Geoscience Currents transmit snapshots of the many facets of the geoscience profession, in-depth case studies of how geoscience is applied, factsheets that provide rigorous introductions to a range of geoscience topics, workforce trends, and career paths.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of a total of 9 items
October 19, 2020
Whole population diversity
The U.S. Census Bureau publishes annual demographic data for the United States that can be used to establish whole population trends for women and minorities. We analyzed this dataset to understand whole population trends for gender, race, and ethnicity for individuals...
August 30, 2018
By the numbers: Hawaii
1,700 geoscience employees (excludes self-employed)1
359 million gallons/day: total groundwater withdrawal3
$105 million value of nonfuel mineral production in 20174
45 total disaster declarations, including 15 fire, 9 flood, and 7 severe storm disasters (1953-2017)...
June 01, 2018
Introduction
The Arctic hosts large oil and natural gas resources both onshore and offshore.1 However, the harsh climate, extreme weather, remote locations, and limited infrastructure make exploration and production expensive and sometimes hazardous. In recent decades, decreased summer sea ice has...
April 19, 2018
Geologic Maps and Landslide Hazards
A geologic map is key to understanding landslide risk. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and numerous state geological surveys around the nation prioritize the mapping of landslide-prone areas. Understanding landslide risk is crucial in making decisions around...
September 07, 2017
Introduction
Dry wells improve stormwater drainage and aquifer recharge by providing a fast, direct route for rainwater to drain deep into underlying sediment and rock. Dry wells are most common in the western U.S. where clay or caliche layers slow down the natural drainage of water into...
March 31, 2017
More than just volcanic eruptions
Volcanic eruptions are a serious hazard. But at many stratovolcanoes in Washington, Oregon, Northern California, and Alaska, landslides and debris flows can be just as dangerous. Some of these - especially volcanic mudflows (lahars) - are directly triggered by...
March 09, 2017
Fresh water from underground
Groundwater is any water found underground in the cracks and pores in soil, sand, or rock. Groundwater provides 25% of the fresh water used in the United States.1 It is particularly important for irrigation and domestic uses in arid or remote areas, where surface water...
January 27, 2014
Accurate data on the enrollments and completions of underrepresented minorities in geoscience degree programs can be difficult to acquire. The most commonly used source is data provided by the Department of Education through their Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). The two...
September 26, 2008
The states with the lowest percentage of under-represented minorities have relatively small populations with more than 50% of the people living in rural areas. The under-represented population includes Black and African American, American Indian and Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific...
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