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Geoscience Bulletin Board – 18 December 2017 - compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

Desert Research Institute (DRI) & Google “Climate Engine” global app facilitates access to climatic conditions & data

http://www.ktvn.com/story/37072184/dri-partners-with-google-to-launch-new-web- application-for-climate-research

Website: http://climateengine.org/ Top 10 ocean stories from 2017

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/top-ten-ocean-stories-2017-180967550/

No DNA remains in 99 myo Dino blood found in tick trapped in amber https://phys.org/news/2017-12-dinosaur-parasites-million-year-old-amber-blood-

sucking.html Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-017-01550-z

Photo-essay: Volcanic activity in 2017 https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2017/12/2017-the-year-in-volcanic-activity/548273/

San Francisco, California, to require more geotechnical input on soil conditions for construction in high-risk zones subject to liquefaction & seismic shaking

https://www.enr.com/articles/43621-san-francisco-issues-rules-for-high-rise-foundations

Citizen-science project needs volunteers to digitize decades of old European weather records

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/volunteers-help-rescue-europes-weather- history-180967385/

Newly discovered swimming dinosaur blends characteristics of velociraptors, penguins, swans & ducks

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/newly-discovered-swimming-dinosaur- delightfully-bizarre-180967454/

Flight & freeze responses of narwhals to stress & fear https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/narwhals-strange-stress-response-

180967458/

2D morpho-dynamic bank erosion model extended to include fixed mesh approach Paper: http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/9/12/950/htm

Seismic background scatter is the “hum” of Earth and originates at the ocean floor https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mysterious-world-hum-recorded-seafloor-

first-time-180967487/ https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/12/earth-hum-seismic-ocean-waves-spd/

This 530 myo trilobite eye from Estonia once processed 100 pixels of information http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-42264946

Sea snake populations are genetically distinct and some are disappearing from known habitats https://eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/acoe-dss120517.php

Possible orca predation being investigated as cause of demise of great white sharks in Africa http://www.theinertia.com/news/3-great-whites-washed-up-dead-in-south-africa-with-

missing-livers-and-a-missing-heart/

Supercomputers modeling how fish adapt to changing ocean waters https://www.rdmag.com/article/2017/12/saving-nemo-using-supercomputers-determine-

how-fish-adapt-changing-oceans-water

East Antarctic Ice Sheet has a long history of instability as it expands and shrinks https://phys.org/news/2017-12-east-antarctic-ice-sheet-history.html

Chemical tipping point of magma determines viscosity & explosive potential of volcanoes

https://phys.org/news/2017-12-chemical-magma-explosive-potential-volcanoes.html

Recent earthquakes in Tibet may be cause of muddy water in the Brahmaputra http://www.eurasiareview.com/13122017-earthquake-may-be-cause-of-brahmaputra-water-

turning-muddy-and-black/

May 1960 EQ in southern Chile did not release all residual strain https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/hcfo-rsd121317.php

Argentinian geoscientist accused of shaping glacial study to benefit mining interests faces criminal charges

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-017-08236-y

Isostasy in action - Sierra Nevada lost water weight & went up in elevation during the drought https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=7023

Supercomputer model of the tectonic evolution of the Andes Mountains https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/12/171211120349.htm

New high-resolution relief maps of bedrock & coastal seafloor of Greenland https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/new-greenland-maps-show-more-glaciers-at-risk Animation: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/naked-map-greenland-helps-

understanding-ice-loss-180967562/

Those who know the ocean already know it has density layering….sort of like the layers in your latte

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/12/science/lattes-layers-coffee-milk.html https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/12/171213120045.htm

It is getting harder and harder to define what make a dinosaur https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/ask-smithsonian-what-is-dinosaur-

180967448/

Environmental Science Bulletin Board – 18 December 2017 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

You can help with the Audubon Society annual Christmas Bird Count https://www.forbes.com/sites/grrlscientist/2017/12/11/counting-birds-christmas-means-

citizen-science-for-the-birds/#7ff4aea672ad

http://www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmas-bird-count https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/birdwatch-science-holiday-season-

180967559/

Predicting where a virulent strain of flu would be most devastating in a future pandemic https://www.globalhealthnow.org/index.php/2017-12/pandemic-flu-would-hit-uneven-

playing-field https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/where-would-pandemic-flu-wreak-most-

havoc-180967556/

Top five water stories for 2017 http://blog.press.princeton.edu/2017/12/12/sean-fleming-the-water-year-in-review/

What will net neutrality mean? More “sky is falling” “Y2K” dire predictions? https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-017-07842-0

Witnesses testify to Ag Committee that US biosecurity measures are inadequate https://www.agri-pulse.com/articles/10363-witnesses-assess-us-biosecurity-infrastructure-

as-inadequate

Regulators approve environmental study of proposed 140-mile Lake Powell pipeline – controversial

Like LA did to Owens Valley: http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-lake-powell-pipeline-20171203-htmlstory.html

https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2017/12/13/mgk-federal-agency-oks-study- public-comment-on-proposed-lake-powell-pipeline/#.WjKlM1WnGM8

http://www.thespectrum.com/story/news/2017/10/12/utah-water-managers-want-more-time- lake-powell-pipeline-questions/759127001/

Perspective: https://westernresourceadvocates.org/projects/lake-powell-pipeline/

As wildfires still burn in California, they are thinking ahead to mudslide season http://www.dailynews.com/2017/12/11/theres-no-rain-in-sight-so-why-is-southern-california-

bracing-for-floods-mudslides/

Study of the genome of the last known thylacine – the Tasmanian tiger 80 years after extinction https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-017-08368-1

FEMA maps underestimate extent of flood zones and number of people at risk https://www.sciencenews.org/article/federal-maps-underestimate-flood-risk-tens-millions-

people-scientists-warn

New building code regulations approved in Louisiana – process has impacted flood recovery http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/article_b24d1d0e-df5c-11e7-bf94-

3b85869f54a0.html

NV Board of Agriculture orders transfer of 3,000 Virginia Range feral horses to private non-profit group

http://www.ktvn.com/story/37044108/virginia-range-horses-face-possible-ownership- change2

Controversial mega-dam project proceeding in British Columbia https://www.reuters.com/article/us-canada-britishcolumbia-dam/canada-province-pushes-

on-with-mega-dam-project-despite-opposition-idUSKBN1E52H2 http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/construction-to-go-ahead-on-site-c-dam-but-cost-soars-to-

10-7-billion-1.3715809

Will epigenetic re-programming of bacteria “turn off” their ability to cause infections? https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/instead-killing-bacteria-can-we-just-turn-off-

its-ability-to-cause-infections-180967533/

Hurricane Harvey overwhelmed some levees in Houston area – more flooding in the future http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Harvey-

overwhelmed-levee-systems-Future-storms-12424740.php

Tearing down the old for new private development is NOT always a good thing – Independence Hall

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/amazon-or-independence-hall-development-v- preservation-city-philadelphia-180967463/

Progress in reducing antimicrobial use in livestock under expanded Veterinary Feed Directives http://www.nationalhogfarmer.com/business/producers-proactive-reduced-antimicrobial-use

APHIS Wildlife Services will begin field trial tests on Feral Swine Toxic Bait https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAPHIS/bulletins/1ca692c

When humans interfere with nature: farm-raised salmon 3X more likely to be deaf than wild salmon

https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/farmed-salmon-are-deaf-and-now-we-know-why

California wildfires pose major threat to animals – evacuations & unfortunate deaths http://www.ksby.com/story/37027173/hundreds-of-animals-take-refuge-from-thomas-fire-at-

earl-warren-showgrounds https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/225098/options-for-assisting-san-luis-

rey-fire-victims http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-horses-fire-deaths-20171208-story.html http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/08/us/california-fires-horses-animals-evacuated/index.html

Multiple benefits to multi-functional design of sustainable draining in Blue-Green & Sponge cities Paper: http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/9/12/953/htm

Gray fox rabies outbreak in some Arizona counties has officials concerned https://www.abc15.com/news/state/gray-fox-rabies-activity-quadrupled-in-some-arizona-

counties

Book Review: “Clean Meat: How Growing Meat without Animals will Revolutionize Dinner and the World”

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/what-vice-president-humane-society-has-to- say-about-lab-grown-meat-180967460/

Photographic tour of Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/gates-arctic-americas-most-rugged-national-park-

180967427/

Book Review: “The Last Man Who Knew Everything: The Life and Times of Enrico Fermi, Father of the Nuclear Age”

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/enrico-fermi-really-father-nuclear-age- 180967214/

This extinct marsupial lion adds more diversity to the history of Australia https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-12/tfg-nso120417.php Paper: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14772019.2017.1391885

US military not putting much emphasis or effort toward preparing overseas bases for climate change

http://thehill.com/policy/defense/364760-watchdog-pentagon-taken-few-steps-to-prepare- overseas-bases-for-climate-change

GAO Report: http://www.gao.gov/assets/690/688323.pdf

In an increasingly more urbanized world, challenges abound https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/nce-live/elevating-infrastructure-urbanisation-and-

resilience/10026259.article Dallas, TX: https://www.curbed.com/2017/12/12/16720068/dallas-real-estate-development-

deep-ellum

Estimate of the number of global annual flu deaths is revised slightly upward http://www.idse.net/Immunology-Vaccination/Article/12-17/Estimates-of-Global-Seasonal-

Flu-Deaths-Show-Increase/46478/

Using genomic sequencing to assess source of white nose syndrome & how it is spreading in bats http://www.newswise.com/articles/researchers-use-genomics-to-determine-origins-of-

deadly-white-nose-syndrome

Book Review: "Conquering Lyme Disease: Science Bridges the Great Divide" https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-017-08442-8

University of Houston will lead new Gulf Coast hurricane research institute – flood mitigation, hurricane modeling & public policy

http://www.chron.com/local/education/campus-chronicles/article/University-of-Houston-to- lead-new-hurricane-12425742.php

Humans have been making “cultured” pearls for a long time – to bring down the price or make money

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/pearls-cost-fortune-180967540/

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Coastal Zone Management Bulletin Board – 18 December 2017 – compiled by Elaine J. Hanford

More dire predictions of probabilistic sea level rise and drowning coastal cities https://grist.org/briefly/coastal-cities-are-in-serious-jeopardy-new-sea-level-rise-study-

shows/ Paper: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2017EF000663/epdf WRC report: http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/aa9ef2

Sea level rise could “swamp” coastal sewage plants https://eos.org/articles/sea-level-rise-may-swamp-many-coastal-u-s-sewage-plants

Mediocre grade on Maryland Coastal Bay Program and the health of the bays http://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2017/12/13/progress-being-made-

coastal-bay-health-according-report-card/946205001/

Hammocks Beach Master Plan for mainland portion of North Carolina state park is finalized https://www.coastalreview.org/2017/12/hammocks-beach-master-plan-released/ https://www.ncdcr.gov/news/press-releases/2017/12/12%20/master-plan-finalized-

hammocks-beach-state-park Plan: https://files.nc.gov/ncparks/481/FINAL%20MAINLAND%20PLAN

%20091917%20LR_No%20Appendix%20rfs2.pdf Map: https://files.nc.gov/ncparks/481/FINAL%20HBSP%20MAP%20FULLSIZE.pdf

Coastal study to monitor water levels on Lake Michigan and beach erosion http://www.wsjm.com/2017/12/11/sj-commissioners-hear-2017-coastal-study/

Coastal flooding potential could affect credit ratings of major cities (e.g., Houston & New Orleans) http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2017/12/credit_rating_agency_warns_new.html

Activist group says California Coastal Commission overstepped authority when issuing 2015 permit to store nuclear waste at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/energy-green/sd-fi-publicwatchdogs-navy- 20171206-story.html

Invasive insect species putting coastal vegetation & restoration at risk https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/the-battle-of-coastal-restoration-in-louisiana/

$$M may hopefully save ailing oyster industry in Alabama http://lagniappemobile.com/can-restoration-funding-save-alabamas-ailing-oyster-industry/

Carcinus maenas, cannibal crabs are invading new coastal environments http://www.ibtimes.com/cannibal-crab-has-eating-superpower-helps-world-domination-

2625354

Nutria are wreaking havoc on the environment in Louisiana coastal wetlands https://www.bustle.com/p/what-are-nutria-the-mega-rats-are-wreaking-havoc-in-louisiana-

5499067

Army Corps of Engineers $12.7M contract let to renourish beach in Ocean City, Maryland https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/army-corps-works-to-renourish-beach-in-

ocean-city-md/37815

California abalone population collapsing due to multiple environmental stressors – 2018 sport fishing season closed

https://www.courthousenews.com/california-kills-2018-abalone-season-as-population- collapses/

http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/12/06/northern-california-abalone-numbers-crashing- recreational-season-may-shutter/

Coastal population in Oregon is escalating http://ktvl.com/news/local/oregons-population-keeps-rising-now-at-41-million