U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey
News Release
Oct 19, 2006 Diane Noserale 703-648-4333 dnoseral@xxxxxxxx
202-821-2699 (cell)
USGS Presents a World of
Science at GSA in Philadelphia
Reporters: For interviews
during the conference, please call the GSA Newsroom in Philadelphia on
215-418-2039.
Geology and human health, disasters,
science and public policy, climate change, and future energy and water
resources are among the topics that scientists of the U.S. Geological Survey
(USGS) will discuss with other leading scientists, educators, and policy-makers
from around the globe at the Geological Society of America Annual Meeting,
Oct. 22-25. About 6000 people are expected to attend. The site of
this year’s meeting, Philadelphia, and its theme, The Pursuit of Science:
Building on a Foundation of Discovery, celebrate the 300th birthday
of Benjamin Franklin, one of our nation’s earliest and most notable leaders
in science and public policy. Unless otherwise indicated, all talks are
at the Pennsylvania Convention Center (PCC).
Sunday, Oct. 22
The Emerging Role of Earth and
Natural Sciences in Human Health: What does earth science have
to do with human health? Plenty. Recent events and research
clearly show the need for earth and human-health sciences to work together
and to incorporate non-traditional specialties to bridge the gap. With
specialists in earth and biological sciences, the USGS has formed a human-health
interest group that coordinates research internally and with partners along
six issues related to human health. Related website: http://health.usgs.gov/
P. Patrick Leahy, PCC Auditorium Lecture Hall, 8:10-8:40 am
The Chesapeake Bay Impact Crater:
What happens when a piece of rock two miles wide comes crashing down
to earth at hypersonic speed? That happened about 35 million years ago
in what is now the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. USGS scientists and partners
in the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) will
present some of the details of an event that fractured the Earth’s basement
rocks to a depth of more than seven miles, scattered debris up and down
the east coast, and still affects daily life in modern coastal Virginia.
J. Wright Horton Jr., PCC 112A,
10:30-10:45 am (Hydrothermal rock alteration)
Gregory Gohn, PCC 112A, 1:50-2:10
pm (Deep drilling program)
David S. Powars, PCC 112A, 2:30-2:45
pm (Crater structure)
Lucy E. Edwards, PCC 112B, 9:45-10:00
am (MONDAY) (Impact-damaged fossils)
Wylie Poag, PCC Exhibit Hall
C, 1:30-5:30 pm (MONDAY, POSTER) (Tektite source rocks)
To Scientists, It's Good to be a Packrat:
Packrats living over the past 50,000 years in dry caves and rock shelters
in the American West are helping scientists discover what kinds of plants
were growing in the region in the past and how climate has changed. But
how they've helped is a little unusual. Ancient packrats like their
modern relatives habitually gathered pieces of plant material, bone, and
other items from their environment and stashed them in their waste piles
of fecal material and urine called middens. The packrat's viscous
urine cemented the material together into a solid mass to create a midden
of preserved plant fossils. The USGS/NOAA North American Packrat
Midden Database offers the most comprehensive, high-quality archive of
midden data available for North America, online at http://esp.cr.usgs.gov/data/midden.
Laura Strickland, PCC 109 AB, 11:15-11:30 am
Assessing the Aftermath of Disasters: Earthquakes,
volcanic eruptions, fires, landslides, hurricanes, industrial spills, and
terrorist attacks can produce large volumes of solid, gaseous, or liquid
materials of potential environmental and public health concern. Examples
include contaminated or pathogen-containing waters, dusts, soils, or sediments;
gases; smoke; ash; and debris. Many environmental processes influence the
fate of these materials and their effects on health and the environment.
A wide variety of earth science methods can help emergency response experts
assess and plan for the environmental and health effects of materials generated
by disasters. The author will discuss examples of USGS responses to the
World Trade Center collapse and Hurricane Katrina to help illustrate the
earth science role, examine lessons learned, and underscore future opportunities
for interdisciplinary collaboration in disaster response and planning.
Geoff Plumlee, PCC Auditorium Lecture Hall, 11:20-11:40 am
Intersex and Lesions – Are
Pharmaceuticals and Other Emerging Contaminants the Cause? During
a study to find the cause of fish kills and lesions in the South Branch
of the Potomac River in 2003, scientists noted a high prevalence of intersex
in small-mouth bass. Subsequent sampling revealed about 80 percent
of male small-mouth bass had intersex. This anomaly has been observed at
elevated rates elsewhere in the U.S and in other parts of the world. A
national study found many waterways contain human and agricultural pharmaceuticals
that are not completely removed by conventional water treatment. USGS
is studying the transport, fate, and effects of organic wastewater compounds
and pharmaceuticals at urban sites including
the Philadelphia and south New Jersey areas, the Chesapeake Bay, and sites
in the Midwest to determine constituent effects on
urban stream water quality. These issues are relevant to many urban areas
of the U.S. This USGS-hosted
session examines where emerging contaminants have been found, their effects,
and possible methods of dealing with them. Session 36, PCC 103C, 1:30-5:30
pm
Potential Sources of Organic
Contaminants to Lake Mead: Lake Mead is the major source of drinking
water for about 1.6 million residents of Las Vegas Valley and millions
of annual tourists, and it supplies downstream users of the Colorado River.
Each day, about 170 million gallons of tertiary treated wastewater
and urban runoff enter Lake Mead at Las Vegas Bay from the Las Vegas metropolitan
area. USGS scientists have found elevated concentrations of synthetic
organic compounds, including PCBs and manufactured fragrances, primarily
in the lower part of the lake’s water column. Research on how these
compounds behave in the depths of Lake Mead is important for management
of the lake’s ecology and as a water source. Michael Rosen, PCC
Exhibit Hall C, 1:30-5:30 pm
Seawater Intrusion of Los Angeles
Basin Groundwater: In the Los Angeles Basin, the main regional water
quality issue is seawater intrusion from San Pedro and Santa Monica Bays.
USGS scientists will present a model that can simulate the impacts of using
ground-water as a backup supply if surface water delivery was disrupted
in the event of a natural disaster such as a major earthquake. Simulations
indicate that short-term pumpage during water emergencies could result
in long-term increases in seawater intrusion. Eric Reichard,
PCC 104 A, 2:15-2:35 pm
Afghan Energy: As
Afghanistan rebuilds, energy needs are growing rapidly and new fuels for
transportation, power generation, and heating are in great demand. Although
the country has significant, marketable coal in commercial quantities,
years of conflict, difficult terrain, and lack of infrastructure have made
it difficult to produce and transport this resource. USGS is working
with the Afghan government and international organizations to build a clean
and sustainable system of energy development. John SanFilipo, PCC 110AB,
4:15-4:30 pm
Venezuelan Disaster: In
December 1999, one of the worst natural disasters in the recorded history
of the Americas hit the Venezuelan state of Vargas, near the capital, Caracas.
A series of severe storms triggered flash floods and debris flows
that stripped some hillsides entirely, eroding 15-20 million cubic yards
of soil and rock. About 30 miles of the coast were inundated, and
15,000 people were killed. What made these landslides so severe and what
does it tell us about how to prevent future debris-flow disasters? Matthew
Larsen, PCC 113B, 4:45-5:00 pm
Mapping Geologic and Mineral Resources of Afghanistan:
The USGS created a 1:500,000-scale geologic and mineral resource
map of Afghanistan as part of an effort to help reconstruct the country’s
natural resources sector. The geologic and mineral resource data
used to create the map are the foundation for ongoing mineral, oil and
gas, coal, water, and earthquake hazard assessments being conducted by
the USGS in Afghanistan. The data also act as base information for
road construction and environmental restoration. Jeff Doebrich,
PCC Exhibit Hall, 6:00–8:00 pm
Monday, Oct. 23
Arsenic Toxicity Worldwide:
An estimated 47-53 million people worldwide are exposed to unhealthy
concentrations of arsenic from drinking and irrigation water. Conditions
that influence the bioavailability of arsenic and its potential toxicity
are geologic, hydrologic, and biologic. The author will present the
current interdisciplinary research developed by the USGS to help understand
and mitigate this toxicity issue. A synopsis of the response from
a similar presentation at the IV World Water Forum, held earlier this year,
will be included. Michalann Harthill, PCC 204B, 8:30-8:45 am
Dating Jane--By the Way, She's
a Dinosaur: The USGS is using pollen to "date" or determine
the age of Jane--the juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex discovered in 2002 by an
expedition from the Burpee Museum of Natural History. The discovery site
in southeastern Montana is an isolated outcrop of the Hell Creek Formation,
uncertain in stratigraphic position. Claystone balls that buried the tyrannosaurid
skeleton contained a group of pollen, spores, and algal cysts characteristic
an interval from the upper Maastrichtian epoch, 65-70 million years ago.
The interval is informally subdivided, based on the stratigraphic
ranges of ten pollen species. Applying this model to the pollen group recovered
from the Jane site indicate her age to be approximately 65.9-66 million
years old. Better not tell her that! Douglas J. Nichols, PCC 112B,
9:15-9:30 am
Geoscience in the Eye of the
Societal Storm: Often, when scientists communicate with the media,
the topic is of critical importance and emotionally charged. Generally,
life, property, and policy decisions hang in the balance. Science
must have a seat at the policy table, and communication with the public
through the media is critical in getting it there. The author will
examine the view from the science side. Get a unique perspective
from one of the nation’s top geoscientists following his tenure as USGS
Acting Director. P. Patrick Leahy, PCC Auditorium Lecture Hall, 4:50-5:10
pm
Tuesday, Oct. 24
Central and Eastern North America
Earthquake Hazards: The origin of earthquakes within stable continental
regions has been the subject of debate over the past 30 years. In
the East, it is often not possible to assign an earthquake to a specific
active fault, so scientists look to historic earthquakes to identify “seismic
zones” that suggest areas of increased hazard. The author will present
evidence indicating that seismic hazards are more widespread in central
and eastern North America than indicated by the limited known historical
distribution of earthquakes. Walter Mooney, PCC Exhibit
Hall C, 8:00 am - noon
Our Most Vulnerable Shorelines:
The erosion rate along parts of Alaska's north coast has doubled
during the past 20 years, perhaps in response to earlier seasonal melting
of pack ice and longer periods of wave action from open water. In
southern Alaska, intense storms, seismic activity, tsunamis, and glacial
change make it one of the most active coastlines on Earth. And along
the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, recent hurricanes have eroded barrier islands
and mainland. All of these sites are relevant to public policy and
science. PCC 109AB
John Mars, 8:35-8:50 am (Alaska’s
north)
Asbury Sallenger, 9:20-9:35
am (Gulf of Mexico)
Bruce F. Molnia 10:35-10:50
am (southern Alaska)
Arsenic and Boron in Southeastern
Pennsylvania: USGS and EPA tests of private ground water wells
in southeastern Pennsylvania found that concentrations of arsenic and boron
exceeded federal drinking water standards in 20 percent of wells in some
areas. The author will discuss these naturally-occurring health hazards
in the Newark Basin. Lisa Senior, PCC 204B, 8:55-9:10 am
U.S. Energy Resources – Options,
Scenarios, and Policy: Unconventional sources of energy likely
will play a larger role in satisfying America’s need for energy in the
future. Natural gas hydrates, for example, exist beneath the sea
floor and Arctic permafrost areas and contain an estimated volume of carbon
that is twice that of all other fossil fuels on earth – combined.
But extracting gas from gas hydrates is challenging because hydrates
are unstable at surface temperatures and pressures. Gas hydrates,
coal-bed gas, hydrogen, geothermal, nuclear, oil and gas, energy mix, and
climate will be discussed among energy and energy-policy experts in this
USGS-hosted session. Leslie Ruppert and Brenda Pierce presiding,
PCC 113A, 1:30-5:30 pm
Hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico:
The widespread use of commercial fertilizer during the past century
has delivered nutrients to Louisiana’s continental shelf. During
the same time, oxygen levels have dropped, threatening sea life and commercial
fishing. The author will present recent evidence that the Gulf’s
so called “dead zone” also has a natural cause.
Lisa Osterman, PCC 108A,
3:45-4:00 pm
Wednesday, Oct. 25
Water-Quality Issues in Sole-Source
and Principal Aquifers: In recent years, concerns have emerged
about water quality in many of the 62 principal aquifers in the U.S. In
some of these systems, sole-source aquifer designations have been used
to protect drinking water supplies especially where few or alternative
sources of water exist. This session will highlight research on anthropogenic
and natural factors that control water quality in sole-source and principal
aquifers in the U.S. Authors will present results from the USGS National
Water-Quality Assessment Program and other studies on issues such as arsenic
and deicing chemicals in glacial deposit aquifers; radon and uranium in
the northeast and upper Midwest; salinity in the Basin and Range and California
coastal basin; agricultural chemicals in Florida and the northern Atlantic
coastal plain; and the effects of pumping, irrigation and artificial recharge
in the High Plains, Hawaii, Basin and Range, and California. Brian Katz
and Michael Focazio presiding, PCC 104 B, 8:00 am – noon
Alaskan Landscape Change in
Pictures: The author will compare photo pairs of sites in southern
Alaska showing spectacular scenes, and spectacular change, with imagery
dating as far back as 1880. The pairs show that glacial retreat rapidly
transforms the landscape. Bruce F. Molnia, PCC Auditorium Lecture
Hall, 10:20-11:05 am
West Trenton, New Jersey Site
as a Laboratory for Controlling Contamination: The industrial
heyday in the northeastern U.S. left contamination in the fractured bedrock
aquifers throughout the region. In the Newark Basin alone, some 800
sites are known to have contaminated groundwater. The Naval Air Warfare
Center in West Trenton, New Jersey is one such site. The base has
served as an ideal research site where the efforts and partnership between
USGS, the U.S. military, and private industry have halted the migration
of trichloroethylene into the Delaware River and downstream into Philadelphia.
Keeping the plume contained on base has allowed research on natural
substances that are showing the potential to clean up this type of spill
-- to break the chemicals down while avoiding years of pumping. Allen
Shapiro and Francis Chappelle presiding, PCC105AB, 1:30-5:30 pm
Throughout the Meeting
USGS Exhibit Booths 1204-1211
are another great place to get USGS information and talk to scientists
in Philadelphia about energy, minerals, water availability, hazards, coastal
geology, earth imagery/geologic mapping, and international activities.
Hot Topics Still not enough?
Check out these “spirited lunchtime discussions” related to USGS science.
Daily at 12:15-1:15 pm PCC 108 A
· Sunday:
Avian Influenza Early Detection with Rick Kearney, USGS Wildlife Program
Coordinator. It's not in North America. But should the virulent
strain of avian influenza that has cost nearly 150 human lives and millions
of dollars in economic loss overseas reach the United States through migratory
birds, what then? USGS is on the front line, leading a joint state-federal
program for the early detection of this threat to human and animal health.
· Monday:
Afghanistan Reconstruction: USGS Activities in Afghanistan with P.
Patrick Leahy, USGS Associate Director for Geology and International Programs.
More than 25 years of conflict have largely destroyed Afghanistan's natural
resources organizations. USGS is working with the Afghanistan government,
international organizations and other U.S. government agencies to rebuild
the country's geoscience capabilities in oil and gas, minerals, coal, and
water resources as well as earthquake hazards, geospatial infrastructure,
and airborne geophysics.
· Tuesday:
Global Warming and CO2 with Don Easterbrook, Western Washington
University and Bruce F. Molnia, USGS. Are We Headed for Global Catastrophe
in the Coming Century? Join this discussion.
· Wednesday:
The Future of Land Remote Sensing with Gene Thorley, USGS Land
Remote Sensing Program. Landsat 5 and 7 both have had significant operational
problems. Yet something’s on the horizon for remote sensing.
USGS provides science for a changing
world. For more information visit www.usgs.gov
*** www.usgs.gov ***
