Alexandria, VA-The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) was formed in 1996 to monitor the planet for evidence of rogue nuclear weapons tests and explosions. In its May issue, EARTH Magazine spotlights how the CTBTO’s worldwide monitoring network works and how it’s using the network for civil and scientific applications beyond test monitoring. With hundreds of seismic, infrasound, hydroacoustic and radionuclide-detecting stations operating continuously around the world, CTBTO scientists - and, increasingly, researchers outside the organization - are realizing the potential of all the data collected. [Read More]

Students, geoscientists, and the general public are invited to participate in this year’s photography contest, “Earth Systems Interacting.” Entries must be composed of original, unpublished material, and show at least one Earth system affecting another Earth system in your community. This year’s visual arts contest, “Picturing Earth Systems,” is open to students in grades K-5. How might you creatively depict Earth systems in your artwork? Finally, students in grades 6 through 9 may participate in the essay contest. [Read More]

Alexandria VA - Free, interdisciplinary, educational materials and videos are now available to foster a more energy literate nation, and to answer important questions like: What is energy? Where does energy come from? How much energy do humans use? The Essential Principles and Fundamental Concepts for Energy Education project, available on the Department of Energy website, identifies what makes an energy literate citizen, and highlights seven principles to help guide exploration into energy related learning. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA — A great conundrum in data management has been how to connect end-users to available information. The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) has launched a new tool through its Center for Geoscience and Society. Targeted at decision makers at the municipal, state and federal levels, and also useful for researchers and educators, the Critical Issues Research Database seeks to connect end-users to the wealth of information available on issues at the intersection of geoscience and society such as the occurrence of natural resources, hazard mitigation and pollution risks. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA—The massive 2011 Las Conchas Fire near Los Alamos, N.M., defied conventional fire science wisdom by racing downhill instead of uphill, and increasing intensity overnight. A team led by atmospheric scientist Young-Joon Kim at Los Alamos National Laboratory determined that two unique atmospheric effects — mountain waves and pyro-cumulus clouds — interacted in an explosive way to fan the flames over New Mexico. Read more about the new research and how it compares to traditional fire models in EARTH Magazine. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA—The U.S. energy portfolio changes over time. Scientific and technologic advances related to hydraulic fracturing have dramatically increased the supply of U.S. oil and gas; because of this, a methane economy — in which natural gas provides the leading share of primary energy consumption — is now a possible scenario for U.S. energy development. In a report released by the American Geosciences Institute (AGI), the social, political, technical, and environmental components of a methane economy are identified. [Read More]

In a small lake along the Japanese coast, scientists have found evidence of turbulent waters centuries ago. These telltale signs of severe weather in the geologic record support the legend of the two kamikaze typhoons that protected Japan from Mongol invasion. EARTH Magazine follows University of Amherst geoscientist Kinuyo Kanamaru and his research team as they dig up history in search of signs of the storms. Read more in a new story from EARTH Magazine: Kamikaze Typhoons Spared Japan from Kublai Khan

The feature explores the questions this mission hopes to answer, such as Pluto’s relationship to similar astronomical bodies and the formation of comets on the outskirts of the solar system in the Kuiper Belt. After a successful encounter with Jupiter in 2007, scientists are eager to put New Horizons’ unique remote sensing equipment to use, which will provide them with the first in situ data sets from this region of the solar system in decades — and likely the only data set on such planetary bodies that will be collected in the near future: http://Avww. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA - The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) would like to congratulate Emma Reed and Annette Patton, both Master’s candidates, as the two latest recipients of the Harriet Evelyn Wallace Scholarship. The scholarship, which is awarded to women pursuing graduate degrees in geoscience, is a $5,000 award for one academic year, with the opportunity to renew for an additional year of support, if qualified. Emma Reed is attending the University of Arizona in the Department of Geosciences. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA—The Association of American State Geologists (AASG) has recognized the Executive Director of the American Geosciences Institute, Dr. P. Patrick Leahy with its prestigious Pick and Gavel Award. This award was initiated by AASG in 1999 to recognize distinguished friends of geology who have made major contributions to advancing or facilitating the role that geoscience plays in our society. “Many of the complex geoscience issues we face today are of significant interest to the public,” Leahy said. [Read More]