March 2019 on EARTH Magazine

Where on Earth? - March 2019

Thu, 21 Feb 2019 12:24:04 -0500

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Clues for March 2019:

This Crimson-monikered tidewater glacier, which features prominent medial moraines, was first described by the 126-person Harriman Expedition of 1899 along with other nearby tidewater glaciers — Bryn Mawr, Smith, Vassar, Wellesley and Yale — that flow into an aptly named fjord.
A 1913 U.S. Geological Survey report estimated the glacier’s cliff face was then more than 100 meters high, and an abundance of calving ice produced large waves and strong currents that made approaching it in a small boat impractical. The authors noted local reports of native seal hunters in bidarkas being drawn under the glacier by the strong currents.
During the late Holocene, the fjord and its arms were filled entirely with ice that formed one large fjord glacier, which came to a standstill on four occasions, producing four large and distinctive moraines across the channel that remain today as shoals that breach the surface during low tide.

Name the volcano & its host country.

Submit your March 2019 answer now! m>Scroll down for the answer

Red Planet Roundup: March 2019

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 16:34:23 -0500

The pale green regions in this map of Gale Crater geology are portions of the Hummocky Plains Unit, which contains conglomerate rock strata featuring large cross beds and ridges that researchers think were formed by glacial outburst flooding. Credit: Ezat Heydari et al., GSA Meeting, November 2018.

With two rovers and a lander on the surface of Mars, six spacecraft orbiting above it, and scientists here on Earth studying the Red Planet from afar, new findings are announced often. Here are a few of the latest updates.

Grounding Asian jumping worms

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 16:31:47 -0500

Asian jumping worms, which can decrease the availability of nutrients in soils for microbes, plants and fungi, have been on the rise in Wisconsin and other states. Credit: Geological Society of America.

To tell the difference between a regular earthworm and an Asian jumping worm, pick it up. An earthworm will likely just lay there, perhaps curling gently around a finger, but a jumping worm will thrash around violently until it jumps out of your grasp. Researchers are looking at how this invasive species is altering soil in Wisconsin, where the worms have been found in growing numbers since 2013.

Frogs fill in post-Gondwana picture

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 16:29:47 -0500

Land connections, bridges and corridors may have enabled the dispersal of plants and animals, including frogs, among the landmasses around the Indian Ocean after the breakup of Gondwana. Credit: Seshadri.K.S., CC BY-SA 3.0

The positions of landmasses after the breakup of Gondwana during the late Mesozoic and early Paleogene are highly debated, especially the configurations of the Indian and Australian plates around the newly opening Indian Ocean. In a new study, the paleogeographic and genetic distributions of a group of frogs called Natatanurans were used to test the various post-breakup models — and the results bring additional clarity to the post-Gondwana puzzle.

Abiotic amino acid found in subseafloor rocks

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 16:21:38 -0500

A carbonate chimney observed in 2005 at the Lost City hydrothermal vent field. Researchers recently determined that an amino acid detected in rock deep below the field was likely formed through abiotic processes, shedding light on how early biomolecules might have first formed. Credit: NOAA.

In 2000, scientists discovered a new type of deep-sea hydrothermal vent site in the North Atlantic about 20 kilometers west of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which they named Lost City. Nearly two decades later, researchers have discovered that an amino acid detected in rocks beneath the site is produced by a geochemical process, rather than a biological one. The find reveals conditions that might have kick-started life on Earth.

Neanderthals and humans suffered similar levels of head injuries

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 16:18:22 -0500

Neanderthals are commonly thought to have relied on dangerous close-range hunting techniques, using nonprojectile weapons like the thrusting spears depicted here. Credit: Gleiver Prieto and Katerina Harvati.

Paleolithic Neanderthals have traditionally been depicted as more aggressive than Homo sapiens, and reliant on inferior hunting techniques with close-range weapons that would have put them at greater risk of suffering gruesome injuries and shortened life spans. A seemingly high incidence of Neanderthal remains bearing evidence of traumatic injuries has helped shape the narrative that they lived harder, more violent lives and died younger than their modern human neighbors. But a new study in Nature looking at skull injuries in Eurasian hominids casts doubt on this brutish stereotype.

Hard-knock hominid skeletons tell harsh tales

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 16:15:25 -0500

The malformed skull of a 2- to 3-year-old Pleistocene hominid (top) found in France shows signs of hydrocephalus, a swelling of the braincase due to excess fluid in the skull. The hole in the top of the skull is thought to have been cut postmortem. Abnormally bowed femurs (bottom) in the fossil skeleton of a 10-year-old boy found at the Sunghir site in Russia may have been caused by chronic nutritional stress or an inherited disorder. Credit: both: Erik Trinkaus/PNAS.

The Pleistocene was a hard time for hominids. Homo fossils from this period, when humans evolved and expanded from Africa and across Eurasia, are riddled with an unusual number of skeletal abnormalities. Swollen braincases, bowed femurs, twisted long bones, pronounced dwarfism and malformed teeth are just a few of the unusual skeletal features found in many Pleistocene hominid fossils. A new statistical study has confirmed that these anomalies occur at higher-than-expected rates in the Pleistocene fossil record. But whether this elevated incidence was mainly caused by nutritional stress or inbreeding, or if it’s an artifact of preservational bias, is unknown.

Kerogen's nanostructure determines oil and gas reservoir capacity

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 16:12:45 -0500

At left is a digitized image of the exterior of a kerogen sample; at right is a three-dimensional image of its internal pore structure as revealed by electron tomography. Credit: Roland Pellenq/MIT.

The petroleum and natural gas that power engines and heat homes are extracted from the complex networks of nooks and crannies that permeate kerogen — a waxy organic mishmash that forms within sedimentary rocks as algae, terrestrial plants and other organic matter is compacted and heated over geologic time. In a new study, scientists have taken the closest look yet at kerogen’s internal pore structure, and the resulting images are helping scientists understand why some oil and gas reservoirs are more productive than others.

Dinosaur soft tissues preserved as polymers

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 16:05:07 -0500

Since 2005, several samples of ostensibly soft tissue, such as blood vessels and bits of organic bone material, have been gleaned from dinosaur bones. The finds have stirred debate because the notion that intact dinosaur proteins could survive tens of millions of years has proved a tantalizing but difficult pill to swallow for many paleontologists. In a new study, however, researchers have identified a chemical pathway — well known in food science but not seen before in paleontology — that may be the key to long-term preservation of soft-tissue structures.

Jump-starting earthquake insurance uptake in California

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 16:01:27 -0500

More than 114,000 residential and commercial structures in and around the Los Angeles area were damaged during the 1994 Northridge earthquake. At the time, roughly 25 percent of homes in California were covered by earthquake insurance. Today, only about 10 percent of homes in the state are covered. Credit: Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Many parts of California are at risk for large, damaging earthquakes. Yet only about one in 10 homes in the state is covered by earthquake insurance. Now, a new insurance option offers a means to supplement traditional insurance plans and provides a way for uninsured Californians to obtain at least a modicum of earthquake coverage.

Stronger monsoon drove ancient Indus civilization into the hills

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 15:57:41 -0500

Roughly 4,000 years ago, the Indus River Valley was home to the advanced and thriving Harappa culture. But by 1800 B.C., the civilization’s sophisticated cities along the river, which drains into the Arabian Sea on the coast of what is now Pakistan, were abandoned for smaller villages in the Himalayan foothills. A new study suggests that widespread changes in the Indian winter monsoon may have resulted in flooding that forced people to resettle farther from the Indus.

Some of Earth's water originated in the solar system's birth

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 15:52:20 -0500

Some of Earth's water may have originated as hydrogen in the solar nebula — the gas and dust left over after the sun's formation. Credit: NASA.

When Earth first formed, the oceans of water we know today were nowhere in sight. The long-standing consensus about where our planet’s water came from posits that it was not present during Earth’s formation and that it was later brought by chondritic materials like meteorites, asteroids and comets. But new research suggests some also came from the solar nebula — the gas and dust left over from the formation of the sun that created the planets.

Benchmarks: March 31, 1933: The Civilian Conservation Corps is established

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 15:23:50 -0500

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) workers plant trees in Wisconsin in 1937. Across the U.S., the CCC planted more than a billion trees, reclaiming large swaths of forest land that had been logged during the preceding century. Credit: Library of Congress.

On Jan. 25, 1938, a heavy winter snowstorm struck Wisconsin, blocking the road connecting Blackwell to the nearest hospital 10 kilometers away in Laona. The storm left Blackwell resident Stella Simonis, an expectant mother who was hours away from delivering her child, snowed in with no way to get to the hospital, according to an Associated Press article that ran in several Wisconsin papers the next day.

Down to Earth With: Paleoanthropologist and underground astronaut Lindsay Hunter

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 15:14:59 -0500

Lindsay Hunter finds a perch in the Rising Star Cave in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage site in South Africa, where she helped excavate the bones of Homo naledi. Over three weeks in November 2013, Hunter and her colleagues excavated more than 1,500 fossil pieces from specimens of the previously unknown hominin species. Credit: ©Wits University/Elen Feuerriegel.

In 2013, Lindsay Hunter found herself at a personal and professional crossroads. She had gone through a divorce, left the paleoanthropology doctoral program at the University of Iowa, where she had received her master’s in 2004, and moved, along with her three dogs and two cats, to live with her parents on a farm outside Austin, Texas.

Geomedia: Books: "How the Rock Connects Us" shares copper country geoheritage

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 15:04:12 -0500

"How the Rock Connects Us: A Geoheritage Guide to Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula and Isle Royale," by Bill Rose, Erika Vye and Valerie Martin, Isle Royale and Keweenaw Parks Association, 2017, ISBN 9780935289213

There is extensive literature on Michigan’s “Copper Country,” but most existing publications on the subject are either technical reports or anecdotal recountings of exploration, mining and life in the “wilderness.” A recent book, “How the Rock Connects Us: A Geoheritage Guide to Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula and Isle Royale” — written by Bill Rose and Erika Vye, both of Michigan Tech University, with Valerie Martin, a longtime Isle Royale interpretive ranger — fills a long-standing need for a readable, user-friendly explanation of how familiar Keweenaw landscapes and recent mining history are related to the area’s underlying geology. It is an eye-opener.

Geomedia: Books: A witty look at "The Ends of the World"

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 14:59:21 -0500

"The Ends of the World: Volcanic Apocalypses, Lethal Oceans, and Our Quest to Understand Earth's Past Mass Extinctions," by Peter Brannen, Ecco/Harper-Collins, 2017, ISBN 9780062364807; paperback published 2018, ISBN 9780062364814

Our planet has been through some harrowing episodes, particularly in the form of mass extinctions since the advent of multicellular life. How organisms came to perish in these events should interest all conscious, intelligent forms of multicellular life lucky enough to still be alive — you and I included. A great way to satisfy that interest is with “The Ends of the World: Volcanic Apocalypses, Lethal Oceans, and Our Quest to Understand Earth’s Past Mass Extinctions” by Peter Brannen, a well-paced, well-sourced and well-written guide to mass extinctions.

Geologic Column: Newspeak for kids

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 14:52:35 -0500

Credit: Bruce Mars from Pexels

“Once upon a time, words began to vanish from the language of children. They disappeared so quietly that at first almost no one noticed — fading away like water on stone. The words were those that children used to name the natural world around them: acorn, adder, bluebell, bramble, conker — gone!” – Robert Macfarlane, "The Lost Words"

Comment: After a disaster, should you gamble on returning? Paradise edition

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 14:39:02 -0500

Not much is left of Paradise, Calif., after the deadly Camp Fire scorched the area in November 2018. California Army National Guard soldiers helped conduct search operations and clear debris. Credit: bottom: U.S. Air National Guard, CC BY 2.0; top: U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Crystal Housman, CC BY 2.0.

Rumor has it that Paradise, Calif., might have originally been named “Par-O-Dice,” after a saloon that was supposedly there during the gold rush days, when the community first started. Or the origin of the name might come entirely from the town’s self-description as “a heavenly place to live.” Regardless of how it was named, Paradise is now gone. In November 2018, the Camp Fire burned most of Paradise to the ground. Will it be rebuilt? Should it be rebuilt?

Travels in Geology: Finding Florida's hidden freshwater gems

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 14:29:26 -0500

The largest of the 30 springs at Florida's Silver Springs State Park is called Mammoth, or Main, Spring. No swimming is allowed here, but visitors can view the spring from a glass-bottom boat tour. Credit: Bethany Augliere.

As a child, my family and I often traveled to Florida to escape the chilly Virginia winters and enjoy the Sunshine State’s warm sunny beaches. Occasionally, we’d make a trip to Orlando to visit one of the theme parks or stop at Everglades National Park to search for alligators, snakes and birds.

Getting there and getting around Florida

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 14:18:07 -0500

Camping and canoeing are popular pastimes on Florida's Peace River. Credit: both: Bethany Augliere.

For travelers flying in from out of state, Florida has several major airports, including in Miami (MIA), Orlando (MCO) and Tampa (TPA), as well as numerous other options. Orlando is the most central large hub and may be the best option if you’re heading toward the state’s springs, which are concentrated in the north-central part of the state. For traveling to and between sites, a car is the best option.

How to become a cave diver

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 14:15:22 -0500

While snorkeling the spring pools is cool (no pun intended), a more in-depth way to experience Florida’s freshwater springs is to scuba dive in them. However, entering the caves requires you to get a cave diving certification. That’s because cave diving has inherent challenges distinct from scuba diving’s own challenges. Even after you’re familiar with buoyancy control, breathing control and how to work your gear (all part of getting scuba certified), there’s much to learn about the specifics of cave diving. For example, if you kick incorrectly and stir up silt in an underwater cave, you can lose visibility and quickly become disoriented, which can turn deadly. Because of this, some of the most important parts of training involves learning about cave environments and talking about the psychological aspects of cave diving, along with emergency procedures, of course.

Juno unveils Jupiter's secrets

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 14:05:49 -0500

Over the last few decades, we have come to know Jupiter from thousands of Hubble Space Telescope images such as this one. Now, Juno is providing unprecedented new views of the planet and revealing secrets about the Great Red Spot (lower left), the other storms and swirling clouds at the top of the planet's atmosphere, and many features far below. Credit: NASA, ESA, and A. Simon (NASA Goddard).

The Roman god Jupiter was known for his dalliances with women other than his wife, the goddess Juno. Juno was not fooled, however. Although her husband might cloak himself in a cloud to conceal his activities, Juno developed the ability to see through those clouds and discover Jupiter’s true nature.

Citizen science (and art)

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 13:52:09 -0500

Henok Getahun created this artistic interpretation — "Boy on Jupiter Catches Io" — from JunoCam images. Credit: NASA/Henok Getahun.

Juno carries a visible light camera, JunoCam, which is intended primarily to take photos that, it’s hoped, will provoke public interest in Jupiter. The images sent back are available for anyone to download and manipulate for scientific or artistic purposes. Thousands of images, both raw and manipulated, have been made available for viewing, and hundreds of citizen scientists have been engaged in the project. Scientists say they are delighted at how JunoCam has resonated and increased interest in, and understanding of, the Juno mission. See www.missionjuno.swri.edu/junocam

Deep Space Network

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 13:48:23 -0500

The Deep Space Network has antennae in Australia, Spain and Goldstone, Calif., as shown here, which relay messages between Juno and Earth. Credit: public domain.

Messages from Juno and other spacecraft in the far reaches of the solar system are relayed to scientists via NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN), which was created in 1958. DSN consists of three sets of powerful radio antennae spaced about 120 degrees longitude apart around the world near Barstow, Calif., Canberra, Australia, and Madrid, Spain. The complexes are all situated in bowl-shaped terrain in semi-mountainous rural areas to minimize interference from external radio waves. As Earth rotates, at least one of the DSN antennae is pointed toward the spacecraft at all times. Communications via DSN begin and end at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which manages the system.

Piecing together the big picture of coral reef health

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 13:40:43 -0500

Reefscape from Koror State, Palau. Credit: Brian Zgliczynski, 100 Island Challenge (100IC), Scripps Institution of Oceanography (Scripps).

Today, news of damaged or devastated coral reefs has become commonplace. Reefs face many threats, including bleaching, disease, overfishing, pollution and even invasive species. While the fates of the reefs may seem almost universally bleak, some scientists think the future of these vital marine ecosystems could be more complicated — and perhaps even hopeful.

Art joins science in coral communication

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 13:25:14 -0500

Diane Burko's work on display at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. (above left), includes the painting Faga'alu (above right; 60x60 inches, acrylic on canvas, 2018), which was inspired by her visit to coral reefs in American Samoa, Credit: above left: Kevin Allen; above right: Diane Burko.

Scientists are not alone in their quest to observe and understand how coral reefs change through time. Artists and researchers have been creating stunning paintings, movies and even soundscapes to examine how reefs are responding to environmental pressures. Art has the power to engage viewers in scientific inquiry when they least expect it, reaching new audiences and facilitating public awareness.

Voyager 2 pierces the heliopause, enters interstellar space

Tue, 11 Dec 2018 13:58:15 -0500

On Nov. 5, 2018, the Voyager 2 spacecraft crossed the heliopause and entered interstellar space. Voyager 1 crossed into interstellar space in 2012. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech.

On Nov. 5, 2018, Voyager 2 became the second spacecraft to enter interstellar space, as it passed through the heliosphere’s outer limit, known as the heliopause, NASA announced at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) fall meeting in Washington, D.C., on Monday. The spacecraft’s twin, Voyager 1, made history as the first man-made object to depart the heliosphere in 2012. Reaching interstellar space is an extraordinary feat for spacecraft that have been traveling for more than 41 years.