VOL. 97 • NO. 16 • 15 AUG 2016 Subduction Zone Observatory 2016 AGU Elections Open Soon Earth & Space Science News Citizen Scientists at the NORTH POLE Review Election Candidate Bios Online 2 Weeks Until Election 110 Candidates One Vote can Influence the Direction of AGU 29 August – 27 September elections.agu.org Earth & Space Science News Contents 15 AUGUST 2016 PROJECT UPDATE VOLUME 97, ISSUE 16 17 Teens and Scientists Come Together at Science Cafés “Science cafés” bring scientists and the public together for relaxed conversation in restaurants and coffee shops. The Teen Science Café Network shows that the concept isn’t just for adults. NEWS 5 Academy Head Says Political Rancor Harms Science, Society The recently retired National Academy of Sciences president says allegations that climate change is a fraud are deeply upsetting. But he hopes rabid partisanship 12 can be eased. COVER OPINION Citizen Scientists Train a Thousand Eyes Planning for a Subduction 9 Zone Observatory on the North Pole An international, interdisciplinary effort to study and observe earthquakes, volcanoes, During expedition cruises, tourists participate in collecting scientific landslides, tsunamis, and continent data and contribute to ongoing observations of sea ice conditions in building at subduction zones could advance the Arctic. science and protect communities. Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 1 Contents DEPARTMENTS Editor in Chief Barbara T. Richman: AGU, Washington, D. C., USA; eos_ [email protected] Editors Christina M. S. Cohen Wendy S. Gordon Carol A. Stein California Institute Ecologia Consulting, Department of Earth and of Technology, Pasadena, Austin, Texas, USA; Environmental Sciences, Calif., USA; wendy@ecologiaconsulting University of Illinois at cohen@srl .caltech.edu .com Chicago, Chicago, Ill., USA; [email protected] José D. Fuentes David Halpern Department of Meteorology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pennsylvania State Pasadena, Calif., USA; University, University davidhalpern29@gmail Park, Pa., USA; .com [email protected] Editorial Advisory Board M. Lee Allison, Earth and Space John W. Lane, Near-Surface Geophysics Science Informatics Jian Lin, Tectonophysics Mark G. Flanner, Atmospheric Figen Mekik, Paleoceanography Sciences and Paleoclimatology Nicola J. Fox, Space Physics Jerry L. Miller, Ocean Sciences and Aeronomy Michael A. Mischna, Planetary Sciences Steve Frolking, Biogeosciences Thomas H. Painter, Cryosphere Sciences Edward J. Garnero, Study of the Philip J. Rasch, Global Environmental Earth’s Deep Interior Change Michael N. Gooseff, Hydrology Eric M. Riggs, Education 23 Brian C. Gunter, Geodesy Adrian Tuck, Nonlinear Geophysics Kristine C. Harper, History Sergio Vinciguerra, Mineral of Geophysics and Rock Physics Susan E. Hough, Natural Hazards Andrew C. Wilcox, Earth and Planetary 23–27 Research Spotlight Emily R. Johnson, Volcanology, Surface Processes Geochemistry, and Petrology Earle Williams, Atmospheric How Do Tropical Forests Slow Keith D. Koper, Seismology and Space Electricity Knickpoints in Rivers?; Mysterious Robert E. Kopp, Geomagnetism Mary Lou Zoback, Societal Impacts and Paleomagnetism and Policy Sciences “Necklace Echoes” in the Sky Explained; Chemical Boosts Staff Ozone Production over Southern Production and Design: Faith A. Ishii, Production Manager; Melissa A. Tribur, Senior Production Specialist; Liz Castenson, Editorial and Production Coordinator; Elizabeth China; Can Mangroves Buffer Jacobsen, Production Intern; Yael Fitzpatrick, Manager, Design and Branding; Valerie Ocean Acidification?; Adapting Bassett and Travis Frazier, Electronic Graphics Specialists Weather Forecasting Techniques Editorial: Peter L. Weiss, Manager/Senior News Editor; Mohi Kumar, Scientific to Paleoclimate Studies; Novel Content Editor; Randy Showstack, Senior News Writer; JoAnna Wendel, News Writer; 24 Amy Coombs, Editorial Intern Technique Finds New Features Marketing: Jamie R. Liu, Manager, Marketing; Angelo Bouselli, Marketing Program 3–8 News Under the United States; Shift in Manager; Tyjen Conley, Marketing Program Manager Pacific Sea Level Trends Will Affect Advertising: Christy Hanson, Manager; Tel: +1-202-777-7536; Email: advertising@ agu.org Eyjafjallajökull Gave Lava and the U.S. West Coast. Ice Researchers an Eyeful; Juno ©2016. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. Material in this issue may be Spacecraft Nails Its Orbit Around photocopied by individual scientists for research or classroom use. Permission is also 28–31 Positions Available granted to use short quotes, figures, and tables for publication in scientific books and Jupiter; Academy Head Says Political journals. For permission for any other uses, contact the AGU Publications Office. Rancor Harms Science, Society; Current job openings in the Earth Eos (ISSN 0096-3941) is published semi-monthly, on the 1st and 15th of the month by Antarctica’s Ozone Hole Is Healing, and space sciences. the American Geophysical Union, 2000 Florida Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20009, Scientists Say; Exoplanet Found in USA. Periodical Class postage paid at Washington, D. C., and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Member Service Center, 2000 Curious Triple-Star System. 32 Postcards from the Field Florida Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20009, USA. National Ecological Observatory Member Service Center: 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Eastern time; Tel: +1-202-462-6900; Fax: +1-202-328-0566; Tel. orders in U.S.: 1-800-966-2481; Email: [email protected]. 9–11 Opinion Network Airborne Observation Use AGU’s Geophysical Electronic Manuscript Submissions system Planning for a Subduction Zone Team arrives in Tennessee. to submit a manuscript: http://eos-submit.agu.org. Observatory. Views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect official On the Cover positions of the American Geophysical Union unless expressly stated. Christine W. McEntee, Executive Director/CEO 21–22 AGU News Expedition cruise passengers collect Every Vote Counts: Final Slate for scientific data near the North Pole. 2016 AGU Elections. Credit: Lauren Farmer. facebook.com/AmericanGeophysicalUnion @AGU_Eos linkedin.com/company/american-geophysical-union youtube.com/user/AGUvideos 2 // Eos 15 August 2016 NEWS Like torrents of volcanic “concrete,” lahars Eyjafjallajökull Gave Lava can cover and entomb people and houses. Notable examples include lahars from and Ice Researchers an Eyeful the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption in the Philippines, during which such flows destroyed thousands of homes, and a 1985 eruption of Nevado del Ruiz in Colombia, in which lahars contributed to a death toll of about 23,000 people. A Research Opportunity In the recent paper, which published online on 8 June, the research team describes how they tracked the eruption using aircraft, sat- ellite images, and other data-​­gathering means. “Iceland is so well prepared for eruptions that as soon as something kicked in, they had all kinds of measurements [from seismometers, webcams, and other instruments] that monitored the eruption,” Edwards explained. The scientists then con- structed a timeline of the eruption and mapped the lava’s eventual path. In addition, a year after the eruption, when it was safer, the team went out to the glacier to examine the lava flows and their impacts on the glacier. The team was ini- tially worried that carbon dioxide levels would be too high—​­but it was good that they Boaworm, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 (http://bit.ly/ccby3-0) 3.0 Boaworm, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY got there when they did, Edwards said. The Scientists used white plumes of steam like these to track lava from the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption as it melted the team was able to observe mostly intact tun- glacier. nels and arches of ice carved by lava before ice closed them in again. hen the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in heat from lava rapidly melts ice at the top of a Evaluating Hazards Iceland erupted in 2010, clouds of mountain, torrents of meltwater can cascade Through their analysis, the team learned W ash led to massive delays for airlines below, overwhelming glacial lakes and causing that the risk from meltwater was greatest across Europe. On the slopes of the volcano, extensive flooding downstream. during the initial explosive phase of the other plumes were rising as well: Billowing eruption, when vast amounts of ice melted, white steam rose from holes in the glacier as “This was the first triggering torrential bursts. These sudden lava flowed underneath and melted the ice releases could overflow glacial lakes below, from below. eruption where we could causing severe floods called jökulhlaups, For scientists eager to better understand the which the authors called “one of the largest interplay between lava and glaciers, as well as document, in a lot of hazards associated with volcanic eruptions the deadly hazards such interactions can detail, what happens as in Iceland.” cause, the eruption provided a unique oppor- Later, when the lava began to move tunity to gather data and insights. the lava flow is moving beneath the glacier, the flow of lava mixed “This was the first eruption where we could with water carved channels under the ice, document, in a lot of detail, what happens as under ice for a pretty good localizing and limiting potential dangers and the lava flow is moving under ice for a pretty distance.” allowing meltwater to escape more regularly. good distance,” said Benjamin Edwards, a vol- canologist at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa., Clues in Pillow Lavas and coauthor of a paper in the July