Alexandria, Va. — Have you heard of “100-year floods” and “500-year droughts”? You might have seen signposts near rivers showing when the last big flood was or statements about when the last severe drought occurred. But do you really know what those terms mean, or what your likelihood is of experiencing such a hazard in any given year? Return periods refer to the amount of time that passes on average between consecutive events of similar magnitude for a given location. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA - The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is pleased to announce that the theme of Earth Science Week 2015 will be “Visualizing Earth Systems.” This year’s event will promote awareness of the many ways scientists monitor and represent information about Earth systems including land, water, air, and living things: Earth Science Week 2015 learning resources and activities will engage young people and others in exploring ways of visualizing Earth systems. [Read More]

Alexandria, Va. — Afghanistan is one of the world’s poorest countries, with an economy largely based on subsistence agriculture. Working in an arid climate on thin margins of profitability and sustenance, Afghan farmers depend on reliable, year-round sources of surface water and groundwater to irrigate their crops and water their livestock. Seasonal flows of streams and rivers fed by melting snowpack high in Afghanistan’s mountains also recharge alluvial aquifers located in populated valleys and provide city dwellers with drinking water. [Read More]

Alexandria, Va. — Doctors and public health officials are concerned about the growing number of antibiotic-resistant superbugs like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile (C. diff), as well as more common, yet still dangerous, bacteria like E. coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Now, doctors and public health officials may have a surprising ally in the fight against these bacteria: natural clays. According to a new study, clays with antibacterial properties found near Crater Lake in Oregon could eventually lead to new agents in the fight against these bacteria. [Read More]

The vaguely familiar, yet primeval landscape of New Zealand served as the backdrop for the blockbuster film adaptations of the entire “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and “The Hobbit” trilogy. The geology that created this landscape is front and center in EARTH’s February cover story, “The Geology of Middle-earth.” Since the release of the first installment in the trilogy in 2001, millions of tourists have flocked to New Zealand to see “The Lord of the Rings” locations for themselves. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA - With just over a month left to apply, now is the time to view a new webcast about the prestigious Edward C. Roy, Jr. Award for Excellence in K-8 Earth Science Teaching. The free, two-minute webcast provides an overview of the competition. To view the webcast, visit http://www.earthsciweek.org/webcasts/EdRoy2015. AGI has expanded the eligibility requirements. In addition to U.S. teachers, instructors in the United Kingdom may compete. The program, a major part of Earth Science Week, recognizes one full-time teacher from kindergarten to eighth grade, or the U. [Read More]

Alexandria, Va. — Methane is often found naturally leaking from the seafloor, particularly in petroleum basins like the Gulf of Mexico or along tectonically active continental margins like the U.S. West Coast. However, such plumes were not expected along passive margins, like the East Coast of North America. Now, researchers have discovered hundreds of methane seeps on the seafloor along the U.S. East Coast, suggesting that such reservoirs may be more common along passive margins than previously thought. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA - Topics of climate change and energy resources are central to sustainability and quality of life. The American Geosciences Institute (AGI)’s Center for Geoscience and Society is pleased to be a partner with the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Center for Science Education on a public awareness program about energy and climate literacy. This initiative was announced today by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). [Read More]

Alexandria, Va. — EARTH’s 2014 year-end issue continues a tradition from last year, with the editorial team and several regular contributors offering short commentaries on topics that caught their fancy this year. The topics are quite varied and personal, although many of the contributions seem to tie into one of two themes: lists and family. During the first week of December, we’ll roll out one or two new commentaries a day, introducing you to the thoughts we’ve been mulling this year. [Read More]

Hurricane Sandy struck the U.S. East Coast in October 2012, leaving about $65 billion of damage in its wake and raising the question of how to mitigate the damage from future storms. It’s a question that arises in the wake of most natural disasters: What steps can society take to protect itself from storms, floods, landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis or volcanic eruptions? But the question itself illustrates the complexity of preparing for natural disasters. [Read More]