. According to Thunderstorm over the Pacific Ocean. Satellite scatter- ant for scientists to understand the flow of air their analysis, the satellites are able to identify ometers now provide a global view of the cool down- and energy through MCSs, and now Kilpatrick the mesoscale (50–300 km) downdrafts that drafts in thunderstorms. and Xie report that satellites can be used to make up the bulk of a storm, but the technique gather data about the storms’ inner workings. broke down near the storm’s narrower leading Mesoscale convective systems contain two edge, where rainfall was the most intense. unprecedented opportunity to study how main patterns of airflow: warm, moist Scientists have observed the airflow around these storms interact with their environ- updrafts that “feed” the systems and cool, ocean thunderstorms before, from ships and ment. (Geophysical Research Letters, dry downdrafts that form the “exhaust.” The small airplanes. However, the satellite scat- doi:10.1002/2015GL063025, 2015) —David cool downdrafts can trigger new storms in terometer allows a global view, offering an Shultz, Freelance Writer

24 // Eos 15 October 2015 POSITIONS AVAILABLE

Atmospheric Sciences We seek candidates that build upon in the fields of geochemistry, cosmo- AGU’s Career Center is and expand our existing remote sens- chemistry, and astrobiology that pro- the main resource for COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY ing group, which is focused in the vide support for creative independent recruitment advertising. ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE TENURE optical domain. We welcome appli- research of the applicant’s choosing. TRACK FACULTY POSITIONS COL- cants with expertise in any domain of Details on DTM research staff, laboratory facilities, and ongoing research All Positions Available and LEGE OF ENGINEERING remote sensing, but encourage appli- The Department of Atmospheric cations from candidates with expertise can be found at dtm.carnegiescience. additional job postings Science at Colorado State University in active or passive microwave, InSAR, edu. Fellowships are for one year and can be viewed at invites applications for two ten- LiDAR, thermal, or hyperspectral are normally renewable for a second https://eos.org/jobs-support. ure-track faculty positions at the remote sensing, including airborne year. assistant or associate professor level. remote sensing from aircraft or Applications should be submitted AGU offers printed recruitment We solicit candidates in the research unmanned aerial vehicles. The scien- online at https://jobs.carnegiescience. advertising in Eos to reinforce areas of (1) clouds and mesoscale pro- tific focus for this position is open, edu/jobs/dtm and should include a your online job visibility and cesses, and (2) surface-atmosphere and includes any thematic area related curriculum vitae and list of publica- your brand. interactions - with expertise in to physical, chemical or biological tions, description of thesis research, a land-atmosphere coupling preferred. function of the earth system, includ- short (2-3 page) statement of research Contact [email protected] Further information about the ing processes in oceans, the atmo- plans for the fellowship period, and for more information about open positions and details on how to sphere, or on land. We particularly three letters of recommendation by reserving an online job posting apply can be found at http://jobs. welcome candidates whose expertise those familiar with your work. Sub- with a printed Eos recruitment colostate.edu/postings/17728. complements our growing program in mission details are available when you advertisement. Applications and nominations will climate change science. Opportunities click on “Apply Now.” Creativity in the be considered until the positions are exist for collaboration in many proposed research figures heavily in the filled; however, applications should domains, including land change sci- evaluation of the application. Review be received by October 31, 2015 to ence, natural resource management, of the applications will begin on LINE LISTING RATES: ensure full consideration. Applicants crustal and land surface processes, December 1, 2015. Address any ques- terrestrial ecology, hydrology, and tions you have to geochemfellowship@ $0.32 per character for should submit a cover letter, one to ➢ two page statements on research and marine sciences. dtm.ciw.edu. Carnegie Institution is an teaching interests, curriculum vitae, The successful applicant will be Equal Opportunity Employer. All quali- $0.26 per character for and the names of four references. expected to supervise graduate fied applicants will receive consider- ➢ first issue of publication each additional issue of CSU is an EO/EA/AA employer. research in Ph.D. programs, teach at ation for employment and will not be publication Colorado State University conducts all levels in the Earth & Environment discriminated against on the basis of background checks on all final candi- curriculum, and maintain an exter- gender, race/ethnicity, protected vet- STUDENT OPPORTUNITY dates. nally funded research program. We eran status, disability, or other pro- seek applicants whose research com- tected group status. RATES: Tenure-track position in Climate plement strengths in the Department Dynamics, University of Colorado, and around the University. For more Tenure-track Faculty Position in ➢ No Cost up to 500 characters Boulder information about the Department, Mantle Processes The Department of Atmospheric and see http://www.bu.edu/earth. A Ph.D. The Department of Geological Sci- ➢ $0.16 per character over Oceanic Sciences (ATOC) at the Univer- at the time of appointment is ences seeks an outstanding scientist sity of Colorado Boulder, invites appli- required. to lead a vibrant research program in issue of publication cations for a tenure-track faculty posi- Please apply online at https:// the broadly defined area of Mantle 500 characters for first tion in climate dynamics. We are academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/6256, Processes. Specific areas of interest ➢ $0.16 per character seeking a person who will develop a including a curriculum vitae, a cover include (but are not limited to) the for each additional issue vibrant research program comple- letter, a statement of research and composition, structure, and evolution of publication menting existing strengths within teaching interests, and the names and of our planet over varying length and ATOC, on the Boulder Campus, and in addresses of at least three referees. time scales. We are particularly inter- TO VIEW ALL EMPLOYMENT the Boulder research community, and Should you have questions about the ested in those who seek to make con- DISPLAY AD SIZES, VISIT who is committed to excellence in position, please feel free to contact nections between deep and shallow undergraduate and graduate teaching. Mark Friedl, Search Committee Chair, processes (examples include how the http://sites.agu.org/ The position will be filled at the Assis- Department of Earth and Environ- dynamically flowing and recirculating media-kits/files/2014/ tant Professor level. Review of applica- ment, Boston University, 685 Com- mantle interacts with its crust, hydro- 12/Eos-Employment- tions will begin on Nov. 15, 2015, and monwealth Ave, Boston MA 02215; sphere, and atmosphere). Research Advertising.pdf will continue until the position is filled. email: [email protected]. Review of appli- approaches should encompass some A Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science, cations will begin on Nov 10, 2015. combination of field, laboratory, and ➢ Eos is published semi-monthly Oceanography, or a related field is Women and underrepresented modeling. The appointment will pref- on the 1st and 15th of every required at the time of appointment, minorities are particularly encouraged erably be at the junior level (Assistant month. Deadlines for ads and post-doctoral experience is pre- to apply. or untenured Associate Professor), but in each issue are published ferred. Informal inquiries can be made Boston University is an equal applications from scientists at all at http://sites.agu.org/ to the chair of the search committee, opportunity employer and all qualified career levels will be considered. The media-kits/eos-advertising- Jeffrey Weiss, at ClimateDynamicsATOC@ applicants will receive consideration successful applicant will be expected deadlines/. colorado.edu. The University of Colorado is for employment without regard to to develop a world-class independent an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action race, color, religion, sex, national ori- program of research, interface where ➢ Eos accepts employment and employer. gin, disability status, protected vet- appropriate with existing programs in open position advertisements Applications are accepted electron- eran status, or any othercharacteristic the Geological Sciences and in the from governments, individuals, ically at http://www.jobsatcu.com/ protected by law. We are a VEVRAA School of Earth, Energy, and Environ- organizations, and academic postings/107586. Federal Contractor. mental Sciences, and teach at the institutions. We reserve the After November 4th, you will be undergraduate and graduate level. right to accept or reject ads at redirected to CU Careers, our new Geochemistry Applications should include a cover our discretion. career site. In order to access this letter, curriculum vita, a statement of posting, please use the keyword Postdoctoral Fellowship Positions in research and teaching interests, three ➢ Eos is not responsible for search for posting #F02886. Geochemistry, Cosmochemistry, recently-published representative typographical errors. and Astrobiology papers, and the names and email The Department of Earth & Environ- Carnegie Institution, Department addresses of three individuals from * Print-only recruitment ads will only be ment at Boston University invites of Terrestrial Magnetism, Washing- whom the search committee can allowed for those whose requirements include that positions must be advertised applications for a tenure-track ton, DC request letters of reference. Please in a printed/paper medium. assistant professor in remote sens- Openings are available beginning apply at: https://academicjobsonline. ing, beginning on July 1, 2016. Fall 2016 for postdoctoral fellowships org/ajo/jobs/6199

Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 25 POSITIONS AVAILABLE

Review of applications will com- research through its Planetary Geosci- rally funded research, supervising and sciences. The successful candidate mence October 31, 2015. The position ences Institute (http://web.utk. supporting graduate students, and must demonstrate strong potential for will remain open until filled. Ques- edu/~pgi). Requirements for the posi- teaching two graduate or undergradu- outstanding accomplishments in tions can be directed to. Lauren Nel- tion are: Ph.D. in geology or a related ate courses per year. research, research supervision, and son at [email protected] field, and demonstrated research The successful candidates will join a teaching. Specific course offerings Stanford University is an equal experience in planetary geoscience. group of five hydrologists including may include undergraduate or gradu- opportunity employer and is commit- The successful candidate is four full-time hydrology faculty, two ate biological oceanography or marine ted to increasing the diversity of its expected to conduct a robust, funded emeritus faculty, eight adjunct faculty, microbiology, or other classes com- faculty. It welcomes nominations of program of planetary research, men- and 25 graduate students. The Depart- mensurate with the candidate’s inter- and applications from women, mem- tor graduate students, effectively ment of Earth and Environmental Sci- est and expertise. An interest in par- bers of minority groups, protected teach courses in petrology and/or ence has 16 faculty and about 50 ticipating in the Department’s veterans and individuals with disabili- mineralogy at the undergraduate and undergraduate and 65 graduate stu- capstone undergraduate coastal pro- ties, as well as from others who would graduate levels, and collaborate in dents. NMT is the academic partner of cesses field course also is desirable. bring additional dimensions to the department research dealing with the National Cave and Karst Research MEAS places a high value on excellent university’s research and teaching petrology, mineralogy, geochemistry, Institute (NCKRI), based in Carlsbad, instruction and the use of innovative missions. and solar system exploration. Salary NM. Additional geoscience profes- teaching methods. and benefits are competitive and com- sionals on campus include over 30 Located within the College of Sci- University of Tennessee, Knoxville mensurate with experience. The staff members of the New Mexico ences at NC State, MEAS is one of the Faculty position in planetary petrol- Knoxville campus of the University of Bureau of Geology and Mineral largest interdisciplinary geoscience ogy/mineralogy/geochemistry Tennessee is seeking candidates who Resources, plus faculty and research- departments in the nation. Opportu- The Department of Earth & Plane- have the ability to contribute in mean- ers in the Petroleum Recovery nities exist for disciplinary and inter- tary Sciences at The University of Ten- ingful ways to the diversity and inter- Research Center, the Petroleum and disciplinary interactions with more nessee seeks to fill a faculty position cultural goals of the University. Mineral Engineering departments and than 30 marine, earth and atmo- in petrology/mineralogy/geochemistry To apply, please email the following the IRIS PASSCAL Instrument Center. spheric scientists. MEAS is one of six with emphasis in planetary geosci- to [email protected]: C.V., cover let- For detailed inquiries, contact search departments across three colleges ence. The position is for an open-rank ter describing research and teaching committee chair, Mark Person with a presence at the NC State Center (tenure-track or tenured); we would experience and plans, and names of 4 ([email protected]). for Marine Sciences and Technology prefer to select a candidate at the references with contact information. Applicants should submit a letter of (CMAST), a coastal and marine science Associate or Full Professor level, but Applications received by December 15, interest, resume, a statement of research facility located on Bogue welcome applications for Assistant 2015 are ensured review, but earlier teaching and research interests, one Sound in Morehead City, NC. Addi- Professor. The position begins August submission is encouraged. The posi- representative publication and the tional information about the depart- 1, 2016. The University of Tennessee, tion will remain open until filled. names of three references to Hydrol- ment and its facilities can be found on Knoxville is a Research I University Questions about the position should ogy Search, Box 136, Human the web page: http://www.meas.ncsu. and the flagship campus of the UT be directed to H. McSween. Resources, New Mexico Institute of edu and http://www.cmast.ncsu.edu system. The Department (http://eps. The University of Tennessee is an Mining and Technology, 801 Leroy Pl., NC State also hosts large programs in utk.edu) focuses on geology and has EEO/AA/Title VI/Section 504/ADA/ Socorro, New Mexico 87801. College microbiology and biotechnology: an active emphasis on planetary ADEA institution in the provision of transcripts will be required if selected http://www.microbiology.ncsu.edu/ & its education and employment pro- to interview. Review of application http://biotech.ncsu.edu/ and has grams and services. All qualified material will begin on October 1, 2015. recently established the Center for applicants will receive equal consider- The search will remain open until the Geospatial Analytics: ation for employment without regard position is filled. Email applications http://geospatial.ncsu.edu. to race, color, national origin, religion, are not accepted. New Mexico Tech is Review of applications will begin on sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual an equal opportunity/affirmative 10 October 2015; the position will orientation, gender identity, age, action employer. remain open until filled. Applications, physical or mental disability, or cov- including cover letters, curriculum ered veteran status. Ocean Sciences vitae, teaching and research statements, and contact information for Hydrology Department of Marine, Earth, and three references must be submitted Atmospheric Sciences Assistant online at https://jobs.ncsu.edu/ Assistant Professor of Hydrology - Professor - Marine Microbiology postings/56255. New Mexico Tech The Department of Marine, Earth, Founded in 1887, NC State is a land- The Department of Earth and Envi- and Atmospheric Sciences (MEAS) at grant institution distinguished by its ronmental Science at New Mexico North Carolina State University (NC exceptional quality of research, teach- Institute of Mining and Technology State) is seeking to fill a tenure-track ing, extension, and public service. (NMT) invites applications for a ten- faculty position at the Assistant Pro- Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, NC ure-track Assistant Professor position fessor level in the area of marine State is the largest university in North in the Hydrology Program. This will be microbiology. Expertise is desired in Carolina, with more than 34,000 stu- a joint appointment between Aca- prokaryote ecology and molecular dents and 8,000 faculty and staff. demic Affairs and the Geophysical diversity with interests in genetic and National rankings consistently rate Research Center. biogeochemical methods for examin- Raleigh and its surrounding region Applicants should have a Ph.D. in ing community composition and func- among the five best places in the Earth Science, Civil Engineering, tion in marine systems. Possible asso- country to live and work, with a highly Environmental Engineering, or a ciated research areas include: educated workforce, moderate related field at the time of appoint- biogeochemical-based ecosystem weather, reasonable cost of living, and ment. We seek candidates with a spe- modeling; climate change; elemental a welcoming environment. A collabo- cialty in vadose-zone hydrology. Can- cycling; extreme environments; food rative, supportive environment for didates with additional expertise in safety/security/public health; or water business and innovation and research hydrologic remote sensing, land-sur- quality. A research focus on experi- collaborations with area universities face/atmosphere interaction, and mental and field studies using state- and the Research Triangle Park are land-surface dynamics will receive of-the art molecular techniques is compelling reasons for relocation to preference. Potential for excellence in preferred, as are experience and a the area. NC State is an equal oppor- teaching and research are the most strong interest in interdisciplinary tunity and affirmative action important qualifications. Women and collaborations across and beyond the employer. All qualified applicants will underrepresented minorities are geosciences. receive consideration for employment encouraged to apply. The position is available 1 August without regard to race, color, national Responsibilities will include devel- 2016. Applicants must hold a Ph.D. origin, religion, sex, sexual orienta- oping an active program of extramu- degree in the oceanographic or related tion, age, veteran status, or disability.

26 // Eos 15 October 2015 POSITIONS AVAILABLE

Applications from women, minorities, mate (tracks, intensity, storm struc- for employment without regard to the evaluation of the application. and persons with disabilities are ture, etc.) that can affect storm surge race, color, religion, sex, sexual orien- Three letters of recommendation by encouraged. risk. Scientifically sound information tation, gender identity, disability sta- those familiar with your work should on these issues, including assess- tus, protected veteran status, or any also be submitted online. Submission Research Position: Modeling US ments of remaining uncertainties, are other characteristic protected by law. details are available when you click on landfalling hurricane and storm urgently needed to help inform deci- “Apply Now.” Review of the applica- surge risk under global warming sion-making for risk management, Solid Earth Geophysics tions will begin on December 1, 2015. conditions adaption, and policy responses. Please email any questions you have to The Atmospheric and Oceanic Sci- Candidates with strong quantitative Postdoctoral Fellowship Positions in [email protected]. Carne- ences Program at Princeton University and analytical backgrounds in atmo- Geophysics, Volcanology, Planetary gie Institution is an Equal Opportunity in cooperation with NOAA’s Geophys- spheric science, including dynamical Science Employer. All qualified applicants will ical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) modeling and the analysis of large data Carnegie Institution, Department of receive consideration for employment seeks a postdoctoral research associ- sets and/or model output, are particu- Terrestrial Magnetism, Washington, DC and will not be discriminated against ate or more senior scientist to explore larly encouraged to apply. This is a Openings are available beginning on the basis of gender, race/ethnicity, U.S. landfalling hurricanes and their full-time, one year position (subject to Fall 2016 for postdoctoral fellowships protected veteran status, disability, or associated storm surge risk under renewal after the first year contingent in the fields of terrestrial or planetary other protected group status. present-day and future warm-climate upon satisfactory performance) based at geophysics and volcanology. These conditions. As part of a new NSF GFDL in Princeton, New Jersey. Inter- fellowships provide salary, travel, and Postdoctoral Scholar Position/ funded project, the researcher will ested candidates may contact Thomas research support for creative indepen- Earthquake Inversion/Jet Propulsion collaborate with an interdisciplinary Knutson (Tom.[email protected]) or dent research of the applicant’s Laboratory (JPL), California Insti- team of scientists from GFDL/NOAA, Gabriel Vecchi (Gabriel.A.Vecchi@noaa. choosing. Details on DTM research tute of Technology (Caltech) Princeton University, and MIT to gov) for further information. Complete staff, laboratory facilities, and ongo- The California Institute of Technol- investigate how various aspects of applications, including a CV, publication ing research can be found at ogy Postdoctoral Scholars Program at projected 21st century climate change list, 3 letters of recommendation, and a dtm.carnegiescience.edu. Fellowships JPL invites applications for a postdoc- may alter storm surge risk for the one-to-two page statement of research are for one year and are normally toral scholar position at the Earth Sci- mainland U.S. coast. The incumbent interests should be submitted by renewable for a second year. ence section. will use dynamical hurricane modeling November 15, 2015 for full consider- Applications should be submitted The research will focus on studying frameworks developed at GFDL, ation, though evaluation will be ongoing online at https://jobs.carnegiescience. major earthquake processes using including the GFDL hurricane model, until a suitable candidate is identified. edu/jobs/dtm and should include a geospatial measurements, such as together along with established storm Applicants should apply online to curriculum vitae and bibliography, high-rate GPS data, seismographs, surge modeling techniques to explore http://jobs.princeton.edu, Requisition description of thesis research, and a and GRACE measurements. Modeling future projections. Research is needed #1500773. short (2-3 page) statement of research earthquake fault parameters for tsu- to better understand how surge risk is This position is subject to the Uni- plans for the fellowship period. nami early detections is the key part likely to change due to influences of versity’s background check policy. Applicants are also encouraged to of the project. Processing real-time changes in sea level, with a particular Princeton University is an equal contact a current staff member to dis- data streams, analyzing historical data emphasis on improved understanding opportunity employer and all qualified cuss research plans. Creativity in the sets, and model results are necessary. of projected changes in hurricane cli- applicants will receive consideration proposed research figures heavily in However, the specific scientific focus

Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 27 POSITIONS AVAILABLE

of these activities will depend on the graduate students, and to develop a form”. Applicants must attach a cover ure-track position as Assistant Pro- qualifications and interests of the rigorous research program that is sup- letter, curriculum vitae, statements of fessor with a focus on cartography incumbent. ported by external funding. It is research and teaching interests, and and geovisual analytics. We seek a Drs. Y. Tony Song and Zhen Liu, expected that the research program contact information for at least three colleague in Geography who will con- Research Scientist, in JPL’s Earth Sci- will focus on the responses of ground- references via the above website. We duct research, teach graduate and ence Section will serve as JPL postdoc- water systems to climate change. will begin to review applications on undergraduate courses, advise gradu- toral advisors to the selected candi- Ability to contribute to multidisci- October 31, 2015, but the position will ate students in cartography and geo- date. The appointee will be guided by plinary water and climate research remain open until it is filled. visual analytics to improve under- the JPL advisor to ensure that the efforts within Department of Earth & The University of Nebraska is com- standing of coupled human and research work will result in publica- Atmospheric Sciences and across the mitted to a pluralistic campus com- natural systems or a combination of tions in the open literature. university will be considered as an munity through affirmative action, geographic processes. Position will Applicants should have a recent advantage. The candidate should equal opportunity, work-life balance, establish/maintain an externally Ph.D. in geophysics, geodesy, applied demonstrate strong potential for and dual careers. See http://www.unl. funded research program; teach mathematics, computational fluid research and teaching and must hold a edu/equity/notice-nondiscrimination. undergraduate and graduate courses dynamics, or a related field. Skills in Ph.D. in Geology, Hydrogeology, or a For further information, contact Dr. in geovisual analytics including car- Unix/Linux, Matlab and parallel com- related field at the time of appoint- Richard Kettler, Search Committee tography, spatial thinking, geovisual- puting are essential. Prior experience ment. Chair by email, phone, or mail at: ization, web mapping, geospatial with earthquake inversion models is a The Department of Earth and [email protected], 1-402-472-0882; databases, visualization algorithm plus. Demonstrated proficiency in Atmospheric Sciences offers B.S. Department of Earth & Atmospheric development, and others. Requires: written and spoken English is also degrees in Geology and Meteorolo- Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lin- PhD in Geography or related disci- required. gy-Climatology, as well as M.S. and coln, 214 Bessey Hall, Lincoln NE pline by start of employment; record Ph.D. degrees in Earth and Atmo- 68588-0340. of scholarship in cartography and Interdisciplinary/Other spheric Sciences. Primary research geovisual analytics; ability in funda- areas within the geological sciences Assistant Professor, Sedimentary mental methods and/or theory of car- ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF EARTH include hydrogeological sciences, sed- Geology/Paleoclimate tography and geovisual analytics; AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES imentary geology, paleontology and The Department of Geology at Occi- record of collaborations involving (Hydrogeology/Groundwater Model- paleobiology, petroleum geosciences, dental College invites applications for geovisual analytics applications to ing) and geobiology. Research in atmo- an Assistant Professor in sedimentary coupled human and natural systems Applications are invited for a tenure spheric sciences is focused on meteo- geology with a research focus in and/or geographic processes; ability track position as Assistant Professor rological hazards, climate change, and paleoclimate, paleoenvironmental or potential to teach spatial thinking, in the Department of Earth and Atmo- remote sensing. Additional informa- change, and/or fluvial - coastal pro- maps and imagery, cartography, spheric Sciences at the University of tion about our department can be cesses. Occidental is a nationally algorithms in geovisual analytics, Nebraska-Lincoln. The successful found on our web site: http://eas.unl. ranked liberal arts college recognized web mapping; commitment to teach- candidate will be expected to partici- edu. for its diverse student body and out- ing and advising excellence; strong pate in teaching and curricular devel- To apply, go to http://employment. standing undergraduate research pro- communication/interpersonal skills; opment of undergraduate and gradu- unl.edu, requisition # F_150187 and gram. We seek a colleague who values proficiency in oral/written English; ate courses, to advise and direct complete the “faculty/administrative undergraduate teaching and can sus- commitment to educational equity in tain an active research program a multicultural setting. Preferred involving undergraduates. In addition qualifications: knowledge of carto- to courses related to specialty, the graphic theory; ability to develop successful candidate will contribute to geovisual analytics curricula; ability teaching introductory geology, sup- to develop novel and creative algo- port the Environmental Science con- rithms for visualizing processes in centration, engage undergraduates in space and time; ability to teach pro- research, and mentor students gramming in R; ability to secure through completion of senior theses. extramural grants/contracts. See Applications should include a announcement at: http://ceoas. statement of teaching and research oregonstate.edu/employment/ interests in the context of a liberal arts 10/27/2015. Closing date: 11/27/2015. college. Candidates should specifically Posting 0015729 https://jobs. address their ability to 1) teach in a oregonstate.edu/ socioeconomically, ethnically and culturally diverse environment, and 2) Earth & Environmental Sciences engage students in an ongoing Lehigh University research program. Submit statement, Tenure Track Assistant Professor curriculum vitae, 1-3 significant pub- Lehigh University invites applica- lications, and contact information for tions for a tenure track position in three referees to Dr. Margi Rusmore, earth and environmental sciences at Search Committee Chair, at the assistant professor level. Success- [email protected]. Members of ful candidates will have a PhD, underrepresented groups are espe- research expertise that contributes to cially encouraged to apply. Review of department strengths through estab- applications will begin October 15, lishment of an internationally recog- 2015, and will continue until the nized externally funded research pro- search closes on December 22, 2015. gram, a commitment to teaching at Search committee members will meet both undergraduate and graduate lev- interested candidates at the GSA and els, and a documented commitment to AGU meetings; email the committee diversity and inclusion. to make arrangements. Applications should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, names and Cartography and Geovisual Analyt- contact information of three refer- ics, Assistant Professor ences, statements of research and The College of Earth, Ocean, and teaching interests, and a description Atmospheric Sciences at Oregon State of experience and vision for enhancing University located in Corvallis, Oregon participation of traditionally under- invites applications for a 9-month (1.0 represented groups to https:// FTE) or 12-month (0.75 FTE) ten- academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/5945.

28 // Eos 15 October 2015 POSITIONS AVAILABLE

To ensure full consideration the appli- advising excellence; strong commu- uate students. Teaching responsibili- vitae, a two-page statement of teach- cation should be received by Novem- nication/interpersonal skills; profi- ties include undergraduate courses in ing, research, and professional goals, ber 1, 2015. ciency in oral and written English; surface processes and field methods, and the names and complete contact For additional Information contact commitment to educational equity in and graduate courses in the candi- information of at least four refer- Anne Meltzer, Search Committee a multicultural setting. Preferred date’s area of expertise. We seek an ences. Review of applications will Chair, EES Dept., 1 West Packer Ave- requirements: record of research col- individual who values collaboration, begin 1 November and will continue nue, Bethlehem PA 18015-3001, laborations involving natural haz- field-based research, teaching, and until the position is filled. Inquiries [email protected] and see the EES ards examined from one or more of collegiality. A PhD in earth science or may be sent to [email protected]. department web pages, http://www. the following perspectives: environ- a related field is required at the time edu. ees.lehigh.edu/. mental security; political ecology; of appointment. Post doctoral experi- Saint Louis University is an Affir- The College of Arts and Sciences at emergency management; risk per- ence is highly desirable. mative Action, Equal Opportunity Lehigh University is especially inter- ception; spatial risk prediction and Department programs include Employer (AA/EOE), and encourages ested in qualified candidates who can mitigation; or geospatial analysis undergraduate degrees in environ- nomination and application of women contribute, through their research, and planning. http://ceoas mental science, environmental stud- and minorities teaching, and/or service, to the .oregonstate.edu/employment For full ies, geology, geophysics, and meteo- diversity and excellence of the aca- consideration apply by 10/27/2015. rology. The department grants MS and Tenure-Track Position in Sedimen- demic community. Lehigh University Closing date: 11/27/2015. Posting PhD degrees in geoscience (with con- tology or Geophysics at Texas Tech is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative 0015729 https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/ centrations in geology, geophysics, University Action Employer. Lehigh University and environmental geoscience) as well The Department of Geosciences at provides comprehensive benefits SCIENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL as in meteorology. Faculty may also Texas Tech University seeks applicants including partner benefits. Lehigh CHANGE, SUSTAINABILITY AND participate in the interdepartmental for a tenure-track, assistant professor University is a recipient of a NSF RESILIENCE Integrated and Applied Sciences PhD position in either sedimentology or ADVANCE Institutional Transforma- The Department of Geography, program. For more details, visit the geophysics to start Fall 2016. A PhD in tion award for promoting the careers Planning and Environment is seeking EAS website (www.slu.edu/x35834. an Earth Science or closely related dis- of women in academic sciences and a tenure-track appointment in the xml). Outside of the department, cipline at time of appointment is engineering. Science of Environmental Change, there is opportunity for collaboration required. Sustainability and Resilience, with with other university departments and We seek a dynamic researcher and GDL Foundation Fellowships in particular attention to the scientific units including the Center for Sustain- teacher who uses innovative field, Structure and Diagenesis assessment of human impacts on the ability (http://www.slu.edu/ laboratory and/or modeling The GDL Foundation supports study environment and human adaptation sustainability) and the Parks College approaches in either targeted area. and research of chemical and mechan- to climate change. The candidate of Engineering, Aviation and Technol- For sedimentology, we seek candi- ical interactions, structural diagene- should hold a PhD in physical geogra- ogy (http://parks.slu.edu/). Additional dates with expertise in sandstone, sis, in sedimentary basins. Practical phy or a related field, and be engaged information can be found at www.slu. mudstone or carbonate sedimentary applications are of particular interest. in research on how humans interact edu. systems. For geophysics, we seek We are currently seeking applica- with and are shaping the environ- All applications must be made candidates with a specialty in seis- tions from M.S. and Ph.D. candidates, ment. The successful candidate will online at https://jobs.slu.edu and mology or CSEM/MT methods. The post-doctoral researchers, and scien- teach courses in our B.Sc. in Environ- must include a cover letter, curriculum geophysics candidate’s main area of tists for fellowships, up to $10,000, mental Science, as well teach and based on specific proposals for supervise students in our Master’s and research and participation in meetings PhD programs. We are looking for and conferences to share results. demonstrated research excellence in a Submit applications (available at: relevant field of study within the nat- www.gdlfoundation.org) by November ural sciences such as, but not limited 2, 2015. to, terrestrial biogeochemistry, land- use dynamics, geomorphology, and Natural Hazards, Assistant Profes- climate science. A research program sor with a field component would be an The College of Earth, Ocean, and asset. Atmospheric Sciences at Oregon All applications should reach State University located in Corvallis, departments no later than November Oregon invites applications for a 15th 2015. See application information 12-month (1.0 FTE) tenure-track at:http://www.concordia.ca/artsci/about/ position as Assistant Professor with jobs/tenure-track-appointments/ a focus on Natural Hazards. We seek science-of-environmental-change- a colleague to conduct externally sustainability-resilience.html funded research on natural hazards and their spatial interactions with TENURE-TRACK FACULTY POSITION human lives, livelihoods, and infra- - ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, DEPART- structure, with a focus on the funda- MENT OF EARTH AND ATMO- mental relationships among expo- SPHERIC SCIENCES, SAINT LOUIS sure, sensitivity and the resilience of UNIVERSITY coupled human-environmental sys- Saint Louis University, a Catholic, tems subject to natural disasters. Jesuit institution dedicated to student This position will: teach undergradu- learning, research, health care, and ate and graduate courses in geogra- service invites applications for a ten- phy of natural hazards; teach/advise ure-track faculty position in Geosci- on topics such as the geography of ence at the Assistant Professor level in disaster, emergency management, the Department of Earth and Atmo- and spatial planning for natural haz- spheric Sciences (EAS), to begin in ards; establish and maintain a August, 2016. funded research program; and per- We seek applicants with expertise form service. Requires: PhD in Geog- in geomorphology in any of the fol- raphy or related discipline by start of lowing areas: rivers and streams, employment; record of scholarship floodplains, or hillslopes. Faculty in natural hazards; ability to secure responsibilities include a balance of external research funding; ability to research, teaching, service, and the teach and commitment to teaching/ mentoring of undergraduate and grad-

Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 29 POSITIONS AVAILABLE

research should be in imaging and faculty committed to teaching and strengths in earth science. The mation at http://careers.agu.org/ interpreting crust and lithospheric working in a multicultural environ- department’s focus is on pure jobs/7539763/msc-phd-assistantships features and whose interests include ment. We encourage applications research to understand Earth history -in-hydrodynamics the basin scale. A letter of application from qualified candidates who can and geologic processes with applied including contact information for contribute, through research, teach- research on problems in the national PhD Student Opportunity in Hydrol- three references, vita, and short state- ing, and service, to the diversity and interest such as climate and environ- ogy, Washington State University ments of research and teaching excellence of the academic community mental change, earthquake seismol- Four year RA available for student philosophies can be uploaded at at Texas Tech University. The univer- ogy including induced seismicity, nat- to work with an interdisciplinary team http://www.texastech.edu/careers/ sity welcomes applications from ural hazards, nuclear test ban to understand the interactions requisition #5155BR. minorities, women, veterans, persons monitoring and resources including between drought, forest management, We seek candidates with strong with disabilities, and dual-career cou- geothermal energy. The expected start and wildfire on forest ecosystem resil- records of scholarship who have the ples. Evaluation of candidates will date is August 1, 2016. ience. Students experienced with proven capacity or the clear potential begin November 11, 2015 and continue Applications can be submitted elec- Linux/programming and/or ecohy- to bring externally sponsored until the position is filled. Depart- tronically to [email protected] or in drology will be competitive. The stu- research to Texas Tech University. ment representatives will be available writing to: dent will be co-advised by Jennifer The department (www.geosciences. to discuss the position at the GSA Professor John Walther Adam (WSU) and Christina Tague ttu.edu) has active research special- Annual Meeting (1-4 November) in Search Committee Chair, Depart- (UCSB). Interested students should ties in geology, geophysics, geo- Baltimore, Maryland. Questions ment of Earth Sciences, contact [email protected] for more chemistry, geography, and atmo- should be sent to Dr. Jeff Lee, Search Southern Methodist University, information. Fall semester applica- spheric science. We have ~400 Committee Chair: [email protected]. P.O. Box 0395 tions to WSU are due on 10 January for undergraduate majors and ~85 grad- Dallas TX 75275 priority consideration. uate students. Texas Tech is located The Roy M. Huffington Department Applicants should include curricu- in Lubbock on the edge of the Perm- of Earth Sciences at SMU announces lum vitae, statements of research and Postdoctoral Research Associate in ian Basin. The region appreciates the a search to fill a named tenure-track teaching interests, and contact infor- the Department of Earth and Envi- social and economic importance of or tenured professorship (the rank is mation for three references. To insure ronmental Science at the University geoscience research due to the open) honoring WB Hamilton. full consideration applications must of Pennsylvania. importance of petroleum and We solicit nominations and appli- be received by December 5, 2015, but We seek an individual with expe- groundwater resources to the cations from earth scientists who the committee will continue to accept rience in studying impact-induced national economy. Teaching duties maintain vigorous and sustainable applications until the position is melting and deformation in rocks to include graduate and undergraduate research programs and who have a filled. The committee will notify investigate rock fulgurites, which courses in the candidate’s specialty. commitment to full participation in applicants of its employment deci- result from lightning strikes. The Service to the department, univer- the educational mission of the depart- sions after the position is filled. successful candidate will apply mod- sity, and discipline is expected. ment to provide professional training Southern Methodist University will eling, theoretical and/or experimen- As an Equal Employment Opportu- in a liberal arts environment. As the not discriminate in any program or tal approaches to understanding the nity/Affirmative Action employer, fourth holder of the chair established activity on the basis of race, color, formation of fulgurites and associ- Texas Tech University is dedicated to in 1921, the successful candidate will religion, national origin, sex, age, dis- ated shock microstructures, and will the goal of building a culturally diverse extend existing departmental ability, genetic information, veteran work closely with mineralogists and status, sexual orientation, or gender geochemists in our department to identity and expression. The Executive inform models and theory with Director for Access and Equity/Title IX microstructural observations. A key Coordinator is designated to handle goal will be to understand similari- inquiries regarding nondiscrimination ties and differences between policies and may be reached at the shock-induced planar deformation Perkins Administration Building, features in fulgurites and similar Room 204, 6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, TX features in rocks deformed by mete- 75205, 214-768-3601, accessequity@ oric impacts or experimental shock smu.edu. loads. Hiring is contingent upon the satis- The position is available for one factory completion of a background year and may be renewable based on check. performance and the further availabil- ity of research funds. Student Opportunities Please send a letter of interest, CV, and the names and contact informa- Funded PhD opportunities in water tion of 3 references to Prof. David resources at the Univ. of Idaho Goldsby ([email protected]) or through the NSF’s IGERT program. Prof. Reto Gieré ([email protected]. Seeking applicants with backgrounds edu). Evaluation of applications will in hydrology, environmental science, begin immediately and continue until ecohydraulics, fisheries science, water the position is filled. Penn is an affir- resources engineering, climate sci- mative action, equal opportunity ence, ecology, sociology, rural and employer. community economics, or public policy interested in integrating team- The University of Maryland Center based science and applications. Con- for Environmental Science (UMCES) tact Mary Schierman, marys@uidaho. is pleased to announce up to 3 com- edu for more info. or www.uidaho.edu/ petitive graduate fellowships to sup- igert. Applications due Nov. 15, 2015. port incoming Ph.D. students starting fall 2016. Up to 3 years stipend, Funding is available to support M. health benefits, and tuition will be Sc or Ph.D. students at Washington covered. UMCES students specialize State University, Vancouver. Stu- in fields including: Fisheries Science, dents will focus on internal wave Oceanography, Environmental Sci- dynamics and turbulent mixing, ence, Ecology, Chemistry, Molecular using unique field observations and Biology/Biotechnology, and Toxicol- theoretical modeling (http:// ogy. For more information, please research.vancouver.wsu.edu/ contact UMCESfellowship@umces. stephen-henderson). Further infor- edu.

30 // Eos 15 October 2015 POSITIONS AVAILABLE

Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 31 Postcards from the Field

Hello, everyone.

Here in Oxfordshire, we’ve been carrying out a drone survey of the River Glyme, as part of a collaborative project with a local charity to restore some of the natural features of the channel. By capturing high- definition video at different altitudes, we’ve been char- acterising various aspects of the river, from the general shape of its meanders to the distribution of Himalayan balsam (an invasive plant with pink flowers) along its banks. Our data will help to monitor the evolution of the channel during and after the restoration work. We’re very excited to be using novel scientific techniques in this way, because it offers different perspectives of the Oxfordshire countryside to visitors and restoration professionals alike!

—Jerome Mayaud Ph.D. student, University of Oxford (UK) @JeromeMayaud

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

32 // Eos 15 October 2015

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