News: Ocean Drilling Science Plan Set for Release, p. 143 News: EGU Sessions Examine the Tohoku Earthquake, p. 143 Forum: Water Resources for the Future, p. 144 Meeting: Arctic Ecosystem Experiments, p. 145 Meeting: Spaceborne Gravity Measurements and Ocean Studies, p. 145 Research Spotlight: Heat Flux, Ash Clouds and Aviation, and More, p. 148

volume 92 number 17 26 APRIL 2011

A New International Network Multidisciplinary Collaborations for in Situ Soil Moisture Data in Mid-Ocean Ridge Research The International Soil Moisture Network platform—in support of calibration and vali- The global mid-ocean ridge (MOR) is one heat fluxes, melt extraction, magmatism (ISMN) is a new data-hosting center where dation of SMOS products, an integrative sys- of Earth’s most fundamental geologic struc- and ridge morphology, system responses globally available ground-based soil mois- tem was needed to host quality-­controlled tures. Active volcanic, tectonic, hydrother- to tectonic/volcanic events, and cross-topic ture measurements are collected, harmo- and harmonized soil moisture measure- mal, and biological processes occurring at groups on emerging seafloor technologies nized, and made available to users through a ments emerging from various ground valida- the MOR affect nearly every attribute of the and paradigms for expanding education and Web interface (http://www.ipf.tuwien.ac.at/ tion campaigns and operational networks. world’s oceans and oceanic crust. For the outreach (see http://ridge2000​ .​marine­ -geo​ ​ insitu). As the first international initiative of Consequently, ESA provided the financial past quarter century the overarching goal .org/ for a full list of working group titles). its kind, the ISMN will play a crucial role in support for the development of this platform, of the U.S. National Science Foundation These topical, cross-disciplinary working globally assessing the quality of soil mois- which became ISMN. (NSF)–funded multidisciplinary Ridge 2000 groups focus research efforts by highlight- ture estimates from spaceborne microwave The network itself is managed at the program (http://www​ .​ridge2000­ .org/)​ and its ing points of intersection between the data sensors and land surface models; in uncov- Vienna University of Technology. The first predecessor, Ridge Interdisciplinary Global and models of different disciplines. This ering how the hydrological cycle integrates phase of ISMN has been completed—it Experiments (RIDGE), here collectively approach was adapted from other success- with land, the atmosphere, and the ocean; involved designing and implementing the called “R2K,” has been to use observations, ful implementations of the working group and in studying climate change. The ISMN system and ingesting the first data sets. The experiments, and models to answer funda- paradigm (e.g., http://www​ .nceas​ .ucsb​ ​ is fully operational and currently hosts soil second phase, which began in January 2011, mental questions about oceanic spreading .edu/ and http://www​ .​nescent­ .org/).​ In the moisture data from more than 500 stations entails the implementation of an improved center processes. R2K case, individuals self-selected to join spanning 18 different networks. For scientific quality control system, inclusion of addi- Since its inception, R2K has worked to groups. Topics were developed by the pro- use, access to the data is free of charge. tional networks, and the development of a develop a holistic understanding of MORs. gram leadership roughly 4 months before plan that works toward full automation and There are multiple interrelated conse- an NSF-funded community meeting in Port- Overcoming Obstacles Through ISMN near–real time ingestion of data sets. Sub- quences of oceanic crust generation at land, Oreg. (29–31 October 2010), attended sequent phases will likely involve transfer- MORs, including transfer of material and by 140 participants. These groups, consist- Soil moisture observations provide the ring the whole system to a fully operational energy from the mantle to the crust and ing of 10–20 members, collaborated before link between terrestrial water, energy, and organization. ocean; impacts on marine ecology; and and during the meeting and will continue carbon cycles. Further, soil moisture deter- temporal, spatial, and rate-dependent inter- to work toward high-profile publications mines how precipitation is partitioned into Data Management actions between biological and geologi- on topics (e.g., see Figure 1) and data sets infiltration and runoff Dirmeyer[ et al., 2006]. cal processes. Consequently, a diverse yet within their focus areas. Hence, it is fundamental in streamflow fore- Input to ISMN is provided on a voluntary tightly knit community of collaborating sci- Group activities are governed by opera- casting [Koster et al., 2010] and in determin- basis by locally and regionally operating net- entists, including geologists, chemists, geo- tional and ethical protocols formulated by ing water and energy budgets. The impor- works—any network is encouraged to join. physical modelers, microbiologists, and program leaders in accordance with col- tance of soil moisture in the global climate Currently, data from 18 historical and opera- oceanographers, has developed under R2K laboration and publication norms in the system has recently been underlined by the tional networks in North America, Europe, programs. This research community has physical and biological sciences (http://​ Global Climate Observing System (a joint Asia, and Australia are hosted by ISMN (Fig- spanned multiple generations of investiga- ridge2000.marine​ -geo​ .org/​ community​­ -meet​ - undertaking of the World Meteorological ure 1), while several other networks have tive effort, requiring it to confront transfor- ings/october​­ -2010/​ working​­ -group​ -​­protocols). Organization, the United Nations, and the announced plans to participate in the near mations in communications technology, Members were drawn from multiple disci- International Council for Science), which in future. The Global Soil Moisture Data Bank tools for use and access of data, and atti- plines and seniority levels and are commit- 2010 endorsed soil moisture as an “essential [see Robock et al., 2000], which until the tudes about cooperative approaches to sci- ted to communicating, learning from each climate variable.” launch of the ISMN was the only significant entific discovery. The tools and approaches other, and developing a shared vision for Although several local and regional mete- effort to centralize soil moisture measure- R2K has used to enhance cross-disciplin- their objectives and published products. orological and hydrological networks rou- ments from various ground-based networks, ary understanding of complex problems A benefit of such an approach is that addi- tinely measure soil moisture, globally the has merged its data collection with the ISMN are adaptable to other multidisciplinary tional collaborations are expected to be number of long-term ground-based moni- and has now closed. research efforts. born of this process, and new ideas for the toring networks is still small and largely Data streams in on various time scales: next decades of oceanic spreading cen- restricted to midlatitude regions. Moreover, Some networks post data in near real time, A Systems Approach ter research will spring from the synthesis the lack of standard measurement tech- while others share them only after they effort. niques and protocols complicates the use are published in a peer-reviewed journal. A key strategy recently adopted by the of network data. As a result, there are many Incoming soil moisture measurements are R2K community is a systems approach to Embracing New Technologies differences between measurement depths, checked for consistency and quality and knowledge compilation and hypothesis for- units of soil moisture, sampling interval, and converted into a common volumetric unit of mulation. The program established topically By embracing a combination of new elec- precision. Also, the fact that the various data measurement. and geographically focused working groups tronic tools for remote communication and sets are managed by a large number of orga- A graphical user interface allows the to investigate various ridge processes and through new paradigms for compiling and nizations means that global studies incorpo- user to search, for example, by geographi- structural elements of ridge environments, understanding shared knowledge (e.g., rating ground-based soil moisture measure- cal extent or time period and visualize the thereby stimulating discussion and synthe- wikis, databases, and social software, as in ments are tedious to perform. selected data. After selection of specific sis of results on program-relevant topics. Figure 1), R2K researchers have been able to To overcome these issues, the Global records, the data sets are prepared for down- Group topics include controls on hydrother- Energy and Water Cycle Experiment load according to prevailing standards for mal biogeochemistry, vent chemistry and Mid-Ocean Ridge cont. on page 142 (GEWEX) of the World Climate Research data and metadata, as established by WCRP/ Programme (WCRP), with the continued GEWEX. support of the Group on Earth Observa- Although initially set up to support the tions (GEO) and Committee on Earth Obser- SMOS mission, other current and upcoming vation Satellites (CEOS), envisioned and satellite soil moisture missions will be sup- began developing an integrative platform for ported by the established network because ground-based soil moisture measurements more harmonized data will be available glob- in 2006. The launch of the Soil Moisture ally for calibration and validation. Already, and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission (http:// several satellite product validation studies www.esa.int/esaLP/LPsmos.html) in Novem- have benefited from the network [e.g., Brocca ber 2009 by the European Space Agency (ESA) provided decisive impetus for this Soil Moisture Data cont. on page 142

Fig. 1. Ridge 2000 research themes depicted in a word cloud of the text within white papers sub- mitted to a recent community meeting show the most common (i.e., by word size) topics and concepts across the nearly 100 papers. Representations such as this (see http://​www​.wordle​ .net/) allow researchers using different methods, approaches, and disciplines to identify common ground and thus points of intersection within their work. These and other collaboration methods are being used to synthesize observations from a quarter century of mid-ocean ridge research.

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Soil Moisture Data cont. from page 141

et al., 2010; Liu et al., 2011; Loew and Schlenz, 2011]. However, the scope of the ISMN is to go beyond the role of a satellite validation TRANSACTIONS resource and serve other communities such AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION as hydrologists, meteorologists, climate mod- The Newspaper of the Earth and Space Sciences elers, and water managers. To help find com- prehensive answers to fundamental science Editors questions related to soil moisture and its role Anny Cazenave: Laboratoire d’Etudes en in the integrated water cycle, the ISMN stores Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiales, soil moisture measurements not only of the Toulouse, France; [email protected] surface layer but also of deeper layers, along Christina M. S. Cohen: California Institute with relevant auxiliary variables such as pre- of Technology, Pasadena, Calif., USA; cohen@ cipitation, temperature of air and soil, soil srl.caltech.edu porosity, and soil texture. José D. Fuentes: Department of Meteorology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa., USA; [email protected] Next Steps Fig. 1. Locations of stations currently in the International Soil Moisture Network (blue droplets). Wendy S. Gordon: Texas Parks and Wildlife The establishment of the ISMN marks a Department, Austin, Tex., USA; wendy.gordon@ Map courtesy of Google Earth imagery © Google Inc., Europa Technologies, Geocentre Consult- tpwd.state.tx.us first important step toward the fully inte- ing, Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI), Map Link, Tele Atlas, WhereiS®, and grated soil moisture observing system Sensis Pty Ltd. Used with permission. David Halpern: NASA Headquarters, Wash- ington, D. C., USA; [email protected] envisaged by GEO. Nevertheless, it will be necessary to establish, expand, and Acknowledgments soil moisture dataset by blending passive and Carol A. Stein: Department of Earth and improve current soil moisture observations Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at active microwave satellite-based retrievals, by, for example, developing a coordinated Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 15, 425–436, doi:10.5194/​ Chicago, Chicago, Ill., USA; [email protected] We greatly thank all networks that plan for networks through standardizing hessd​-7​-6699​-2010. Editor in Chief measurement techniques, data formatting, have shared their data with the ISMN. The Loew, A., and F. Schlenz (2011), A dynamic ISMN is funded through ESA’s European approach for evaluating coarse scale satellite soil Barbara T. Richman: AGU, Washington, D. C., and selecting sites to improve global spa- Space Research and Technology Cen- moisture products, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 15, USA; eos_ [email protected] tial coverage; designing a “supersite” pro- gram with high-density measurements over tre (ESTEC) contracts 22954/09/NLCT and 75–90, doi:10.5194/hess​ -15​ -75​ -2011.​ Robock, A., K. Y. Vinnikov, G. Srinivasan, J. K. Editorial Advisory Board a small spatial area; and enhancing con- 4000102722/10/NL/FF/fk. Alan Robock is sup- ported by NASA grant NNX09AJ99G. Entin, S. E. Hollinger, N. A. Speranskaya, M. Lee Allison Earth and Space Science sistency and standardization of measure- S. Liu, and A. Namkhai (2000), The Global Soil ments, data, and metadata. Existing net- Informatics References Moisture Data Bank, Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc., Nathan T. Bridges Planetary Sciences works should be encouraged to share their 81, 1281–1299, doi:10.1175/​1520-0477(2000)081​ data with the community and continue <1281:TGSMDB>2.3.CO;2.​ Roland Bürgmann Tectonophysics their measurements to obtain long-term Brocca, L., F. Melone, T. Moramarco, W. Wagner, Michael A. Ellis Earth and Planetary records. and S. Hasenauer (2010), ASCAT Soil Wetness Index validation through in-situ and modeled soil —Wouter Dorigo, Institute of Photogrammetry Surface Processes The success of these efforts will depend Arlene M. Fiore Atmospheric Sciences moisture data in central Italy, Remote Sens. Envi- and Remote Sensing, Vienna University of Technol- upon long-term financial commitment. For- ron., 114, 2745–2755, doi:10.1016/j.rse.2010.06.009. ogy, Vienna, Austria; E-mail: wd@ipf​ .tuwien​ .ac​ .at;​ Nicola J. Fox Space Physics and Aeronomy tunately, the positive contributions from Dirmeyer, P. A., X. Gao, M. Zhao, Z. Guo, T. Oki, and Peter van Oevelen, International GEWEX Project Michael N. Gooseff Hydrology international organizations such as WCRP/ N. Hanasaki (2006), GSWP-2: Multimodel analysis Office, Silver Spring, Md.; Wolfgang Wagner, GEWEX, the support of space agencies, and and implications for our perception of the land Institute of Photogrammetry and Remote Sens- Seth S. Haines Near-Surface Geophysics voluntary contributions from numerous indi- surface, Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc., 87, 1381–1397, ing, Vienna University of Technology; Matthias Kristine C. Harper History of Geophysics vidual networks are widespread, raising con- doi:10.1175/BAMS-87-10-1381. Drusch, ESTEC, European Space Agency, Noordwijk, Keith D. Koper Seismology fidence in the scientific community’s willing- Koster, R. D., S. P. P. Mahanama, B. Livneh, D. P. Netherlands; Susanne Mecklenburg, European ness to realize an integrated soil moisture Lettenmaier, and R. H. Reichle (2010), Skill in Space Research Institute (ESRIN), European Space Xin-Zhong Liang Global Environmental Change streamflow forecasts derived from large-scale Agency, Frascati, Italy; Alan Robock, Department observing system. Jung-Fu “Afu” Lin Mineral and Rock Physics estimates of soil moisture and snow, Nat. Geosci., of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, New For more information about the ISMN and 3, 613–616, doi:10.1038/​ngeo944. Brunswick, N. J.; and Thomas Jackson, Hydrol- Stephen Macko Education to share or download data, visit http://​www​ Liu, Y. Y., R. M. Parinussa, W. A. Dorigo, R. A. M. de ogy and Remote Sensing Laboratory, Agricultural Stefan Maus Geomagnetism .ipf​.tuwien​.ac​.at/​­insitu or contact Wouter Jeu, W. Wagner, A. I. J. M. van Dijk, M. F. McCabe, Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Paleomagnetism Dorigo (ismn@​ipf​.tuwien​.ac​.at). and J. P. Evans (2011), Developing an improved Beltsville, Md. Jerry L. Miller Ocean Sciences Peter Olson Study of the Earth’s Deep Interior Thomas H. Painter Cryosphere Sciences Mid-Ocean Ridge In addition, groups of R2K researchers interactions at MORs. These models include Roger A. Pielke Sr. Natural Hazards cont. from page 141 have heavily exploited an array of mod- quantitative knowledge about feedbacks and Len Pietrafesa Societal Impacts ern electronic remote communication and exchanges within submarine hydrothermal and Policy Sciences idea-sharing mechanisms (e.g., Web-based systems and the oceans at large, the role of more fully identify the ways in which differ- collaboration such as wikis, shared online volcanic and tectonic perturbations in con- Michael Poland Geodesy ent types of data and causally linked obser- documents, e-mail, social networking Web trolling ecology in the deep ocean, and the Paul R. Renne Volcanology, Geochemistry, vations inform overarching research ques- sites, and voice and video teleconferenc- forcing functions and time scales of pro- and Petrology tions. These new approaches and technolo- ing), which allow group-intensive multiper- cesses that affect the architecture of the MOR Sarah L. Shafer Paleoceanography gies have been used to explore relationships son tasks to be conducted without the need crust and upper mantle. and Paleoclimatology between theories, data sets, and models and to be together in the same room. This tool These new ideas are stimulating research Adrian Tuck Nonlinear Geophysics to plan for the transfer of this knowledge kit helps to overcome both the limitations themes for the future and continuing to pro- Jeffrey M. Welker Biogeosciences to peer-reviewed literature and beyond. of each individual tool and the substantial vide the impetus for ocean-observing sys- Earle Williams Atmospheric The approaches will continue to be used to range of capabilities and comfort levels that tems and other significant advances in deep- and Space Electricity deliver R2K knowledge to the broader scien- individual group members have with these seafloor technology, sensors, and the devel- tific, educational, and lay communities over often cutting-edge technologies. Nonpublic opment of deep submergence vehicles to Staff the next several years. wikis have been particularly useful for eas- explore the abyss. Although the tools and Editorial and Production: Randy Showstack, Access to the latest information is cen- ily compiling and refining group ideas and strategies used by R2K are only a part of the Senior Writer; Mohi Kumar, Science Writer/Editor; tral to any effort to determine, model, and interpretations of data, because users can process, they have empowered the research Ernie Tretkoff, Writer/Editor; Melissa A. Corso and explain causal linkages in complex natu- interact directly with the evolving content community to make the most of its rich leg- Faith A. Ishii, Program Managers; Liz Castenson, Editor’s Assistant; Don Hendrickson, Copy Editor ral processes. Perhaps the most important and groups can take collective ownership of acy of data, ideas, and human resources. tool the program has used to achieve its the product. Advertising: Rebecca Mesfin, Advertising Assistant; Tel: +1-202-777-7536; E-mail: [email protected] goals is the development of an easy-to-use Acknowledgments online system for cross-disciplinary data Synthesizing Data Creative Services: Brian Kelm, Manager; archiving and discovery among R2K inves- Ridge 2000 research is supported by the Valerie Bassett, Marisa Grotte, and Nancy Sims, Electronic ­Graphics Specialists tigators before and after formal publication, The final R2K program phase is focused Division of Ocean Sciences of NSF. The as well as protocols for data sharing, attri- on synthesis of existing data sets to achieve Ridge 2000 office at Woods Hole Oceano- ©2011 American Geophysical Union. Material in this issue may be photocopied by individual bution, and metadata documentation. The greater understanding of how oceanic spread- graphic Institution is supported by NSF grant scientists for research or classroom use. Permis- R2K data portal (http://www​ .marine​ -geo​ ​ ing centers operate. This involves integrating OCE-0838923. Past and present Ridge 2000 sion is also granted to use short quotes, figures, .org/portals/​­ ridge2000/),​ administered by different observations into conceptual, semi- science coordinators Breea Govenar and and tables for publication in scientific books the Data Management Office of the Marine quantitative, and/or quantitative models to Stace Beaulieu contributed significantly to and journals. For permission for any other uses, contact the AGU Publications Office. Geoscience Data System at Lamont-Doherty help understand the forcing functions of ridge the efforts described in this report. Earth Observatory, has made such sharing phenomena and their responses to chang- Eos, Transactions, American Geophysical Union far more efficient for investigators and stu- ing conditions and perturbations. This work —Kennneth H. Rubin, Department of Geol- (ISSN 0096-3941) is published weekly by the ogy and Geophysics, School of Ocean and Earth dents, facilitating publication of field study has just begun, but already the synthesis of American Geophysical Union, 2000 Florida Science and Technology, University of Hawai`i at results. This approach permits data sets to Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20009, USA. Periodical the large body of accumulated data and the Manoa, Honolulu; E-mail: krubin@hawaii​ ​.edu; and Class postage paid at Washington, D. C., and at be readily available for comparative and fol- integration of diverse observations, measure- Daniel Fornari, Geology and Geophysics Depart- additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send low-on studies. For example, access to sub- address changes to Member Service Center, ments, and ideas are leading to new mod- ment, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 2000 Florida Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20009, meter-scale digital elevation models of high- els of volcanic, hydrothermal, and biological Woods Hole, Mass. USA. Member Service Center: 8:00 A.M.–6:00 P.M. resolution bathymetry produced by various Eastern time; Tel: +1-202-462-6900; Fax: +1-202-328- researchers has enabled other independent 0566; Tel. orders in U.S.: 1-800-966-2481; E-mail: researchers to identify and target individual [email protected]. Information on institutional subscriptions is available from the Member Ser- volcanic and hydrothermal features for site- vice Center. Use AGU’s Geophysical Electronic specific investigations of ecology and com- Manuscript Submissions system to submit a munity structure at each of the program’s manuscript: http://eos-submit.agu.org.​ focused study sites. These studies include Views expressed in this publication do not neces- relationships to time series chemical data sarily reflect official positions of the American generated by in situ sensors, all of which Geophysical Union unless expressly stated. enable new models of spatial and temporal Christine W. McEntee, Executive Director/CEO biogeochemical variations in regional geo- http://www.agu.org/pubs/eos logical context. The future possibilities are nearly limitless because almost all environ- mental metadata and field data from R2K- funded cruises are available through this system.

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for studying the area where the March 11 At the 5 April briefing, Catherine Mevel, earthquake struck.” Suyehiro added that director of the ECORD Managing Agency, NEWS he hoped this could result in some drilling noted that the consortium plans to be within 1–2 years. involved in a number of scientific investiga- In an interview with Eos, Suyehiro elabo- tions, including drilling in the Arctic to bet- rated that the drilling community is forming ter understand the tectonic evolution of the a group to write a proposal to drill through Arctic basin. She added that the Mediter- Ocean Drilling Science Plan to Be Released Soon the tsunami-generating fault of 11 March, ranean also would be an important focus if it can be identified. “The actual rupture because it is the most tectonically active The upcoming International Ocean Discov- The third theme, Earth Connections: Deep initiation point is too deep to get to. But in area in Europe, with a long history of devas- ery Program, which is slated to operate from Processes and Their Impact on Earth’s Sur- order to generate that size tsunami, I think tating geohazards, and because “it records 2013 to 2023 and calls for an internationally face Environment, will look into the composi- it must have ruptured through the sea- all the archives of environmental change, funded program focused around four science tion, structure, and dynamics of the planet’s floor,” Suyehiro said, noting that it would and these archives are really necessary to themes, will pick up right where its predeces- upper mantle; the interconnections between be important to identify the fault and try to feed the climate models.” sor, the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program, mantle melting and plate spreading that con- penetrate it as deeply as possible. The D/V Chikyu IODP drilling platform ends, explained Kiyoshi Suyehiro, president trol mid-ocean ridge architecture; the mech- “Scientific drilling through the seismo- sustained damage to one of its six thrust- and chief executive officer of IODP, a conve- anisms, magnitude, and history of chemical genic zone may tell us what actually made ers due to the tsunami resulting from the nient acronym that covers both programs. At exchanges between the oceanic crust and [the 11 March and other earthquakes] so 11 March earthquake. Chikyu had been in a 5 April briefing at the 2011 European Geo- seawater; and how subduction zones initi- big,” he said. “That kind of information can a port in northeastern Japan in prepara- sciences Union General Assembly in Vienna, ate, cycle volatiles, and generate continen- only be obtained through getting what the tion for an upcoming expedition. The ship, Austria, he outlined four general themes the tal crust. “Deep drilling will open new doors frictional dynamics were during the earth- which can still be navigated under its own new program will address. in connecting the interior and the surface of quake, and it requires drilling.” power, currently is in dry dock for repairs. IODP involves 24 nations and utilizes dif- Earth where we live,” Suyehiro said. “Fifty Ocean drilling “is the only way to access Suyehiro told Eos that he does not think ferent ocean drilling platforms that comple- years ago, there was a project called Moho, the actual Earth material that is causing all the damage to the Chikyu is too serious ment each other in drilling in different envi- which attempted to drill into the mantle. We of these processes,” including earthquakes, because the ship can still move on its own ronments in the oceans. have yet to attain that target. With the new he told Eos. “People do all sorts of studies power. “We’ll know the situation within a The new IODP science plan, which is science plan, we are going to target this. We in laboratories or on computers, but without month or so,” he said. “My optimistic view expected to be released in May, will focus are now preparing ourselves to get into the the actual material that is composing this is that it will be back in business within a on climate and ocean change, biosphere mantle within the next decade.” Earth, everything is assumption. The only few months’ time.” Damage to the Chikyu frontiers, Earth connections, and Earth in Finally, the theme of Earth in Motion: Pro- way to verify what is real is by drilling.” prompted the cancelation of IODP Expedi- motion. These four themes were identi- cesses and Hazards on Human Time Scales Among IODP’s drilling platforms, the R/V tion 337, which was to have explored a deep fied by scientists “as important for basic explores mechanisms that control the occur- JOIDES­ Resolution, which is run by the U.S. coal bed biosphere off the coast of the Shi- research and also important for society,” rence of destructive earthquakes, landslides, Implementing Organization, can drill to about mokita peninsula on the Japanese island of Suyehiro said, adding that the themes are and tsunamis; the properties and processes 2 kilometers beneath the seafloor. Mission-­ Honshu. interconnected. “We believe it is quite that govern the flow and storage of carbon specific platforms contributed by the Euro- For more information, see http://​www​ important that we try to understand the in the subseafloor; and how fluids link sub- pean Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling .iodp​.org/. Earth as a system,” he said. seafloor tectonic, thermal, and biogeochemi- (­ECORD) are useful for recovering samples The first theme—­Climate and Ocean cal processes. from shallow or ice-covered waters. —Randy Showstack, Staff Writer Change: Reading the Past, Informing the Noting that the fourth theme “is about Future—­will explore questions such as how human time scale changes,” Suyehiro said Earth’s climate system responds to elevated that the 11 March Tohoku earthquake and tsu- levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide; how nami “occurred as if to defy the most scien- Concerns Over Modeling and Warning Capabilities resilient the climate system is to chemical tific understanding of how the Earth works.” in Wake of Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami perturbations, including acidification, to He said that many seismologists, including oceans; how ice sheets and sea level respond himself, did not previously think that a magni- Improved earthquake models, better “We completely failed to estimate this to a warming climate; and what controls tude 9 earthquake could occur where it did. tsunami modeling and warning capabili- occurring, the tragic earthquake and tsu- regional patterns of precipitation. “We believe ties, and a review of nuclear power plant nami,” Hiroshi Sato, professor at the Earth- that IODP can contribute to climate change In the Wake of the 11 March Tsunami safety are all greatly needed following the quake Research Institute (ERI), University of problems by providing accurate records of 11 March Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, Tokyo, told Eos in an interview. the past history to reduce the uncertainties in Suyehiro said that in the wake of the according to scientists at the European During the 8 April morning EGU session, the prediction of our future,” Suyehiro said. disaster in Japan, the Japanese science Geosciences Union’s (EGU) General Assem- Sato explained that prior to 11 March, many The Biosphere Frontiers theme—­subtitled drilling community is in the process of bly, held 3–8 April in Vienna, Austria. EGU evaluations had indicated that the maximum “Deep Life” and Environmental Forcing of talking to funding agencies about what quickly organized a morning session of oral magnitude of future earthquakes in the north- Evolution—­will explore the composition, ori- direction should be taken. The D/V Chikyu, presentations and an afternoon panel dis- ern Honshu region of Japan would be around gin, and biogeochemical mechanics of deep a deep-sea drilling vessel operated by the cussion less than 1 month after the earth- 8. “Nobody expected a magnitude 9 earth- subseafloor communities; the limits of life Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science quake and the tsunami and the resulting quake,” he said. in the subseafloor realm; and the sensitivity and Technology (­JAMSTEC) and used for crisis at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power Noting that the northern Honshu region, of ecosystems and human societies to envi- IODP drilling, “so far has been engaged plant, which has now been identified as where the 11 March earthquake struck, ronmental change. “The existence of deep in trying to understand the seismogen- having reached the same level of severity forms a classic example of a trench/arc/ microorganisms beneath the deep seafloor esis, not in the area where we saw the as the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. back-arc system, Sato said that direct mea- not connected to photosynthesis is an excit- earthquake but in the southwestern part Many of the scientists at the EGU sessions surement of the megathrust activity is ing world of discovery,” Suyehiro said. “In of Japan, which also will experience mag- expressed concern about the inability to have needed to better understand seismicity in the next 10 years, we will try to answer ques- nitude 8 class earthquakes in decades to anticipated the size of the earthquake and the region. “To evaluate the risk of subduc- tions such as, How do these microorganisms come,” he said. “We are quickly forming, the resulting tsunami, which appears likely to tion megathrusts, we have to handle the fit in the evolution of life?” as IODP, a science team to quickly plan have caused most of the fatalities and dam- age, including damage to the nuclear plant. News cont. on page 144

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News island, not just for Japan but for any subduc- when you realize that, ‘gee, I thought I tracking various materials including radia- cont. from page 143 tion zones that could be eligible for super- understood something and I don’t,’” Okal tion released at the Fukushima power plant megathrust earthquakes.” told Eos. as well as volcanic ash that drifted across records covering longer time periods.” What He also mentioned some key questions He added that there has to be a precau- Europe last year from Iceland’s Eyjafjal- is really needed is “to understand the whole that need to be resolved, including why the tionary approach regarding megaquakes and lajökull volcano, said the risk of nuclear process of strain buildup and release in northeastern Pacific coast subsided rather that scientists should consider that all long power should not be judged by the accident [the] subduction zone.” than uplifted. “We have to think about what subduction zones of more than 400 or 500 at the Fukushima power plant, because Sato also noted that the region had expe- kind of mechanism is working here,” he said. kilometers may produce very large earth- the event could have been even worse. rienced four or five large tsunamis over the Emile Okal, professor in Northwestern quakes in the future. “There are a few places “We were extremely lucky that the wind past 3800 years and that the area submerged University’s Department of Earth and Plan- where we felt a little bit too secure, and we was blowing in the right way,” out to sea, on 11 March is similar to the distribution of etary Sciences, Evanston, Ill., said the earth- have to have renewed and new vigilance,” he said. “Imagine the same situation in a the tsunami resulting from the great Jogan quake itself, with its classical subduction Okal said, specifically noting Tonga and the nuclear power plant somewhere in central earthquake in 869 C.E. quality, was not surprising. However, he Kermadec Islands, the Mariana Islands, Java Europe where, regardless of which direc- “The earthquake we suffered on March 11 said several aspects were surprising, includ- and East Luzon, the Caribbean, and the Sol- tion the wind would blow, it’s just a ques- was much, much bigger than what we ing its size, making the Tohoku quake the omon Islands. tion of which city you pollute most. The expected and have experienced, and that fourth-­largest event ever recorded for which During the afternoon panel discussion at risks there will be much higher.” was devastating not just for people but for a documented, verified seismic moment is the EGU General Assembly, scientists also Stohl said that Europe may need an emer- scientists,” added ERI professor Teruyuki available. focused on the nuclear crisis affecting Japan gency response center to deal with these Kato. Megaquakes that reach magnitude 9 that resulted from tsunami waves damag- types of situations, and he also stressed the Kato said that although Japan already “were generally unknown” in old subduction ing the Fukushima power plant. “What is in need for improved prediction models. “That has a vast Global Positioning System (GPS) zones, Okal said, adding that megaquakes order is a review of nuclear plants,” many concerns probably ocean models, but that array and many other instruments, includ- also were “generally unknown” in relatively of which are located along shorelines, Okal also concerns especially atmospheric mod- ing tidal gauge records and ocean bottom poorly sedimented areas. “So several mod- said. He recommended that scientists inves- els because that is the immediate threat to pressure sensors, there is a need for more els, several paradigms of the expectability tigate how other such nuclear plants might people,” Stohl said. “But there is little oppor- observations to monitor seismicity and tsu- of these mega events, have to be abandoned fare under similar conditions. tunity to test these models because, fortu- namis. “In the coming days,” Kato said, “we now,” he explained. Andreas Stohl, senior scientist with nately, these accidents are not happening should deploy a dense array offshore in the “We thought we were smarter than the Norwegian Institute for Air Research, too often.” hypocentral region from the northern end of Mother Nature, and Mother Nature has Kjeller, Norway, who has developed an Japan to the southern end of the Japanese taught us a lesson. It’s a lesson in humility atmospheric dispersion model useful for —Randy Showstack, Staff Writer FORUM

Making Sense of the Water Resources That Will Be Available for Future Use

Societally and environmentally impor- resources, as well as other resources, tant resources can be separated into five requires an assessment of the threats they major categories: water, food, energy, face. As stated by Pielke et al. [2009], human health, and ecosystem function. These resources, however, are intimately If communities are to become more resil- interlinked (Figure 1). Water, for exam- ient to the entire spectrum of possible envi- ple, is required for each of the other four ronmental and social variability and change resources. Estimating availability of water [Vörösmarty et al., 2000], scientists must properly assess the vulnerabilities and risks associated with the choices made by mod- ern society and anticipate the demands for resources several decades into the future.

With respect to water, the world we live in has finite water resources that are under stress from rising demand due to population growth, urbanization, and industrialization [Gleick and Palaniappan, 2010]. According to Fig. 1. The relationships among five key resources (water, food, energy, health, and ecosystem a United Nations report, the current rate of function). Outer ring shows a nonexhaustive list of stressors that affect availability or quality of growth is expected to take world population the resources. to 9 billion by the end of this century. More than 80% of this population will be residing such issues (or threats) has led to the coining fuel–­based electricity [Jones, 2008]. But in urban areas [United Nations Department of the term “nexus.” A nexus can be regarded the dependence on energy is not the same of Economic and Social Affairs, 2008]. A dra- as a joint investigation addressing a few key everywhere. A 15-­minute power outage has matic expansion in urban and industrialized issues, such as the “water-­energy nexus,” a far more drastic impact on water supply areas of the world is likely. Thus, knowledge “water-­health nexus,” “water-­weather nexus,” in New York City than on the island of Fiji. of water that can actually be harnessed for or even the “water-­weather-­energy nexus.” The factors affecting availability of water in use is the key element in defining society’s But is such a focus adequate, or should we most parts of the world are many, and more ability to achieve sustainable living in the attempt to integrate as many major threats as than a few key issues are involved. For 21st century. possible? example, the most pressing factors affect- Gaining an accurate understanding of The resilience to known threats to water ing water availability for the vast majority how much water will be available for future availability can be region specific and in Bangladesh are arsenic contamination use requires a multidimensional approach. vary due to a multiplicity of factors. For of shallow aquifers, impoundment of trans- The water that is usable can occur in vari- example, annual flooding of about one boundary rivers by upstream nations, treat- ous forms such as rainfall, surface water, fourth of the Ganges River delta is consid- ment of water and wastewater effluents, rechargeable and fossil groundwater, snow, ered an integral part of livelihood and sus- arrival times of monsoons, agricultural natural lakes, and artificial reservoirs, and tainability (by recharge of shallow aqui- demand, and public health epidemics such through state and international treaties. There fers and enrichment of soil with silt and as cholera in coastal regions [Ahmed and are multiple threats to these water resources nutrients [Mirza, 2003]). Yet similar lev- Karmakar, 2006; Akanda et al., 2009; Hos- through health epidemics and contamination, els of annual flooding in the Mississippi sain and Sivakumar, 2008; Nishat and Rah- changes in precipitation extremes, popula- River delta would spell disaster possibly man, 2010]. Almost all nations today have tion demand, industrial and agricultural con- more catastrophic than 2005’s Hurricane multiple threats to the availability of water sumption, contamination, national water poli- Katrina. Similarly, it takes about 100 liters resources, if not as many as Bangladesh cies, and climate. Lately, the consideration of of water to produce 1 kilowatt-­hour of fossil [Gleick, 1998]. It is now important to gain a much broader view of what really affects today’s water resources. To make sense of the water that we have at our disposal for future use, we need to ask ourselves the following questions: •• What are the key environmental and social variables that influence water resources? •• What is the sensitivity of these water resources to changes in each of these key variables? •• What actions (adaptation or mitiga- tion) can be undertaken to minimize or eliminate the negative consequences of these changes (or to optimize a positive response)? We now need a vulnerability assess- ment approach to evaluate the effect of environmental and societal threats to fresh water. This vulnerability concept requires the determination of the major threats to

Forum cont. on next page

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Forum a one-­dimensional strategy such as one Hossain, F., and B. Sivakumar (2006), Spatial Vulnerability—Contribution of Working Group II pattern of arsenic contamination in shallow to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergov- cont. from page 144 based on projections only from global cli- mate models that are reported in literature tubewells of Bangladesh: Regional geology and ernmental Panel on Climate Change, edited by these resources, not only from climate but [Schneider et al., 2007]. non-linear­ dynamics, Stochastic Environ. Res. M. L. Parry et al., pp. 779–810, Cambridge Univ. also from other social and environmental Risk Assess., 20(1-2),­ 66–76, doi:10.1007/s00477​­ ​ Press, Cambridge, U. K. issues such as the ones described above. -­005​-­0012-­7. United Nations Department of Economic and References After these threats are identified for each Jones, W. D. (2008), How much water does it take Social Affairs (2008), World population pros- resource, the relative risk from natural to make electricity?, IEEE Spectrum, April. pects: The 2008 revision, New York. (Available at Ahmed, R., and S. Karmakar (2006), Arrival and Mirza, M. M. Q. (2003), Three recent extreme http://esa​ .un​ .org/​ unpd/​­ wpp2008/​­ index​­ .htm.)​ and human-­caused climate variability and withdrawal dates of the summer monsoon in floods in Bangladesh: A hydro-­meteorological Vörösmarty, C. J., P. Green, J. Salisbury, and R. B. longer-­term change should be compared Bangladesh, Int. J. Climatol., 13(7), 727–740, analysis, Nat. Hazards, 28(1), 35–64, doi:10.1023/​ Lammers (2000), Global water resources: Vul- with other risks so that the optimal mitiga- doi:10.1002/​­joc.3370130703. ­A:1021169731325. nerability from climate change and population tion or adaptation strategy can be adopted. Akanda, A. S., A. S. Jutla, and S. Islam (2009), Dual Nishat, B., and S. M. M. Rahman (2009), Water growth, Science, 289(5477), 284–288, doi:10.1126/​ The advantage of this vulnerability strat- peak cholera transmission in Bengal Delta: A resources modeling of the Ganges-­Brahmaputra-­ ­science​.289​.5477​.284. egy, which should be location-­­specific, is hydro­climatological explanation, Geophys. Res. Meghna River basins using satellite remote that even if the forecast of water availabil- Lett., 36, L19401, doi:10.1029/2009GL039312. sensing data, J. Am. Water Resour. Assoc., 45(6), —Faisal Hossain, Tennessee Technological Uni- ity due to, say, climate or other threats were Gleick, P. H. (1998), Water in crisis: Paths to 1313–1327 doi:10.1111/j.1752-​­ 1688.2009.00374.x.­ versity, Cookeville; E-mail:­ fhossain@tntech​ .edu;​ Dev sustainable water use, 571–579, Pielke, R., Sr., et al. (2009), Climate change: Niyogi, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana; deemed to be unfounded years later, the Ecol. Appl., 8, doi:10.1890/​­1051-­0761(1998)008[0571:WICPTS]2​ The need to consider human forcings besides Jimmy Adegoke, Natural Resources and Environ- optimal mitigation or adaptation strategy .0.CO;2. greenhouse gases, Eos Trans. AGU, 90(45), 413, ment, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, identified from multiple threats should have Gleick, P. H., and M. Palaniappan (2010), Peak doi:10.1029/2009EO450008.​­ Pretoria, South Africa; George Kallos, University allowed for this margin of error during plan- water limits to freshwater withdrawal and use, Schneider, S. H., et al. (2007), Assessing key vul- of Athens, Athens, Greece; and Roger Pielke Sr. , ning. In essence, such an approach guaran- Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A., 107(25), 11,155 – nerabilities and the risk from climate change, in Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental tees a higher chance of success than would 11,162, doi:10.1073/­pnas.1004812107. Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Sciences, University of Colorado at Boulder

greatest uncertainties and sensitivities in feedbacks among permafrost, snow, soil current generation Arctic ecosystem mod- water, vegetation, microbial communities, MEETINGs els and Earth system models? What are and atmospheric processes. observations and experiments telling scien- Participants also emphasized that tists about changes in rates and magnitudes new experiments and observations must of processes and responses, the relative be designed to account for landscape importance of terrestrial processes, and the dynamics, because disturbances like Planning the Next Generation role of heterogeneity across scales in space fire, subsidence, and thermokarst can be and time? What are the strengths and limi- expected to exert a dominant control on of Arctic Ecosystem Experiments tations of current observations and experi- biogeochemical, hydrologic, and ecosys- ments, and how can those limitations be tem processes and thus shape how these Climate Change Experiments in High-Latitude Ecosystems; overcome? events are ultimately represented in Earth Fairbanks, Alaska, 13–14 October 2010 Participants recommended experi- system models. A science and imple- ments and observations to elucidate mentation plan is being developed by a A 2-day climate change workshop was processes in Earth system models. In par- mechanisms underlying greenhouse gas multidisciplinary team of scientists from held at the International Arctic Research ticular, there is a need to better under- fluxes from warming permafrost, chang- across DOE national laboratories and stra- Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks. stand the processes by which warming ing hydrology, shifting distribution of tegic university partners. The plan will The workshop, sponsored by Biologi- may drive increased plant productivity vegetation, and large-scale geomorphic describe how integration of surface and cal and Environmental Research, Office and atmospheric carbon uptake and stor- dynamics. Research to address the vul- subsurface science (e.g., genomics to geo- of Science, U.S. Department of Energy age in biomass and soils, as well as those nerability of Arctic ecosystems to global physics) can help quantify the response (DOE), was attended by 45 subject matter processes that may drive an increase in change should be designed to charac- of physical, ecological, and biogeochem- experts from universities, DOE national the release of methane (CH4) and carbon terize chemical, physical, and biologi- ical processes to atmospheric and cli- laboratories, and other federal and non- dioxide (CO2) through microbial decom- cal processes in sufficient detail so that matic change. governmental organizations. The work- position of soil carbon stored in thaw- current representations in coupled ­land-​ shop sought to engage the Arctic science ing permafrost. This understanding is ­atmosphere models can be improved and community in planning for a proposed required to quantify the important feed- new mechanisms can be identified and Next-­ Generation​­ Ecosystem Experiments back mechanisms that define the role quantified for future inclusion in regional —Stan D. Wullschleger, Environmental Sci- ences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, (­NGEE-​­Arctic) project in Alaska (http://​ of terrestrial processes in regional and and global climate models. Discussions Oak Ridge, Tenn.; E-mail:­ wullschlegsd@­ ornl​ .gov;​ ngee.ornl​ .gov/).​ global climate. highlighted the considerable degree of Larry D. Hinzman, International Arctic Research The goal of this activity is to provide Speakers and participants worked system complexity likely to be encoun- Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks; and Cathy J. data, theory, and models to improve rep- through a series of thematic questions tered in ­high-​­latitude ecosystems and Wilson, Earth and Environmental Sciences Division, resentations of ­high-​­latitude terrestrial that included the following: What are the the need to describe interactions and Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, N. M.

constrains the total freshwater flux in these continental hydrology, strong earthquakes, Applying Spaceborne Gravity Measurements ocean models. or glacial isostatic adjustment. Participants to Ocean Studies In summary, time-averaged and time-­ believe that the addition of bottom pressure varying satellite gravity data were dem- recorders at the Tropical Ocean–­Global onstrated to be instrumental for physical Atmosphere (TOGA) Tropical Atmosphere-­ “Gravity From Space” for Oceans, Land Ice, and Sea Level Rise; oceanographic and sea level rise studies. Ocean (TAO) project locations (http://​ Hamburg, Germany, 29–30 September 2010 The discussions centered on future pro- www​.­pmel​.­noaa​.gov/​­tao/) would yield the cessing, future applications of GRACE- overall ocean mass variability because the Twenty-five scientists met at the Univer- critically on either using a model of gla- like data, and future missions. Future mis- region is dynamically quiet. It is now timely sity of Hamburg’s KlimaCampus to discuss cial isostatic adjustment or estimating it sions include an expected GRACE continu- to extend GRACE studies beyond the baro- current analyses and future applications of together with the current mass loss; another ity mission, which was strongly endorsed tropic response of the ocean to wind. spaceborne gravity measurements to studies complication noted by participants is the by the attendees, has been approved by The online supplement to this Eos issue of ocean circulation, cryospheric science, coarse “footprint” of GRACE, which mixes NASA, and is under study in Germany for (http://​www​.agu​.org/​­eos​_­elec) contains and sea level rise. The Challenging Minisat- signals from neighboring areas. launch in 2016. The GRACE continuity mis- a slightly expanded version of this report, ellite Payload (CHAMP), Gravity Recovery In addition, participants pointed out sion is expected to close the gap between including names of attendees, expertise, and Climate Experiment (GRACE), and Grav- that ocean bottom pressure signals (of the GRACE and missions under discussion for and references. ity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation order of 10 millibars at high latitudes and launch in the 2020s. From the improved Explorer (GOCE) satellites, complemented 10 times smaller at low latitudes) are close processing and the future missions, scien- —Victor Zlotnicki, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, with radar and laser altimeters, provide the to the noise level of GRACE and require tists expect more accurate retrievals over California Institute of Technology, Pasadena; E-mail: necessary data. special processing and filtering. Signals sev- smaller regions. Furthermore, ocean bot- victor.zlotnicki@jpl​­ .nasa​ .gov;​ and Detlef Stammer, Spaceborne gravity measurements pro- eral hundred kilometers in extent match tom pressure signals are small and require KlimaCampus, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, vide two important quantities for ocean those obtained from in situ bottom pres- accurate removal of land signals, whether Germany circulation studies: (1) the time-­averaged sure recorders in energetic regions and geoid, which when subtracted from a have been used to study the Antarctic time mean sea surface from radar altim- Circumpolar Current, the Arctic, and etry yields the absolute surface dynamic interbasin mass exchanges. The data are topography and absolute surface geo- now assimilated into numerical ocean strophic currents, and (2) time changes models, although current models lack in ocean bottom pressure and total ocean some of the physics measured by GRACE mass. For sea level rise, the difference (loading and self attraction, mass con- between the globally averaged trend from servation); the global ocean mean mass altimetry and that from GRACE is used to infer the top-­to-­bottom steric component (the component of sea level rise result- ing from expansion of seawater due to temperature and salt), which is observ- able with data from the Argo system, a network of drifting probes that measure temperature up to 2000 meters in depth, and from expendable bathythermographs (XBT), temperature sensors deployed by ships. Mean dynamic topographies have been created from the combination of geodetic and in situ oceanographic data; workshop participants expect these topographies to improve significantly at short wavelengths with the addition of GOCE data. GRACE observes ice mass loss from Greenland, Antarctica, and glaciers in Alaska and Patagonia; much of this water enters the oceans. Trend retrievals depend

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that assess the added utility of assimilating remote Ocean Sciences sensing data into a land surface model relative to a baseline case of no constraint using remote Post-­doctoral Position in Ocean Model- CLASSIFIED sensing. Previous experience with land surface ing. Applications are invited for a post-­doctoral or hydrologic modeling is strongly preferred and scholar in the Department of Ocean Sciences at familiarity with thermal remote sensing, micro- U. C. Santa Cruz to help develop and maintain a wave remote sensing or land data assimilation 30 year analysis of the California Current using the techniques is desirable. ROMS 4D-­Var data assimilation systems. Position ADVERTISING INFORMATION To apply refer to announcement #RA-11-0058-L available initially for 1 year with a possible exten- at: http://​ www​ .​ afm­ .​ ars­ .​ usda­ .​ gov/­ divisions/​­ hrd/​­ ​ sion contingent on funding and performance. A Eos is published every Tuesday. For a classified or display advertisement to be published in a future issue of hrdhomepage/­ vacancy/​­ pd962​­ .​ html­ to obtain the Ph.D. in Physical Oceanography or related field is Eos, electronic copy must reach us by 7:00 P.M., Eastern Time, 9 days prior (Sunday) to publication. full text announcement, complete application required. Experience in ocean modeling, 4D-­Var or No cancellations accepted after deadline. instructions, and further information on Postdoc- data assimilation is desirable. Applications due by toral Research Associate positions. Send applica- 18 May 2011. Send a brief letter of research interests, Ads with “Reply by” deadlines that are less than 14 days from the publication date will not be accepted. tion information, a statement of research interests curriculum vitae, and names of three references Display and in-column advertising specs, pricing, and submission guidelines can be found online at and the names of two references to Dr. Wade Crow, with contact information to Prof. Andrew Moore, www.agu​ .org/pubs/eos-news/advertising.​ USDA/­ARS/­ANRI/­HRSL Bldg. 007, Room 104, Belts- Dept. of Ocean Sciences, University of California, ville, MD 20705 or e-mail­ (wade​­ .​ crow@­ ars​­ .​ usda­ ​ 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA. 95064, USA, ​ AGU has a nondiscrimination and freedom-of-access policy. All advertisers must attest to nondiscrimination .­gov) by May 13, 2011. USDA/­ARS is an equal oppor- (ammoore@­ ucsc​­ .​ edu).­ UCSC is an AA/EEO­ employ- regarding recruiting, hiring, and promoting. AGU acknowledges that citizenship can be recognized as a tunity provider and employer. er. Please visit: www​ .​ ucsc­ .​ edu/­ about/​­ employment​­ ​ legitimate requirement for some positions. .­asp for more information. Senior Software Engineer/­Architect. The Consor- E‑mail: [email protected]​ Phone: +1-202-777-7536 Facsimile: +1-202-777-7399 tium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydro- Solid Earth Geophysics logic Science, Inc. (CUAHSI) seeks a senior software “Positions Available” and “Student Opportunities” are updated every Tuesday and listed on our Web site, engineer/­architect to lead the development of data Assistant or Associate Professor in Tectono- accessible to AGU members. services for the academic water science research physics. The Department of Geology and Geophys- www.agu​ .org​ community. The Senior Software Engineer/­Architect ics at the University of Utah seeks applicants for a will develop a strategy to transition a standards-­ tenure track position at the Assistant or Associate based services-­oriented architecture for publication Professor level in Tectonophysics. Scientists from and discovery of water data from a research project all subdisciplines of tectonophysics are welcome POSITIONS AVAILABLE on subsequent funding. Submit a letter of application to an operational service. The research project, to apply, but preference will be given to candidates and CV by May 15, 2011 to: Professor Ann Pearson CUAHSI Hydrologic Information System (HIS) con- with research interests that complement existing Atmospheric Sciences ([email protected]). Harvard University is sists of a central metadata catalog (HydroCatalog), geophysical strengths in the department. These an AA/EEO employer. Applications from women and a data publication server stack (HydroServer) and include seismic imaging of Earth’s deep interior, Post-­Doctoral Fellow 2. The Institute for Multidi- minorities are encouraged. a data access, visualization, and analysis client earthquake seismology, and hazard assessment as mensional Air Quality Studies at the University of (HydroDesktop). HIS has been developed in a ​ carried out by the University of Utah Seismograph Houston is seeking a post-­doctoral fellow to ana- Geochemistry ­Microsoft​.­NET environment and utilizes various com- Stations, active source seismology, electromagnetic lyze ambient atmospheric trace gas data collected mercial packages, including Microsoft SQL Server studies of Earth’s interior, and tectonics. in the greater Houston area. In particular, we are Post Doc in Radiogenic Isotopes. The Radio- and ESRI’s ArcGIS Server software. The ideal candi- The successful candidate must be committed interested in a scientist with experience in conduct- genic Isotope and Geochronology Laboratory at date will have both a background in water science to excellence in geophysics teaching at both the ing regional simulations of air quality using the Washington State University is accepting applica- research (in the fields of Earth science, engineering, undergraduate and graduate levels, and should WRF/­SMOKE/­CMAQ modeling platforms. Houston tions for a post-­doctoral position in radiogenic or ecology) and a strong informatics background have either the proven ability or potential to has a diverse and unique emission inventory that isotope geochemistry. The position is open to appli- with understanding of Open Geospatial Consortium attract external funds and to build an interna- requires careful attention to obtain realistic model cants wishing to pursue any project that can be (OGC) web service and data encoding standards, tionally recognized research program involv- simulations. It is highly desirable that the successful accomplished in our laboratory, but preference will web services, and relational databases. ing students and post-­docs. Applicants must candidate have experience in applying emission be given to those interested in areas of either Lu-­Hf To be considered for this position, candidates hold a Ph.D. in geophysics, or a closely related inventories and in quantifying uncertainties related and Sm-­Nd geochronology applied to accessory must possess a combination of degrees that pro- discipline. to it. We are especially interested in quantifying the minerals or integrated zircon U-­Pb geochronology vide expertise in hydroinformatics with the high- Applicants should e-­mail an application pack- impact of industrial emissions on regional air qual- and Hf isotope geochemistry. est degree being either a Ph.D., multiple Master’s age describing research, teaching, and career inter- ity. Chemical species of interest include Hg, O3, CO, Applications should include a statement of Degrees or a Master’s Degree with at least 3 years ests, a curriculum vitae, and the names and contact NMHCs, and halogens. The position has a duration research interests and contact information for 3 pro- of experience. The degrees may be in computer information for three referees, all in a single PDF of two years. Applications should include a full CV fessional references. Applications will be reviewed science, hydrologic science or engineering, or a document to: tectonophysics​­ -​ search@­ lists​­ .​ utah­ .​ edu.­ and the names of three references. Submit applica- as they are received and will be accepted until the combination of fields. Review of applicants will begin August 15, 2011, and tion through www​ .​ uh­ .​ edu/­ hr​ under job posting position is filled. Please direct inquiries and applica- Please submit your resume-­including names, continue until the position is filled. #066154. Send materials electronically to Professor tions to Jeff Vervoort ​­(vervoort@​­wsu​.­edu), SEES, addresses, and contact information for 3 to 5 The University of Utah is fully committed to Robert Talbot at rtalbot@​­ uh​­ .​ edu,­ Department of WSU, Pullman, WA. 99164. EEO/­AA Employer. references-and­ cover letter to busmgr@​­ cuahsi​­ ​ affirmative action and to its policies of nondis- Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, University of Hous- .­org. Interviews will begin in May 2011 and con- crimination and equal opportunity in all programs, ton, Houston, TX. The University of Houston is an Hydrology tinue until a suitable candidate has been found. activities, and employment. Employment decisions Equal Opportunity/​­Affirmative Action employer. We have a target hiring date of July 1, 2011. An are made without regard to race, color, national Minorities, women, veterans, and disabled persons Open Post Doctoral Position. A post doctoral expanded version of this listing is available at ​ origin, sex, age, status as a person with a disability, are encouraged to apply. associate is sought to work on a CO2 modeling http://www​ .​ cuahsi­ .​ org/­ docs/​­ CUAHSI-​­ SE-­ PD­ .pdf.​ project funded by the U.S. National Science CUAHSI is an equal opportunity/­affirmative action Research Associate. The Earth System Science Foundation. The position is available June 1, 2011. employer. Classified cont. on next page Interdisciplinary Center (ESSIC) of the University of An annual stipend of $42,000 is offered plus full Maryland seeks a Post-­doctoral or Early Career Sci- employee benefits. The appointment will be for entist to conduct research using EOS-­era satellite 2 years with potential extension to a 3rd year. Inter- measurements to reduce uncertainty of radiative ested applicant should e-mail a CV with name and forcing due to tropospheric aerosols. The duty site contact information of 3 referees to Dr. Ye Zhang ​ will be at the NASA/​­Goddard Space Flight Center in (yzhang9@­ uwyo​­ .​ edu).­ For more information about Greenbelt, MD. For a more detailed job description, the research project, please visit: http://​ faculty​­ .​ gg­ ​ visit: http://​ essic​­ .​ umd­ .​ edu/­ ebo/​­ jobs​­ .php.​ .­uwyo​.­edu/​­yzhang/​­files/​­PostDocAd​_2011​.pdf.

Biogeosciences Postdoctoral Research Associate. The USDA, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Animal and Postdoctoral Position in Biogeochemistry. Seek- Natural Resources Institute’s Hydrology and Remote ing a post-doctoral scientist to work on applications Sensing Laboratory, in Beltsville, Maryland, is seek- of stable isotope analyses to proteomics. A Ph.D. in ing a Postdoctoral Research Associate, Research molecular biology, chemistry, geochemistry, or a Physical Scientist, for a two year appointment. related field is required. The individual should have A Ph.D. in physical science, hydrology, atmo- prior experience in proteomics and/or molecular spheric sciences, geography or some related field is biological methods. Additional knowledge of stable required. Salary is commensurate with experience isotope chemistry, oceanography, and ecology and can range between $62,467 to $81,204 per is desirable. Familiarity with environmental and/ annum, plus benefits. or complex prokaryotic systems is essential. The The incumbent will develop and apply remote project entails extensive instrumental and analytical sensing and data assimilation techniques to methods development, requiring high-level orga- enhance the calculation of water balance stor- nizational and technical skills. The duration of the age and flux terms within a hydrologic model. position will be 18 months with renewal contingent Recently-­developed techniques will be applied

146 Eos VOLUME 92 NUMBER 17 26 APRIL 2011

Classified support of the Global Freshwater Initiative (GFI). communicate with a wide range of scientists, plan- A major goal of the GFI is to develop integrated ners, and policy makers. cont. from page 146 hydrologic-­economic models used for compara- Applicants should send a cover letter describing tive policy evaluation primarily among developing their experience and interests, a CV, and have three nations. An initiative of the Woods Institute, the reference letters sent to (e-mail or surface mail): religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or from March 18 until the position is filled. Haverford GFI is highly interdisciplinary, linking quantitative Prof. Kevin Gurney, School of Life Science, Arizona expression, and status as a protected veteran. The College is an Equal Opportunity/​­Affirmative Action analysis of hydrologic systems, economics, and State University, P.O. Box 874501, Tempe, AZ, 85287- University seeks to provide equal access for people employer, committed to excellence through diversity, institutions. For additional information on the 4501. krgurney@​­ email​­ .​ asu­ .​ edu­ (e-mail preferred). with disabilities. Reasonable prior notice is needed and strongly encourages applications and nomina- GFI, please see http://​ woods​­ .​ stanford­ .​ edu/­ ideas/​­ ​ A background check is required for employment. to arrange accommodations. Evidence of practices tions of persons of color, women, and members of global-­ freshwater-­ initiative­ .html.​ Arizona State University is an equal opportunity/​ not consistent with these policies should be report- other under-­represented groups. Effort of the post-­doctoral fellow will be split ­affirmative action employer committed to excellence ed to: Director, Office of Equal Opportunity and among site-­specific studies, developing propos- through diversity. Women and minorities are encour- Affirmative Action, (801) 581-8365 (V/­TDD). Planetary Remote Compositional Analysis. The als, and supporting collaborations. Applicants aged to apply. The University of Utah values candidates who Department of Geological Sciences at Brown Univer- must have a demonstrated ability to generate new have experience working in settings with students sity (http://​ www​ .​ geo­ .​ brown­ .​ edu/)­ invites applications research questions, collect data from multiple Research Associate Postdoctoral. The College of from diverse backgrounds, and possess a commit- for a tenure-­track faculty appointment in Planetary sources, run hydrologic models, conduct economic Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences at Oregon State ment to improving access to higher education for Remote Compositional Analysis. The emphasis of this analysis, and evaluate water allocation strategies. University, Corvallis Oregon, invites applications for historically under-­represented students. position is on the application of experimental and Stanford University is an equal opportunity two Institutional Postdoctoral Research Associate quantitative analytical approaches to the characteriza- employer and is committed to increasing the diver- positions in the general area of Earth System Sci- Two Senior Researcher (Oberassistant) Posi- tion, analysis and understanding of remotely sensed sity of its staff. It welcomes nominations of and appli- ences. Awards are competitive, with a major empha- tions in Solid Earth or Planetary Dynamics at spectroscopic data to address critical problems in cations from women and minority groups, as well as sis on potential for independent, creative research. ETH Zurich. The GFD group in the Institute of Geo- planetary sciences. Such problems might include the others who would bring additional dimensions to the These are 12-­month, fixed-­term positions at full-­time physics, ETH Zurich, Switzerland (led by Professors composition of materials comprising planetary bod- university’s research, teaching, and clinical missions. (1.0 FTE) for year one. Funding in year two will be at Paul Tackley and Taras Gerya, see http://​ ​www​.gfd​ ies, the physical and chemical weathering of surfaces, Interested applicants should e-mail a CV, tran- 0.75, and year three at 0.50 FTE. FTE in years 2 and 3 .­ethz​.ch) seeks two senior researchers to join our vig- and the nature of planetary processes. Analysis of scripts, one relevant publication, a one-­page state- can be increased to 1.0 with external funding. Post- orous research program in the geodynamics of the field data and spacecraft data in addressing such ment describing past research and future goals, and doc will be paired with faculty mentors for training solid Earth and planets. Applicants’ field of expertise problems is also strongly encouraged. Available facili- the names and addresses of three references to Steven in the development and submission of fundable may be anything in the group’s range of interests, ties for such research include the Reflectance Experi- Gorelick (gorelick@​­ stanford​­ .​ edu)­ by June 1, 2011. research proposals, research collaboration, and pub- which covers crust and lithosphere dynamics, man- ment Laboratory, a facility permitting high-­quality lication of results. COAS Institutional postdocs will tle dynamics, solid planetary dynamics, two-­phase emission and reflectance spectroscopic measure- Post-doctoral­ Researcher-Global­ CO Emis- be encouraged to seek external funding, and may flow, planetary formation and core-­mantle differen- ments from 0.3-­50 microns. 2 sions Research. A post-­doctoral position focused serve as Principal Investigator or co-­Principal Inves- tiation, etc. Strong numerical modeling skills includ- Candidates should complement our current on the construction of a global, high resolution tigator on grant proposals. Requires completed Ph.D. ing the ability to develop codes are an advantage. planetary science strengths in planetary evolution, greenhouse gas emissions data product is available degree in general area of Earth System Sciences or The working language of the group is English. volcanism, impact cratering, climate history, and in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State Univ. related field prior to appointment. The successful candidates are expected to remote sensing, as well as departmental focus Part of a cutting-­edge effort aimed at high resolu- We encourage applicants to contact COAS perform research independently as well as in col- areas of Earth system history, solid Earth dynamics, tion quantification and understanding of fossil fuel faculty members with research interests fitting the laboration with other group members, and to teach. and Earth and planetary materials and processes. greenhouse gas emissions from the global to the proposed work. Position announcement: http://​ ​www​ This includes raising funding and supervising Ph.D. The successful candidate will maintain an active, individual building level. The successful candidate .­coas​.­oregonstate​.­edu/. To apply ​http://​­oregonstate​ students, teaching M.Sc. and B.Sc. courses (in Eng- externally-­funded research program and enjoy a com- will contribute to the development of a high resolu- .­edu/​­jobs, posting 0007139. For questions contact lish) and supervising M.Sc. and B.Sc. projects. A mitment to teaching at both undergraduate and gradu- tion fossil fuel CO emissions data product at the Dr. Eric Skyllingstad: ​­skylling@​­coas​.­oregonstate​ starting date in late 2011 to early 2012 is negotiable ate levels. Appointment is expected at the Assistant 2 global scale availing of bottom up datasets, remote .­edu, 541-737-5697. Information may also be found at ​ and the contract is for 2 years renewable up to a Professor level, although exceptional circumstances sensing data products, and model algorithms. This http://​www​.­coas​.­oregonstate​.­edu/​­index​.cfm​?­content​ total of 6 years. An attractive salary will be in accor- could warrant appointment as Associate Professor. effort will combine a wide array of knowledge and .­display​&­page​­ID​=763. For full consideration apply by dance with the regulations of ETH Zurich. A Ph.D. degree is required, and postdoctoral skills including energy consumption statistics & June 1, 2011. OSU is an AA/­EOE. To apply, please e-mail a CV, publication list, experience is considered important. Applicants modeling, remote sensing, geospatial statistics, statement of research interests, and the names and should forward a curriculum vita, descriptions of & data assimilation techniques. Given the multi- Tenure Track Positions: Planetary Sciences. contact information of at least two references to research and teaching interests, and three letters disciplinary nature of the research, a highly self-­ China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), a key Prof. Paul Tackley (ptackley@​­ ethz​­ .ch),​ by 20 May. of reference to: James W. Head, Chair, Search Com- directed, creative, and self-­motivated individual national university with leading geoscience pro- The ETH Zurich is committed to an equal oppor- mittee, Department of Geological Sciences, Box is sought. The appointment will be made for the grams in China, invites applications for several tunities policy in the recruitment and selection of staff. 1846, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912-­1846 period of 6/1/10 through 5/31/12 with possibility of positions at the levels of full professor, associate at planetarysearch@​­ brown​­ .​ edu.­ Inquiries and other extension for additional years. Start date is flexible. professor, or assistant professor in the broad field of communications may be directed to the same Interdisciplinary/Other Candidates must have received a Ph.D. in the planetary sciences. Emphasis will be placed on but addresses. Applications received by June 15th, 2011 geosciences or a field related to position (e.g. Ecol- not limited to: planetary geology, remote sensing, Physical Or Environmental Chemist, Haverford will receive full consideration, but the search will ogy, Remote Sensing, Civil engineering) from an cosmo-­geochemistry, astrobiology and exploration College. One year position beginning September remain open until the position is closed or filled. accredited college or university. instrumentation. Hiring levels and compensa- 2011 to teach introductory chemistry, a course for The start date for this position is July 1st, Necessary skills: geospatial statistics, remote tions will be commensurate with qualifications non-­scientists and advanced seminars in the area 2012, pending final administrative and budgetary sensing applications (Nightlights, LandSat), pro- which include a Ph.D. in planetary science or a of the candidate’s expertise, and preferably also approval. Brown University is an equal opportunity/­ gramming abilities (e.g. Java, C++, Fortran). Desired related field, a record of publications in refereed mentor undergraduate students in research. Ph.D. affirmative action employer. skills: data assimilation experience, GIS software journals, and proposal development experiences. required. The applicant should submit a c.v., an and analysis, carbon cycle science, carbon/​­energy Each successful candidate is expected to develop outline of research ideas, undergraduate and gradu- Post-­Doctoral Fellow-­Global Freshwater Initia- accounting. The applicant will be expected to ate transcripts, and arrange to have three letters tive. Stanford University’s Dept. of Environmental publish peer-­reviewed literature and effectively Classified cont. on page 148 of recommendation forwarded to Terry Newirth, Earth System Science and Woods Institute for the Chair, Department of Chemistry, Haverford College, Environment seek applications for a post-­doctoral Haverford, PA 19041. We will consider applications fellow in quantitative water resources analysis in

147 Eos VOLUME 92 NUMBER 17 26 APRIL 2011

Classified cont. from page 147 teaching and research statements (less than two students interested in multidisciplinary research pages), and contact information for at least three investigating metal contaminants behaviour (nov- referees. Applications should be submitted elec- el isotope tracers and applied geomicrobiology) a vigorous and externally funded program that Section Chief. Assume the overall responsibility tronically via e-mail to geochair@​­ indiana​­ .​ edu­ citing associated with novel natural & anthropogenic involves graduate research. We will also sponsor to develop and implement UNESCO’s interna- VAP Application as the subject line. disturbed ecosystems and wetlands. Projects the qualified applicants to apply for the various tional geology, geophysics and Earth observation You may submit paper applications to: Dr. Simon are laboratory-­based and/­or contain field com- state and province supported start-­up projects such programmes. For the full vacancy posting, go to: ​ Brassell, Geological Sciences, Indiana University, ponents and involve access to state-­of-­the-­art as the “Thousand-­Talents Project” and “Chutian https://recrutweb​­ .​ unesco.org/­ pdf/​ SC330​ .​ PDF.­ 1001 E. 10th Street, Bloomington, IN 47405. analytical instrumentation. Synchrotron-­based Scholar Project”. Interested individuals should send Indiana University is an Affirmative Action/​ X-­ray techniques, electron microscopy for the a resume, statements of research and teaching Visiting Assistant Professor. The Department ­Equal Opportunity Institution M/F/D. The university characterization of samples and metal specia- interests, and representative reprints and name of Geological Sciences at Indiana University seeks promotes cultural diversity with regard to gender, tion. Please Contact: Dr. Christopher G. Weisener, ​ and contact information of at least three potential applicants for a Visiting Assistant Professor posi- race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, and weisener@­ uwindsor​­ .​ ca;­ University of Windsor, references. Send applications to: Dr. Hao Zhang, tion in the field of sedimentary geology to begin religion. Spring/­Fall 2011. Research Center for Space Science and Technology, on August 1, 2011. Candidates must have a Ph.D., China University of Geosciences, 388 Lumo Road, prior teaching experience, and an ongoing pro- Visiting Professor-­Bowdoin College. The Bow- Ph.D. Positions in Volcanic Geology and Hongshan District, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430074, gram of research that complements or enhances doin College Department of Earth and Oceano- Hazards at the University of Auckland. China. E-mail: zhanghao@​­ cug​­ .​ edu­ .cn.​ current strengths of the Department. The appoin- graphic Science invites applications for a one-­year The School of Environment at the University of tee will be expected to teach graduate courses in (with possible extension), full-­time, visiting assistant Auckland, New Zealand, invites applications for Three Post-­doctoral Research Scientists. N.C. one or more of the following areas: depositional professor position. Ph.D. required. Three-­course two Ph.D. positions: 1. Volcanic Geology and 2. State University, Raleigh, N.C. is accepting applica- systems, basin analysis, and petroleum geology. load (includes environmental geology and hydrol- Volcanic hazard analysis of Harrat Al-­Madinah, tions for 3 Post-­Doc. positions. Atmospheric Chem- Teaching duties may also include sedimentology/​ ogy, geomorphology, and one other). a Quaternary basaltic volcanic field in western istry/​­Aerosol Modeler in 3-­D air quality modeling ­stratigraphy at the undergraduate level, and a Please visit: ​https://​­careers​.­bowdoin​.­edu to apply. Saudi Arabia. These Ph.D. projects form key with a focus on aerosol chemistry & dynamics. section of an established introductory course for Bowdoin College is committed to equal- components of a research collaboration with Earth System Modeler in Earth system modeling non-­science majors. Instructional responsibilities ity through Affirmative Action, and is an equal the King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia. with foci on aerosol-­cloud-­precipitation interac- will not exceed two courses per semester. Salary opportunity employer. For a full text description To apply, please e-mail your CV and the names tions & coupling of component models. Regional and funds in support of research activities will be of the above position and for further information of three referees to Jan Lindsay ​(j​.­lindsay@​ Hydrology & Forest Ecosystem Modeler in hydrol- based on academic record. An additional stipend about the college, please visit our website at: www​ ​ ­auckland​.­ac​.nz). ogy & forest ecosystem modeling with foci on inte- for summer teaching and an extension of the .­bowdoin​.­edu. grating climate, air quality, hydrology, water quality, position for a second year are also possible. Our SERVICES, SUPPLIES, COURSES, & forest ecosystems. To apply visit: http://​ ​­jobs​.­ncsu​ Department anticipates permission to search for STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES & ANNOUNCEMENTS .­edu Position #: 102075, 102076, & 102074. Contact: an endowed tenure-­track position in sedimentary Dr. Y. Zhang (yzhang9@​­ ncsu​­ .​ edu)­ for details. geology in the near future. Ph.D./M.Sc. Graduate Research Assistance- United States Polar Rock Repository. Rock Review of applications will start May 31, 2011, ship (2 Ph.D. Positions, 3 M.Sc.). Research samples are available as no-­cost loans for research, UNESCO International Geoscience Programme and continue until the position is filled. Applicants assistantships are available in the area of Envi- teaching & museum use, http://bprc​ .​ osu­ .​ edu/­ ​ Secretary and Global Earth Observation should submit a curriculum vitae, plus concise ronmental Geochemistry. Seeking motivated ­emuwebusprr.

Comparing different land surface cloud. Unfortunately, the two-­dimensional Low solar irradiance may not be the For many of the rings the sea surface heat flux estimates plume observations used as inputs typi- primary driver for the Little Ice Age height increases parabolically toward the cally lack information that could sig- center, reaching to 38 centimeters above Land surface heat fluxes are an impor- nificantly improve the forecast, such as Total solar irradiance (TSI), essentially the surrounding ocean. The inner core tant component of Earth’s energy and water details of the volcanic cloud’s vertical a measure of the amount of light the Sun can be more than 300 kilometers across, cycle, and quantifying these fluxes can extent. puts out, varies with the 11-­year sunspot and the outer edge of the core can have help scientists better understand climate In an attempt to improve forecast- cycle and influences Earth’s climate, espe- a maximum speed of more than 1 meter change. These heat fluxes are affected ing accuracy, Scollo et al. used observa- cially when TSI is notably higher or lower per second. Overall, the NBC rings seem by factors such as cloud cover, precipita- tions from the Multiangle Imaging Spec- than its average values. It had been thought to be bigger, faster, and taller than pre- tion, surface radiation, air temperature, and troradiometer (MISR) to produce three-­ that TSI was especially low during a period vious observations suggested. (Jour- humidity. Different methods are used to esti- dimensional reconstructions of ash cloud known as the Little Ice Age, which began in nal of Geophysical Research-­Oceans, mate monthly mean land surface heat flux. geometry. MISR, which flies aboard NASA’s the late seventeenth century and coincided doi:10.1029/2010JC006575, 2011) —CS polar-­orbiting Terra satellite, takes images with a period of unusually low sunspot across multiple angles and wavelengths activity known as the Maunder Minimum. Soil temperature trends in Canada using a suite of nine cameras and can However, Schrijver et al. now suggest that be used to derive plume height, erupted TSI during that period may not have been Global warming increasingly is becoming a mass, and the size distribution of fine par- as low as previously thought. They ana- concern for society. Most reported warming ticles—among the most sensitive inputs lyzed direct measurements of solar mag- trends are based on measured increases for ash dispersal modeling. The research- netic activity during the recent 2008–2009 in air temperatures. However, trends in soil temperatures, also an important indicator As part of an intercomparison study of differ- ers found good agreement between obser- period of low sunspot activity, which they of climate change, are less often reported. ent land surface heat flux products, research- vations made by MISR and model simula- argue was similar to the activity level dur- Qian et al. analyzed soil temperature data ers created this map showing the all-­product tions produced using independent two-­ ing the Maunder Minimum. from 30 climate stations across Canada cov- annual average land surface latent flux (in dimensional field data of two past erup- They found that even when there were ering the period from 1958 to 2008; the data watts per square meter) for 1994. tions of Mount Etna, a volcano in Italy. no sunspots, the Sun had a baseline level of magnetic activity. This baseline had cover soil temperatures at several depths These results lend credence to the idea up to 150 centimeters. They also analyzed To determine how well these different of using MISR for improving the reliability not been taken into account in previous estimates of TSI during the Maunder Min- air temperature, precipitation, and snow methods agree with one other, Jiménez of particle dispersion forecasts and help- cover depth at the same locations. et al. present a detailed global intercom- ing to mitigate the threat of volcanic erup- imum, which were based solely on sun- spot numbers. Therefore, the authors sug- parison of 12 such products for the period tions to aviation. (Journal of Geophysi- gest that earlier estimates of the TSI during 1993–1995. Some of these products are cal Research-Atmospheres,­ doi:10.1029/­ the Maunder Minimum were too low. The based on combining global satellite-­based 2009JD013162, 2010) —CS researchers argue that the Maunder Mini- data and physical formulations, while mum probably had levels of magnetic activ- others come from atmospheric reanaly- ity and TSI similar to 2008–2009 values, and sis and land surface models. The authors therefore factors other than low solar irra- found that although there were some dif- diance resulting from low sunspot activity ferences among the products, the prod- must have contributed to the Little Ice Age. ucts all captured the seasonality of the (Geophysical Research Letters, doi:10.1029/­ heat fluxes as well as the expected spa- 2011GL046658, 2011) —ET tial distributions related to major climatic regimes and geographical features. Fur- The traveling rings thermore, the products correlate well with of the North Brazil Current each other in general, in part due to large seasonable variability and the fact that The North Brazil Current (NBC) moves Trends of monthly mean soil temperature some of the products use the same forc- northward along the northeastern coast of across Canada in May at a depth of 100 cen- ing data. (Journal of Geophysical Research-­ Brazil. Drawing from the South Equatorial timeters for the period 1958–2008. Red and Atmospheres, doi:10.1029/­2010JD014545, Current and the outflow of freshwater from blue triangles show positive and negative 2011) —ET the Amazon River, the NBC carries warm, trends, respectively. Solid triangles indicate trends significant at the 5% level. nutrient-­rich water north of the equator. Up Three-­dimensional ash cloud near the coast of French Guiana, part of During that time period, rising soil tem- observations could help aviation the NBC makes a hard right, flowing east peratures were generally associated with along the equator. Once in a while the turn rising air temperatures, and snow cover In the spring of 2010 the Icelandic vol- is especially sharp and the current loops depth generally decreased, although there cano Eyjafjallajökull erupted, sending a around, pinching off an independently trav- were variations between the sites. The towering column of ash floating above the eling parcel of ocean water. This portion of researchers found that at about two thirds North Atlantic Ocean. The ash cloud shut current travels northwest with a clockwise of the stations, soil temperatures at depths down air traffic over much of Europe, sig- rotation, moving through the ocean like a below 5 centimeters showed a warm- nificantly affecting the European econ- Frisbee™ travels through air. omy. Although Eyjafjallajökull was one ing trend over the 50-­year record. Many These current rings have been known to sites showed a significant positive trend in of the more recent, prominent displays of exist for decades, but knowledge of their average spring and summer soil tempera- the effects of volcanic ash, similar distur- basic properties such as size, speed, depth, tures but not in winter soil temperatures. bances are felt in the shadows of active and rotation velocity is limited. Drawing Because snow insulates the ground, keep- volcanoes the world over. on current profiles from both shipboard ing soil warm, the trend of declining snow To ensure the safety of both planes and and stationary instruments, Castelão and depth explains why winter soil tempera- passengers, regulators rely on ash cloud Johns describe the basic properties of 10 tures did not show a warming trend. The dispersal models to forecast areas that Multiangle Imaging Spectroradiometer view of rings sampled between 1998 and 2000. median warming rate in spring for soil at all might be affected by an active volcano. the Mount Etna volcano plume on 27 October The authors find that the rings are best depths was about 0.3°C per decade. (Jour- The models use measurements of meteoro- 2002. The image shows wind-­corrected heights described as solid, clockwise-­rotating par- nal of Geophysical Research-­Atmospheres, logical conditions and ground-or satellite-­ (color coded), the digitized plume outline cels of water enclosed within a band of doi:10.1029/­2010JD015012, 2011) —ET based observations of ash plumes to fore- (green line), and the average wind direction lower-­speed water that tends to shield them cast the expected path and size of the (yellow line). from the surrounding environment. —Colin Schultz and Ernie Tretkoff, Staff Writers 148