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Geosciences Bulletin Board – 5 September 2016 - compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

5.6M EQ in north-central Oklahoma on margin of injection area felt from North Texas to Iowa • https://www.yahoo.com/news/earthquake-shakes-swath-midwest-missouri-oklahoma- 121854867.html • https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/only-a-fraction-of-oklahomas-disposal-wells- shut-down-after-quake/2016/09/04/f5e62906-72d5-11e6-be4f-3f42f2e5a49e_story.html

Aftershocks of the 6.2M Earthquake in Italy to be studied by international team • http://www.scotsman.com/news/environment/scientists-to-study-aftershocks-after- deadly-italy-quake-1-4218126 • No precursor events: http://www.nature.com/news/italian-scientists-shocked-by- earthquake-devastation-1.20513

Sentinel-1 provides space-borne radar mapping of area impacted by 6.2M EQ in Italy • http://m.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-1/Sentinel- 1_provides_new_insight_into_Italy_s_earthquake

Marie Tharp produced maps to help prove continental drift • http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/seeing-believing-how-marie-tharp-changed- geology-forever-180960192/

Want to walk in and buy a map at CGS in Menlo Park? No, you can’t because of security reasons

1 • https://www.usgs.gov/news/menlo-park-map-store-changes-walk-policy

The dynamics of double tropical cyclones Madeline and Lester as they approached Hawaii • http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/science-behind-hawaiis-double-hurricane- 180960310/

You’ve heard of appeasing the gods, but in Iceland they worry about angry elves while cleaning up a landslide!! • https://www.yahoo.com/news/iceland-unearths-rock-appease-angry-elves- 195326271.html

NSF & NOAA joining forces to forecast & research hurricanes • http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=189617

Torrential monsoons bring lightning, heavy rains and flooding to India • http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Torrential_monsoon_rains_bring_Indian_capital_to _halt_999.html

Video of the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, Utah • http://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/smithsonian-channel/utahs- otherworldly-landscapes_1/

Fisheries in the South China Sea on the verge of collapse amidst conflicting territorial claims • http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/08/wildlife-south-china-sea-overfishing- threatens-collapse/

New research on tectonics and the evolution of the crust • http://www.geosociety.org/gsatoday/archive/26/9/pdf/i1052-5173-26-9-4.pdf

Movement of sea ice linked to changes in salinity of the southern ocean • http://phys.org/news/2016-09-freshening-southern-ocean-linked-sea.html

Predicting storm tracks is a bit more complicated • http://phys.org/news/2016-09-climate-war-scientists-storm-tracks.html

Are melting glaciers causing sea level to change, earthquakes, volcanic activity, and shift in the axis of the earth? • http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/melting-glaciers-are-wreaking-havoc- earths-crust-180960226/

Planetary geology: Proposed ESA moon mission could reveal details of the journey of Earth around the Milky Way • http://www.sci-news.com/astronomy/moon-mission-story-earths-journey-milky-way- 04154.html

USGS and University of Colorado research shows risk of human-induced EQs associated with drilling can be reduced • https://www.usgs.gov/news/preventing-human-caused-earthquakes

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Lightning strikes are also dangerous (deadly) for wildlife • https://www.yahoo.com/news/more-300-reindeer-killed-lightning-norway- 095020805.html

Update on leaning Millennium Tower of San Francisco (video) • http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Troubles-Plaguing-Leaning-Sinking-Millennium- Tower-Could-Have-Been-Avoided-New-Documents-Show-391468911.html

Two moderate earthquakes shake Katla volcano in Iceland & may be precursors to eruption • http://news.trust.org/item/20160829132417-kodr4/

Humpback whales help protect other whale species from Orca attacks • https://cosmosmagazine.com/biology/whale-of-a-problem-why-do-humpback-whales- protect-other-species-from-attack

Mechanical inefficiencies, not the fracking process itself, are being suggested as responsible for BTEX contamination in Texas in Eagle Ford shale region • http://www.rigzone.com/news/oil_gas/a/146389/BLOG_Focus_on_Greater_Efficiency_ Can_Address_Fracking_Concerns

3.7B year old stromatolite fossils provide evidence of ancient life on Earth • http://www.nature.com/news/claims-of-earth-s-oldest-fossils-tantalize-researchers- 1.20506 • http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonianmag/scientists-think-theyve-found-earths- oldest-fossil-180960307/

Four biggest milestones in the evolution of life on Earth • https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/achenblog/wp/2016/09/01/the-4-biggest- milestones-in-the-history-of-life-on-earth/

Previously unknown Late Cretaceous small-bodied, toothless azhdarchid pterosaur found in Canada • http://www.sci-news.com/paleontology/small-bodied-pterosaur-canada-04148.html

The “Minden Monster” is now a member of a previous unknown genus of Mid-Jurassic dinosaurs • https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160901093008.htm

Perspective: on mantle plumes • http://www.earthmagazine.org/article/geologic-column-notion-mantle-plumes

Mountain town of Valemount, British Columbia, may become first geothermal village in Canada • http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/carol-linnitt/canada-geothermal-village_b_11784480.html

University of Utah site at Milford & Sandia National Laboratories site at Fallon, Nevada, vie for FORGE $$$ for underground geothermal laboratory • http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865661429/Utah-emerges-as-1-of-2-candidates-for- underground-geothermal-lab.html

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Eruptions of carbon dioxide in Lake Nyos (a maar) in the Cameroon Volcanic Line of east Africa are potentially deadly • http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidbressan/2016/08/31/the-killer-lakes-of-africa-a-rare- but-dangerous-volcanic-phenomenon/#4a4496f13e85

Salton Sea to be studied to assess salinity impacts on wildlife and geothermal potential (video) • http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2016/08/31/obama-lake-tahoe-salton- sea/89658022/

Examining the relationships among ocean floor sediments, methane hydrates & release of gas • https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/08/160831102853.htm

Need a vacation? Consider the new cruise safari around the volcanic Galapagos Islands • http://www.express.co.uk/travel/cruise/705780/Galapagos-Islands-volcanic-archipelago- new-cruise-safari

Exploring a bit of geology at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument • http://www.earthmagazine.org/article/exploring-newest-gift-america-katahdin-woods- and-waters-national-monument

Facts about cesium and cesium-bearing minerals • http://www.livescience.com/37578-cesium.html

Trekking the Grand Canyon (pics & video) • http://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2016/09/grand-canyon-development- hiking-national-parks-pictures/

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Enviro-Sciences Bulletin Board – 5 September 2016 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

Millions of bees die of acute pesticide poisoning in South Carolina as collateral deaths following aerial spraying for mosquitoes that may carry Zika virus • https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/09/01/like-its-been- nuked-millions-of-bees-dead-after-south-carolina-sprays-for-zika-mosquitoes/

Perspective: On the “unsuccessfulness of experiments” and need to curb cheating in science • http://www.nature.com/news/stop-ignoring-misconduct-1.20498

WHO revises health advice as syphilis, gonorrhea & chlamydia become more antibiotic resistant • https://www.statnews.com/2016/08/30/stds-gonorrhea-who-guidelines/ • http://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/news/2016/08/who-releases-new-treatment- guidelines-for-chlamydia-gonorrhoea-and-syphilis.aspx

Fungal infections are becoming more and more drug resistant: cryptococcus and pneumocystis fungi can be deadly • http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/fungal-infections-are-getting-worse-they- become-drug-resistant-180960283/ • https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/aug/27/millions-at-risk-as-deadly-fungal- infections-acquire-drug-resistance

Perspective: a better approach to antibiotic resistance • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniela-quaglia/the-answer-to-antibiotic- _b_11711124.html

5 Assessing the ecological consequences of amphetamine pollution in streams in urban areas • http://www.technology.org/2016/09/01/ecological-consequences-amphetamine-pollution- urban-streams/

ICUN holds World Conservation Congress in Hawaii September 1-10, first time meeting in the US • http://www.terradaily.com/reports/US_to_host_worlds_largest_conservation_meeting_ 999.html

Perspective: Fuel subsidies are the dumbest policies in the world • https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-09-01/fossil-fuel-subsidies-are-the- world-s-dumbest-policy-editorial

Thunderstorm activity brings mercury pollution since thunderstorms have 50% higher concentrations of mercury than other storms • http://phys.org/news/2016-08-thunderstorms-mercury-pollution.html

US Army Corps of Engineers ignores EPA, Dept of Interior, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation & Sioux concerns to approve Dakota Pipeline • https://insideclimatenews.org/news/30082016/dakota-access-pipeline-standing-rock- sioux-army-corps-engineers-approval-environment

Washington State plans to kill entire pack of endangered gray wolves because of livestock deaths • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/profanity-peak-gray- wolves_us_57be98e0e4b085c1ff27ca1c

Perceived risk is often times not based on science: e.g., marijuana or climate change • http://www.allgov.com/news/controversies/more-americans-view-marijuana-as-safe- while-scientists-find-increasing-risk-160901?news=859409 • http://www.newsmax.com/LarryBell/air-conditioner-department- state/2016/08/22/id/744575/

Unlucky or incredibly fortunate? Struck by lightning, bitten by venomous spider, rattlesnake, python & alligator • http://www.allgov.com/news/unusual-news/florida-man-struck-by-lightning-and-bitten- by-rattle-snack-python-alligator-and-poisonous-spider-160829?news=859392

Dozens of people across at least five states sickened by hepatitis A outbreak linked to frozen strawberries imported from Egypt & used to make drinks at Tropical Smoothie Cafes • http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2016/08/hepatitis-a-outbreak-linked-to-smoothies- spans-5-states-51-sick/#.V8eOzPkrKM8

New study suggests Tasmanian Devils are evolving to fight deadly contagious cancer (DFTD) (videos) • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/tasmanian-devils-cancer- evolution_us_57c7ddaee4b0e60d31dd328a

Is there reason for optimism amongst 40 million people in the drought-stricken Colorado River Basin?

6 • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/colorado-river- drought_us_57c5cc29e4b0cdfc5ac9aa0b

Drinking water in 3 wells in Guam have levels of PFOS that exceed allowable standard • http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/08/28/epa-chemical-closed-3- guam-wells-present-everyones-blood/89514206/

Record numbers of visitors to national parks distinguished by bad behavior by humans - more than 11,000 incidents at the 10 most visited national parks in July 2016 • https://www.yahoo.com/news/visitor-misbehavior-abounds-us-parks-agency-turns-100- 140956497.html

30 percent decline in population of African elephants….could take almost a century to recover • http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/08/31/492124724/african-elephant- population-declines-by-30-percent • http://www.treehugger.com/animals/census-finds-african-elephant-populations- declining-8-every-year.html • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/african-forest-elephant-poaching- study_us_57c49f70e4b0664f13ca09d7

Company report on Fundão dam failure in Brazil in 2015 provides no guidance on how to prevent future such events • http://www.wsj.com/articles/companies-report-on-brazil-dam-failure-adds-little-new-on- causes-1472512948 • http://www.bbc.com/news/business-37218145

Following spills of radioactive sludge onto Utah highway, mining company agrees to corrective measures • http://www.allgov.com/news/controversies/uranium-firm-to-fix-leaks-onto-utah- highway-of-radioactive-sludge-used-to-make-yellowcake-160901?news=859410

There are still lessons to be learned from the disaster caused by Hurricane Katrina before the next one hits • http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/eleven-years-after-katrina-what-lessons-can- we-learn-next-disaster-strikes-180960293/

Bans and permits send mushroom pickers “underground” in national forests • http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/08/31/490940744/banned-from-national- forest-for-profit-mushroom-pickers-go-underground

$1M to help support development of an environmental learning center in Yellowstone for children – is that really “sustainable” or not? • http://inhabitat.com/toyota-donates-1m-to-build-an-ultra-green-youth-campus-for- yellowstone-national-park/

Problem of drifting herbicide (Dicamba) continues for Monsanto and for agricultural areas • http://www.resilience.org/stories/2016-08-28/monsanto-temptation-and-some- adolescent-farmers

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USF&W announces protection of 1.8M acres of Sierra Nevada habitat for endangered amphibians • http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2016/sierra-nevada-amphibians- 08-25-2016.html

New cryo-facility at Melbourne Museum in Carlton will store samples of some of the most destructive diseases • http://www.canberratimes.com.au/technology/sci-tech/the-deadly-diseases-scientists- want-to-save-20160831-gr5le9.html

Isn’t it bad enough that humans have inbred some dog breeds to the point of ill health? Now they want to give dogs drugs to try to “enhance” their life span • http://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/dog-aging-project-wants-help-your-pet-live- longer-180960263/

New exhibit at the Fenimore Art Museum will feature photographs of the American West by Ansel Adams • http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-exhibition-shares-rare-ansel-adams- photos-american-west-180960273/ • Images: http://www.fenimoreartmuseum.org/adams

New map predicting migration routes of species due to warmer climate, but what will happen when the predicted cooling spell hits in a decade or two? • http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2016/08/29/New-map-shows-where-species-will- migrate-as-planet-warms/1911472474686/

Heritage habitat is demolished for temporary parking, called “extinction by government decree” • http://www.canberratimes.com.au/environment/extinction-by-decree-remnant-forest-in- wolli-creek-faces-the-chop-20160830-gr4bbi.html

Permanent ban on fracking and all exploration and development of unconventional onshore gas will be introduced across Victoria, Australia • http://www.canberratimes.com.au/victoria/victoria-to-ban-fracking-20160829- gr44li.html

Controversial Ranger uranium mine has insufficient government oversight, monitoring for radioactive dust was halted in December • http://www.canberratimes.com.au/environment/lone-ranger-kakadu-uranium-miner- faces-fewer-safety-checks-20160826-gr28kv.html

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