Special VOL. 99 • NO. 12 • DEC 2018 Issue CLIMATE CHANGE IN CONGRESS… …and Other Ways Scientists Are Leading Discussions on Air Pollution, Flood Risks, Mineral Stocks, and More FROM THE EDITOR This Moment in Time s geoscientists, we hold unique of people who could be exposed to severe views about time. We stare at road floods (“Millions More Americans Face A cuts, at landscapes, at tiny miner- Flood Risks Than Previously Thought,” als in rocks, and we rewind time, seeking p. 16). And when those disasters play out, the exact scene that unfolded to generate airways clogged with commercial wireless the features we now see. We comb through services could hinder disaster responses data, analyzing, synthesizing, interpolat- (“Wireless Frequency Sharing May Impede ing, and extrapolating so that we can spin Weather Satellite Signals,” p. 13). up models to show us the future. Still more scientists strive toward con- While we look back and look ahead on crete solutions. They create models that minuscule and vast timescales, our feet will help communities to better under- remain firmly planted in the now. We need stand the cascading effects of natural open access to data now to fulfill our call- disasters (“How Landslides Become Disas- ing to thoroughly examine the past and ters,” p. 32). They also band together to future. We need to bring full attention to provide opportunities to refugees with sci- scientific findings now, to prevent irrepara- entific backgrounds who are fleeing disas- ble harm to our society. ters, both natural and political (“New Ini- This issue of Eos focuses on now, on this tiative Aims to Help Displaced Scientists,” Mohi Kumar (@scimohi) moment in time. Regimes openly hostile to p. 3). Interim Senior News Editor science are rising around the globe. State A few, particularly those who study cli- and federal science budgets are being mate and environmental change, have got- slashed; programs and even the very ten creative with getting the message out. vocabularies that capture scientific con- They find allies in politicians who are sensus on climate change and health are poised to assume greater leadership roles threatened with erasure. Many of our col- (“The Push for a Climate Change in Con- leagues worry that we’re sliding into a gress,” p. 20). And they’re succeeding at post-truth world in which facts, scientific spreading their messages to those who rigor, and logical analyses don’t matter. help define popular culture (“Dive into What can scientists do? Ocean Issues with Sherman’s Lagoon,” In the pages that follow, Eos gives snap- p. 37). shots of what we are already doing. In short, researchers are making strate- Some scientists frame their research to gic moves right now to ensure that society exigent concerns, showing how pollution understands, embraces, and acts on sci- already affects cognition (see “Heavy Air ence. Pollution May Lower Cognitive Test Scores” This month, thousands of scientists from on p. 8 of this issue) and accumulates in around the world will gather at AGU’s Fall our bodies (“Microplastics Found in Human Meeting 2018 to discuss their research in Stool,” p. 4). They demonstrate with data the shadow of the U.S. Capitol. As AGU’s that people can simultaneously keep their president reminds us (“Solidarity Among eyes on their pocketbooks and the envi- World’s Scientists Needed Now More Than ronment (“Conserving Riverside Habitat Ever,” p. 19), the very act of meeting en Could Bolster Bottom Lines,” p. 47). They masse here and now sends its own power- provide context about the extent to which ful message. the United States relies on other countries’ That message is simple: Science, sound natural resources (“Meeting the Mineral science policy, and the truth matter. And Needs of the United States,” p. 26)— with a little strategy, even at this moment important information given the current in time, we can share this message with rush toward trade wars. the world. Other scientists offer imminent warnings of clear-cut threats to human lives in the next months or years. They note that gov- ernment models fail to capture two thirds Earth & Space Science News Contents DECEMBER 2018 VOLUME 99, ISSUE 12 FEATURE 26 Meeting the Mineral Needs of the United States The U.S. Geological Survey tracks the supply streams of 90 key mineral commodities. Its work pinpoints where the United States is most dependent on mineral imports and highlights ways to reduce this dependence. PROJECT UPDATE 32 How Landslides Become Disasters A new modeling platform, tested on two recent natural disasters, simulates conditions that dump landslide debris into rain-​­swollen rivers, often causing more damage than the landslides themselves. FEATURE 20 Dive into Ocean Issues with Sherman’s Lagoon 22 // Eos December 2018 37 The creator of FEATURE Sherman’s Lagoon talks to Eos about providing The Push for a Climate Change light-hearted entertainment while in Congress weaving in ocean Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) is on a mission to find bipartisan solutions, further facts and larger Democratic goals, and end the dark money that spurs members of Congress to oppose messages about threats to the ocean and its climate measures. creatures. Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 1 Contents DEPARTMENTS Editor in Chief Heather Goss, AGU, Washington, D. C., USA; [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., José D. Fuentes David Halpern USA; [email protected] Department of Meteorology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pennsylvania State Pasadena, Calif., USA; University, University davidhalpern29@gmail Park, Pa., USA; .com [email protected] Editorial Advisory Board Mark G. Flanner, Atmospheric Sciences John W. Lane, Near-Surface Geophysics Nicola J. Fox, Space Physics Jian Lin, Tectonophysics and Aeronomy Figen Mekik, Paleoceanography Peter Fox, Earth and Space Science and Paleoclimatology Informatics Jerry L. Miller, Ocean 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 Brian C. Gunter, Geodesy Adrian Tuck, Nonlinear Geophysics Kristine C. Harper, History of Geophysics Sergio Vinciguerra, Mineral 16 Sarah M. Hörst, Planetary Sciences and Rock Physics Susan E. Hough, Natural Hazards Andrew C. Wilcox, Earth and Planetary Emily R. Johnson, Volcanology, Surface Processes Geochemistry, and Petrology Earle Williams, Atmospheric Inside Front Cover: 40–45 AGU News Keith D. Koper, Seismology and Space Electricity From the Editor Robert E. Kopp, Geomagnetism Mary Lou Zoback, Societal Impacts Celebrating the 2018 Class of Fellows. and Paleomagnetism and Policy Sciences This Moment in Time. S t a ff 46–47 Research Spotlight Production and Design: Faith A. Ishii, Manager, Production and Operations; Melissa A. Tribur, Senior Production Specialist; Beth Bagley, Manager, Design and 3–9 News Yellow Detritus Branding; Travis Frazier and Valerie Friedman, Senior Graphic Designers New Initiative Aims to Help in the Oceans Editorial: Mohi Kumar, Interim Senior News Editor; Peter L. Weiss, Interim Manager/ May Help Reduce Features and Special Projects Editor; Randy Showstack, Senior News Writer; Displaced Scientists; Micro plastics Kimberly M. S. Cartier, News Writer and Production Associate; Jenessa Duncombe, Found in Human Stool; Huge Blades Warming; News and Production Intern; Liz Castenson, Editorial and Production Coordinator of Ice May Partially Cover Jupiter’s Conserving Marketing: Angelo Bouselli, Marketing Program Manager; Ashwini Yelamanchili, Moon Europa; Lidar Uncovers Riverside Habitat Digital Marketing Coordinator Thousands of New Maya Structures; Could Bolster Advertising: Dan Nicholas, Display Advertising, Email: [email protected]; Heather Cain, Recruitment Advertising, Email: [email protected] Large Exomoon Likely Orbits a Bottom Lines; Faraway World; Heavy Air Pollution Increasing ©2018. AGU. All Rights Reserved. Material in this issue may be photocopied by Radiation Levels May Challenge individual scientists for research or classroom use. Permission is also granted to use May Lower Cognitive Test Scores. short quotes, fi gures, and tables for publication in scientifi c books and journals. 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