Since 2011, UNESCO - Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) Experts Meetings and CaribeWave exercises have resulted in a variety of tsunami models of credible scenarios that would impact the Caribbean and adjacent regions. However, results generated from such scenarios were not readily available to potential users such as emergency management officials and decision makers. During the 12th Session of the Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (ICG/CARIBE-EWS) in May 2017, a formal recommendation was adopted for the working group on Hazard Assessment to compile the aforementioned tsunami scenarios with their associated tsunami energy plots in addition to other valuable tsunami data products from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), and World Data Service (WDS) for Geophysics. In response to this recommendation, the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions Tsunami Sources and Models (CATSAM) map viewer was developed by NCEI/WDS and the Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica. CATSAM is intended to be a tool for modelers and hazard assessment professionals, based on the UNESCO/IOC led efforts on defining tsunami potential within the region. It provides the seismic parameters to reproduce the scenarios, as well as how they overlap with the Global Historical Tsunami Database developed and maintained by NCEI/WDS. CATSAM currently has 41 defined rupture geometries and 13 energy plots divided into 15 sub-regions. The map viewer was implemented using the ArcGIS API for JavaScript, built upon geospatial services published with ArcGIS Enterprise. While CATSAM is an initiative of the ICG/CARIBE-EWS, upcoming IOC/UNESCO Experts Meetings on tsunami sources for Pacific subregions could provide an augmented collection of tsunami scenarios for other tsunami prone areas of the world.

Coronal holes (CH) are dark areas in EUV images that are generally associated with open magnetic field regions on the Sun. They can be used to estimate the open magnetic flux in the heliosphere by overlaying them on magnetic field measurements. Accurately measuring the CH boundaries over the whole Sun remains challenging due to many factors, including limited instrument coverage, obstruction by nearby bright structures, and the assumptions of a given detection algorithm. Here we explore the effects of CH obscuration using a global thermodynamic MHD model of the corona. We generate synthetic EUV images for several sets of observer locations, and combine them into maps using current and new obscuration-mitigating strategies. CH maps are generated from each resulting EUV map (using an established CH detection algorithm) and used to estimate the open flux. The importance of synchronizing the effective EUV image height to the height of the magnetic field values is demonstrated. Comparisons of the CH contours and open flux results with the known open field in the simulation gives insight into how much CH obscuration might influence observationally detected CH maps and open flux estimates. Application of obscuration-mitigating mapping techniques to observations is also discussed.

Based on satellites monitoring of the X-Rays Precipitations (Solar Flares), Solar Proton Precipitations (Solar Proton Events), and Riometer absorption in association with F region plasma patches formed in the cusp and propagating into the polar cap, we estimate ionospheric D-Layer ionization caused by energetic electrons precipitations based on our Computational Model of D-Region Ion Production. Knowing D-Layer ionization mechanisms will allow us to monitor precipitating electron source rates based on routine ionospheric absorption measurements by the Canadian Geospace Observatory Riometer Network (GO-RIO).

Main hydrological disasters that occur in the Republic of Moldova are floods. In the last 70 years (1947-2015) floods caused losses of 583 mil. US$. Thereby, a proportion of 55% of the damage was determined by flash floods and 40% - by fluvial floods. Increasing human impact on environment is considered to be the main factor for modifications of flood runoff regimes. Moldova features intense economic activity resulting in the fact that over 60% of the territory is used for agriculture and almost all rivers’ morphology is heavily modified. Therefore, the evaluation of anthropogenic impact on floods generation and propagation processes is of particular interest. Environmental change scenario modelling was performed to analyze the modification of flood wave hydrograph features with the help of the JAMS/J2000 hydrological model. 11 pilot basins have been utilized for this analysis, which represent different parts of the country. Assessment of land cover changes impact over the past 3 decades on flood runoff was performed by consecutive change of land cover layer for 1982 and 2013 for each flood event. The results showed that land cover changes caused a slight decrease of flood runoff in the northern part of the country (-4-10%) due to processes of basins naturalization in areas that were left fallow with undergoing natural succession. In the central and southern rivers basins an increase of flood features could be identified (+2-35%) because of intensified agricultural and urbanization processes. Assessment of reservoir impact on floods was performed on example of the Byc River, which is subject to change due to the Ghidighici reservoir. Thus, first, hydrological model was calibrated and validated for the Byc River natural runoff period and later applied for runoff simulation for the reservoir operation period. Differences of real and naturalized modeled runoff showed that Ghidighici reservoir causes a significant decrease of flood runoff which is from 3 up to 20 times lower than in the case of natural runoff modeling. Resulted hydrological models are well suited for land planning, hydraulic engineering and flood control. They can serve as support for authorities in decision making in flood protection and water resources management.

Ganga river basin is the lifeline of the most of the North Indian population. Upper Ganga river basin is the source of Ganga river where Ganga river originates form Gangotri glacier. Many articles, researches are claiming that most of the Himalayan glaciers are receding due to rising temperature caused by climate change. In this study it is tried to find the changes in average temperature in the month of December. High resolution gridded monthly temperature data provided by Climate Research Unit (CRU) for 116 years, i.e., from year 1901 to 2016 is used. Least square linear trend shows upward trend in most of the regions. Significance of these trends is checked using non-parametric Mann-Kendal (MK test) at 5% significance level and found significance for most of the Southern regions of basin. Assessment of time of change detection is one of the important tasks for any climate change study. Here, time of change is found out using Non-parametric Cumulative -Deviation test at 5% significance level. It is found that most of the regions of Gangetic plains show change in the year 1988. No change in detected in the upper reaches of Ganga river. So, the plains of Upper Ganga river basin are found to be highly affected by climate change and winter temperature is rising significantly.

Mount Padang archeological site has been known since late nineteen century as a megalithic complex that sits on top. Our studies proves that the structure does not cover just the top but also wrap around the slopes covering about 15 ha area at least. Comprehensive geophysical surveys combining ground penetration radar (GPR) and multi-channel resistivity methods, seismic tomography augmented by bore-holes coring data and archeological excavations, show further that the structures are not only superficial but rooted into greater depth. The structures are not built at once but consisting several layers from consecutive periods. The uppermost layer on the surface consists of horizontal piles of basaltic columnar rocks forming step-structure terraces and decorated by exotic arrangements of stand-up rock columns forming walls, paths and spaces. The second layer, which had been previously misinterpreted as natural rock formation, buried 1-3 meters beneath the ground surface, is a several-meter thick fills consisting of more compact and advance arrangement of similar columnar rocks in fine-grain matrix. The third layer is also artificial arrangement of rock fragments with various kinds that extent down to about 15 meter deep. The third layer sits on fractured, massive basaltic lava tongue. The survey also reveals evidences of large underground cavities or chambers. Results of preliminary radiocarbon dating indicates that the first layer was built around Cal BP 3,000. The second layer was built around about Cal BP 7,000. The third layer was built prior to Cal.BP. 9,500, and could be as old as Cal.BP.13,000 to 28,000 years old.

College students in STEM fields generally receive rigorous training in problem-solving, but often that training focuses primarily on the technical aspects of problems, ignoring or minimizing the human context in which those problems arise and the impacts on people who will be affected by the solutions. Terrascope, a sustainability-oriented learning community for first-year undergraduates at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) works to engage students in a more holistic process of identifying and addressing problems. Here we describe one component of the Terrascope program: Terrascope Radio, a class in which science and engineering students change gears from technical problem-solving to focus on producing audio stories. In the process, they acquire a richer and broader understanding of the context and implications of their own more technical work. Student outcomes include: Increased focus on understanding and addressing the needs and priorities of the people affected by sustainability-related problems. Engagement in seeking out multiple perspectives on complex sustainability-related issues. Improved skills in communicating scientific and technical information. Enhanced respect for the role of communication in technical and scientific practice. Enhanced ability to collaborate with a diverse group on creative projects; enhanced general teamwork skills. Experience adapting on the fly to changing conditions and priorities within a project. Increased ability and willingness to reach out to expert sources of information. Increased competence in conducting interviews and in being interviewed, both inside and outside the audio-production context.

Abstract: Siloe Patera, like other collapsed volcanic features at Arabia Terra, Mars has been identified as a set of nested deep depressions [1]. We interpreted surficial geology, including possible geologic history, of Siloe Patera by combining analysis of spectral analysis from TIR data of THEMIS, mineralogic phases (e.g. olivine, phyllosilicate, and hydrated silicates) from NIR data of CRISM, and local morphology from HiRISE and CTX. We identified four spectral units: the purple, fuchsia/magenta, yellow/amber, and pale-brown or green (typical terrain) unit. Purple unit, which occurs on eastern and north-eastern scarps, has weighted absorption center (WAC) [2] in longer wavelengths (consistent to lower silica content), and has higher thermal inertia (indicating bedrock materials) and the presence of olivine. Like the purple unit, the fuchsia unit confirms the presence of rich olivine phase. Yellow unit, near the central peak, home to elevated silica content, includes a transverse dune field on the edge of the peak, and is composed of coarse-grained dune sands, and weak phyllosilicate abundance. Typical terrain (pale brown or green) unit is the most dispersed unit and has elevated silica content; it consists of fine grain dust showing positive abortion to the phyllosilicate index, and in some areas shows hydrated phyllosilicate phase spatially adjacent to the network of channels and gullies. We suggest that the presence of faulting consistent with collapsed features and related lava-flow features confirm that Siloe Patera is a collapsed caldera of Late Noachian to Early Hesperian [1], which was modified by subsequent water-related processes. References: [1] Michalski, J.R., Bleacher, J.E., 2013. Supervolcanoes within an ancient volcanic province in Arabia Terra, Mars. Nature 502, 47–52. [2] Amador, E.S., Bandfield, J.L., 2016. Elevated bulk-silica exposures and evidence for multiple aqueous alteration episodes in Nili Fossae, Mars. Icarus 276, 39–51.

The isotopic composition of organic sulfur (δ34Sorg) is a potential recorder of past biogeochemical conditions that has, thus far, received relatively little attention in comparison to the pyrite sulfur isotope record (δ34Spyr). This study presents continuous organic and pyrite δ34S records from three basins of the organic-rich Miocene Monterey Formation, deposited over a similar time interval of c.14.5-6 Ma but under varying depositional conditions. In the San Joaquin basin, δ34Sorg and δ34Spyr average 0‰ and -4‰ respectively and maintain a relatively constant pyrite-organic sulfur isotopic offset of c. 5‰. The Santa Maria Basin exhibits δ34Sorg values that are >10‰ higher than in coeval San Joaquin basin intervals, with average δ34Sorg of c. 24‰ in the upper siliceous member the highest yet reported for marine organic sulfur and roughly 2-3‰ higher than Miocene seawater sulfate. δ34Spyr is consistently c. 12‰ depleted in comparison to organic sulfur in the lower phosphatic member of the Santa Maria Basin, but an abrupt enrichment in both δ34Spyr and δ34Sorg coincident with a sharp lithostratigraphic transition at c. 11 Ma reduces this offset to <4‰ for much of the upper siliceous shales. The Santa Barbara Basin shows a sulfur isotope record intermediate between the San Joaquin and Santa Maria Basins, with average δ34Spyr and δ34Sorg of 3‰ and 12‰ respectively, and relatively consistent c. 10‰ pyrite-organic isotope offset. Records for all three basins demonstrate a close correlation between coeval δ34Spyr and δ34Sorg values which we attribute to derivation from an equivalent, or at least similar, source of sedimentary or water column sulfide. However, marked offset in the isotopic composition of coexisting pyrite and organic sulfur, of variable magnitude within and between basins, implies some contrast in the diagenetic processes underlying sulfur incorporation into the two phases. We argue that the prominent δ34Spyr and δ34Sorg isotopic differences between broadly coeval basin sections are largely the result of differences in sedimentation regime and the associated balance of iron and sulfide supply during diagenesis. A likely factor of additional importance to this iron-sulfide balance is basin-specific sedimentary and water column redox. These findings illustrate the importance of determining independent constraints on the nature of a sedimentary system before conclusions are made relating the sulfur isotope composition of sedimentary species to paleoenvironmental conditions. Additionally, we suggest that records of δ34Spyr have a strong dependence on interaction with organic sulfur during formation, and thus that existing δ34Spyr records are more effectively interpreted in combination with δ34Sorg records.

Venus is the most Earth-like of the terrestrial planets, though very little is known about its surface composition. Thanks to recent advances in laboratory spectroscopy and spectral analysis techniques, this is about to change. Although the atmosphere prohibits observations of the surface with traditional imaging techniques over much of the EM spectral range, five transparent windows between ~0.86 µm and ~1.18 µm occur in the atmosphere’s CO2 spectrum. New high temperature laboratory spectra from the Planetary Spectroscopy Laboratory at DLR show that spectra in these windows are highly diagnostic for surface mineralogy [1]. The Venus Emissivity Mapper (VEM) [2] builds on these recent advances VEM is the first flight instrument specially designed to focus solely on mapping Venus’ surface using the windows around 1 µm. Operating in situ from Venus orbit, VEM will provide a global map of composition as well as redox state of the surface, enabling a comprehensive picture of surface-atmosphere interaction on Venus. VEM will return a complex data set containing surface, atmospheric, cloud, and scattering information. Total planned data volume for a typical mission scenario exceeds 1TB. Classical analysis techniques have been successfully used for VIRTIS on Venus Express [3-5] and could be employed with the VEM data. However, application of machine learning approaches to this rich dataset is vastly more efficient, as has already been confirmed with laboratory data. Binary classifiers [6] demonstrate that at current best estimate errors, basalt spectra are confidently discriminated from basaltic andesites, andesites, and rhyolite/granite. Applying the approach of self-organizing maps to the increasingly large set of laboratory measurements allows searching for additional mineralogical indicators, especially including their temperature dependence. [1] Dyar M. D. et al. 2017 LPS XLVIII, #1512. [2] Helbert, J. et al. 2016. San Diego, CA, SPIE. [3] Smrekar, S.E., et al. Science, 2010 328(5978), 605-8. [4] Helbert, J., et al., GRL, 2008 35(11). [5] Mueller, N., et al., JGR, 2008 113. [6] Dyar M. D. et al. 2017 LPS XLVIII, #3014.

The process of scientific visualization often involves making design choices- colors being one one them, to effectively communicate and highlight features in the data (e.g. high/low temperatures). Using the techniques of registration and image tracking, which are widely used in Augmented Reality (AR) applications to anchor digital content to the real world, an iPad/iPhone application has been developed that visualizes hand colored earth science datasets. The application would scan a student’s hand-colored page of a rectangular image of some global dataset, obtain the colors used, and convert that to an AR interactive, 3D globe with the dataset in study, animated with the students’ colors. This exercise could also be used to educate students about different map projections and is a flexible, customizable, inexpensive tool for teachers to teach a variety of geoscience topics. This engaging interactive environment could help instill a sense of ownership of the data and encourage the student to be more engaged with the science being presented.

Interest towards continuous cover forestry (CCF) has grown in recent years as it is considered more favorable from environmental perspectives than even-aged management. CCF could be particularly feasible on peatlands and other lowland soils as continuously maintaining a tree cover with significant evapotranspiration capacity could decrease the need for artificial drainage. Clear cutting, site preparation, and regular cleaning of drainage ditches increase greenhouse gas emissions and affect water quality by releasing sediment, nutrients and carbon to water bodies. Whereas even-aged management on peatlands relies on these intensive and environmentally adverse practices, regeneration in CCF forests would occur naturally and evapotranspiration of the tree stand would play a key role in maintaining drainage conditions. Partial harvest is an essential component of CCF and our study focuses on understanding its impacts on hydrology. The study site comprises a fertile drained peatland forest in Southern Finland, where three parallel sites were established in March 2016: (i) clear-cut with site preparation and seedling planting, (ii) partial harvest removing 75% of tree biomass, and (iii) control left untouched as reference. Data on ecosystem fluxes (Eddy covariance) and ground water depth were available from each site after the harvest and for a pre-treatment period of 6 years. In our attempt to understand the mechanisms behind observed changes after clear-cut and partial harvest, we applied a one-dimensional multi-layer multi-species soil-vegetation-atmosphere transfer model in conjunction with data analysis. The hydrology of each parallel site was simulated to explore the role of the amount and diversity of vegetation. Results suggested that on the partial harvest site the undergrowth of birch and spruce had the potential to partly compensate for the transpiration of the harvested pine, which dominated the stand before the treatment and limited the light received by the undergrowth trees. Such changes in vegetation-driven water balance components revealed by mechanistic modeling form the basis for understanding vegetation controls on growing season ground water depth, which is a key factor for the successful implementation of CCF in peatland forests.

Elevated nitrate concentrations in groundwater are observed in regions of intensive agriculture worldwide, threatening the safety of drinking-water production. Aquifers may contain geogenic reduced constituents, such as natural organic matter (NOM), pyrite, or biotite, facilitating aerobic respiration and denitrification. Because these electron donors are not replenished, the breakthrough of nitrate (and eventually dissolved oxygen) in production wells is only delayed. Frameworks of modeling nitrate fate and transport that assume constant rate coefficients of nitrate elimination cannot address the reduction of the aquifer’s denitrification potential by the reaction itself. We have tested several approaches of modeling the fate of dissolved oxygen and nitrate in aquifers, including multi-dimensional bioreactive transport models with dynamic abundances of aerobic and denitrifying bacteria, approaches neglecting the dynamics of biomass and dispersive mixing, and simple models based on an electron balance. We found that the primary control on the timing of nitrate breakthrough is the ratio of the bioavailable electron-donor content in the aquifer material to the electron-acceptor load in the infiltrating water. Combined spatial variability of groundwater velocities and electron-donor content can explain most of the spread in nitrate breakthrough, whereas kinetics of the reaction plays a minor role under most conditions. Our modeling study highlights the need for field surveys on joined physical and chemical heterogeneity of aquifers under the stress of pollutants that can react with the aquifer material.

There is much discussion in the literature about the need to balance abilities to respond to short-term and long-term risks among water systems. Yet our understanding of what contributes to our ability to respond to acute as well as long-term change is challenged by insufficient empirical work on water systems to date. We begin to fill this gap through an examination of the capacities of community water systems to absorb short-term shocks as well as to learn from them and act to reduce future risks. We investigated these capacities and how they interact using interviews (n=24) and a survey (n=85) of Connecticut community water systems. We found most systems have increased their capacity to respond to short-term risks and most have some (but differing levels) of capacity for learning from those experiences. However, few are preparing adequately for future risks. We present opportunities for reducing this gap.

Advising policy makers of ongoing geologic energy research is a key facet of enabling long-term energy security. If policy makers and their staffs do not hear from practicing scientists, they will likely rely on public opinion instead of making scientifically-informed choices about our energy future. As much of what the public hears related to geologic energy research has negative connotations (e.g., environmental harm, induced seismicity), this can lead to public pressure on policy makers to discourage all geologic energy research. Providing information to stakeholders to make informed decisions will help ground policy decisions in facts. Traditional geologic energy fuels (e.g., coal, oil, and natural gas) are still a necessary part of our energy portfolio, even as other energy sources are being developed. The Energy Investigations Program (EIP) at the Geological Survey of Alabama conducts research on all geologic energy resources that would affect the state and region, including fossil fuel resource assessment. EIP provides unbiased information about potential development, including projected costs, environmental impact, and broader economic impact. This research helps people make informed decisions about how (or even if) they want to develop these resources. Researchers must be sure that policy makers are aware of the broader role of geologic energy research as we move beyond old-school petroleum geology. For example, current work in EIP focuses on how carbon dioxide produced from burning fossil fuels might be captured and then either used or stored permanently (carbon capture, utilization, and storage, CCUS). CCUS includes permanent geologic sequestration and enhanced hydrocarbon recovery. Knowledge and support of continued geologic CCUS work is vital to long-term energy security. To ensure energy security, fossil fuels cannot be the only geologic energy solution. For example, compressed air energy storage and low-temperature geothermal energy are vital to understand as part of the energy revolution beyond fossil fuels. If decision-makers are unaware of these research efforts, it will be more difficult to gain support for a more balanced energy portfolio. By informing the public, legislators, and industry about these varied geologic energy sources, we enable a stronger energy future and bridge the interface between geoscience research and public policy.

The Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR) of South Africa includes marine and terrestrial biomes with species diversity rivaling mega-diverse tropical rainforests in a compact area (300x700km). Extinction risk studies suggest that GCFR species are among the most vulnerable to climate change over the next 50 years. I present a scoping proposal commissioned by NASA to develop a field campaign to measure and monitor the distribution and abundance of biodiversity with new remotely-sensed data and the rich historical data in this region. I will summarize the central questions to be addressed by this field campaign and lay out the proposed study design to integrate satellite, airborne, and in situ data collection. Our plan centers around the collection of new hyperspectral imagery from AVIRIS-NG, PRISM, and HyTES spectrometers combined with the LVIS laser altimeter. These data will be collected at approximately 20 m spatial resolution across much of the GCFR and nearby aquatic and marine ecosystems. These data will then be combined with existing and new observations of the spatial distribution of community composition and functional traits to enable high resolution mapping and modeling of several essential biodiversity variables (EBVs) including species distributions, functional traits (including leaf properties), and three-dimensional canopy structure. Given the wealth of available independent in situ data available that can be brought to bear, the GCFR is an ideal system to fully evaluate the capabilities of remote-sensing technology to characterize biodiversity patterns across diverse landscapes in a relatively compact geographic area. In combination with the rich historical data and well-developed ecological understanding in this region, these new observations will enable detailed exploration into the drivers and mechanisms of change including the feedbacks from changing biodiversity to regional climate, disturbance, post-fire recovery, freshwater provisioning, and other ecosystem services.

Sea Level Rise is a global concern that has varying and potentially serious consequences on the local level. Although national policies and international frameworks can help to reduce the severity of sea level rise by limiting future emissions, in the current policy framework in the United States, local governments hold most of the responsibility for protecting their communities from flooding and the impacts of future sea level rise, with limited assistance from state and federal governments. Recognizing that local governments are largely driven by their community’s needs and desires, a survey of 500 persons affiliated with coastal communities across the east coast of the United States was conducted to identify public perceptions on the relative priority of sea level rise planning, components that should be included in local plans, protection priorities, funding mechanisms, methods to resolve conflict, and acceptable adaptation responses. The information from this survey was then provided to representatives from six local governments in a barrier island New Jersey to help identify its appropriateness and usefulness for local planning. In addition to discussing the key findings of the public survey, an overview of the responses from government officials will be presented, with an emphasis on comparing and contrasting the viewpoints of public officials and members of the public to help foster stronger collaborations among all members of a community (residents, businesses, utilities, governments and others) to help address local adaptation in light of this complex issue.

Gas hydrates have been reported to exist in marine sediments from various parts of the world ocean. The hydrates start decomposing soon after recovery of the sediments through coring operations due to changes in ambient pressure and temperature. This decomposition leads to changes in sedimentary structures, and thus complicates physical property related measurements of the sediments by conventional methods. In this study, we used a medical X-ray CT scanner to quickly scan the recovered cores, and then used raw data from the CT, and thus avoided image processing steps, to estimate porosity and density of the sediments. The raw data were in terms of CT numbers, which were obtained by drawing a circular region of interest (ROI) to cover most of the sediments visible in a cross section XCT image of the sediments. The data were weighted for relative contribution of liquid and solid in sediments before estimating porosity. On the other hand, density was estimated by using an average CT number that was automatically calculated by the Osirix software used for drawing the ROI on an XCT image, and by using a calibration equation based on a set of standards. Although some uncertainty in estimation of relative volumes of solid, liquid and gas could not be avoided, the results obtained by this new procedure were in good agreement with those obtained by conventional methods. Since porosity and density estimates by the new procedure can be made in a matter of minutes after core recovery, it can guide progress of coring operation and further processing of hydrate-bearing sediments.