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]

Summer and fall were busy for the geoscience community! This issue covers some of the most amazing field experiences in exotic locations. Geoscientists were in: Canadian Rockies with the Association for Women Geoscientists Istanbul, Turkey with American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) Greece with Society for Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) Geoscientists Without Borders Haiti with the Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists (AEG) Morocco with the International Association of Hydrologists The American Geophysical Union talks about their “Postcards from the Field” program. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA - Swetha Karthikeyan of Dayton, New Jersey, won first place in the visual arts contest with a creative drawing showcasing connections among Earth systems in her community. Finalists were Isabella Matheu, Christa Paulus, Mia Sherman, and Tyler Wu. Students in grades K-5 made two-dimensional artworks illustrating the theme “Earth’s Connected Systems and Me.” Eva Jasinski of Gloucester Point, Virginia, won first place in the photo contest with her self-portrait in a corn field, including a reflection of corn in a mirror representing humans’ dependence on corn. [Read More]

Alexandria, Va. — On March 13, 1989, a geomagnetic storm spawned by a solar outburst struck Earth, triggering instabilities in the electric-power grid that serves much of eastern Canada and the U.S. The storm led to blackouts for more than 6 million customers and caused tens of millions of dollars in damages and economic losses. More than 25 years later, the possibility of another such catastrophe still looms, and the day-to-day effects of space weather on electrical systems remain difficult to quantify. [Read More]

November 6, 2014, Alexandria, VA - The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) encourages U.S.-based geoscience professionals, faculty, students, and enthusiasts to sign up and receive their own free lapel pin stating ‘I’m a Geoscientist.’ Enter mailing information at the following link: http://www.americangeosciences.org/be-a-part and be part of increasing the visibility and diversity of the profession. AGI and its member organizations started the “I’m a Geoscientist” campaign to celebrate that all scientists who study the earth are geoscientists, even if they approach it from different perspectives and methods. [Read More]

Alexandria, VA — The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) is accepting applications for the Edward C. Roy Award for Excellence in Earth Science Teaching. Given annually, this award is presented to one full-time K-8 teacher in the U.S. or U.K. whose excellence and innovation in the classroom elevates students’ understanding of the Earth and its many processes. The winner of the Edward C. Roy Award will receive a cash prize and an additional travel grant to attend the National Science Teachers Association Annual Conference in Chicago in March 2015. [Read More]

Alexandria, Va. — Earth’s abundant silicate minerals are degraded over time by exposure to water, chemical dissolution, and physical and chemical weathering by tree roots and even insects such as ants and termites. Such weathering plays a significant role in decreasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, as carbon dioxide is consumed in chemical weathering reactions and the resultant carbonate becomes sequestered in the form of limestone and dolomite. To study the effects of weathering over time, researchers buried basalt sand at multiple test sites and dug up the samples every five years for 25 years to measure the degradation. [Read More]