2008Annual Report CGRER The Center For Global and Regional environmental research

1 Evacuate! In June of 2008, Iowa City faced the worst flooding since the upstream Coralville Dam had been built in the 1950s. The Iowa River’s rising waters forced CGRER to evacuate its riverside IATL offices. On June 11, as predictions of flooding worsened, CGRER staff and students started moving equipment to the UI’s main engineering building, Seamans Center for the Engineering Arts and Sciences (SC). Because researchers were in the middle of a large atmospheric field experiment (ARCTAS, see page 19), every piece of computer equipment was essential, and all computers and accessories were moved—with only 3 hours of down time. Printers and other non-essential equipment were evacuated the following day. On June 13, the alarms sounded, IATL’s doors were locked and chained, and all access to the building was prohibited. Over the next several days, flooding caused contents significant damage to research equipment and office space on the first floor. Fortunately Executive Summary 4 all CGRER offices are on fourth floor, and thus they suffered CGRER Executive Committee 5 no direct harm. Staff, students, office operations, and computer Message from the Advisory Board 6 labs remained in temporary quarters at SC for the next 4 ∂ CGRER Advisory Board Members 7 months, returning to IATL after building cleanup operations were Dialogue 9 completed on October 24. Education 12

Research 19

Photography courtesy of Carl Kurtz and illustrations courtesy of Mark Müller, General Information 23 republished with permission from the book The Emerald Horizon: The History of Nature in Iowa (Cornelia F. Mutel, 2008, Iowa City: The University of Iowa Press), CGRER Members 24 research for which was initiated with CGRER support. Iowa’s first comprehensive natural and environmental history, the book includes methods for reestablishing Iowa’s native ecosystems and environmental integrity. CGRER The Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research

The Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research – CGRER – was established in 1990 with the intent of promoting interdisciplinary efforts that focus on global environmental change. Housed on the University of Iowa (UI) campus in the Iowa Advanced Technology Laboratories (IATL), CGRER is supported by revenues generated from public utilities, as mandated by the State of Iowa’s Energy Efficiency Act. Funds are used to support research and provide services to faculty members and students across the state who are interested in environmental change. CGRER membership is composed of faculty and professional staff from Iowa’s colleges and universities. CGRER currently is composed of 74 members from 23 departments at seven institutions. While environmental change is constant and natural, CGRER focuses on the human-induced acceleration of such change caused by modern technologies, lifestyles, and population growth. Concerns about global change encompass multiple issues including its effects on natural ecosystems, environments, and resources, and on human health, culture, and social systems. Because global change promises to touch virtually every aspect of life and require the reinterpretation of many fields of science and engineering, the humanities, medicine, and law, an understanding of global change requires collaborative efforts among the many disciplines involved. CGRER’s mission is to foster such collaborative interdisciplinary actions in three ways:

• by promoting dialogue among specialists and agencies, • by educating students and the general public, and • by fostering and supporting relevant research projects. This annual report summarizes CGRER’s activities in each of these three areas. Because CGRER’s output is commensurate with that of its many members, a summary of which would require a small book, this annual report includes only a sampling of significant projects and efforts. Yet this sampling provides a vision of CGRER’s multiple efforts to achieve its ultimate goal: assisting Iowa’s agencies, industries, and citizens in assessing and preparing for global change and its effects.

4 5 executive summary CGRER Executive Committee

This past year has certainly been very challenging, yet David Bennett rewarding. We entered 2008 with the goal of enhancing CGRER’s Geography, UI outreach activities. As outlined throughout this Annual Report, CGRER members are involved in many forms of valuable Jonathan Carlson outreach to the state and beyond. One example is co-director College of Law, UI Jerry Schnoor’s leadership in the governor’s Climate Change Advisory Council. In 2008, we created a new staff position— Dennis Dahms Director of Outreach and Community Education—in order to Physical Geography, UNI increase CGRER’s outreach efforts and promote the important environmental work being done by CGRER faculty and Jeff Dorale students. In November, Joe Bolkcom joined our staff, and we are Geoscience, UI pleased to have him on board. He brings with him an excellent understanding of environmental issues, as well as the skills and Vicki Grassian experience to communicate with key stakeholders and Iowans Chemistry, UI about our mission. Our best examples of outreach and service were unplanned. Paul Greenough They involved our members’ responses to the June floods. CGRER History and Behavior Science, UI and many of its members were greatly affected by the floods. We had to evacuate CGRER’s administrative offices from IATL, just Steve Hendrix as many members and their students had to evacuate their offices Biological Sciences, UI and research laboratories across campus. Members with offices and labs in IATL could not reoccupy them until late October. Diana Horton Some research activities are still in recovery mode. Biological Sciences, UI We would like to commend the faculty, staff, and students of the entire university and surrounding communities for their Sarah Larsen initiatives in preparing for the floods and the subsequent recovery Chemistry, UI in general, and specifically for their efforts to help accommodate displaced CGRER researchers and administrative offices. Lou Licht The response of our members to the floods went above and Ecolo-Tree, Inc. beyond day-to-day challenges. For example, CGRER helped to host the visit of the Director of the National Science Foundation Michelle Scherer (NSF) a few short weeks after the floods peaked, and CGRER Civil & Environmental Engineering, UI members moved immediately into research mode to capture as much information as possible about the floods for use in efforts Peter Thorne to prevent future flood devastation. The many new NSF-funded Occupational & Environmental Health, UI Small Grants for Exploratory Research (SGRER) described in this report are just one example of the members’ collective creative You-Kuan Zhang response. CGRER members are also playing leadership roles Geoscience, UI in the university, community, and state by helping to develop flood mitigation plans. This is exemplified by members who are As discussed throughout this Annual Report, 2008 has been involved with the governor’s Rebuild Iowa task forces. CGRER a very exciting and productive year. Looking forward into 2009, is co-sponsoring a book on the science of the floods, written for we intend to continue strengthening our efforts in outreach and a lay audience and non-scientists who will be influencing public research focused on helping Iowa deal with the many facets of policy. This educational-outreach tool will be published by the environmental change and its ramifications. University of Iowa Press in 2009. Moving forward, CGRER is focusing its research skills on several large initiatives related to Gregory R. Carmichael improving our ability to live with floods. CGRER Co-Director with Jerald L. Schnoor

6 7 “Whether it’s the CGRER Advisory science to slow Board Members global warming; the Robert Dvorsky Senator, Iowa State Legislature technology to protect Jon Kallen our troops and Manager, Environmental Policy and Strategy confront bioterror MidAmerican Energy and weapons of mass Jim Klosterbuer destruction; the Senior Environmental Consultant Alliant Energy research to find Mark Kresowik life-saving cures; National Corporate Accountability Representative or the innovations National Coal Campaign, Sierra Club to remake our Hiram “Chip” Levy II industries and create Senior Research Scientist message from the advisory board graduate research assistant) Joe Bolkcom, to expand Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, NOAA 21st-century jobs — and a handful of other CGRER upon that base of experience. Any eloquence I could energies of the tsunami that affiliates on improving estimates Although at times the David Osterberg today, more than summon to describe the bore down on Sri Lanka or of plant uptake of carbon dioxide challenges facing our economy Occupational and Environmental Health Advisory Board’s hopes for the the devastation of Hurricane (Science 322: 1085-1088). and planet may seem intractable, University of Iowa ever before, science new year is overshadowed by the Katrina. Perhaps the most exciting our creative capacity to research, momentous events of the past To each of these occasions development has been the understand, and overcome those William Stigliani holds the key to our twelve months and the enormous the researchers, staff, students, efforts undertaken by CGRER obstacles is undiminished. With Professor, Center for Energy & challenges the State of Iowa and and stakeholders of CGRER to disseminate the fruits of leaders at the state and federal environmental Education survival as a planet our nation face. The last year have risen and contributed research for public benefit. level who are committed to University of Northern Iowa and our security has revealed the best and worst the best of their knowledge Led by co-director Jerry advancing science and listening of our chosen way of life, from and experience. CGRER Schnoor’s service as chair of to the results of scientific Sharon Tahtinen and prosperity the continued onset of climate members are now leading the Iowa Climate Change progress, hopefully the daily Special Assistant, Energy Policy change and a financial collapse numerous avenues of flood- Advisory Council, and ably work done by CGRER members Iowa Department of Natural Resources as a nation.” 1 precipitated by innumerable related research in the hope of assisted by new and improved can fully inform the decisions excesses, to a vigorous political mitigating future occurrences online and media resources, made in corporate boardrooms, Krista Tanner debate launched in Iowa and and helping the region recover. CGRER members have given the halls of the statehouse in Des Iowa Utilities Board President culminated in the historic The year featured some of the presentations explaining the Moines, and our nation’s capitol. Barack Obama election of a new president. most notable academic work scientific basis for urgent Most striking for many of us the Center has produced, with action to deal with climate With Hope, was the damage wreaked by publications from co-director change, and have supported Mark Kresowik this summer’s flooding, laying Greg Carmichael on the role that the burgeoning clean energy National Corporate bare the awesome power of “black carbon” plays in global economy that is creating Accountability Representative nature against the best efforts warming (Nature Geoscience thousands of new jobs for Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal of humanity, a scene perhaps 1: 221-227), and from Elliott Iowans. And now CGRER has Campaign 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMlXNrBxM0g reminiscent of the destructive Campbell (a former CGRER hired a new outreach director,

8 9 dialogue

CGRER Promotes Interdisciplinary Dialogue to Address Iowa’s Needs Looking at flood recovery Nationwide Network of statewide, CGRER’s Larry Networks (published early Weber and Lou Licht became 2009, The National Academies members of the Governor’s Press, Washington, DC). This Rebuild Iowa: Floodplain report takes a comprehensive Management and Hazard look at weather and weather- Mitigation Task Force, and related observations across In 2008, CGRER Gene Parkin worked with its the nation, evaluating the members may have worked Agriculture and Environment country’s current meteorologic more than ever before to Task Force. observational capabilities spread their knowledge in Jerry Schnoor continues and examining what will be meaningful ways. Their to chair the Iowa Climate necessary in coming years. expertise influenced activities Change Advisory Council. Recommendations are made from local flood remediation This council, formed by state on how to develop future to the Beijing Olympics. legislation and appointed by weather observation systems CGRER’s involvement Governor Culver in 2007, is that will be important to with the summer’s extreme charged with designing poli- multiple national needs flooding was a natural, since cies, strategies, and scenarios such as water resources, food floodwaters filled many UI to reduce Iowa’s greenhouse production, transportation, buildings and the home gas emissions. The council public health, and the like. of CGRER itself. Member submitted a Preliminary Report And internationally, activities were summarized in in January and a Final Report in Greg Carmichael used his the lead article of the Fall 2008 December 2008. These reports expertise on atmospheric newsletter IoWatch. Larry include goals, target years, and science when the United Weber extended his efforts methods for reducing green- Nations Environment to the flood recovery stage house gases in Iowa – a task Programme appointed him by co-chairing the University that, Schnoor states, can be to help prepare an of Iowa Flood Mitigation accomplished while boosting “environmental report Task Force, a position that the state’s economy. Schnoor card” for the 2008 Olympic demanded many hours each will continue to chair the Games. China had included week. This Task Force is council for the next two years “green elements” for air examining and advising on and explain options to stake- quality, transportation, all the issues dealing with holders throughout the state. energy, water, and other UI recovery and rebuilding Nationally, CGRER aspects in its Olympic bid. questions, and is evaluating members Greg Carmichael, Carmichael helped evaluate steps that would reduce the Witold Krajewski, and Gene the effectiveness of these university’s future flood risks. Takle were three of 14 authors “green elements,” and made CGRER members George of a National Research Council recommendations on how to Malanson and Gene Parkin report, Observing Weather and carry them forward both in are members of the Task Force. Climate from the Ground Up: A China and in future Olympics.

10 11 CGRER’s 2008 Seminar Series A Sampling of Additional CGRER-Member Publications

Charles Driscoll Bettis, E.A., D.W. Benn, Cwiertny, D.M., R.M. Handler, Hu, D., A. Martinez, Prather, K., C. Hatch, V.H. Civil & Environmental Engineering and Center for Environmental Systems Engineering; E.R. Hajic. 2008. “Landscape M.V. Schaefer, V.H. Grassian, K.C. Hornbuckle. 2008. Grassian. 2008. “Analysis of Syracuse University Evolution, Alluvial M.M. Scherer. 2008. “Discovery of Non-Aroclor Atmospheric Aerosols.” Every Cloud has a Quicksilver Lining: Environmental Effects of Mercury Emissions Architecture, Environmental “Interpreting Nanoscale Size- PCB (3, 3’-dichlorobiphenyl) Annual Reviews of Analytical History, and the Archaeological Effects in Aggregated Fe-oxide in Chicago Air.” Environmental Chemistry 1: 485-514. James Hansen Record of the Upper Suspensions: Reaction of Fe(II) Science & Technology 42: 7873- Ramanathan, V., G. NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies Mississippi River Valley.” with Goethite.” Geochimica 7877. DOI: 10.1021/es801823r. Carmichael. 2008. “Global The Threat to the Planet: How Can We Avoid Dangerous Human-Made Climate Change? Geomorphology 101: 362-377. et Cosmochimica Acta and Regional Climate Changes 72:1365-1380, doi:10.1016/j. Hudson, P.K., E.R. Gibson, Due to Black Carbon.” Nature Stuart Harrad Campbell, J. E., J.C. Moen, R.A. gca.2007.12.018. M.A. Young, P.D. Kleiber, Geoscience 1: 221-227. School of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences; University of Birmingham, UK Ney, and J.L. Schnoor. 2008. V.H. Grassian. 2008. “Coupled Household Dust Ingestion as a Pathway of Human Exposure to PCBs in Canada and the UK “Comparison of Regression Denniston, R.F., S.C. Penn, Infrared Extinction and Size Rushton, G., M.P. Armstrong, and Exploiting Chiral Signatures of PCBs for Atmospheric Source Apportionment Coefficient and GIS-based S.J. Carpenter, A.F. Budd. Distribution Measurements J. Gittler, B. Greene, C. Pavlik, Methodologies for Regional 2008. “Constraints on Late of Several Clay Components M. West, and D. Zimmerman Nancy Langston Estimates of Forest Soil Carbon Miocene Shallow Marine of Mineral Dust Aerosol.” (editors). 2008. Geocoding Gaylord Nelson Environmental Institute; University of Wisconsin Stocks.” Environmental Pollution Seasonality for the Central Journal of Geophysical Health Data: The Use of Where Land and Water Meet 152(2): 267-273. Caribbean using 818O and Sr/ Research 113, D01201, Geographic Codes in Cancer Ca Ratios in a Fossil Coral.” doi:10.1029/2007JD008791. Prevention and Control, Research Hiram “Chip” Levy III Campbell, J. E., G.R. In Nehm, R.H. and A. F. Budd and Practice. Boca Raton, FL: Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, NOAA; Princeton University Carmichael, T. Chai,… (eds): Evolutionary Stasis: Larese-Casanova, P.L., M.M. CRC Press (Taylor & Francis), Impact of Air Pollution on our Future Climate J.L. Schnoor, C.O. Stanier, Species and Communities Scherer. 2008. “Abiotic 256 pp. et al. 2008. “Photosynthetic through Geological Time. Reduction of Hexahydro-1,3,5- Connie Mutel Control of Atmospheric New York: Springer, pp. 47-52. trinitro-1,3,5-triazine by Green Schnoor, J.L. 2008. “Lessons IIHR-Hydroscience & Engineering; University of Iowa Carbonyl Sulfide During the Rusts.” Environmental Science & from the Flood.” Environmental The Evolving Emerald Horizon: Iowa’s Changing Water Regime Growing Season.” Science Denniston, R.F., Y. Asmerom, Technology 42: 3975-3981. Science & Technology 42: 5379. 322: 1085-1088. V. Polyak, et al. 2008. Sergio de Souza-Machado “Caribbean Chronstratigraphy Malanson, G.P. 2008. Yadav, V., G.P. Malanson. University of Maryland at Baltimore Curtis, D.B., B. Meland, Constrained with U-Pb and “Extinction Debt: Origins, 2008. “Spatially Explicit Remote Sensing: Measuring Atmospheric & Geophysical Parameters from Space M. Aycibin, N.P. Arnold, 87Sr/86Sr Analysis of a Developments, and Appli- Land Use Land Cover V.H. Grassian, M.A. Young, Miocene Coral.” Geology 36: cations of a Biogeographic and Soil Organic Carbon P.D. Kleiber. 2008. 151-154. Trope.” Progress in Physical Transformations in Southern “A Laboratory Investigation Geography 32: 277-291. Illinois.” Agriculture, Ecosystems of Light Scattering from Dornbush, M., C. Cambardella, & Environment 123: 280-292. Visiting Scientists Representative Components E. Ingham, J. Raich. 2008. Muhs, D.R., E.A. Bettis III, of Mineral Dust Aerosol at “A Comparison of Soil Food J.N. Alienikoff, et al. Alessio D’Allura visited Tracey Holloway (from the Former CGRER graduate a Wavelength of 550 nm.” Webs Beneath C3- and 2008. “Origin and Paleo- CGRER from March 20-31 as University of Wisconsin) research assistant Marcelo Mena Journal of Geophysical Research C4-Dominated Grasslands.” climatic Significance of Late part of a collaboration with and Jerry Lin (from Lamar visited in July to collaborate on Atmospheres 113, D08210, Biology and Fertility of Soils Quaternary Loess in Nebraska: his home firm, ARIANET, University) visited CGRER a new NSF-funded international doi:10.1029/2007JD009387. 45:73–81; DOI 10.1007/ Evidence from Stratigraphy, an environmental consulting on March 27-28 as part of the field experiment designed to s00374-008-0312-4. Chronology, Sedimentology company in Milan, Italy. Model Intercomparison Study better understand physical and and Geochemistry.” Geological While here, he helped set up Asia, a longstanding effort chemical processes central to the Field, R.W. 2008. Society of America Bulletin a new forecasting system in focused on improving air- climate system of the Southeast Environmental Factors in 120:1378-1407. support of the ARCTAS field quality modeling capabilities Pacific region. The VAMOS Cancer. President’s Cancer experiment (see page 19). in applications in Asia. Ocean-Cloud-Atmosphere-Land Panel - White Paper , Study Regional Experiment Charleston, South Carolina, was conducted in Chile in 4 Dec 2008. October 2008.

12 13 education CGRER Promotes Education to Address Iowa’s Needs CGRER members have had a banner year for educating others about their fields of knowledge. During and immediately after the summer flooding, some members coached the public on flood-related health hazards. As the floodwaters receded, others explained the flooding through public lectures. And within a few months, CGRER members were incorporating flood and other environmental hazard information and analysis into the-box” recommendations that are classroom lectures. These types of designed to enhance law’s relation to efforts, once again, are described in the nature in and for the future. CGRER’s Fall 2008 edition of IoWatch. Burns Weston, Jerry Schnoor, and CGRER is taking a more enduring Jonathan Carlson are active CLI educational step by co-sponsoring participants, with Weston serving as (with IIHR-Hydroscience & the CLI’s Project Director and Senior Engineering) a book on the science Researcher. CLI’s “white paper,” of the floods for the lay public. The Recalibrating the Law of Humans with book, which was largely completed in the Laws of Nature: Climate Change, 2008 and will be published in 2009, is Human Rights, and Intergenerational edited by CGRER publications editor Justice,1 will serve as a major outreach Connie Mutel and includes eight document to stimulate discussion and CGRER authors. Its 24 chapters cover action. topics from the hydrology of the 2008 As a contribution to the CLI, floods to contributing factors, the CGRER co-sponsored a Climate floods’ effects on a variety of entities Change & Human Rights Symposium (farmland, the economy, air quality, held at the UI College of Law on nature, etc.), and steps that might limit February 15. Carlson, Schnoor, future exceptional floods. Carmichael, and Weston were speakers. Education strives to stretch minds. CGRER members educate the The Climate Legacy Initiative (CLI), a public about environmental change on collaborative project of Vermont Law a continuing basis. Examples include School and the UI’s Center for Human Jerry Schnoor’s many 2008 public Rights, does this by asking what moral lectures on climate change issues and and legal obligations we have to future their mitigation and his webcast on generations in the context of climate future water availability; Gene Takle’s change and other major environmental multiple presentations on climate hazards. Its findings lead the CLI to change and its implications in the call for a paradigm shift in the way law Ames area; and Jonathan Carlson’s interacts with nature, and therefore lecture on Climate Justice at a UI law to a proposed set of creative “out-of- symposium.

1 To be officially released in March 2009. An unedited pre-release version is available on the CLI’s website at Vermont Law School (http://www.vermontlaw.edu/x4128.xml). All three CGRER participants were contributors. 14 15 Travel Grants for Graduate Students

Grants are awarded to students traveling to professional conferences to make oral or poster presentations, whose advisors are CGRER members. A total of $12,765 was awarded in 2008.

Name Department Conference Attended Ozan Abaci Civil & Environmental Engineering, Ui river Flow 2008 (International Conference on Fluvial Hydraulics), Turkey Kirsten M.M. Beyer Geography, UI Assoc of American Geographers Annual Meeting Dimitrios Dermisis Civil & Environmental Engineering, Ui river Flow 2008 (International Conference on Fluvial Hydraulics), Turkey Piotr Domaszczynski Civil & Environmental Engineering, UI World Environmental & Water Resources Congress 2008 Susanna M. Donaldson anthropology, UI The Society for Applied Anthropology, 68th Annual Meeting Sherrie Elzey Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Ui american Association for Aerosol Research Conference Cihan Erbas Electrical & Computer Engineering, ISU microwave Radiometry and Remote Sensing of the Environment 2008 (Microrad ’08) Meeting Christopher Gorski Civil & Environmental Engineering, Ui american Chemical Society National Meeting Drew Latta Civil & Environmental Engineering, Ui american Chemical Society National Meeting Timothy Lauth Civil & Environmental Engineering, UI World Environmental & Water Resources Congress 2008 John V. Loperfido Civil & Environmental Engineering, Ui american Geophysical Union Fall Meeting Rachel Marek Civil & Environmental Engineering, UI 51st International Association for Great Lakes Research Conference Andres Jose Martinez Civil & Environmental Engineering, UI 51st International Association for Great Lakes Research Conference Araneda John Pettibone Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, UI AIChE Annual Meeting Anton Petushkov Chemistry, UI Gordon Research Conference, Nanoporous Materials Bong Chul Seo Civil & Environmental Engineering, Ui american Geophysical Union Fall Meeting A Sampling of Additional CGRER-Member Educational Efforts Wenwu Tang Geography, UI Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting Art Bettis and B.K. Nations which examined individual Paul Greenough taught the flood impacts won first place Achilleas Tsakiris Civil & Environmental Engineering, Ui river Flow 2008 (International Conference on Fluvial Hydraulics), Turkey (editors) completed the and group responses in the course “History of Natural in the regional all-around Mandapaka Venkata Civil & Environmental Engineering, Ui american Geophysical Union Fall Meeting seventh edition of Introduction past and present to Disaster Response,” where he category competition. His Pradeep to Environmental Science environmental problems. examined vulnerability, relief, graduate student Vineet Yadav Laboratory Manual (Hayden socio-ecological resilience, completed his dissertation Gabriele Villarini Civil & Environmental Engineering, UI Third NASA/JAXA International Science Conference McNeil), which is used in Bill Field was invited to testify and other factors associated “Soil Carbon Dynamics in the the UI’s large “Introduction before the President’s Cancer with historical disasters from Big Creek Basin in Southern to Environmental Science” Panel regarding environmental ancient times to Hurricane Illinois, USA” (which assessed In addition, $5,963 was awarded to graduate students advised by CGRER members who were traveling to sites to complete field research course. The manual’s wide factors in cancer, where he Katrina in 2005. He also gave the effectiveness of different for their thesis or dissertation. range of labs all focus on the explained his concerns about the keynote address, “Can agricultural rotations in Midwest and the UI. the increasing exposure to There Be – Should There sequestering carbon), and is Name Department Title of Project Travel Destination radon in family homes. Be – A Comparative Study of now a post-doctoral associate Kirsten Beyer Geography, Ui exploratory Spatial Data Analysis in Community Context: Storm Lake, Iowa Jonathan Carlson taught Natural Disaster Responses?” at the University of Michigan. Integrating Geographic Information Science and Community a course segment, “Global Vicki Grassian was an invited at a Natural Disaster Response Engagement for Colorectal Cancer Prevention and Control Climate Change and U.S. participant and speaker Agency conference in New Mark Young taught the UI Business: Risks, Responsibil- at two NSF workshops: Delhi. course “Environmental and Luke Juran Geography, Ui natural Disaster Response: ‘Unnatural’ Factors Affecting Response Tamilnadu, India ities, Opportunities,” in the “Environmental Nanoparticles: Atmospheric Chemistry,” to the 2004 Tsunami in Nagapattinam District, Tamilnadu, India UI’s Executive MBA program. Science, Ethics and Policy,” and George Malanson was science which addressed climate “Reversing Global Warming: advisor to North Central Junior change issues in multiple Mike Chibnik taught a new Chemical Recycling and High’s (North Liberty) first respects.

UI graduate seminar, Utilization of CO2.” Lego League team, whose “Ecological Anthropology,” project on climate change and

16 17 CGRER Welcomes its First Director PHOTO of Outreach and Community Education

If new knowledge is members and their students. not spread to policy makers His presence is expected to and the general public, it is significantly increase CGRER’s not likely to lead to positive outreach to the lay public and change. For this reason, to Iowa’s decision makers. CGRER is fortunate to As an Iowa State Senator and welcome Joe Bolkcom, hired leader for environmental in November for half-time issues, Joe brings considerable work, as Director of Outreach expertise, vision, and skill in and Community Education. communication to his new … And Additional Awards and Appointments Joe will be encouraging position. educational efforts about Pedro Alvarez received the Bill Field was appointed for Lou Licht’s firm, Ecolotree, environmental change in Iowa, Frontier in Research Award three years to the U.S. EPA Inc., won (with LBG Consul- as well as spreading the word (from the Association of Science Advisory Board. His tants) an American Consulting about the discoveries and Environmental Engineering students, Kainan Sun and Engineering Council Environ- accomplishments of CGRER’s and Science Professors), and Alicia Quella, were winners mental Grand Award for a became a Fellow of the Leopold of the prestigious American poplar phytoremediation pro- Leadership Foundation and the Statistical Association’s New ject now operating in St. Louis. American Leadership Forum. Investigator Award. They irrigated 2.9 million gallons of landfill leachate onto Art Bettis received the Vicki Grassian received the a six-acre ETCap planted by Geological Society of America, Graduate College Outstanding Ecolotree, thus preventing 600 Archaeological Geology Mentor Award. She also was semi-loads of water from being Division’s 2008 Rip Rapp appointed to the editorial hauled to the local wastewater Archaeological Geology Award boards of the journals treatment plant. for outstanding contributions Energy and the Environment, to the interdisciplinary field Surface Science, Atmospheric George Malanson received of geoarchaeology. He also Environment, and Aerosol the Sagarmatha Career was appointed to the U.S. Science and Technology, and Award from the Association National Academy’s National elected to the Executive of American Geographers, Committee to the International Committee of the Physical Mountain Geography Specialty Quaternary Association. Chemistry Division of the Group. American Chemical Society. Gary Buettner became Her doctoral student and Mark Reagan became a a Fellow of the American post-doctoral associate, Jonas member of the UI’s Sustain- Association for the Advance- Baltrusaitis, was awarded the ability Certificate Task Force. ment of Science (AAAS) for Graduate Dean’s Distinguished his contributions and leader- Dissertation Award in 2008. Michelle Scherer was ship in free radical biology. appointed Associate Editor Craig Just received the UI’s of Environmental Science 2008 President and Provost and Technology (ES&T). Award for Teaching Excellence, Her student, Rob Handler, and became Coordinator of was selected to attend the Sustainability Programs for the American Chemical Society’s UI College of Engineering. Green Chemistry Summer School at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado.

18 19 research

CGRER Fosters Global Change Research to Address Iowa’s Needs CGRER members can be readily used by farmers, (April through July) assisting continue to research city administrators, natural with the large ARCTAS project, subjects of importance resource managers, and anyone NASA’s contribution to the to the future of Iowa and areas else making water-related International Polar Year. As beyond. Within months of management decisions. The with other recent multifaceted the 2008 flooding, CGRER project will address questions atmospheric field-research members had received eight of water pollution as well as efforts, CGRER provided National Science Foundation water location and flow. real-time forecasts of the (NSF) grants to study this Tied more closely to movement of air pollutants event and develop information Iowa’s immediate future, that were then used by aircraft to help prevent future flood Charles Stanier, Greg that followed and sampled the devastation (see “SGER” Carmichael, Morgan Brown pollutant plumes. ARCTAS is grants, page 21). These and (a CGRER-sponsored research attempting to determine the other of CGRER’s flood- assistant), and colleagues have source of the pollution haze related grants and research been studying in detail the that builds over the Arctic in are discussed in the Fall 2008 monitoring data for particulate winter, where it deposits ice- IoWatch. matter in Iowa’s air, and melting black carbon – does Approaching water determining which sources it originate in Europe, Asia, from another vantage, of these pollutants could be or elsewhere? And how do Jerry Schnoor, Dave most effectively controlled. the large wildfires burning in Bennett, Marian Muste, This effort addresses a very Canada and Asia, themselves and colleagues received real problem: because of the product of a hotter, drier nearly a million dollars from human health concerns, the climate, contribute to the NSF for a three-year water- Environmental Protection rapid melting of the Arctic related research project (see Agency (EPA) has tightened ice? In 2009, CGRER will be page 21). This project will the standards for atmospheric assisting with analysis of the feed into the national need particulate matter, and several ARCTAS field data. In Fall, for comprehensive water regions of eastern Iowa are 2008, Carmichael’s group also information by working on an now non-compliant or close participated in a large NSF “intelligent digital watershed” to being so. This research will field project called VOCALS, – a computer-based help such regions address the conducted off the coast of monitoring, analysis, and problem and avoid the more Chile and Peru. modeling system that presents onerous requirements for Many research efforts comprehensive water data to new and existing air pollution of CGRER members have the broader public, decision- sources than otherwise would received substantial press. makers, and administrators. be applied. Examples include the finding The goal is to translate a Looking further abroad, of unexpectedly high levels of picture of water’s flow at a Greg Carmichael and a certain PCBs (polychlorinated given point, and through time, number of CGRER research biphenyls) remaining in into computer models that associates spent four months Chicago air samples decades

20 21 after the manufacture of these highly toxic chemicals was banned be the youngest Homo erectus fossils in the world (ca. 20,000 – A Sampling of CGRER-Member New Research Grants (see Hu et al, page 11); the discovery that soot from cooking fires 50,000 years old). Detailed information on these fossils has never and diesel engines – which is both an air pollutant and a global been firmly established. Last year’s field work recovered fossils, warming agent – has an atmospheric warming effect three to now being dated, from demonstrated stratigraphic context. Collaborative Research: A 210Pb SGER: Anatomy of the 2008 SGER: Transport of Sediments four times greater than previously estimated (see Ramanathan paradox? 2008-2009. NSF. Iowa Flood: Exploring the and Pollutants into the and Carmichael, page 11); and the new knowledge that carbonyl Aids to Researchers and the UI Community $117,090. Mark Reagan. Interplay Between Successive Terrestrial Regions of a Small sulphide (COS), taken up by plants during photosynthesis, can CGRER continued to offer state-of-the-art computing and Collaborative Research: Storms and Basin Drainage Urban-Industrial City: The June Refinement of Techniques for Topology. 2008-2009. NSF. 2008 Flood of Cedar Rapids, help track the parallel uptake of CO2, and thus studies of COS visualization resources to members and their students. In 2008, can improve estimates of global photosynthetic activity and add CGRER increased processing capabilities by obtaining high-end Estimating Evapotranspiration $52,514. Witold Krajewski Iowa. 2008-2009. NSF. precision to climate models (see Campbell et al, page 11). Lead multi-core servers. These high performance machines, with up to from Narrow Riparian Zones – and Ricardo Mantilla. $99,000. Keri Hornbuckle, author Elliott Campbell performed this research while he was 32 processors per machine, combine with large system memory Water Balance and Atmospheric Thanos Papanicolaou. a CGRER graduate research assistant under the mentorship of to allow for the visualization of complex data sets. Our latest Measurements. 2008-2011. SGER: Contribution of the Stanier, Schnoor, and Carmichael. addition incorporates 256GB of RAM for in-depth visualizations NSF. $614,165. Bill Eichinger, 2008 Midwestern Flood to Gulf SGER: Understanding And finally, some CGRER members continue to study the of various models. The servers have played a key role in modeling Anton Kruger. Hypoxia. 2008-2009. NSF. Spatiotemporal Dynamics of past to expand our knowledge base and better understand the and forecasting the movement of air pollutants, efforts crucial $99,343. Jerald Schnoor, Community Response to Natural future. Rhawn Denniston and colleagues published two papers to CGRER’s large atmospheric field experiments. These servers Collaborative Research: Craig Just, and colleagues. Disaster. 2008-2009. NSF. on the effects on ocean temperature and species diversity during are able to house several ongoing research projects. CGRER’s VOCALS—Climate Simulation $44,484. Kathleen Stewart the closure of the Central American Seaway 3 million years ago focus for 2009 will be obtaining a large data storage unit to meet and Operational Forecasting SGER: Determining the Effects and David Bennett. (see page 11), and have dated and analyzed a stalagmite from the ever-growing needs of CGRER’s high-end computing. Using a Regional Earth System of Severe Flooding of Residential northern Australia in order to examine the combined influences CGRER continues to function as one of four departments Modeling Framework. 2008- Areas on the Educational Understanding Water-Human of the El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and solar output on on the UI campus that supports and distributes geographical 2011. NSF. $250,025. Greg Development of Public School Dynamics with Intelligent Digital the Holocene Australian Summer Monsoon. And in August, information system (GIS) software through a campus-wide site A Molecular Microbiological Carmichael with colleagues at Students who Live in Such Areas. Watersheds. 2008-2011. NSF. CGRER members Russ Ciochon and Art Bettis began strati- license with ESRI. Search for Active Biphenyl the University of California 2008-2009. NSF. $899,391. Jerald Schnoor, graphic studies in Central Java, Indonesia, on what are reported to Dioxygenases in Polychlorinated Los Angeles. $62,879. Gerard Rushton Marian Muste, David Biphenyl-Contaminated and colleagues. Bennett, and colleagues. Sediments. 2008-2009. Design and Testing of a Point Center for Health Effects of of Use Electrolytic Chlorine SGER: Evaluation of the US-Spain Planning Visit: Seed Grants Awarded by CGRER Environmental Contamination. Generator for Drinking Water Rating Curve Hysteresis Due to Collaborative Research on $30,000. Tim Mattes and Disinfection in Poor Countries. Unsteady Channel Flows Using Sea-Level Changes Recorded in Keri Hornbuckle. 2008-2010. EPA P3 Student Non-Intrusive Measurements Coastal Caves of Mallorca. In 2008, CGRER awarded a total of $143,873 in seed grants to five projects. Sustainability Competition. Acquired During the Iowa 2008-2010. NSF. $9,394. Principle Investigators Project Title Amount Awarded Cancer Maps website. 2008. $75,000. Craig Just and 2008 Flood. 2008-2009. NSF. Jeff Dorale. Iowa Department of Public. engineering students. William Eichinger, Witold Krajewski, development of Prototype Instrumentation for Ultra-High $30,000 $56,869. Marian Muste. and Thanos Papanicolaou; Civil & resolution Measurement of Land Surface Relief $10,260. Gerard Rushton. Environmental Engineering, UI Dynamic Updating of Emissions SGER: The Impact of Extreme CAREER: Strengthening the by Systematic Integration Flooding on Mussel and Kristie J. Franz; Climate Change Impacts on Cold Season Hydrologic Processes $27,073 Predictive Ability for New of Bottom-up Activities and Microbial Nutrient Dynamics at Geological and Atmospheric and Spring Soil Moisture Recharge in the Upper Midwest Particle Formation: A Combined Satellite-Based Top-Down the Water-Sediment Interface. Sciences, ISU Field, Data Analysis, and Constraints to Support Air 2008-2009. NSF. $75,613. Sarah Larsen; Chemistry, UI Tailoring the Surface Properties of Nanocrystalline Zeolites $30,000 Modeling Approach. 2008- Quality Forecasting and Analysis. Craig Just, Gene Parkin, for Environmental Applications: Insights from DFT Calculations 2013. NSF. $151,000. 2008-2011. NASA. $310,536. and colleagues. Thanos Papanicolaou and Observations on the Movement of Bedload Using $26,800 Charles Stanier. Greg Carmichael. Jerry Schnoor; Civil & Motion-Sensing Radio Transmitters SGER: Theoretical Design of Environmental Engineering, Ui Northern Annular Mode (NAM) a Flood Warning System for Charles O. Stanier; Discovering the Vertical Dimension of Atmospheric New $30,000 Variability during the Little Ice Eastern Iowa. 2008-2009. NSF. Chemical and Biochemical Particle Formation: Aircraft Profiling Proof of Concept Age and Medieval Warm Period $69,471. Witold Krajewski Engineering, UI in a Cave Ice Core Record from and Ricardo Mantilla. Northwestern Romania. 2008- In addition, CGRER awarded $5,000 to the Iowa Valley Resource Conservation & Development in Amana, Iowa, to fund a summer 2010. NSF. $132,694. Jeff intern who completed a survey of native roadside remnant plants and communities, in preparation for preparing a roadside tour of Dorale. these prairie natives.

22 23 informationGeneral

Budget Figure 1 CGRER's Expenses

Publications - 4% In fiscal year 2008 (July 1, 2007-June 30, 2008), Administration - 25% 75 percent of CGRER’s $644,427 of revenue was spent on research, education, GIS Lab - 32% and outreach directed toward Speakers & Visitors -1% global change issues (Figure 1). The remaining 25 percent of the budget was dedicated to administration. This funding, received in total from an assessment on Research & Education - 38% Iowa’s gas and electric utilities through the State Department of Commerce, was magnified many times in the millions of dollars of external grants Figure 2 Leveraging of CGRER's Income and contracts awarded to CGRER members (Figure 2). External Funding - $36M In calendar year 2008 CGRER 40

members, working through 30 their respective departments, were performing research 25 that brought in a total of $36 million in external funds. Of 20 this amount, $9.4 million was 15 new funding that was initiated millions of $ In Revenue - $.644 in 2008, while the remaining 10 $26.6 million came from ongoing projects. 5

0

Ongoing Funding - $26.6 New in 2008 - $9.4

24 25 Administration CGRER Members and Membership University of Iowa Geography Iowa State University Marc P. Armstrong Anthropology Agronomy CGRER is directed by David Bennett Michael S. Chibnik Raymond W. Arritt University of Iowa professors Naresh Kumar Russell L. Ciochon Brian K. Hornbuckle Gregory Carmichael (Dept. Marc Linderman of Chemical and Biochemical George P. Malanson Biological Sciences Ecology, Evolution, and Engineering) and Jerald Michael L. McNulty, Emeritus Stephen D. Hendrix Organismal Biology Schnoor (Dept. of Civil and R. Rajagopal Diana G. Horton Diane M. Debinski Environmental Engineering). Gerard Rushton John Nason Center activities are guided Chemical and James W. Raich by an elected Executive Biochemical Engineering Geoscience Committee that consists Gregory R. Carmichael Richard G. Baker, Emeritus Geological & of thirteen members (see Charles O. Stanier E. Arthur Bettis Atmospheric Sciences list, page 5) plus the two Robert S. Carmichael William J. Gutowski co-directors. The Executive Chemistry Jeffrey Dorale Germán Mora Committee meets monthly Vicki H. Grassian Lon D. Drake, Emeritus Eugene S. Takle to plan initiatives and Sarah C. Larsen Mark K. Reagan chart CGRER’s course. An Mark Young Holmes A. Semken, Jr., Emeritus Natural Resource Advisory Board of nine Frank H. Weirich Ecology and Management members from outside the Civil & Environmental You-Kuan Zhang Jan Thompson academic community (see Engineering list, page 7) meets annually A. Allen Bradley History and Community University of to lend oversight to CGRER’s William E. Eichinger & Behavioral Health Northern Iowa Paul R. Greenough activities. Keri C. Hornbuckle Biology Since 1992, CGRER has Craig L. Just Laura Jackson Law employed two fulltime staff Witold F. Krajewski Jonathan Carlson members. Administrative Lou Licht Physical Geography Burns H. Weston assistant Jane Frank oversees Timothy E. Mattes Dennis E. Dahms Marian V. Muste Ramanathan Sugumaran office operations. Jeremie Mechanical & Wilfrid A. Nixon Moen manages CGRER’s Industrial Engineering A. Jacob Odgaard computer facilities with the Geb Thomas Cornell College A.N. Thanos Papanicolaou aid of services contracted Geology Gene F. Parkin from the Iowa Computer Occupational & Rhawn Denniston Aided Engineering Network. Michelle Scherer Environmental Health In addition, Joe Bolkcom Jerald L. Schnoor William R. Field Hydrologic Research serves as half-time Director Richard L. Valentine Joel N. Kline Center, San Diego, CA Larry Weber of Outreach and Community Peter S. Thorne Konstantine P. Georgakakos Education. CGRER reports Economics directly to the UI’s Vice Physics & Astronomy Thomas F. Pogue Rice University President for Research. Donald A. Gurnett John L. Solow Paul D. Kleiber Civil & Environmental Steven R. Spangler Engineering Electron Spin Pedro Alvarez Resonance Facility Physiology & Biophysics Garry R. Buettner G. Edgar Folk, Emeritus University of Wyoming English College of Engineering Statistics & Robert Ettema Laura Rigal Actuarial Science Dale L. Zimmerman

73921/3-09 26 27 The Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research The University of Iowa 424 IATL Iowa City, IA 52242

Phone: 319-335-3333 FAX: 319-335-3337 www.cgrer.uiowa.edu

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