inside - university of california, berkeleyseismo.berkeley.edu/~yuan/papers/gsa_dueker.pdf ·...

INSIDE▲ Thick-Structured Proterozoic Lithosphere

of the Rocky Mountain Region, p. 4Ken Dueker, Huaiyu Yuan, and Brian Zurek

▲ Northeastern Section Meeting, p. 14

▲ Rock Stars: Francis Parker Shepard, p. 20

▲ 2000 Presidential Address, p. 41

Vol. 11, No. 12 A Publication of the Geological Society of America December 2001

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Thick-Structured Proterozoic Lithosphere of the Rocky Mountain Region . . . 4Ken Dueker, Huaiyu Yuan, and Brian Zurek

Doris M. Curtis Memorial Fund for Women in Science Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102002 GeoCorps America™ Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10New Process for Election of GSA Fellows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Upcoming Deadlines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Northeastern Section Meeting, GSA: Final Announcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14Rock Stars: Francis Parker Shepard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20Roy J. Shlemon Mentor Workshops Enjoy Fifth Year of Success . . . . . . . . . .22Denver 2002 GSA Annual Meeting: Call for Proposals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23GSA Foundation Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24Book Reviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26Coal Division Offers Medlin Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28Field Forum Report: Bolide Impacts on Wet Targets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32Position Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33Classified Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .352000 Presidential Address: Grand Challenges in Earth and Environmental Sciences: Science, Stewardship, and Service for the Twenty-First Century. Mary Lou Zoback . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41Journal Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47Ed. note: “Dialogue” will resume in 2002.

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ABSTRACTA new tomographic image of the western United States

shows three northeast-trending, low-velocity, upper mantleanomalies in the Rocky Mountain–Colorado Plateau region:the Yellowstone, Saint George, and Jemez lineaments. Each ischaracterized by small compressional wave-speed anomalies(±2% perturbations) thatextend to 200–250 kmdepth. A fundamentalquestion is whether theyrepresent ongoing astheno-spheric convection or oldlithospheric compositionalbodies. This puzzle iscompounded by theobservation that each isaligned with both youngvolcanic fields andProterozoic crustal grainand/or sutures. We suggestthat the low-velocitybodies are lithosphericanomalies and that theywere derived from meltingof hydrated olivine-poorlithologies (oceanic slabs,their associated sediments,and batholith residue)that were tectonicallyemplaced duringProterozoic suturingevents. Such lithologieswould be hydrated bythe water in oceanic slabsand sediments trappedduring the suturingprocesses. Our sugges-tion is consistent with thegeochemical fingerprintof most of the youngvolcanics that indicate melting of an old and chemicallydiverse lithosphere that often contains a subduction zonetrace-element signature. In addition, the sharp and dippinglateral velocity gradients bounding the low-velocity bodies,in particular where extensional deformation is small, suggestthese bodies are not upwelling asthenosphere. Thissuggestion that the low-velocity bodies follow Proterozoiclithospheric sutures is supported by new teleseismic datafrom the Continental Dynamics–Rocky Mountains project that

reveal a surprisingly thick continental lithosphere. In ourtransect across the Proterozoic Jemez suture, we find thecoincidence of young lithospheric volcanism, a low-velocitymantle anomaly, and deep lithospheric layering (to 170 km).In our Wyoming-Colorado transects across the Archean-Proterozoic Cheyenne suture, we find the coincidence of

deep mantle layering anda north-dipping, high-velocity slab, which extends(to 200 km depth) fromthe base of an imbricatedMoho, directly under theCheyenne suture. Wesuggest this slab was trapped against the edgeof the thick, Archean-ageWyoming lithosphere afterthe subduction polarityflipped from south- tonorth-directed afterand/or during accretion ofthe first Proterozoic arcalong Wyoming’s south-ern margin 1.78–1.75 Ga.Such a tectonic model forthe evolution of theCheyenne belt is con-sistent with observationsalong many otherArchean-Proterozoicsutures worldwide. Overall,our results demonstratethat Proterozoic crustalsutures in the RockyMountain region extendthroughout a thick chem-ical lithosphere and thatyoung lithospheric melt-ing has been focusedalong old suture zones.

The coincidence of old deep structure and young tectonismsupports the hypothesis that the lithospheric structure createdduring Proterozoic assembly provides a first-order control onthe complex history of exhumation, deformation,sedimentation, and magmatism of this fascinating,tectonically active region.

INTRODUCTIONThe active tectonics of the western United States represent

widespread magmatic, strike-slip, and extensional activity

Figure 1. Image of compressional-wave velocity structure at 100 km depth made from combined inversion of P-wave data used to construct Fig. 2 andshear-wave velocity model of van der Lee and Nolet (1997). High velocities(blue shading) on eastern side of image reflect cold, stable tectospheric rootpresent beneath North American craton, and low velocities (yellow and redshading) on western side of image reflect the generally thin lithosphere andwarm asthenosphere. In between these two “end-member” regions is averagevelocity (green shading) Rocky Mountain region that is actively being reworkedby interactions between lithosphere and asthenosphere. More detailed resultsfrom Continental Dynamics–Rocky Mountain project (Karlstrom, 1999)presented herein attempt to determine relationship between old lithosphericarchitecture associated with Archean-Proterozoic accretionary history of RockyMountain region and today’s restless underlying asthenosphere.

Thick-Structured Proterozoic Lithosphereof the Rocky Mountain RegionKen Dueker, Huaiyu Yuan, and Brian Zurek, Dept. of Geology and Geophysics,University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071-3006, USA


within a wide, deforming plate margin,where past and present tectonism issuperimposed on a variety oflithospheric types. Figure 1 shows atomographic image that depicts uppermantle P-wave velocity at 100 kmdepth. The high-velocity mantle on theeasternmost side (beneath the westernGreat Plains) is the western edge of thelithospheric root of the North Americanplate, which extends to depths of200–250 km (van der Lee and Nolet,1997). This chemical lithosphere isthought to be high velocity because abuoyant, chemically differentiated rootstabilizes the mantle root againstconvective disruption. This allows acold, cratonic geotherm to bedeveloped to 200–250 km depth, hencethe thick chemical lithosphere coincideswith thick thermal lithosphere. On thewesternmost side of this image, verylow velocities are found beneath thewestern United States plate margin andBasin and Range province (notableexceptions being the high-velocitysubducting Juan de Fuca plate and thehigh-velocity body beneath the SierraNevada batholith). In this region, thethermal lithosphere is thin. In betweenthese two velocity provinces lies adomain of average velocities beneaththe Rocky Mountains and High Plainsphysiographic provinces (green colorson Fig. 1). This transitional domain isan important natural laboratory inwhich to study lithospheric evolutionbecause it is a domain where thelithosphere is in a state of transition.We argue that in this area, the chemicallithosphere is still thick, while thethermal lithosphere is thinning.

WESTERN UNITED STATESTOMOGRAPHIC IMAGE

Western United States compressionalwave images of the upper mantle (Fig.2) demonstrate the heterogeneousnature of the velocity structure in theupper mantle. This high-quality image(i.e., 72% variance reduction) wascreated by inversion of ~80000 hand-picked P-wave times from the morethan one thousand short-period seismicstations operating in the western UnitedStates (Humphreys and Dueker, 1994).The majority of the velocityheterogeneity resides above 200 kmdepth, where lateral compositional and

thermal variations are largest and theoccurrence of partial melt is possible(Goes and van der Lee, 2001;Humphreys and Dueker, 1994). Thisimage covers the area west of the

stable North American interior and canbe divided into two domains: (1) amargin-parallel domain dominated bythe effects of plate subduction, and (2)an interior western United States

Figure 2. Tomographic P-wave velocity variations. Velocity variations are in percent P-wavevelocity variations with red and blue representing slow and fast velocities respectively. Graylines are Proterozoic lithospheric boundaries as described in text. A: Map view at 100 kmdepth with cross-sectional lines. Tic marks every 200 km along cross-section lines correspondto distance along cross sections. (Big tic mark is 0 km offset). B: High-velocity Gorda slab (GS)and Yellowstone trend (YT). C: Saint George trend (SGT). D: Jemez trend (JT). E: Yellowstonetrend (YT) and Aspen anomaly (A).


domain where the effects of a thickerArchean-Proterozoic lithosphere, perhapsunderlain by an organized pattern ofasthenospheric activity, exist.

In the plate margin domain, theprimary grain of the image is dictated by:the high-velocity slabs associated withsubduction of the Juan de Fuca platebeneath Oregon, Washington, andnorthern California; the evolution of thelow-velocity “slab window” beneath theSan Andreas transform; and the high-velocity body beneath the Sierra Nevadabatholith, which could be either lateCenozoic slab fragment(s) or the eclogiticfacies root of the Sierra batholith (Ducea,2001). In the interior western UnitedStates domain, the primary grain of theimage is dictated by 100–200 km dia-meter low-velocity anomalies that lineup to produce three northeast-southwestoriented, low-velocity trends associatedwith the Yellowstone, Saint George, andJemez volcanic lineaments. The low-velocity body beneath central Colorado(the Aspen anomaly; Fig. 2E) being thenotable exception to the northeast trends.

Do these low-velocity anomaliesrepresent ongoing asthenosphericconvection? An asthenospheric modelto explain the origin of these low-velocity bodies and trends suggeststhey manifest the upwelling limbs ofupper mantle convective rolls (Richter,1973). Such a model would be support-ed in two ways: (1) When the astheno-sphere is sheared by plate motion,modeling shows that convective rollaxes preferentially align with their axesparallel to the shear, i.e., parallel to thesouthwest drift of the North Americanplate over the deeper mantle; (2) Thepreferred aspect ratio of such convectiverolls is ~1, which for upper mantleprocesses predicts a roll spacing of400–500 km. This would explain theanomalies (excluding the Aspenanomaly). A notable feature is thenoncontinuous (i.e., blob-like) charac-ter of the low-velocity trends (e.g., thefour low-velocity bodies beneath theJemez lineament shown in Fig. 2D); thisis consistent with lithosphere/astheno-sphere dynamic simulations that includepartial melt production and extraction(Tackley and Stevenson, 1993; Schmeling,2000). Implicit in this asthenosphericmodel is that the Yellowstone hotspot isnot the track of a deep mantle plume

(Humphreys et al., 2000), but insteadresults from the organization of asthen-ospheric convection predicted to developbeneath moving plates. The forcedriving the volcanic propagation is theinteraction between an actively meltingasthenosphere, the depleted residuumthis creates, and the upper mantle plateshear which “drags” the depletedresiduum downstream of an active meltevent or “burp” (see Schmeling [2000]for two-dimensional simulations ofpropagating melt instabilities that moveat 2–4 cm/yr rates).

Or, do the low-velocity anomaliesrepresent compositional variationswithin a thick lithosphere? A lithosphericmodel to explain these low-velocitytrends (Karlstrom and Humphreys, 1998)suggests that low melting point materialstrapped in Proterozoic suture zoneslocalize melting of the lithosphere. Forexample, the Jemez and Saint Georgevolcanic lineaments (Smith and Luedke,1984) follow the suture zones asso-ciated with the 1.75–1.70 Ga Mojave-Yavapai suturing event and the 1.65 GaYavapai-Mazatzal suturing event, respec-tively. Direct evidence that low meltingpoint materials reside in the mantlelithosphere beneath these regions comesfrom mantle xenoliths (e.g., Helmstaedtet al., 1975) and geochemical study ofmagmatic intrusions (Carlson and Nowell,2001). However, this lithospheric suturemodel may fail to explain the Yellow-stone volcanic track where no suturehas been documented. Yet, it has beennoted that the Yellowstone volcanictrack does follow a Proterozoic structuraltrend and is coincident with a majorcrustal shear zone (the Madison shearzone; Erslev, 1993) that is coincidentwith a prominent magnetic and gravitylineament (Lemieux et al., 2000). If thiscrustal shear zone penetrates the entirelithosphere, it could provide a favorablerheologic anisotropy along which alower lithosphere convective down-welling could develop, especially whenthe lithosphere is extending as it isalong the Yellowstone hotspot.

These are end-member models, andthe suggestion that either the litho-sphere or the asthenosphere fullycontrols the evolution of these low-velocity trends is almost certainlyincorrect because of the strong feed-backs between lithospheric and

asthenospheric dynamics. For instance,to trigger the melting of low-solidusmaterials in suture zones requires anincrease in heat input from the mantleand/or lithospheric thinning. Onepossible process to increase the heatinput into the lithosphere would be toplace the suture over the top of anupwelling asthenospheric roll. How-ever, as the suture zone is rheologicallyweakened by the input of astheno-spheric heat and melt, extensionaldeformation could localize along theupwelling, which would furtherenhance the asthenospheric upwelling.In the end, perhaps the young volcanicactivity east of the central Basin andRange results from the parallelismbetween North America’s absolute platemotion and the northeast-trendingProterozoic suture and/or shear zones.This scenario would favor the organi-zation of the asthensophere intoconvective rolls parallel to the domin-ant northeast-southwest trend of thelithospheric boundaries discussed.

CONTINENTAL DYNAMICS–ROCKYMOUNTAINS PROJECTTOMOGRAPHIC IMAGE

A critical test of the importance of thelithospheric controls is to evaluate howthick the lithosphere is in the RockyMountain region and whether the litho-sphere changes across old boundaries.Figure 3 shows new high-resolutiontomographic images of the compres-sional- and shear-wave velocitystructure beneath the ContinentalDynamics–Rocky Mountains project(CD-ROM) transects. The 73% variancereduction of these images, along withresolution tests, indicates that these arehigh-quality images. The P- and S-waveimages are well correlated, whichsuggests that the large-scale features inthese images are correct. These transectswere designed to image the deepstructure beneath two major geologicboundaries in the Rockies. TheCheyenne belt is a suture in southernWyoming between the Archean Wyomingcraton to the north and the accretedProterozoic island arcs to the south(Karlstrom and Houston, 1984). TheJemez lineament is an alignment ofyoung volcanic centers in New Mexicothat is believed to coincide with theboundary between two of the


Proterozoic arc terranes—the Yavapaiprovince to the north and the Mazatzalprovince to the south (Karlstrom andHumphreys, 1998).

Beneath the Cheyenne belt, theprimary structure seen in the tomo-graphy is a north-dipping, high-velocity“slab,” which extends to 200 km depth.If this feature’s velocity anomaly resultsfrom purely thermal effects, then itmust be of late Cenozoic origin; other-wise, thermal diffusion would havesmoothed the sharp lateral velocityvariations along its margins. The twopossible ways to produce a lateCenozoic thermal anomaly here wouldbe either a convective instability of thelower lithosphere (Schott et al., 2000)or the stalling of a subducting slab. Wedismiss the first possibility because theanomaly has features inconsistent withdynamical modeling of convectiveinstabilities, i.e., the anomaly extendsall the way to the base of the crust (see

Fig. 4), and it has a 45° dip. The secondpossibility is dismissed because thisfeature is more than 1000 km inboardof the western United States platemargin and orientated at a high angleto the Cenozoic plate boundary.Therefore, because the velocity anomalyis correlated directly with an old suture,we interpret it to be a fossil oceanicslab dating back to the time of suturingalong the Cheyenne belt at 1.78–1.75 Ga.Of course, the thermal signature ofsuch an old slab would be long gone,thus the slab’s velocity anomaly mustresult from some combination of acompositionally fast structure (e.g., agarnet-rich eclogite “slab” juxtaposedagainst a pyrolitic mantle) and/or ananisotropically fast structure where theseismically fast crystallographic A-axisof olivine is steeply plunging. We notethat a sharp change in shear-wavesplitting fast-axis orientation across theCheyenne suture (Fox and Sheehan,

2001) supports the notion that sharplateral variations in the lithosphericfabric are present. Given the geologicconstraint that the accretion of the firstProterozoic arc along the Archean margininvolved long-lived south-dippingsubduction (Karlstrom and Houston,1984), a tectonic model to emplace anorth-dipping slab would require apolarity flip of the subduction zoneduring late stages of accretion of thefirst Proterozoic arc. In a recent reviewof the deep structure of Archean-Protero-zoic margins, Snyder (2002) reports thatcratonic margins, with outward-facingsubduction zones, commonly flip sub-duction polarity during collision; further-more, he cites the ongoing collision ofthe Banda arc with Australia as a modern-day example of an arc-continentcollision in the process of flipping sub-ducting polarity.

The primary velocity feature beneaththe Jemez transect (JT in Fig. 3) is a low-velocity body that extends to 120 km.From a regional context (Fig. 2), thislow-velocity body is one of a series ofnortheast-southwest–trending, uppermantle, low-velocity bodies that residebeneath the Jemez trend. A potentialcomplication with this interpretationwould be the adjacent Rio Grande rift.However, Figure 2 shows that the north-east-southwest–trending low-velocitybodies under the Jemez lineamentdominate the upper mantle structure ofthis region, not the north-south–trendingRio Grande rift. This lack of an uppermantle seismic signature is consistentwith the quite modest (<30 km) totalnet dilatation across the Rio Grande rift.Thus, our tomographic images intandem with the lithospheric geochem-ical fingerprint of the Jemez volcanics(McMillan, 1998) suggest that the Jemezlineament is the dominant upper mantlestructure here, not the Rio Grande rift.Finally, we note the south-dipping low-velocity “pipe” between 150 and 350 kmdepth (strongest in the S-wave image;Fig. 3C). Interestingly, the projection ofthis anomaly toward the surfaceconnects it to the low-velocity Aspenanomaly beneath central Colorado(label A in Fig. 2E). One interpretationof this anomaly is as a mantle plume;yet, the 45° dip of the pipe is inconsis-tent with plume models. Another inter-pretation, given its strong dip, is as a

Figure 3. Tomographic image of P- and S-wave velocity variations beneath ContinentalDynamics–Rocky Mountain project (CD-ROM) transects. Color bar denotes percentvariation of velocity anomaly, with red and blue representing slow and fast velocities,respectively. CB—Cheyenne belt; JT—Jemez trend. Dashed black line under CB is deepexpression of suture as found in Fig. 4. A: Topography and cross-sectional lines for Figs. 3and 4. CD-ROM PASSCAL/IRIS broadband stations denoted as triangles. WY—Wyoming;CO—Colorado; NM—New Mexico. B: P-wave image. C: S-wave image.


lithospheric zone of low-solidus materialthat is partially molten. However, thisinterpretation would require a 350-km-thick chemical lithosphere, whichconventional wisdom would say is toothick for this region. Thus, the bestanswer is: We do not know what thisfeature is.

LITHOSPHERIC LAYERING IMAGESIn Figure 4, images of shear-wave

velocity discontinuities (called reflectorsin active source seismology) from thesurface to 200 km depth are shown.These images are constructed from earth-quake recordings and consequentlyhave much lower resolution thanreflection data, but they can be used toimage layering to much greater depths.To suppress unwanted reverberationsin the image, velocity analysis has beenused to identify direct arrivals and theirassociated reverberations. The red and

blue shading represent significantinterfaces with an increase in velocity(red) or decrease in velocity (blue) withdepth. For example, in both transects at40–50 km depth, the Moho is clearlyimaged as a velocity increase (red).Given that velocity gradients reflectchanges in the composition and/orfabrication of lithosphere, these imagesprovide a snapshot of lithosphericlayering or stratigraphy.

Two images of the lithospheric strati-graphy beneath the Cheyenne belttransects show a disrupted Moho directlybeneath the surface exposure of theCheyenne belt (Fig. 4A and 4C). Inboth transects the Proterozoic lowercrust is underthrust beneath theArchean Moho, and mantle layeringbetween the Moho and 100–190 kmdepth is truncated by the downwardprojection of a steeply south-dippingCheyenne suture. In the Sierra Madre

transect (B–B′), the Proterozoic mantlelayering appears to truncate at thenorth-dipping, fossil slab imaged bytomography. Whereas in the Laramiebasin transect (Fig. 4C), a lithospheric-scale “chevron fold” is observedbetween 100 and 170 km depth. Thisstructure may be a fold or just a seriesof oppositely dipping, truncatedreflections that match up. This structureis broadly consistent with the complexshortening history across the Cheyennebelt (Chamberlain, 1998) and furthersupported by the crustal wedgingimaged by the CD-ROM reflection line(Morozova et al., 2001). The occur-rences of diamond-bearing kimberlitepipes (McCallum et al., 1975) ofDevonian age at the southernmost endof the Laramie transect (near label D inFig. 3A) are good evidence that the litho-sphere extended into the diamondstability field (i.e., 170 km depth). We

Figure 4. Lithospheric layering beneath ContinentalDynamics–Rocky Mountain project (CD-ROM) transects. CB—Cheyenne belt; JT—Jemez trend. Cross-sectional lines shown in Fig. 3A. A: Sierra Madre transect across Cheyenne belt. Two dottedlines outline 1% and 2% contour level of high-velocity body shownin Fig. 3B. Steeply dipping dotted line denotes truncated layeringbeneath Cheyenne belt. B: Jemez transect. Two dotted lines outline1% and 2% contour levels of low-velocity body shown in Fig. 3A. C: Laramie transect across Cheyenne belt. Dashed line same as in A.


suggest that the sharp variations inmantle stratigraphy across theCheyenne belt are good evidence thatthe arc-continent collision that formedthe Cheyenne belt was a thick-skinnedtectonic event with a signature that isstill preserved in a 200-km-thicklithosphere.

The New Mexico transect (Fig. 4B)shows some difference with respect tothe Cheyenne belt transects. Mostnotably, the Moho is relatively flat withno break in structure across theProterozoic-Proterozoic Jemez suture,and there is less coherent structurebelow 90 km depth. We suggest theseobservations result from the thermallithosphere being thinner (i.e., <120km) and hotter than the lithospherebeneath the Cheyenne belt. However,the observation that horizontal mantlelayering exists within the core of thelow-velocity body, and the lithosphericgeochemical fingerprint of the over-lying Ocate volcanic field (McMillan,1998), suggest that the low-velocitybody is lithospheric, not asthenospheric.Further, the weak south-dip of theanomaly is in agreement with a set ofsouth-dipping lower crustal reflectors(Magnani et al., 2001), which suggestsan overall southerly dip for a Protero-zoic paleosuture in this region. Whetherthe lithosphere is thinner here becausethe collisional processes that makecontinental lithosphere did not thickenthe lithosphere as much as beneath theCheyenne belt, or because there iswarmer, low-velocity mantle beneaththis region (Fig. 1) that has erodedand/or disrupted the preexisting litho-sphere is unknown at this time.

CONCLUSIONSOur foremost conclusion is that the

chemical lithosphere, defined as thematerial that has been moving as partof the North American plate since thetimes of lithospheric formation, is thickfor both Proterozoic and Archeanlithosphere east of the Basin and Rangeprovince. This statement is supported bynumerous xenolith and geochemistrystudies. Thus, even though the sub-crustal lithosphere is generally hotbeneath the western United States, thismantle has been moving with the North American plate since it formed.To speculate what makes this possible,

we note three outstanding observations:(1) The event that made the Trans-continental Proterozoic provinces (ofwhich the lithosphere of the AmericanSouthwest is just a small part) was oneof the largest crustal formation eventsin the history of the planet and suggestsa massive interchange of mass and heatbetween the upper and lower mantle(Van Schmus et al., 1993); (2) Thecuriously slow cooling of the Prote-rozoic lithosphere in the southwesternUnited States (~1 °C/Ma; Bowring andKarlstrom, 1990) requires that a thickchemical lithosphere was constructedby the Proterozoic accretionary event;(3) The juxtaposition of this region nextto one of the planet’s largest tecto-spheric roots may shield it from theasthenosphere’s convective forces.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTSThis work was made possible by the

IRIS/PASSCAL instrument pool and by agrant from the National Science Found-ation Continental Dynamics Program(EAR-9614862). Tom Owens and GeorgeZandt provided valuable reviews, andKarl Karlstrom provided importantscientific feedback and helpful editorialcomments.

REFERENCES CITEDBowring, S.A., and Karlstrom, K.E., 1990, Growth, stabili-zation, and reactivation of Proterozoic lithosphere in thesouthwestern United States: Geology, v. 18, p. 1203–1206.

Carlson, R.W., and Nowell, G.M., 2001, Olivine-poorsources for mantle-derived magmas: Os and Hf isotopicevidence from potassic magmas of the Colorado Plateau:Geochemistry, Geophysics, and Geosystems, v. 2., papernumber 2000GC000128.

Chamberlain, K.R., 1998, Medicine Bow orogeny: Timingof deformation and model of crustal structure producedduring continent-arc collision, ca. 1.78 Ga, southeasternWyoming: Rocky Mountain Geology, v. 33, p. 259–277.

Ducea, M., 2001, The California arc: Thick granitic batho-liths, eclogitic residues, lithospheric-scale thrusting, andmagmatic flare-ups: GSA Today, v. 11, no. 11, p. 4–10.

Erslev, E.A., 1993, Archean rocks: Beartooth Mountainsand southwest Montana, in Reed, J.C., Jr., et al., eds.,Precambrian: Conterminous U.S.: Boulder, Colorado,Geological Society of America, Geology of NorthAmerica, v. C-2, p. 123–132.

Fox, O., and Sheehan, A.F., 2001, Shear wave splittingbeneath the CD-ROM transects: American GeophysicalUnion, Fall Meeting, Abstracts (in press).

Goes, S., and van der Lee, S., 2001, Structure of the NorthAmerican lithosphere-asthenosphere: Journal of Geophys-ical Research (in press).

Helmstaedt, H.H., and Doig, R., 1975, Eclogite nodulesfrom kimberlite pipes of the Colorado Plateau; samples ofsubducted Franciscan-type oceanic lithosphere: Physicsand Chemistry of the Earth, v. 9, p. 95–111.

Humphreys, E.D., and Dueker, K.G., 1994, Physical stateof the western U.S. upper mantle: Journal of GeophysicalResearch, v. 99, p. 9635–9650.

Humphreys, E.D., Dueker, K.G., Schutt, D.L., and Smith,R.B., 2000, Beneath Yellowstone: Evaluating plume and

nonplume models using teleseismic images of the uppermantle: GSA Today, v. 10, no. 12, p. 1–7.

Karlstrom, K.E., 1999, Introduction to special issues; PartII: Natural tectonic boundaries in lithosphere of the RockyMountains: Rocky Mountain Geology, v. 34, no. 1, p. 1–4.

Karlstrom, K.E., and Houston, R.S., 1984, The Cheyennebelt: analysis of a Proterozoic suture in southernWyoming: Precambrian research, v. 25, p. 415–446.

Karlstrom, K.E., and Humphreys, E.D., 1998, Persistentinfluence of Proterozoic accretionary boundaries in thetectonic evolution of southwestern North America;interaction of craton grain and mantle modification events:Rocky Mountain Geology, v. 33, no. 2, p. 157–159.

Lemieux, S., Ross, G.M., and Cook, F.A., 2000, Crustalgeometry and tectonic evolution of the Archean crystallinebasement beneath the southern Alberta Plains, from newseismic reflection and potential-field studies: CanadianJournal of Earth Sciences, v. 37, p. 1473–1491.

Magnani, M.B., Levander, A., Eshete, T., and Miller, K.,2001, CDROM structure of the Jemez lineament andSangre de Cristo Laramide thrusts in northern NewMexico: Geological Society of America Abstracts withPrograms, v. 33, no. 5, p. A41.

McCallum, M.E., Eggler, D.H., and Burns, L.K., 1975,Kimberlitic diatremes in northern Colorado and southernWyoming: Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, v. 9, p. 149–161.

McMillan, N.J., 1998, Temporal and spatial magmaticevolution of the Rio Grande rift: New Mexico GeologicalSociety, 49th Field Conference, Guidebook, p. 107–116.

Morozova, E., Wan, X., Chamberlain, K.R., Smithson, S.B.,Johnson, R., and Karlstrom, K.E., 2001, Interdigitizing(Inter-wedging) nature of the Cheyenne belt suture fromseismic reflection data: Geophysical Research Letters (in press).

Richter, F.M., 1973, Dynamical models for sea floorspreading: Reviews of Geophysics and Space Physics, v. 11, p. 223–287.

Schmeling, H., 2000, Partial melting and melt segregationin a convecting mantle, in Bagdassarov, N., et al., eds.,Physics and chemistry of partially molten rocks:Dordrecht, Netherlands, Kluwer Academic Publishers, p. 567–589.

Schott, B., Yuen, D.A., and Schmeling, H., 2000, Thediversity of tectonics from fluid-dynamical modeling of the lithosphere-mantle system: Tectonophysics, v. 322, p. 35–51.

Smith, R.L., and Luedke, R.G., 1984, Potentially activevolcanic lineaments and loci in western conterminousUnited States, in Explosive volcanism: Inception,evolution, and hazards: Washington, D.C., NationalAcademy Press, p. 47–65.

Snyder, D.B., 2002, Lithospheric growth at margins ofcratons: Tectonophysics (in press).

Tackley, P.J., and Stevenson, D.J., 1993, A mechanism forspontaneous self-perpetuating volcanism on the terrestrialplanets, in Stone, D.B., and Runcorn, S.K., eds., Flow andcreep in the solar system: Observations, modeling, andtheory: Norwell, Massachusetts, Kluwer Academic Press,p. 307–322.

van der Lee, S., and Nolet, G., 1997, Upper mantle S-velocity structure of North America: Journal ofGeophysical Research, v. 102, p. 22 815–22 838.

Van Schmus, W.R., Bickford, M.E., Anderson, J.L., Bender,E.E., Anderson, R.R., Bauer, P.W., Robertson, J.M.,Bowring, S.A., Condie, K.C., Denison, R.E., Gilbert, M.C.,Grambling, J.A., Mawer, C.K., Shearer, C.K., Hinze, W.J.,Karlstrom, K.E., Kisvarsanyi, E.B., Lidiak, E.G., Reed, J.C.,Jr., Sims, P.K., Tweto, O., Silver, L.T., Treves, S.B.,Williams, M.L., Wooden, J.L., 1993, TranscontinentalProterozoic provinces, in Reed, J.C., Jr., et al., eds., Pre-cambrian: Conterminous U.S.: Boulder, Colorado,Geological Society of America, Geology of North America,v. C-2, p. 171–334.

Manuscript received September 19,2001; accepted October 12, 2001. ▲


Check the Web for 2002 GeoCorps America™

PositionsPositions available for the summer

2002 GeoCorps America™ program will be

posted at www.geosociety.org

in mid-December. You may apply online or

download an application.

GeoCorps America filled 34 positions in

national parks and forests in 2001.

Through GeoCorps America, GSA works to

increase the number of geoscientists working on

public lands, raising awareness of the

geosciences among the general public,

the media, and land managers.

Coming in January: report on

2001 GeoCorps America participants.

Sponsored by Subaru of America, Inc.

The Women in Science Award isawarded to a woman or group ofwomen who, based on their Ph.D.research, have made a major impacton the geosciences. This award isnamed in honor of Doris Curtis, a pioneer in the field.

The 2001 recipient is Ingrid Hendy, who received herPh.D. in geological sciences in 2000 from the University ofCalifornia at Santa Barbara. Her thesis was entitled “RapidClimate Change Recorded in the North Pacific; Triggers,Processes and Effects.”In 2001, two women received honorable mentions. EmilyE. Brodsky received her Ph.D. from the California Instituteof Technology in 2000. Her thesis was entitled “Studies inFluid Dynamics as Applied to Seismology andVolcanology.” Carrie E. Schweitzer received her Ph.D.from Kent State University in 2000. Her dissertation wasentitled “Systematics and Paleobiogeography of FossilDecapod Crustaceans of the North Pacific Ocean.”

Sponsored by Subaru of America, Inc.

www.geosociety.orgWhat’s New on the Web?

New and improved bookstore

Submit manuscripts online forGSA Bulletin and Geology

GSA Employment Service ads,classified ads, and GeoCorpsAmerica™ information

Doris M. Curtis Memorial Fund for

Women in Science Award

Doris Curtis


New Process for Election ofGSA Fellows

The election of Fellows by Council will now takeplace once a year at the spring Council meeting.This means all nomination paperwork needs toarrive at GSA Headquarters by January 15, 2002.On the new nomination form, in addition to yoursupporting statements of the nominee’s qualifi-cations, you’ll be asked to provide a brief state-ment of why the nominee should be elected. Thisstatement wil l go to Council along with theCommittee on Membership’s recommendation,and it will be published in GSA Today should thatnominee be elected a Fellow.

In the past, all three nominators wererequired to be GSA Fellows. Now, one ofthe supporting signatures may come froma GSA member. As before, at least one of the three nominators must be from anorganization other than that of thenominee. New Fellows will continue to berecognized at the Presidential Address and AwardsCeremony at the GSA Annual Meeting.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE

www.meijitechno.com

More information and the nominating form areavailable in the Member Services section of theGSA Web site, www.geosociety.org, or you maycontact Joanna Conley at (303) 357-1007 [email protected].


Upcoming DeadlinesCommittee Service

Nominations Due February 1, 2002Candidates are needed for service on the

following GSA committees: Annual Program;Arthur L. Day Medal Award; Education; Geologyand Public Policy; Honorary Fellows; JointTechnical Program; Membership; Minorities andWomen in the Geosciences; Nominations;Penrose Conferences and Field Forums; PenroseMedal Award; Professional Development(formerly Continuing Education); Publications;Research Grants; and Young Scientist Award.Service begins July 2002.

Candidates are also needed for a GSA repre-sentative to the North American Commission onStratigraphic Nomenclature. Service begins inJuly 2002.

For complete information on committeeservice, current vacancies, and required qualifi-cations, see the October 2001 issue of GSA Today.Nomination form and instructions are availableat www.geosociety.org/aboutus/commtees/, orfrom Member Services, (303) 447-2020, 1-888-443-4472, or [email protected].

Student Research GrantsApplications Must Be Postmarked by February 1, 2002For information on 2002 Research Grant Program for

Students, see the October issue of GSA Today or visit www.geosociety.org. Application forms are available online, at thegeology departments of colleges and universities offeringgraduate degrees in earth sciences, or from Grants, Awards, andMedals, GSA, P.O. Box 9140, Boulder, CO 80301, [email protected].

Cole AwardsApplications Must Be Postmarked by February 1, 2002

The Gladys W. Cole Memorial Research Award providessupport for the investigation of the geomorphology ofsemiarid and arid terrains in the United States and Mexico.GSA Members and Fellows between the ages of 30 and 65who have published one or more significant papers on geo-morphology are eligible for the award.

The W. Storrs Cole Memorial Research Award supportsresearch in invertebrate micropaleontology for a GSA Memberor Fellow between the ages of 30 and 65 who has publishedone or more significant papers on micropaleontology.

For application forms or for more information, contact LeahCarter, Grants, Awards, and Medals, GSA, P.O. Box 9140,Boulder, CO 80301-9140, [email protected]. Applicationforms are also available at www.geosociety.org.

Congressional Science FellowshipApplications Due February 1, 2002

For application information for the 2002–2003GSA–U.S. Geological Survey Congressional ScienceFellowship, check the Web site at www.geosociety.org/science/csf/, or contact Karlon Blythe, Program Officer,GSA Headquarters, (303) 357-1036, [email protected].

2002 Doris M. Curtis Memorial Fund for Women in Science AwardSponsored by Subaru of America, Inc.Nominations Due February 1, 2002

The Doris M. Curtis Memorial Fund for Women inScience Award goes to a woman or group of womenwho have had a significant impact on the geosciencesbased on their Ph.D. research. For nomination, eligibility,and award details, visit www.geosociety.org/aboutus/admin/curtis.htm. Send nomination material to Grants,Awards, and Medals, GSA, P.O. Box 9140, Boulder, CO80301-9140.

Medlin ScholarshipApplications Due February 15, 2002

GSA Coal Geology Division’s Antoinette LiermanMedlin Scholarship in Coal Geology for the 2002–2003academic year: For details, see page 27 of this issue. Sendapplication materials to: Leslie F. Ruppert, Coordinator, A.Lierman Medlin Scholarship Committee, U.S. GeologicalSurvey, 956 National Center, Reston, VA 20192, (703) 648-6431, [email protected].

Medals and AwardsNominations Due February 1, 2002

Nominations of candidates are requested for the following medalsand awards: Penrose Medal, Day Medal, Honorary Fellows, YoungScientist Award (Donath Medal), GSA Public Service Award, andDistinguished Service Award. For details on the awards andnomination procedures, see the October 2001 issue of GSA Today, goto our Web site at www.geosociety.org, or call (303) 357-1037.Materials and supporting information for any of the nominations maybe sent to GSA, Grants, Awards, and Medals, P.O. Box 9140, Boulder,CO 80301-9140.

Officers and CouncilorsNominations Due February 1, 2002

The GSA Committee on Nominations requests nominationsfor officers (vice president and treasurer) and councilors toserve on the GSA Council beginning in 2003. Each nominationshould be accompanied by basic data and a description of thequalifications of the individual for the position recommended.Send nominations and background material to AdministrativeServices Dept., GSA, P.O. Box 9140, Boulder, CO 80301-9140.

Participate in a Field Forum to theBlue Ridge and Piedmont provinces

of the Virginia Appalachians,or take a GeoTrip to Grand Canyon.

Field Forum ScheduledStrain and Vorticity in High-Strain Zones, April 16–21, 2002,

Virginia Blue Ridge and Piedmont. Cost: $625 ($300 for students),including guidebooks, handouts, meals, lodging (double occupancy),refreshments, and transportation to and from the Charlottesvilleairport. Registration, applications, and information: Christopher (Chuck)M. Bailey, Department of Geology, College of William & Mary, Box8795, Williamsburg, VA 23187, (757) 221-2445, fax 757-221-2093,[email protected]. For complete information, see the September issueof GSA Today, also available at www.geosociety.org/pubs/gsatoday/.(Incorrect costs were published in the November issue. GSA Todayregrets the error.)

GeoVenturesGeoTrip: Geology of Grand Canyon—Lee’s Ferry to Diamond

Creek, April 21–28, 2002. Fees and payment: $2,050 for GSAMembers; $2,150 for nonmembers. A $300 deposit is due with yourreservation and is refundable through January 15, 2002, less a $50processing fee. The total balance is due February 21, 2002. Forcomplete information, see the October or November issues of GSAToday, also available at www.geosociety.org/pubs/gsatoday/.


John C. Frye Environmental Geology Award

Nominations Due March 31, 2002Candidate nominations are needed for the John C. Frye Environ-

mental Geology Award. For details, see the October 2001 issue of GSAToday, visit www.geosociety.org, or call (303) 357-1037. Materialsand supporting information may be sent to GSA, Grants, Awards,and Medals, P.O. Box 9140, Boulder, CO 80301-9140.

National AwardsNominations Due April 30, 2002

Candidate nominations are needed for the following nationalawards: William T. Pecora Award, National Medal of Science,Vannevar Bush Award, and Alan T. Waterman Award. For details, seethe October issue of GSA Today. Nominations should be sent toGSA, Grants, Awards, and Medals, P.O. Box 9140, Boulder, CO80301-9140.

Do all these deadlines make youwant to get away?


The hosts for the 2002 meeting of theGSA Northeastern Section are geologistsfrom the University of Massachusetts, MountHolyoke College, Greenfield CommunityCollege, Smith College, Amherst College,and Hampshire College. Meeting in con-junction are the Eastern Section of theSociety for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM),the Northeastern Section of the Pale-ontological Society (NEPS), the EasternNew England Sections of the NationalAssociation of Geology Teachers (NAGT),the Association for Women Geoscientists(AWG), and the Council on UndergraduateResearch (CUR), Geology Division. Themeeting will be held at the SheratonSpringfield at Monarch Place, OneMonarch Place, Springfield, MA 01144.

REGISTRATIONPreregistration deadline: February 15, 2002

Registration will be handled by GSAHeadquarters. To obtain lower registrationfees and to assist planning by the localcommittee, please preregister online atwww.geosociety.org or use the preregistra-tion form on p. 18.

Preregistration discounts are given tomembers of GSA and the associatedsocieties listed on the preregistrationform. Students and K–12 teachers mustsend or show a current ID in order toobtain these rates. Preregistration formsmust be received by GSA no later thanFebruary 15, 2002. Register only oneprofessional or student per form andretain a copy for your records. If youpreregister, your badge will be mailed toyou approximately two weeks prior to the meeting. For detailed information, visitwww.geosociety.org/sectdiv/northe/02nemtg.htm.

CANCELLATIONS, CHANGES, AND REFUNDS

All requests for additions, changes, andcancellations must be made in writing andreceived by February 22, 2002. There willbe NO refunds for on-site registration,Abstracts with Programs, or ticket sales.Members pay less. You can join now or atthe meeting. Contact GSA Headquarters at1-888-443-4472 or [email protected] further information.

ON-SITE REGISTRATION SCHEDULESheraton Springfield, Lobby AreaSunday, March 24 4–8 p.m.Monday, March 25 7 a.m.–4:30 p.m.Tuesday, March 26 7 a.m.–4:30 p.m.Wednesday, March 27 7–10 a.m.

ACCESSIBILITY FOR REGISTRANTSWITH SPECIAL NEEDS

The GSA Northeastern Section iscommitted to making every event at its2002 meeting accessible to all peopleinterested in attending. If you have specialrequirements, please indicate this on themeeting registration form, or contact SheilaSeaman, Department of Geosciences,University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA01003, (413) 545-2822, fax 413-545-1200.Please let us know your needs byFebruary 22, 2002.

LOCATION AND DIRECTIONSMeeting registration, technical sessions,

poster sessions, and exhibits will be inthe Sheraton Springfield, One MonarchPlace, Springfield, Mass. (See accompanyingmap or the GSA Web site.) Springfield islocated on the eastern bank of theConnecticut River, just south of the inter-section of I-91 and the MassachusettsTurnpike (I-90). Take exit 7 off of I-91 iftraveling south to Springfield. Take exit 6off of I-91 if traveling north to Springfield.The metropolitan area has a population ofapproximately 160,000 and was both thebirthplace of basketball and the home of

Dr. Seuss. The five colleges sponsoring themeeting are all located north of Springfield,in Amherst (University of Massachusetts,Amherst College, Hampshire College),South Hadley (Mount Holyoke College),and Northampton (Smith College).Temperatures in late March range fromthe 30s to the 50s (°F). The area is served by Bradley International Airportapproximately 18 miles south and byboth rail and bus service.

TECHNICAL PROGRAMOral sessions will normally include 15

minutes for presentation and five minutesfor questions and discussion. Two 35 mmslide projectors, two screens, one over-head projector, one computer projector,and one laptop computer will beprovided in each of the oral sessions. Ifyou choose to use the computerprojector, please arrive 45 minutes beforethe beginning of your session to loadyour presentation from your Zip diskonto the computer’s hard disk. Pleasebring overheads of your presentation foruse in case of computer, projector, orsoftware incompatibility or malfunction.If you have any quesitons about theaudiovisual set-up, please contact thetechnical services chair, Steve Dunn,Department of Earth and Environment,Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley,MA 01075, (413) 538-2531, fax 413-538-2239, [email protected], several weeks before the meeting.

Final Announcement

NORTHEASTERN SECTION, GSA37th Annual Meeting • Springfield, Massachusetts • March 25–27, 2002


Speaker Ready RoomA speaker ready room will be available

at the Sheraton Springfield on Sunday,March 24, 6–10 p.m., Monday andTuesday, March 25 and 26, 7 a.m.–9 p.m.,and Wednesday, March 27, 7 a.m.–noonfor previewing slides. Additional carouseltrays may be signed out from the speakerready room For those wishing additionaltechnical services, please contact SteveDunn, Department of Earth and Environment, Mount Holyoke College,South Hadley, MA 01075, (413) 538-2531, fax 413-538-2239, [email protected].

Poster SessionsPoster sessions will allow three hours

of display time; the authors must bepresent for two hours. Two 4 × 4 footand one 4 × 8 foot boards will be pro-vided for each U-shaped booth. Access toelectrical outlets and furniture for postersessions must be requested well in advance.Contact Peter Crowley, Department ofGeology, Amherst College, Amherst, MA01002, (413) 542-2715, fax 413-542-2713,[email protected].

ABSTRACTSAbstracts deadline: December 18, 2001

Abstracts for all sessions must be sub-mitted online at the GSA Web site, www.geosociety.org. If you are unable to submityour abstract electronically, please contactthe GSA technical program officer, NancyCarlson, (303) 357-1061, [email protected]. Only one volunteeredpaper may be presented by an individual.However, a person may be a co-authoron other papers. Also, those invited forsymposia may present additional papers.

SYMPOSIASymposia will include invited papers

and selected volunteered papers. Pros-pective authors are encouraged to contactindividual conveners directly. Addressrequests for general information regardingsymposia to Mark Leckie or Michele Cooke,Department of Geosciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003,(413) 545-1848 or (413) 547-3142; fax 413-545-1200, [email protected];[email protected].

01.Paleozoic Tectonics of the NorthernAppalachian Mountains: NewInsights and Persistent Problems:First Annual NETectonicsSymposium. Michael L. Williams,(413) 545-0745, [email protected];Scott E. Johnson, (207) 581-2142,[email protected].

02.Geochemistry of SedimentarySystems. Cosponsored with SEPM.Bosiljka Glumac, (413) 585-3680,[email protected]; StephenBurns, (413) 545-0142, [email protected].

03.New Perspectives on the GrenvilleOrogeny in the United States andCanada: A Symposium in Honor ofJames M. McLelland. Art Goldstein,(315) 228-7203, [email protected]; Bruce Selleck, (315) 228-7200, [email protected];William Peck, (315) 228-6798, [email protected].

04.Studies of Depositional Systemsand Sedimentary Rocks: ASymposium in Honor of EdwardScudder Belt. Allen Curran, (413) 585-3943, [email protected].

05.Tectonostratigraphy of Ophiolites.Lirim Hoxha, 355-42-28703, [email protected].

06.Fracture Hydrogeology in NewEngland: Can it Be Deciphered?Challenges, Approaches, and Needs.Gary Robbins, (860) 486-1392, [email protected].

THEME SESSIONSTheme sessions will include only

volunteered papers. Prospective authorsare encouraged to contact individualconveners directly. Address requests forgeneral information regarding symposiato Michele Cooke ([email protected])or Mark Leckie ([email protected]).

01.Holocene Climate and Lakes. MarkAbbott, (412) 624-1408,[email protected]; Andrea Lini,(802) 656-0245, [email protected].

02.New Advances in SedimentaryProcesses and Accumulation Forms:From the Shelf to the Estuaries.Jon Boothroyd, (401) 874-2191,[email protected]; Larry Ward,(603) 862-2175, [email protected].

03.Rift Basins of the Northeast.Cosponsored with SEPM. John Hubert,(413) 545-1525, [email protected].

04.New Frontiers in GeologicMicroanalysis. Michael J. Jercinovic,(413) 545-2431, [email protected];Michael L. Williams, (413) 545-0745,[email protected].

05.Fractures, Lineaments, andImplications for Fluid Flow.Michele Cooke, (413) 547-3142,

[email protected]; Robert Jacobi,(716) 645-6800, ext. 2468,[email protected]; Ken Hardcastle, (603) 279-4425,[email protected]; Steve Mabee, (413) 545-4814, [email protected].

06.Watershed and Wetland Hydrologyof the Adirondacks. Christopher P.Cirmo, (607) 753-2924, [email protected]; Edwin Romanowicz, (518) 564-2152, [email protected].

07.Environmental Isotopes as Tracersin Water Resources Investigations.Doug Burns, (518) 285-5662, [email protected]; Robert Newton, (413) 585-3946, [email protected].

08.Assessment of AnthropogenicImpact on Ground- and Surface-Water Quality. Anna Veeger, (401)874-2187, [email protected]; Tom Boving,(401) 874-7053, [email protected];Lois K. Ongley, (207) 783-6952,[email protected].

09.K–16 Education: Earth andEnvironmental Science. Richard Little,(413) 775-1445, [email protected]; Mark McMenamin, (413) 538-2280,[email protected].

10.Undergraduate Research. Sponsoredby the Geology Division of the Councilon Undergraduate Research. PeterCrowley, (413) 542-2715, [email protected]. POSTERS ONLY

SHORT COURSESFor more information on short courses,

contact the short course organizer, ChrisCondit, [email protected].

All short courses will be held in Morrill Science Center, University ofMassachusetts at Amherst. Please contactthe instructors for further information.

01.Geophysical Methods of Prospecting.Sun., March 24, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. FrankRevetta, (315) 267-2289, [email protected], State University of NewYork—Potsdam. Most appropriate forthose without experience ingeophysical methods. Will includefield exercises. Cost: $30 professional;$20 student. Max.: 10.

02.Using CARIS GIS Software with aFocus on Producing Digital Geo-logical Maps. Two days, Sat. andSun., March 23–24, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.Maria Luisa Crawford, (610) 526-5111,[email protected], Bryn MawrCollege; Walter van de Poll,


(506) 458-8533, [email protected],University of New Brunswick; Allan Ludman, (718) 997-5900,[email protected], Queens College(City University of New York). Cost:$125 professional; $100 student. Max.: 40.

03.The Construction of Dynamic DigitalMaps and Virtual Field Trips. Sun.,March 24, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Chris Condit,(413) 545-0272, [email protected], Department of Geosciences,University of Massachusetts. Cost: $30professional; $20 student. Max.: 20.

04.Microprobe Monazite Geochron-ology: Methods, Applications, andChallenges for the Future. Sun.,March 24, 1–5 p.m., Room 161, MorrillScience Center South. Michael L.Williams, (413) 545-0745, [email protected]; and Michael J. Jercinovic,(413) 545-2431, [email protected],University of Massachusetts. Cost: $30professional, $20 student. Max.: 20.

WORKSHOPS01.Roy J. Shlemon Mentor Program in

Applied Geology. Mon., March 25,11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., Suffolk Room,Sheraton Springfield. Practical advicefor graduate and undergraduate studentswith career interests in consulting. Thisis a workshop on professional oppor-tunities and challenges in the appliedgeosciences. Cost: $5 (includes lunch).Max.: 20. Preregistration is required,however, meeting registration is notrequired to attend this workshop.

02.Workshops for Geoscience Educators.Tues., March 26, Ballroom South,Sheraton Springfield. Workshops willbe followed by the NAGT Luncheon(see Special Events), by the afternoontheme session “K–16 Education: Earthand Environmental Science,” and bythe late afternoon–early evening tourof the Springfield Science Museum(see Special Events).

8:30–9:30 a.m.: Introduction toConnecticut Valley Geology. RichardLittle, Greenfield Community College,(413) 775-1445, [email protected] the basics of our region’s excitingand diverse geologic history in thisfast-paced presentation. Educationalmaterials will be available.

9:45–10:45 a.m.: Emerging Themesin Geology. Six college staff members.Find out what’s new in the earthsciences. This workshop will explore

topics that have not generally made itinto the textbooks yet.

11 a.m.–noon: Effective Teachingand Learning Through STEMTEC.Panel discussion. The Science Tech-nology, Engineering, and MathematicsTeacher Education Collaborative, amultiyear National Science Founda-tion–funded initiative, is a partnershipbetween public and private two- andfour-year colleges and school districtswith a varied population. The focus ison improving teaching and learning inthe classroom, motivating collegescience majors to consider teaching asa career, and providing support fornew and veteran teachers in K–12classrooms. Come and see how somenew ideas and approaches can beintegrated into your K–16 classroom.

FIELD TRIPSTrips planned at this time are listed

below. The trips will run depending onweather. Wear boots and warm clothing!For more information on field trips, con-tact either of the field trip committee chairs,Michael Williams ([email protected]) orJohn Hubert ([email protected]).

01.Mesozoic Deerfield Basin,Massachusetts. Cosponsored by SEPM.Sun., March 24, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. JohnF. Hubert, [email protected];Peter T. Panish, [email protected]; James A. Dutcher, University ofMassachusetts. Meet in parking lot 62,south of Morrill Science Center,University of Massachusetts atAmherst. Lunch provided. Due to latewinter conditions, all participants mustride on the bus in which the geologyof each stop will be presented. Noprivate cars. Max.: 30; min.: 12. Prefer-ence given to registered professionals.Cost: $35.

02.Dynamic Events and Processes inthe Devonian Catskill Front,Eastern New York. Cosponsored bySEPM. Sun., March 24, 7 a.m.–6 p.m.Chuck Ver Straeten, (518) 486-2004,[email protected], New YorkState Museum. Meet in the lobby of the Sheraton Springfield. Lunchprovided. Max.: 30. Cost: $60professionals; $50 students.

03.A Tectonic-Stratigraphic Examin-ation of the New England Caledonides in West-CentralMassachusetts. Sun., March 24, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Peter Robinson,[email protected], University of

Massachusetts and Geological Surveyof Norway. Meet in parking lot 62,south of Morrill Science Center,University of Massachusetts atAmherst. Lunch provided. Max.: 20.Cost: $40 professionals; $30 students.

STUDENT AWARDS AND TRAVELASSISTANCE

The Kenneth N. Weaver Student AwardProgram of the Northeastern Section, incooperation with the GSA Foundation, willprovide travel assistance to students pre-senting papers at the Springfield meeting.Travel awards are open to both graduateand undergraduate students. Completedapplications are due January 25, 2002.Undergraduates in the NortheasternSection, who are juniors in the 2001–2002academic year, are also eligible to applyfor a research grant under the Kenneth N.Weaver Student Award Program.Completed proposals are due February22, 2002. For information and applicationforms, please contact Stephen Pollock,Secretary and Accounting Officer, GSA Northeastern Section, [email protected].

EXHIBITSExhibits will be located in Ballroom

North of the Sheraton Springfield; snacksand refreshments will be available forexhibit visitors. The deadline for reservingspace is March 14. The cost of standardbooths will be $400 for commercialexhibitors and $200 for educational ornonprofit groups or institutions. Forfurther information and space reserva-tions, contact the exhibits coordinator,Sheila Seaman, Department of Geosciences,Morrill Science Center, University ofMassachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, (413)545-2822, [email protected].

SPECIAL EVENTSGSA Northeastern Section Manage-

ment Board Meeting. Sun., March 24,5–7 p.m., Sheraton Springfield, ExecutiveBoardroom.

Welcoming Reception. Sun., March 24, 6–9 p.m., Sheraton Springfield,Mahogany Room/Atrium.

Paleontological Society NortheasternSection Luncheon. Mon., March 25,noon–1:30 p.m. Sheraton Springfield, KingGeorge Room. Cost: $27 professionals;$15 students. Preregistration required.Max.: 30.


Eastern Section of SEPM BusinessMeeting and Reception. Mon., March25, 5–7 p.m. Sheraton Springfield,Mahogany Room.

Map Blast V. Mon., March 25,7:30–9:30 p.m. Sheraton Springfield,Longford Room. An informal session fordisplay and discussion of newlypublished, unpublished, or in-progressgeologic maps of any sort. ContactMichael Williams, Department ofGeosciences, University of Massachusetts,Amherst, MA 01003, (413) 545-0745,[email protected].

Association for Women GeoscientistsBreakfast Buffet. Tues., March 26,6–8:30 a.m. Sheraton Springfield,Mahogany Room. Cost: $18 professionals;$10 students. Preregistration required.Max.: 40.

Northeastern Section of NAGTLuncheon and Business Meeting.Tues., March 26, noon–1:30 p.m. SheratonSpringfield, Mahogany Room. Cost: $27professionals; $15 students. Max.: 30.

Springfield Science Museum Tourand Reception. Tues., March 26, 4–7 p.m.,with refreshments. Cost: $15professionals; $10 students.

GSA Northeast Section Receptionand Banquet. Tues., March 26, 6–9 p.m.Sheraton Conference Center, BallroomSouth. Speaker: Lynn Margulis, Departmentof Geosciences, University of Massa-chusetts, Amherst, Mass. Cost: $28–$33professionals; $18–$23 students. Pre-registration is required for the banquet.

ACCOMMODATIONSMeeting participants will get special

rates at the Sheraton Springfield, (413)781-1010 or 1-800-426-9004. Reservationsmust be made by March 1, 2002. In orderto receive the GSA rate, telephonerequests must identify affiliation with the

Northeastern Section, GSA. Rates cannotbe changed at check-in or check-out forguests who fail to identify their affiliationat the time the reservation is requested.Reservation requests received after March1, 2002 will be accepted on a space-available and rate-available basis. Singleor double: $109 plus tax; triple orquadruple: $114 plus tax.

PARKINGThe Sheraton Springfield has indoor

parking spaces directly beneath the hotel,as well as enclosed spaces in theInterstate 91 South lot connected to thehotel by an enclosed skywalk. Dayparking has been discounted to $4 perday for those attending the meeting. Theparking charge for overnight guests is$10 per night.

GUEST ACTIVITIES AND EVENTSAdditional guest activities and events

will be listed on the Web site as theybecome available.

Fun Run. Mon., March 25, and Tues.,March 26, mornings. Information availableat the registration desk.

Yankee Candle Company and CarMuseum, South Deerfield. Mon., March25, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. The flagship store ofthe famous candle company featurescandles, gifts, a restaurant, and a carmuseum. Cost: $25.

Downtown Northampton, Mass.Mon., March 25, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Greatspecialty stores, restaurants, the Wordsand Pictures Museum (of visual arts),bookstores, Smith College campus witharboretum. Cost: $25.

Basketball Hall of Fame, Springfield,Mass. Tues., March 26, 1–3:30 p.m. Cost: $27.

Emily Dickinson Homestead,Amherst, Mass. Tues., March 26, 1–5 p.m.

Tour of the home of the famous poet andof The Evergreens, the recently renovatednext-door estate of her brother, AustinDickinson, and his wife, Susan. Cost: $30.

DETAILED INFORMATIONFor further information, see

www.geosociety.org or contact thegeneral chair, Sheila Seaman, Departmentof Geosciences, University ofMassachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, (413)545-2822, [email protected], or thetechnical program chairs, Michele Cooke,(413) 547-3142, [email protected],and Mark Leckie, (413) 545-1948,[email protected], Department ofGeosciences, University of Massachusetts,Amherst, MA 01003.

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IMPORTANT DATES

January 17, 2002 Pardee Keynote Symposia and Topical Session proposals due. Forms are availableat www.geosociety.org/meetings/2002/.

April 2002 Call for Papers in April issue of GSA Today

June 2002 Registration and housing information inJune issue of GSA Today

July 16, 2002 Abstracts due

Exhibit Space is available. Call Brenda Martinez at 1-800-472-1988, ext. 1038, for an Exhibitor Prospectus.

For more information, contact:

TECHNICAL PROGRAM CHAIRJohn W. Geissman(505) 277-3433fax [email protected]

FIELD TRIP CO-CHAIRSEric A. Erslev(970) 491-5661fax [email protected]

Jerry Magloughlin(970) 491-1812fax [email protected]

HOT TOPICS CHAIRSteve Getty(719) 389-6512fax [email protected]

GSA TECHNICAL PROGRAM OFFICERNancy Carlson(303) [email protected]

COLORADO CONVENTION CENTER

Title Sponsor of the 2002 GSA Annual Meeting.

Annual Meeting & ExpositionTechnical Sessions & Exhibits Open

October 27–30, 2002

For More Information(303) 447-2020 " 1-800-472-1988

fax [email protected] " www.geosociety.org


Francis Parker Shepard,1897–1985Joseph R. CurrayProfessor of Geology Emeritus, ScrippsInstitution of Oceanography

Francis Parker Shepard—“Fran” to hiscolleagues and students—was not ofhumble beginnings, but was the son of amoderately wealthy family of PeachesPoint, Marblehead, Massachusetts, wherehe attended mainly private schools. At 14,he took his first trip to Europe anddiscovered a love for mountains, eventhough he broke his leg on his firstventure into the Dolomites. Discoveringthis fascination with mountains wascertainly an early influence in his life andcareer. Another influence—the fact thathis father owned a rather large andcomfortable yacht—undoubtedly led tohis turning to marine geology.

Shepard’s career in geology had twoperiods: structural geology andmountains, and marine geology (he calledit submarine geology). But throughoutboth careers, he showed the samecharacteristics. He was an observer whointerpreted what he observed. He wasskeptical of theoretical analyses andpreferred to overwhelm his oppositionwith extensive collection of data. He wasefficient, hardworking, and prolific: Hepublished more than 200 papers andauthored or co-authored ten books. Andhe loved to challenge and upsetcherished dogma. In the second andgreater of two careers, Shepard wasfrequently called the Father of MarineGeology. In a wonderful story about hisfirst meeting with the venerable MadameKlenova of the USSR Institute ofOceanography in 1956, she remarkedwarmly, “You are the father of marinegeology, and I am the mother of marinegeology.” To this, Elizabeth, Shepard’slovely wife for well over 50 years, replied,“And that, in turn, must make me theconcubine.”

Shepard described himself as a poorstudent, but he earned his degree ingeology at Harvard in about two and ahalf years, before and after serving briefly

in the Navy during the First World War.R.A. Daly, J.B. Woodward, and CharlesPalache were among his influentialprofessors. Also while at Harvard, he metone of his sister’s friends from Vassar,Elizabeth Buchner. When selecting agraduate school, he was influenced bythe fact that Elizabeth lived in Milwaukee,and he decided on the University ofChicago. There, he fell under theinfluence of R.D. Salisbury, J. HarlanBretz, and Rollin T. Chamberlin, son ofT.C. Chamberlin. During his three years at Chicago, immediately after T.C.Chamberlin’s retirement, students andcolleagues took Chamberlin’s ideas almostas a religion, and the general attitude wasthat most of the important problems ingeology had been solved. Shepard waschallenged to prove otherwise.

R.C. Chamberlin was working in theRocky Mountains, so Shepard took up thestudy of structural geology, and did his

dissertation on the Rocky MountainTrench. He and Elizabeth spent theirhoneymoon in the field, camping in apup tent for three months. They had nocar, so they traveled by train from area toarea, packing with them Elizabeth’swardrobe trunk with her trousseau. Thetrunk sat unopened at each railwaystation during the three-month trip, whilethe couple traveled with two duffel bagsin ranchers’ cars, by horseback, bywheelbarrow, and by backpacking.Elizabeth, who helped keep recordsorganized, was always a true partner inShepard’s research, from that firstadventure to the cruises I took with thetwo of them many years later.

Shepard received his Ph.D. in 1922 andbecame an instructor at the University ofIllinois. His interest in structural geologyand tectonics continued, and hepublished his first 11 papers on thesubject. As a young graduate student, Iremember reading his 1923 paper “Toquestion the theory of periodicdiastrophism.” I did not realize it at thetime, but this was the start of his lifelonglove of challenging recognized authorityin geology. Only a year after receiving hisPh.D., he was questioning the ideas ofT.C. Chamberlin, R.T. Chamberlin, CharlesSchuchert, Bailey Willis, and others.

Shepard’s father, the head of ShepardSteamship Line, was an avid sailor, andwhen Elizabeth was expecting her firstchild in 1923, he offered his son the useof his yacht that summer so he could do“some kind of geological work,” ratherthan field work in the mountains. Thiswas to be the start of the second phase ofhis career. The story has become legendin marine geology that he took surfacesediment samples from the continentalshelf off the New England coast and didnot find what theory had predicted. Someof the coarsest sediments do not lie nearthe shore, but near the shelf edge. Afterseveral more summers in Marbleheadbroadening his survey area, and afterconsiderable study of the notations onpublished navigation charts, he publisheda 1927 abstract, “Influence of oscillatingsea level on the development of thecontinental shelf,” to be followed by hisclassic 1932 paper, “Sediments of thecontinental shelves.” This was the firststudy of the subject documented withobservations and interpretations. He alsochallenged existing ideas, proposing aglacial origin of some of the trough-shapedvalleys off the northeastern Canadiancoast and a lowered sea level–rivererosion origin of other submarine valleys.

Francis Parker Shepard ca. 1920 as a navycadet at Harvard with his future bride,Elizabeth Buchner.

Rock Stars


Shepard was now well into the second and more importantstage of his career: that of a submarine geologist. The readyavailability of ship time was certainly a contributing factor in thischange. His interests broadened through increasing study ofpublished charts. He was given a grant from the University ofIllinois to obtain charts from all over the world. As he publishedpapers on submarine canyons, submerged deltas, sea-levelchanges, and continental shelves, he was able to back upobservations from his study area with global observations fromthese charts. And he continued to challenge authority by reject-ing some of the ideas on coast classification of the eminentcoastal geomorphologist, Douglas Johnson. Also during thisperiod, he developed a mutually beneficial relationship with the U.S. Coast and GeodeticSurvey, and worked with thecaptains of several of its vesselsoff other U.S. coasts.

Shepard started working onCalifornia submarine canyonsduring a sabbatical leave in 1933.In 1936, he made another majorcareer change. In that year, CharlesPalache, his former professor atHarvard, became the president ofthe Geological Society of America.He changed the GSA policy ofmaking only small research grantsand recommended that Shepardapply for a “very large” grant of$10,000. T. Wayland Vaughn (see“Rock Stars,” GSA Today,November 1995, v. 5, p. 233–234),then the director of the ScrippsInstitution of Oceanography,encouraged Shepard to use theinstitution’s new ship, the 96-footE.W. Scripps, for his research oncanyons of the Californiacontinental margin. So, in 1937, hetook a leave from the Universityof Illinois, and brought his familyand two of his promising graduatestudents—Robert S. Dietz, whoarrived by hitchhiking, and K.O.Emery, who rode boxcars—to LaJolla. For the $10,000, Shepardhad six months ship time andpaid his two assistants, who developed and built the necessaryequipment. He continued teaching at the University of Illinois,but now also had a formal relationship with Scripps.

Shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Shepard moved toLa Jolla to join the University of California Division of WarResearch. During the war, he compiled continental-shelfsediment charts for use in submarine warfare and conductedharbor approach studies in California, Hawaii, and Midway.After the war, he resigned from Illinois and accepted a perm-anent appointment at Scripps, where he spent the rest of hisdistinguished career.

Many geologists know Shepard’s subsequent career from hismany papers and books. His first text, Submarine Geology, wasa standard for the subject for many years after publication of thefirst edition in 1948. He completed publication of his prewarsurveys of California submarine canyons and the Gulf ofCalifornia, and he continued his work on submarine canyons

and coastal processes and classification. From 1951 to 1960, hewas in charge of the American Petroleum Institute study (APIProject 51) of the coastal, deltaic, and continental-shelf areas ofthe northwest Gulf of Mexico. The study produced a remarkablecollection of papers by Shepard, his students, and his colleagues,compiled in a summary volume in 1960.

After leading the API Project 51, Shepard once again returnedto his earlier interests: submarine canyons, coastal processes andfeatures, and sea-level changes. By this time, his internationalrecognition started bringing him awards and honors. He was anhonorary member and president of international geologicalsocieties, received two honorary doctorates, and received theWollaston Medal from the Geological Society of London and the

Sorby Medal from theInternational Association ofSedimentologists. Each year,the Society for SedimentaryGeology awards one of itsmajor medals, the Francis P.Shepard Medal, for excell-ence in marine geology.

Shepard conveyed hisenthusiasm to all thosearound him and to twogenerations of graduatestudents over his long yearsof teaching. To them and tohis colleagues andassociates, he was an everkind and generous friend.His manner was gentle,even courtly. He continuedto work long after his formalretirement in 1966, spendingat least a part of everyweekday in his office, untilfrailty and illness made hisvisits less frequent. Eventhen, he continued workingat home, literally until theday before his death.

AcknowledgmentsI thank Tom Shepard, Tim

Shepard, and Dave Moorefor assistance in preparationof this brief biography. I

have also drawn extensively from Shepard’s unpublishedautobiography.

Further ReadingDietz, R.S., and Emery, K.O., 1971, Portrait of a scientist, FrancisShepard: Earth Science Reviews, v. 7, p. A9–A15.

Dietz, R.S., and Emery, K.O., 1976, Early days of marinegeology: Oceanus, v. 19, p. 19–22.

Rusnak, G.A., 1991, Afoot and afloat along the edge: Adventuresof an ingenious beachcomber—A tribute to Francis ParkerShepard (1897–1985): From shoreline to abyss: SEPM (Societyfor Sedimentary Geology) Special Publication 46, p. 1–7.

“Rock Stars” is produced by the GSA History of GeologyDivision. Editorial Committee: Michele Aldrich, Robert Dott,Robert Ginsburg (editor of this profile), and Gerard Middleton.

Francis Parker Shepard in 1937 with a model of one of the submarinecanyons he had surveyed.


Leaving the safe haven of student life and entering the real worldcan be intimidating. Faculty can advise geology students who areheaded for academic careers, but what about everyone else? Howcan a geology student find meaningful work using real-worldapplications of geology? The Roy J. Shlemon Mentor Program,that’s how.

Shlemon never had a mentor—that’s why he endowed theprogram, which is administered through the GSA Foundation.The program just completed a successful fifth year.

“I started my career in geology as a full-time academic, but latertook the risk of cutting the academic umbilical to see if I couldmake it in the real world,” Shlemon explained. “Perhaps I waslucky, have therefore succeeded to some extent, and thus amable to give back to the profession. How much more efficient itwould have been for me—and for all my geological compatriotsat the time—to receive advice and to be able to marshalquestions about practical career decisions and present them to anexperienced professional for comment and general counsel—andat no cost!”

Applied geologists mentor students at GSA section meetings inthe spring. Mentors and students are mutually enriched by thisexperience: These one- to two-hour get-togethers sparkfriendships and change lives and careers.

Mentors Make Connections Coast to CoastFor 2001, the Shlemon mentoring events began at theNortheastern Section Meeting in Burlington, Vermont. Specialthanks go to mentors Peter N. Gale, Stone Environmental, Inc.,Montpelier, Vermont; Craig D. Heindel, Heindel and Noyes,Burlington; David M. Streetsmith, Tetra Tech EM, Inc.,Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Kristen L. Underwood, GriffinInternational, Inc., Bristol, Vermont; and Christine Massey, whoserved as the faculty coordinator.

Here’s what students had to say: “This was a great opportunity and gave me a chance to entertainnew ideas about jobs and internships and helped connect me tolocal firms.”“I love the one-on-one roundtable aspect of the discussions. Thepanelists are very accessible. They love their careers, and thisgives me inspiration.”

The Southeastern Section meeting in Raleigh, North Carolina,hosted the next workshop. Kudos go to mentors Brian J. Bellis,Law Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc., Raleigh; AlexS. Glover, Zemex Industrial Minerals, Feldspar Corporation,Spruce Pine, North Carolina; John D. Kiefer, Kentucky GeologicalSurvey, Lexington; Marilyn J. Suiter, National ScienceFoundation, Arlington, Virginia; and to the local chair, SkipStoddard, and student assistant Susan Gidley, both from NorthCarolina State University, for their help.

Student comments: “The wide variety of fields represented provided good insights.”“All of [the mentors] had valuable information that I will becarrying with me.”

Next came Los Angeles and the Cordilleran Section meeting atUniversal City.

Thanks go to mentors Erin A. Campbell-Stone, Chevron,Bakersfield, California; Eldon M. Gath, Earth ConsultantsInternational, Orange, California; hydrogeologist andphotographer of geologic sites John A. Karachewski, WeissAssociates in Emeryville, California; Daniel Clayton Steward,Chevron, Bakersfield; and faculty coordinator Kathleen M.Marsaglia, California State University at Northridge. But the icingon the cake for this event was having Roy J. Shlemon himself jointhe group! Thanks, Roy. That was special.

Student comments on their experiences: “Quantity/quality of info I would not have access to otherwise….Thank you for offering the opportunity!”“Highly relevant and ideal for a young geologist who has a lot tolearn from experts in the field.”

The North-Central Section meeting workshop took place inBloomington-Normal, Illinois. Mentors Arthur C. Pincomb,Associated Geologists, Inc., and Gordon M. Stevens, Versar Inc.,did a great job!

Here’s student feedback: “I was very pleased to have an opportunity to ask questions ofnon-academic-centered geologists.”“It was great to hear about the ‘real world’.”

The last mentor workshop took place at the joint Rocky Mountainand South-Central Sections meeting in Albuquerque, NewMexico. Thank you to our mentors Sean D. Connell, New MexicoBureau of Mines and Mineral Resources; Deborah Green, Tilford& Green, Placitas, New Mexico; and James P. McCalpin,Crestone Science Center and GEO-HAZ Consulting, Inc.,Colorado; and to faculty coordinator Gary A. Smith, University ofNew Mexico.

A sampling of student kudos:“It’s great to hear from working geologists!”

“Covered practical subjects that it’s hard to get information on.”

Roy J. Shlemon Mentor Workshops Enjoy Fifth Year of Success

Wanted: Mentors for 2002The fifth year of the Roy J. Shlemon Mentor Program in Applied Geology has

been a great success. But we need your help! If you’d like to become a mentorfor our 2002 workshops, please contact program officer Karlon Blythe,[email protected], (303) 357-1036.

Daniel Clayton Steward at the Cordilleran meeting.


Denver 2002: Science at the Highest LevelCall for Proposals for Keynote Symposia

and Topical SessionsProposal Deadline: January 17, 2002

Submit Session Proposals at www.geosociety.org.

The GSA Annual Meeting returns to Denver, the Mile High Cityand a favorite of many geoscientists, in 2002. You can help makethis an exciting and successful meeting by submitting proposalsfor topical sessions and Pardee Symposia. Your participation is whatwill make this meeting the meeting of the year for earth scientists.

We welcome proposals for Pardee Keynote Symposia and topicalsessions. They must be sent electronically on or before January17, 2002. Go to www.geosociety.org/meetings/2002/.

Many session rooms in Denver will allow for combined oral andposter presentations to accommodate the use of these differentpresentation methods in a single session.

PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIESThe GSA 2002 Annual Meeting program structure offers opportu-

nities for effective and dynamic program building and flexibility byallowing a mixture of invited and volunteered papers and differ-ent session formats. Joint Technical Program Committee (JTPC)representatives from the different GSA Divisions play a large rolein program decisions. Descriptions of the various program optionsand guidelines are at www.geosociety.org. Please read these guide-lines carefully before submitting a proposal. Two types of sessionsmay be proposed:

Pardee Keynote Symposia, made possible by a grant from theJoseph T. Pardee Memorial Fund, are special events of broad inter-est to the geoscience community. Topics appropriate for thesesymposia are those that are on the leading edge in a scientific dis-cipline or area of public policy; address broad, fundamental prob-lems; are interdisciplinary; or focus on global problems. The pri-mary criterion for selection is excellence. Selection is on a competitive basis with four to eight half-day, nonconcurrent ses-sions offered. All speakers will be invited; each convener is provided with a budget of $2,000. We strive for a good mix ofPardee Keynote Symposia of interest to GSA and AssociatedSociety members.

Topical sessions promote the exchange of timely or state-of-the-art information with respect to a focused topic and allowscheduling of interdisciplinary talks that bear on a specific topic.Organizers (advocates) may invite specific papers to ensure a suc-cessful and excellent session and are encouraged to solicit volun-teered contributions. A maximum of four invited speakers may beallowed. An advocate may request more invitations if he or shecan justify the larger number. However, sessions must include vol-unteered abstracts, which are solicited in GSA Today for all ap-proved topical sessions. Advocates may request special formats.All requests are reviewed by the JTPC. All topical sessions must re-ceive a minimum of 12 abstracts to be part of the technical pro-gram. Advocates are encouraged to submit their proposals asposter sessions to accommodate the growing technical program.

Oral and Poster General SessionsConsisting entirely of volunteered papers, these sessions re-

main an important component of the GSA Annual Meeting. Thenumber of abstracts received determines the number of general

sessions in each discipline. The rejection rate for recent GSA AnnualMeetings has been much less than 5%. The goal of the technicalprogram chair and the JTPC representatives is to provide presen-ters the best possible opportunity for communicating new scien-tific information rather than to dictate what can or will be pre-sented. Poster sessions have been expanded to allow presentationof more papers. To allow for well-attended, dynamic sessions, an ef-fort will be made in scheduling to avoid overlap of poster and oralsessions in the same discipline.

Hot TopicsThese popular, hour-long lunchtime forums, held Sunday through

Wednesday, differ from technical sessions in that the focus is ondiscussion, with plenty of audience participation. Depending onthe subject, a debate format is recommended, and panels are dis-couraged. Each session must have a moderator. Titles should becatchy and provocative. If you are interested in organizing one ofthese sessions, contact the technical program chair, John Geissman.

Be a Part of Denver 2002Topical session organizers have the ability to ensure a success-

ful, excellent program with a limited number of invited speakers,and all geoscientists may contribute papers to sessions. PardeeKeynote Symposia expand the opportunity for high-profile sessionson important developments that have an impact on our science.

Help us make the GSA Annual Meeting increasingly dynamicand stimulating for all GSA and Associated Society members aswell as one that appeals to a wide audience. We look forward toworking with you. If you have any questions or concerns regarding theprogram, please call or e-mail one of us.

Rob Van der VooAnnual Program Chair (2000–2002)(734) 764-8322 [email protected]

John Geissman2002 Technical Program Chair(505) 277-3433 [email protected]

Denver 2002 Dates and Deadlines

2002

January 17 Proposals due by midnight, MST. Electronicsubmission required.

April 1 Electronic abstract form will be atwww.geosociety.org for active submission.

April First announcement in April issue of GSA Today.

June Second announcement, including registrationand housing information, in June issue ofGSA Today.

July 16 Electronic abstracts due by midnight, MST.

August 5 Technical Program schedule finalized.

September 1 All accepted abstracts will be posted atwww.geosociety.org after September 1.Speakers and titles will be listed with links tothose abstracts.

Exhibit space is available. Call Brenda Martinez at 1-800-472-1988, ext. 1038, for the Exhibitor Prospectus.


GSA Foundation Update

Donna L. Russell, Director of Operations

Last month, we focused attention on the benefits thatplanned giving can bring to GSA members and theFoundation. I am sharing another article written by ourplanned giving consultant, Janet Doolin, this one focusingon the new tax laws. A special note: When formingyour plans for any type of planned giving, pleaseseek out the assistance and professional guidance ofyour personal advisors to help you understand themany, many far-reaching and important changes inthe new law.

Vital News about the New Tax Laws:Will You Be Paying Less IncomeTax in 2002? Will You Be Free fromEstate Taxes in 2002?Janet Doolin, J.D.

For many individuals, the 2001 Tax Act enacted in May2001 was great news, resulting in one of the largest federaltax reductions in decades. Income tax rates are down, withimmediate reductions beginning July 2001. Additional ratereductions will occur in the coming years, and more retire-ment saving incentives will be granted for IRAs and 401(k)s.

At year-end and in the first quarter of the new year,many people take the time to check in with their advisorsto redefine their plans—both financial and estate plans.

The new tax law also offers many other income taxchanges that you will want to check out with yourfinancial advisors. Changes in the child-care credits, the“marriage penalty tax,” incentives for savings for higher edu-cation, and student loan assistance are just a few of themany positive changes to explore further.

Big Estate Tax ChangesOne of the most important changes in the new tax law

is the gradual elimination of the federal estate tax that hasbeen with us since 1917. The emphasis here is on the wordgradual. So many people, both in the news media and inthe financial services world, mistakenly use the word “repeal”when talking about the glacial phased-in nature of theestate tax law changes.

The estate tax is not totally eliminated or repealed until2010. The top estate tax rate will be reduced from 55% to50% in 2002. Beginning January 1, 2002, the increase in theexemption is raised to $1 million. The good news is that itis estimated that this initial 5% rate reduction may eliminateestate tax to approximately 50% of those whose estatescould now be subject to it.

Spouses may still transfer unlimited amounts to eachother during their lifetimes and at death, so with properplanning it will not be necessary for married couples topay estate taxes at the death of the first spouse. By comb-ining their individual exemption amounts, couples cancontinue to maximize their tax relief. Again, this is an areawhere you will want to receive the advice of an attorneyor tax advisor skilled in estate planning.

The Pace of Estate Tax Change Slows After 2002In the years following 2002, the estate tax gradually is

reduced to 49% in 2003, 48% in 2004, and then 1% eachyear until reaching 45% in 2009. Then, in 2010, the estatetax is finally repealed FOR ONE YEAR ONLY and isreinstated in 2011.

Charitable Giving: How Can You Help GSA Foundationwith Your Planned Gifts?

Charitable gifts continue to be fully deductible under thenew tax law. Reduced income taxes may result in moredisposable income from which to make gifts to yourfamily and your favorite charities and causes.

The GSA Foundation offers charitable gift annuities, aretirement planning option you may wish to consider. Acharitable gift annuity is a gift to the Foundation. TheFoundation then creates an annuity arrangement for youor a loved one and that annuity pays a lifetime incomestream back to you or the person you name. Your giftcreates a charitable income tax deduction, and possiblecapital gain tax savings. It’s a win-win for both the GSAFoundation and you and your family. It’s an attractive giftidea with tax advantages that you may wish to explorefurther. Contact the Foundation to learn about the benefits.

With the new tax law’s reductions in estate taxes,individuals will have more freedom than ever to decidehow their assets will be distributed instead of being forcedto surrender those assets to estate taxes. Giving to the GSAFoundation through your will or trust is always popularand may easily be arranged as part of your planning or by

Most memorable early geologic experience

I ran “lantern slides” in 1935 at the New York Cityannual meeting (held at Christmastime). Much excite-ment still at GSA because of the Penrose Grant a fewyears earlier.

—Richard H. Mahard


revising your current plans.The GSA Foundation encourages

you to consider including the Founda-tion in your will, trust, retirement plans,or other estate plans. We are alwayshappy to answer any questions youmay have and can provide the appro-priate bequest language upon request.Please contact Donna Russell at theGSA Foundation and let her knowyour needs.

Janet Doolin, J.D., is a consultant tononprofits and foundations in Coloradoand nationally and consults with theGSA Foundation. She serves on thefaculty at Regis University, Denver,Colorado, in the Master for NonProfitManagement Program.

Focus on a Foundation FundThe Roy J. Shlemon ScholarshipFund for Engineering Geology

The Roy J. Shlemon ScholarshipFund for Engineering Geology wasestablished by Shlemon in 1999 and isadministered by the GSA EngineeringGeology Division. The fund has twocomponents. The first providesscholarship funds to graduatestudents pursuing research in thegeneral field of engineering geology.The second funds students so they

may attend field trips and shortcourses at GSA Section Meetings andthe GSA Annual Meeting.

Shlemon is a consulting geologist inNewport Beach, California, and hasspecialized in the application ofQuaternary geology, geomorphology,and soil stratigraphy to engineeringgeology practice. In addition todegrees from Fresno State College,the University of Wyoming, and theUniversity of California at Berkeley,Shlemon has held teaching and/orresearch positions at the University ofCalifornia at Davis, Louisiana StateUniversity, Stanford University, the

University of California at Los Angeles,and California State University, LosAngeles.

Shlemon points out that today’sengineering geologist should be wellversed in many disciplines, particularlyQuaternary geology, geomorphology,soil stratigraphy, and field geology.He hopes that awards from this fundwill encourage students to conductresearch in traditional engineering geo-logy and to attend as many field tripsas possible during their careers.

The net assets of the fund at theend of August 2001 were $121,300.

Student Financial Support for Field Trips and Short Courses

The Engineering Geology Division encourages its student members to applyfor a Roy J. Shlemon Meeting Award. This award will cover the cost of fieldtrips and/or short courses, as well as meeting registration at GSA SectionMeetings. Applications and information are available at http://rock.geosociety.org/egd/index.html (see Scholarships), or www.geosociety.org/profdev/grants/.

The postmark deadline for applications for each meeting is as follows:Northeastern Section Meeting January 4, 2002

North-Central and Southeastern Sections Joint Meeting January 4, 2002

South-Central Section Meeting January 18, 2002

Cordilleran Section Meeting February 15, 2002

Rocky Mountain Section Meeting March 1, 2002

Enclosed is my contribution in the amount of$____________.

Please credit my contribution to the:

Unrestricted Fund

Other: _________________ Fund

I have named GSA Foundation in my will.

Please send me more information on charitable gift annuities.

PLEASE PRINT

Name ___________________________________________________________________

Address _________________________________________________________________

City/State/ZIP ____________________________________________________________

Phone ____________________________________________

GSA Foundation3300 Penrose Place,

P.O. Box 9140

Boulder, CO 80301-9140

(303) 447-2020

[email protected]


The Dating Game—One Man’sSearch for the Age of the Earth

Cherry Lewis, Cambridge University Press, 2000, 216 p., $24.95.

This is an eminently readable book thattakes the reader through both the attempts tofind an absolute scale for the age of Earth,and the life of the man who is identified withthat quest, Arthur Holmes. The eternalproblem in writing history is whether tofollow a strictly chronological sequence or tofollow each idea from beginning to end. Thisauthor has generally done the latter, which

leads to a bit of chronological indigestion, but which allowscoherent discussion of topics.

Arthur Holmes (1890–1965) is the person most associated withearly belief in and application of radioactivity to determine theage of Earth. His work at the Royal College of Science (theImperial College after 1910) was interrupted by the need to earna more substantial salary, a constant circumstance that led to theother fascinating stories in this book, those of Holmes’s mineralexploration in Mozambique and the oil search in Burma.However, Holmes’s lifetime very nearly coincided with thediscovery and elucidation of radioactivity itself, and the

possibility of using it to determine the age of Earth was hisnearly constant preoccupation. The author reviews the history ofattempts—scientific, philosophical, and religious—to find theage of Earth. Interpretation of the amount of salt in the oceans,the thickness of strata, evolution of fossil forms, and LordKelvin’s impressive work with heat had all provided estimates.The discovery of radioactivity, which is given a good capsulehistory here, showed that methods based on cooling curveswere erroneous but still provided another method to measuretime.

Discovery was not enough: The decay paths and times ofappropriate elements as well as manageable daughter productsneeded to be found in order to apply them to rock and/ormineral ages, and there had to be a fair degree of certainty thatnone of the measured daughter products had escaped. In thisprocess, some of the multiple isotopes of uranium and leadwere discovered. Far from having a “eureka” moment, Holmesworked on the problem for most of his life. That story is toldhere, interwoven with the contributions of many other scientists.

The lack of an index is annoying, as is the chronologicalrather than alphabetical bibliography. However, it is a coherentaccounting of a long, complex, and valuable episode in thehistory of geology.

Sally NewcombSilver Spring, Md.


The GSA Coal GeologyDivision announces theavailability of the AntoinetteLierman Medlin Scholarshipin Coal Geology for the

2002–2003 academic year. The scholar-ships provide full-time students who areinvolved in coal geology research (origin,occurrence, geologic characteristics, oreconomic implications of coal and associ-ated rocks) with financial support for theirprojects for one year.

Scholarship funding can be used for fieldor laboratory expenses, sample analyses,instrumentation, supplies, or other expensesessential to the successful completion of theresearch project. Approximately $2,000 willbe available for the 2002–2003 scholarshipaward. In addition, the recipient of thescholarship may be provided with a stipendof up to $750 to present results of theresearch at the 2003 GSA Annual Meeting.For the academic year 2002–2003, the

Coal Geology Division is also offering a field study award of $1,500. The recip-ient of this award will also be eligible toreceive up to $750 in travel funds to presentresults of their study at the 2003 GSAAnnual Meeting.

Proposals for the scholarship and thefield study award will be evaluated by apanel of coal geoscientists. Applicantsmay apply for the scholarship award, thefield study award, or both, however onlyone award will be made to a successfulapplicant.

Interested students should submit fivecopies of the following: (1)a cover letter indicating which

award(s) is (are) sought;

(2)a concise (no more than five double-spaced pages, including references)statement of objectives and methodsand of how the scholarship funds willbe used to enhance the project; and

(3)a letter of recommendation from thestudent’s immediate advisor thatincludes a statement of financial needand the amount and nature of otheravailable funding for the researchproject.

Send the material to: Leslie F. Ruppert,Coordinator, A. Lierman Medlin Scholar-ship Committee, U.S. Geological Survey,956 National Center, Reston, VA 20192,(703) 648-6431, [email protected].

The proposal and letter of recommend-ation must arrive no later than February15, 2002. Applicants will be notified ofthe Scholarship Committee’s decision byApril 1, 2002.

The scholarship was established in1987 as a memorial to Antoinette “Toni”Medlin who, for many years, dedicatedher efforts toward the advancement ofcoal geoscience and to theencouragement of students in coalgeology. Monies for the scholarships arederived from the annual interest incomefrom the scholarship fund, which ismanaged by the GSA Foundation.

An invitation is extended to Members of the GeologicalSociety of America to subscribe to the Australian Journal ofEarth Sciences at special concessional rates.

BE INFORMED ACROSS THE PLANETGET VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY

PRINT AND/OR ONLINEThe Australian Journal of Earth Sciences (AJES) is edited by A.E. Cockbain and pub-lished by the Geological Society of Australia. The Journal publishes 6 issues per yearof peer-reviewed research papers as well as significant review articles and covers thewhole field of earth science, including basin studies, regional geophysical studies andmetallogeny. The Journal is covered by Current Contents/Physical, Chemical andEarth Sciences, GEOBASE, Science Citation Index, Mineralogical Abstracts, Geo Archiveand more.

VIEW CONTENTS AT

www.gsa.org.au/bookshop/journal.htmThere is usually a special thematic issue each year featuring a selection ofpapers on a particular area of earth science. Vol. 47 No. 3 June 2000 - Guest Editor: P N SouthgateCarpentaria - Mt Isa Zinc Belt: basement framework, chronostratigraphyand geodynamic evolution of Proterozoic succession - 320ppVol. 47 No. 5 October 2000 - Guest Editors: D I Groves and J M DunphyApplications of geochronology, geochemistry and GIS to mineral explo-ration - 126 ppVol. 48 No 4 August 2001 - Guest Editor: C M Allen25 years of I and S granites - 132pp

Special GSAmerica RatesOnline only AUD $75.00 (approx US$37)

Print only AUD $80.00 (approx US$40)

Online and Print AUD $85.00 (approx US$53)Costs include postage : Payment in Australian Dollars

SPECIAL JOURNAL OFFER BY THE

GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA

O R D E R F O R M I would like to establish a membership subscription toAustralian Journal of Earth Sciences, commencing from:(Tick preference) January 2001 ___ January 2002 ___GSA America Member Number:______________________Please debit my Visa / MasterCard

__________/__________/___________/___________

Expiry Date: ______/______ Amount AUD$__________

Signature: ___________________________________________________Name: ______________________________________________________Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Postcode___________________

Email: _______________________________________

Please post order form to: Mrs Misha Frankel, Geological Society of Australia

706, 301 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Australia Or Tel: 61 2 9290 2194 Fax: 61 2 9290 2198

Email: [email protected]

Coal Division Offers Medlin Award


S iegel’s “Winning Tenure in Geoscience Departments:Some Unsolicited Advice to Faculty Aspirants”(Commentary, GSA Today, October 2001, p. 31) provokesa response concerning what might be appropriate advice

to faculty aspiring to win tenure. First, Siegel argues that winningtenure is “...about getting external reviewers to say ‘yes’ to thequestions asked in...letters soliciting...reviews.…” Of course,there is truth in this statement in the sense that, without positiveanswers to these questions, the aspirant is unlikely to win tenurein a research university. On the other hand, to undervalueteaching is misleading. Teaching is not subject to the sameexternal peer review, but it is important nonetheless. AtMaryland, for example, one cannot win tenure without ademonstrated ability to teach in a stimulating way to studentsfrom freshman to graduate, and to advise research training. Wemight debate how or how well we evaluate teaching andadvising, but that’s NOT the point at issue here. Can one wintenure as a poor teacher? No, one cannot! One may posit thatbeing a good teacher is only a qualifying step along the road totenure, but there is nothing wrong with such a situationproviding there is a minimum standard that must be achieved.To suggest that “...winning a teaching award means little” iscynical. We must celebrate good teaching equally with goodresearch, for both together are the sine qua non of a greatuniversity. Stellar research no longer will save an aspirant in astate-funded research university in circumstances where she orhe cannot also develop the skills necessary to be a successfulteacher. Of the several reasons why not, prominent are the in-creased accountability and the realization that good teaching isan important recruitment tool vital to the long-term health ofthese universities.

A second issue concerns the “minimum” level of performancein research to win tenure. It is dangerous to suggest levels ofperformance in ways that imply achieving these levels will leadto success. The number of peer-reviewed publications and wherethey are published, the number and size of research grants, andinteraction with the peer community all are important. However,one cannot specify quantitatively what is necessary to achievetenure. If one could do this, the opinion of external evaluatorswould not be needed—any administrator can count the publi-cations, divide by the number of years, and compare with thestandard “required.” Further, what is expected, in the sense ofwhat is the norm for rate of publication and average dollar amountof a grant, varies according to the culture of each subdiscipline.It should be sufficient to explain to the aspirant that she or hemust have demonstrated the potential to be an intellectual leaderin her or his specialty. However, it must be made clear to theaspirant what is needed to demonstrate intellectual leadership.

There is a common peer community that will not only beasked to review the individual’s papers and proposals, but mostlikely will be asked to write letters of evaluation as part of thepromotion process. Thus, success in publication and fundingbreeds familiarity within the peer community. Although thereshould be evidence of regular productivity, the number of paperspublished is less important than their impact. After all, if nobodyever reads the publications, it may be inferred that the aspirant

doesn’t have anything new to add to our knowledge. The researchhas to be useful to others; just publishing per se has no value, andsimply increasing the amount of rarely read, rarely cited papersis not evidence of intellectual leadership. Further, in the univer-sity tenure system, there is no such thing as an equivocal eval-uation letter—equivocalness can only be read as negative. Thus,faculty must write papers that have potential impact, and submitthem for publication where they might be read by the peercommunity and be influential—remember, peer-reviewed doesn’tnecessarily mean widely read or high quality. I recommendaspirants submit papers only to journals that are in the top10%–20% of those listed in the ISI Journal Citation Reports earthscience groupings combined, as ranked by impact factor.

Third, we should remember that universities invest consider-able resources (money, time, and effort) into recruitment of anddevelopment of faculty. An administrator must stress to theaspirant and to her or his colleagues that individual success isimportant to the department, and the administrator must createan environment in which the department is supportive of juniorfaculty. Of course, denying tenure is devastating to the individ-ual. However, it may also be problematic for the department,particularly a smaller department in the process of building areputation, where the “lost” years may represent a considerablesetback. To generalize that all administrators provide false adviceis an offensive unfounded assertion. Many administratorsendeavor to provide a nurturing environment for junior faculty,and, within the legal framework within which they are requiredto operate, to provide the best possible advice. This is their job.Whether that advice is followed is another matter!

Michael BrownUniversity of Maryland

I read with interest the article in GSA Today on winningtenure (Commentary, GSA Today, October 2001, p. 31).As an untenured faculty member at the University ofSouth Carolina, I just want to note that there are no

illusions in our department about what it will take to get tenurehere. We are reviewed by the department every year, and everythird year by the college, with the clear message that whatcounts is publications and funding. While good teaching andservice are necessary, they won’t get me tenure. And whereas Isuppose not everyone will take the advice of peers, failing toachieve tenure here will not result from lack of communication.

The key to tenure success, I believe, is having good facultymentors, and a yearly review system for all faculty members.Our yearly reports involve compiling exactly the informationrequired for submission to our tenure and promotion committee:students advised, theses completed, publications, grants appliedfor and funded, services provided to the community (sciencefairs, K–12 presentations, etc.), committees served on, editorialresponsibilities, reviews provided for journals, NSF, etc. Thesereports are used each year by the chair to assign raises, and it’s a simple matter to staple these reports together for T&P at 3 and6 years. The reports also provide an overview of what we do asprofessors and what it will take to get tenure.

LETTERS


While I believe it is ultimately my responsibility to find outwhat it takes to get tenure, there are practices that could beinstituted by each department to facilitate this.

Matthew J. KohnUniversity of South Carolina

D on Siegel’s comments (Commentary, GSA Today,October 2001, p. 31) are accurate only up to apoint. Having written many such “tenure” lettersduring my previous life as a faculty member at the

University of Illinois at Urbana and the University ofPennsylvania, including service on tenure and promotioncommittees, I learned quickly that outside evaluations are notthe only factor in making tenure decisions. I know of instanceswhere a fresh set of letters were requested, and where authorsof letters such as Siegel described are told up front that theirletters may or may not be used in evaluating a candidate’squalifications.

It is also a mistake to assume that teaching is not consideredone of several factors in tenure decisions, particularly in stateuniversities where parents are telling their legislators that theydemand better teaching for their children in state-supportedcampuses. I recall being asked on several occasions to write abouta candidate’s teaching qualifications based on what I knewabout their presentations at annual meetings, their interactionswith our own students during a colloquium visit, and the careerpaths of a candidate’s students, if this was known. Moreover,teaching is usually evaluated internally using certain criteria thatare selected from teaching evaluations submitted by students,and I know of many instances where letters from students aresolicited for inclusion in the final evaluation package. Thus juniorfaculty should be admonished to provide acceptable teaching,but get back to the lab or field and keep working on those papers.Scheduling office hours (and sticking to them) will help. Doingone’s share of departmental (but not college) committee work isalso expected to meet the test of “collegiality,” an intangible thatcrops up during internal reviews.

Perhaps the most disturbing item in Siegel’s comments includereferences to students that “don’t have a clue” and the commentabout junior faculty having “to get some papers out” being “lameducks.” These comments clearly speak to a lack of mentoring ofboth graduate students by their advisors, and junior faculty bytheir senior colleagues and department chairs or heads. This lackof mentoring shows up when reviewing résumés of young people(as I did at the Reno GSA Annual Meeting), their performanceduring interviews, and the limitations in the promotional pack-ages that Siegel read. During an earlier time, faculty providedsuch mentoring and helping students develop career paths forthemselves. Such mentoring included sponsoring students to join professional societies, including those that were germane to their career paths. However, since about the mid-1980s, suchmentoring was ridiculed within faculty circles, and those thatcontinued to offer it informally were considered academicallyincorrect. The career paths of students as they move into theprofessional stage of their lives clearly depends on mentoringfrom faculty, and the tragedy today is that such little mentoringis done and it shows.

What should GSA do? Begin offering mentoring services,sessions, and workshops to students at regional and nationalmeetings so as to meet the shortfalls of a higher educationsystem that is long on political correctness and social and “feel

good” issues, and short on excellence and professional develop-ment of its students and junior faculty.

George D. KleinSED-STRAT Geoscience Consultants, Inc.

S iegel responds: I am delighted my essay on tenure andpromotion has hit a chord in the academic community. Ithink the respondents to my article and I essentiallyconcur on most points. I certainly agree with Michael

Brown and George Klein that teaching well is important inacademia. And yes, candidates can sometimes win tenure andpromotion with outstanding teaching portfolios and modestresearch credentials, and sometimes, new external reviews arerequested. I also agree with Brown that faculty should try tosend their papers to top-end journals for the most impact. MattKohn is very lucky to be in a place where mentoring is taken so seriously.

The essential point of my essay was to suggest a T&P packagethat I know would have a decent probability of success at mostcolleges and universities, but not at all of them. Young facultyneed to understand that a professor who earns tenure literally isoffered a lifetime appointment doing what he or she wants to dofor a living—without meaningful constraints. Young faculty shouldput themselves in the shoes of their administrators. What level ofperformance is sufficient to award someone a job for 30+ yearsknowing that you can’t seriously administrate what that persondoes? Tenure is not a trivial thing.

Don SiegelSyracuse University

Bolide Impacts on Wet TargetsConveners:John Warme, Coordinator, Department of Geology and Geological Engineering,Colorado School of Mines

Christian Koeberl, Geochemistry Institute,University of Vienna

Philippe Claeys, Department of Geology,Vrije Universiteit, Brussels

Walter Alvarez, Department of Geologyand Geophysics, University of California,Berkeley

This meeting brought together expertson wet impact processes and products tostudy outcrop examples, present casestudies, exchange ideas, generate discus-sions and debate, and integrateknowledge of impacts on various wettargets, such as standing water of differentdepths, saturated ground, and ice.Platforms for field discussion were theproven impact-related Alamo Breccia insouthern Nevada and the controversialUpheaval Dome in eastern Utah. The 38participants included 11 from outside theUnited States and eight U.S. and foreignstudents. We convened on Sunday, April22, in Las Vegas, Nevada, and officiallyended on Saturday, April 28, in Moab,Utah. Twenty hardy individuals remainedin Moab to traverse the Upheavaldepression on April 29. The AlamoBreccia Research Page, http://talus.mines.edu/students/m/mmorgan, containscomplete information, plus photos contri-buted by Steve Dutch.

The forum included daily field traversesto Alamo Breccia localities mixed withinhouse orientation talks on the Breccia(Kuehner, Morgan, Morrow, Warme), five keynote addresses on various topics(Dypvik, King, Melosh, Milkereit,Simonson), 29 posters on specific topicsor case studies, open discussions, andfield team reports.

Alamo BrecciaAn overview of the Alamo Breccia and

of interpretation problems that were

presented as challenges to the attendeesappear on the Alamo Breccia ResearchPage and in Warme and Kuehner (1998).After two days of field stops and orienta-tion sessions, the expert workforce wasdivided into teams and given a list ofproblems on which to focus in the field.The controlling question was whether we can see through the Breccia to solvemajor problems of its genesis. Sampletopics for investigation included: mech-anisms of Breccia emplacement (ejectacurtain, fallout, tsunami, slide, or?); ident-ification and preservation of primaryejecta, matrix, and carbonate impact lapilli(“spherules”); formation and preservationof the lapilli; origin of the widespreadbasal Breccia detachment surface and ofmegaclasts over it; possibility for com-pound origins (e.g., direct ejecta, depositsfrom one or more slides, or resurgegullying); evidence for fluidization and/orliquefaction of clasts and matrix; estimatesof crater size, geometry and location; andsize and composition of projectile.

The teams took on these overlappingtasks: search for evidence of shock orground motion within or under the Breccia;characterize wet impact signatures andimpact stratigraphy exhibited in theBreccia; interpret the paradoxical distri-bution of carbonate impact lapilli withinthe Breccia; and develop a comprehensivescenario for the position and proportionsof the crater, character of the projectile,and sequence of Breccia formation.

The Shock Team presented a modelwhereby near-surface seismic wavescould account for the detachment horizonalong the base of the Breccia (Dutch,Masaitis, Melosh). The lack of shatterconessuggested that the Breccia localities wevisited were distal with respect to thecrater, although the wet environment mayhave subdued shattercone development(Dutch, Gaffney, Ryder). The Crater Strati-graphy Team contributed an importanthypothesis, generated by comparison ofthe Alamo Breccia with impact brecciasassociated with the Lockne impact structurein Scandinavia (Ormo, Von Dalwigk) andother examples. Multiple, delayed resurgeevents into a crater or into a slump-scartrench could explain the multiple-graded

units toward the top of the Breccia andallow time for the carbonate impact lapillibeds to harden and then fragment as theisolated lapilli clasts that occur mixed intothe Breccia. Thus, the impact event andthe formation of the Breccia may berelated but separated by perhaps manydays (Kenkmann, Ormo). A recurring ideais that there was more than one impact,which could explain many of the puzzlescontained in the Breccia (McElvain).Although a new model was presentedthat could account for rapid cementationof the lapilli beds by impact calcining and rapid dehydration and cementation(Morgan, Kuehner, Warme), the scatteredlapilli clasts in the Breccia could be moreeasily explained if sufficient time elapsedbetween impact with its lapilli formationand some fashion of collapse and lapillibed breakup and redistribution. TheLapilli Team suggested that the beds mayhave been in the form of rafts, similar to pumice rafts, that broke up, cemented,and sank during the formation of theBreccia, accounting for the disjunct distrib-ution of lapilli clasts (Bell).

Several workers suggested that theAlamo impact occurred on or near aslope (Masaitis) and that the crater mayhave been destroyed by slumps thatcreated tsunamis and/or resurge deposits,possibly filling a depression from differentdirections and at different times andaccounting for the stacked graded bedsthat comprise the Breccia (Ormo).

The Grand Scenario Team was reluctantto present a detailed synthesis for thegenesis and evolution of the Alamo Brecciabecause of uncertainties about LateDevonian paleogeography in Nevada(Warme). A major problem is whether thecurrent Breccia represents its originaldistribution or is the product of significant

R E P O R T


One style of deformation between the CarmelFormation and the overlying Entrada Sandstone,

Arches National Park, Utah. Photo by John Warme.

post-Devonian thrusting, in addition tosome measure of Cenozoic extension.Crustal shortening could result in east-west scrambling of the outcrops visited.The plan of the epiplatform Alamo Breccianow forms an eastward-extending semi-circle, although deep-water equivalentshave been identified as mass flows 100 kmor more west of the carbonate platformstudy area (Morrow).

Recent thrust-belt models for the latePaleozoic of the Great Basin of Nevadasuggest that crustal shortening was signi-ficant. If so, stacked thrust sheets may stillcover the crater, or significant uplift anderosion may have destroyed some or allof it. Impact modelers require reliableinformation about the original area of theBreccia and distance from the peripheryto the center. Their conclusion: Structuralproblems must be resolved beforemodeling can confidently predict the sizeand position of the Alamo crater and thecharacter of the impactor.

Upheaval DomeOn Thursday, Huntoon and Koeberl

introduced the Upheaval Dome and theforum moved to Moab, Utah, where weclosed in on structure for the next threedays. The dome is emphatically interpretedas both a salt piercement structure (e.g.,Jackson et al., 1998) and as an impactcrater (e.g., Huntoon, 2000). The wet impacttheme applies there because stratigraphicfeatures we visited can be interpreted ashaving formed by impact on layers ofvariably saturated rock. Friday, we visitedtwo outlying areas that contain deforma-tion features that potentially support theimpact hypothesis (Alvarez et al., 1998).Alvarez and Shimabukuro led us throughportions of Arches National Park, ~40 kmfrom Upheaval Dome, where the boundarybetween the Jurassic Carmel and Entradaformations is deformed. In some localities,the upper Carmel mudstone beds aresegmented and appear thrusted or draggedupward to pierce the overlying Entrada,

which locally appears fluidized andloaded into the Carmel to form tongue-shaped bodies with fluid escape structures.Chan showed us the Dubinky Well areain Canyonlands, ~25 km from Upheaval,that exhibits sandstone pipes penetratingthe Carmel (Alvarez et al., 1998).Synsedimentary deformation in both areasdraw attention because of their unusuallylarge scale, suggesting that they may haveformed through extraordinary processessuch as impact at Upheaval Dome.

On Saturday, Huntoon led us toRoberts Rift, ~30 km from Upheaval. Thisunusual feature, filled with debris thatincludes propant fragments fromunderlying formations, is proposed as aradial fracture from Upheaval Dome(Huntoon and Shoemaker, 1995). The lastformal stop of the forum was UpheavalDome, now an erosional depression.Huntoon and Plescia introduced thefeature, and a roundtable discussionensued. Unfortunately, the pinched-offsalt diapir proponents declined to join theforum; they would have had eagerlisteners and perhaps concurrence fromwithin our group. We traversed part ofthe depression rim to view the spectac-ular exposures in the central uplift. OnSunday, Huntoon and Plescia led anoptional 15-km-long foot traverse into thecenter of the depression.

The forum catalyzed new ideas,acquaintances, after-dinner discussions,and field debates that furthered ourunderstanding of the geological effects ofwet impacts. In retrospect, however, thedays and nights were too full and theparticipants too numerous to effectivelywring out all of what we observed in thefield and brought to the table through ourvaried career experiences with impactstructures. No synthesis was achieved orpossible. One post-forum commentprovides perspective: “I submit there arean almost unlimited variety of shapes,compositions, sizes, and densities ofpotential impactors traveling aroundwithin the gravitational influence of Earthand the solar system. Impactors ofradically different natures would cause avariety of different types of craters andother geomorphic and formational effectsthat could be preserved in the geologicrecord.” We learned that the inventory is not complete, and the interpretationsongoing, as with any live branch of science.

AcknowledgementsWe gratefully acknowledge the

following cosponsors and organizationsfor financial support that contributed tothe size and success of this Field Forum:

for student support, The Pretorious Fundof the GSA Foundation and the NASAPlanetary Geology and GeophysicsProgram; for sponsoring foreign speakers,the donors of the Petroleum ResearchFund of the American Chemical Society;and for important discretionary funds, theBarringer Company, the Colorado Schoolof Mines, and the Global Impacts StudiesProgram.

References CitedAlvarez, W., Staley, E., O’Connor, D., and Chan, M.A.,1998, Synsedimentary deformation in the Jurassic ofsoutheastern Utah—A case of impact shaking?: Geology,v. 26, p. 579–582.

Huntoon, P.W., 2000, Upheaval Dome, Canyonlands,Utah: Strain indicators that reveal an impact origin, inSprinkel, D.A., et al., eds., Geology of Utah’s parks andmonuments: Utah Geological Association Publication 28,p. 619–628.

Huntoon, P.W., and Shoemaker, E.M., 1995, Roberts Rift,Canyonlands, Utah: A natural hydraulic fracture caused by comet or asteroid impact: Ground Water, v. 33,p. 561–569.

Jackson, M.P.A., Schultz-Ela, D.D., Hudec, M.R., Watson,L.A., and Porter, M.L., 1998, Structure and evolution ofUpheaval Dome: A pinched-off salt diapir: GeologicalSociety of America Bulletin, v. 110, p. 1547–1573.

Warme, J.E., and Kuehner, H.-C., 1998, Anatomy of ananomaly: The Devonian catastrophic Alamo impactbreccia of southern Nevada: International GeologyReview, v. 40, p. 189–216.

Forum Participants


Dallas Abbott

Walter Alvarez

Mary Sue Bell

Bernd Bodiselitsch

Margie Chan

Jocelyne Comstock

Steven Dutch

Henning Dypvik

Edward Gaffney

Manuel Grajalas

Sam Harvey

Mary Hubbard

Peter Huntoon

Dwight Jurena

Thomas Kenkmann

David King

Chris Koeberl

Hans Kuehner

Keenan Lee

Victor Masaitis

Tim McElvain

Jay Melosh

Bernd Milkereit

Matthew Morgan

Jared Morrow

Geoff Notkin

Jens Ormo

Lucille Petruny

Betty Pierazzo

Jeff Plescia

David Powars

Graham Ryder

Jill Savage

David Shimabukuro

Bruce Simonson,

Roman Skala

Ilka Von Dalwigk

John WarmeOn the Alamo Breccia at the type locality near Hancock Summit, Nevada.

Photo by Goeff Notkin.


NRC Seeks Applications for AwardsThe National Research Council announces the 2002 Postdoctoral and

Senior Research Associateship Programs to be conducted on behalf of 120research laboratories throughout the United States, representing nearly all U.S.government agencies with research facilities. Approximately 300 full-timeassociateships will be awarded on a competitive basis to Ph.D., Sc.D., or M.D.scientists and engineers for research in the fields of chemistry, earth andatmospheric sciences, engineering, applied sciences and computer science,life and medical sciences, mathematics, space and planetary sciences, andphysics.

Applications are accepted throughout the year. Those postmarked byJanuary 15, 2002, will be reviewed in February; by April 15, 2002, in June;and by August 15, 2002, in October. For information on specific researchopportunities, participating federal laboratories, and application materials, seewww.national-academies.org/rap, or contact National Research Council,Associateship Programs (TJ 2114/D3), 2101 Constitution Ave. NW,Washington, D.C. 20418, (202) 334-2760, fax 202-334-2759, [email protected].

National Security Education ProgramFellowships 2002

The Academy for Educational Development (AED) invites applications forthe 2002 National Security Education Program’s David L. Boren GraduateFellowships competition. Fellowships are awarded in a broad range ofacademic and professional disciplines including business, economics, history,international affairs, law, applied sciences and engineering, health andbiomedical sciences, political science, and other social sciences. Awardrecipients incur a requirement to work for an agency or office of the federalgovernment involved in national security affairs or in the field of U.S. highereducation in an area of study for which the fellowship was awarded. Fordetails and eligibility and application information, see www.aed.org/nsep, orcontact AED at 1-800-498-9360, (202) 884-8285, or [email protected]. Applicationsmust be postmarked by February 1, 2002.

Announcements2002January 13–17 American Meteorological Society 82nd Annual Meeting, Orlando, Florida. Information:

Stephanie Kenitzer, [email protected], (425) 432-2192, www.ametsoc.org/ams.

May 20–24 Sixth International Symposium on the Geochemistry of the Earth’s Surface (GES-6), Honolulu,Hawaii, USA. Information: (808) 956-6344, fax 808-956-7112, www.soest.hawaii.edu/oceanography/ges-6/, [email protected].

June 16–21 16th Caribbean Geological Conference, Bridgetown, Barbados. Information: Leslie Barker,General Coordinator, 16th Caribbean Geological Conference, Energy and Natural ResourcesDivision, c/o National Petroleum Corporation Building, Wildey, St. Michael, Barbados,[email protected], www.fiu.edu/orgs/caribgeol. (Abstracts deadline: January 20, 2002.)

July 29–August 2 51st Annual Denver X-ray Conference, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. Information: DeniseFlaherty, Conference Coordinator, ICDD, 12 Campus Blvd., Newtown Square, PA 19073, (610)325-9814, fax 610-325-9823, [email protected], www.dxcicdd.com.

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In MemoriamRichard GoldsmithMarblehead, MassachusettsSeptember 27, 2001

Douglas C. KelloggWest Chester, PennsylvaniaApril 7, 2001

Donald H. LokkeDallas, TexasAugust 2001

Nicholas RastLexington, KentuckyAugust 28, 2001

Please contact the GSA Foundationfor information on contributing to

the Memorial Fund.

The following employers were among those that par-ticipated in GSA’s Employment Interview Service atthe GSA Annual Meeting in Boston.

AMHERST COLLEGE—SEDIMENTOLOGISTThe Department of Geology at Amherst College solicitsapplications for a tenure-track position at the level ofassistant professor to begin in the fall of 2002. We seek asedimentologist whose interests and expertise may alsoinclude stratigraphy, paleontology, paleoclimatology,marine geology, and/or oceanography.

The successful candidate will teach sedimentologyand an additional upper-level course or courses that willstrengthen our undergraduate major and complement thepresent departmental offerings in tectonics, structuralgeology, hydrogeology, aqueous geochemistry, petrol-ogy, and geophysics. All geology faculty teach at theintroductory level as well. Preference will be given to can-didates with a demonstrated interest in continued devel-opment and teaching of our introductory course in surfi-cial earth systems and the environment. Geology facultyalso supervise undergraduate research projects annually.

Candidates must have an ongoing program ofresearch. Amherst College provides competitive start-upfunds in support of research. A Ph.D. is required andpostdoctoral experience is desirable.

Submit a résumé, a brief statement of your researchinterests, transcripts, and three letters of recommenda-tion to: Professor Tekla A. Harms, Chair of the SearchCommittee, Department of Geology, Amherst College,Amherst, MA 01002-5000 ([email protected]).Review of applications began on November 20, 2001, butapplications will be accepted until a pool of qualified can-didates is identified. Amherst College is an equal oppor-tunity/affirmative action employer. Women, minorities,and persons with disabilities are particularly encouragedto apply.

COLLEGE OF CHARLESTONTENURE-TRACK ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTThe Department of Geology and Environmental Geo-sciences at the College of Charleston invites applicationsfor a tenure-track assistant professor position in environ-mental geochemistry beginning in August 2002. We areseeking a broadly trained low-temperature geochemistwith a Ph.D. and experience in environmental applicationsto surface and ground water resources. Candidates hav-ing experience in aqueous and environmental geochem-istry, particularly dealing with environmental issues andhazards of the Southeastern U.S. coastal region, are par-ticularly encouraged to apply. The successful candidatewill demonstrate a serious commitment to undergraduateteaching and research, and have a strong background incomputer applications pertinent to their discipline. Thecandidate will be expected to: (1) teach an undergradu-ate-level course in geochemistry, one or more graduate-level courses in environmental geochemistry, and under-graduate introductory geology courses; (2) develop asuccessful research program that leads to professionalpublications; and (3) seek external funding for research.

For more information, visit our departmental Web siteat www.cofc.edu/~geology/, or contact Dr. MitchellColgan, (843) 953-7171; [email protected].

Interested persons should send a letter stating theirinterest in the position, curriculum vitae, statements ofteaching philosophy and research interests, unofficialtranscripts, and names of three references to: Geochem-istry Search Committee, Department of Geology, Collegeof Charleston, Charleston, SC 29424. Review of applica-tions will begin January 8, 2002, and continue until the position is filled. The College of Charleston is an AA/EO/ADA employer and does not discriminate in employment or the provision of services on the basis of disability.

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF HYDROGEOLOGYCSU—SAN BERNARDINO

We seek candidates for an entry-level tenure trackappointment in the Department of Geological Sciencesbeginning fall of 2002. The successful candidate willteach already established courses in hydrogeology, intro-ductory and other geology courses, general educationcourses offered by the College of Natural Sciences, andcourses in his/her field of expertise. We seek a geologistwith experience in hydrological field methods who willbring additional strength to our program and will be ableto develop ties with local consulting firms. The successfulcandidate will be committed to undergraduate teaching,and would be expected to develop an independent,externally funded research program including undergrad-uate students. Preferred candidates will be expected todemonstrate interest or experience in at least one of thefollowing strategic plan areas: (a) alternative modes ofinstructional delivery to include off-campus and distancelearning; (b) the learning process, i.e., innovative teachingstrategies and/or research on how students learn andapply knowledge over an extended period of time; and (c)partnership with community to enhance social, economic,and cultural conditions. A Ph.D. is required.

Please send a letter of application, curriculum vitae,official transcripts from both undergraduate and graduateeducation, a detailed statement of research and teachinginterests, three letters of recommendation, as well as adescription of any interest or experience in one of thethree strategic plan areas to: Dr. Alan L. Smith, Depart-ment of Geological Sciences, Attn: Hydrogeology Search,California State University, 5500 University Parkway, SanBernardino, CA 92407-2397, [email protected]; thedeadline for applications is December 31, 2001. CSU SanBernardino is committed to diversity and equality in edu-cation and employment.

PositionAnnouncements

continued on p. 34

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATIONSCIENCE/SPATIAL ANALYSIS

MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITYThe Department of Earth and Environmental Studies,Montclair State University, invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position at the assistant orassociate rank starting September 2002. This positionrequires expertise in GIS, spatial analysis, modeling andvisualization, and/or remote sensing with specific empha-sis on applications that reflect the current researchstrengths of the department.

The successful candidate will be responsible forteaching major and graduate GIS/RS-related courses aswell as expanding our programs and course offerings inthis area. Excellence in teaching and pursuit of a fundedresearch program are expected. Candidates must have completed a doctorate prior to September 2002.

MSU, the second largest public university in New Jersey, is characterized by a strong general educationprogram and a deep commitment to the values of multi-cultural diversity.

Send CV, three letters of recommendation and state-ment of professional goals, research interests and teach-ing philosophy to: William D. Solecki, Earth and Environ-mental Studies, MSU, Upper Montclair, NJ 07043.Screening began Nov. 15 and continues until the positionis filled. MSU is an EO/AA employer. Women and minori-ties are encouraged to apply. Subject to available funding. Further information is available at: www.csam.montclair.edu/earth/eesweb.

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTEThe Department of Geography and Earth Sciences invitesapplications for a tenure track geoscientist (Ph.D.required) at the assistant professor level with researchexpertise in surface/near surface processes in one of thefollowing areas: hydrogeology, contaminant transport orlow-temperature aqueous geochemistry, or soil science.The successful candidate will be expected to develop astrong and externally funded research program encom-passing both the basic and applied aspects of the shal-low subsurface environment.

The individual hired will be expected to teach at boththe introductory and upper division undergraduate levelsin areas of her/his specialization, complement and inter-act with existing faculty, and contribute to studentresearch experiences. The individual will also teach grad-uate courses and direct graduate student research.

The Department of Geography and Earth Scienceshas 24 faculty, nine of whom are earth scientists. Thedepartment offers B.A. and B.S. degrees in earth sci-ences, a B.S. degree in geology, and has recently estab-lished a Master’s in earth sciences. There are approxi-mately 60 undergraduate earth sciences majors withabout 20 graduating each year.

The position begins in August 2002. Interested individ-uals should submit a letter articulating qualifications,teaching interests and experience, research goals, and acurriculum vitae with the names of at least three refer-ences to Dr. Owen J. Furuseth, Chair, Department ofGeography and Earth Sciences, University of North Car-olina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223. Review of appli-cations began November 30, 2001, and will continue untilthe position is filled. AA/EOE.

SEARCH REOPENED: ASSISTANT PROFESSORIN IGNEOUS OR METAMORPHIC PETROLOGY

UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANSThe Department of Geology and Geophysics invites appli-cations for a tenure-track position in igneous or metamor-phic petrology to begin fall 2002. We seek a person whowill undertake an innovative teaching and research pro-gram on high-temperature earth processes. We are par-ticularly interested in individuals with multidisciplinaryapproaches or who welcome interaction with researchgroups in tectonics, mineralogy, sedimentary petrology,and geochemistry. The successful candidate will beexpected to develop an active research program withexternal funding, teach undergraduate and graduatecourses, and supervise graduate students at the M.S. andPh.D. levels. The department maintains a full suite of ana-lytical tools for modern petrologic research as well as anew computational facility through the Keck Foundation(see www.uno.edu/geology).

Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae, a state-ment of research and teaching interests, and the namesof at least three references to: Terry Pavlis, Search Com-mittee Chair, Department of Geology and Geophysics,University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70148. Clos-ing date: December 31, 2001.

The University of New Orleans, a member of theLouisiana State University System, is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAMAND GEOSCIENCES DEPARTMENTPACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY

The Environmental Studies Program and GeosciencesDepartment at Pacific Lutheran University invite applica-tions for a combined tenure-track assistant professorposition serving a vigorous and highly successful interdis-ciplinary program. Ph.D. required.

Central responsibilities: coordinate and teach in thecentral interdisciplinary methods course for the ES pro-gram (currently taught with a watershed focus), superviseES senior projects, and teach undergraduate geosciencecourses, including introduction to environmental sciencesand at least two upper division courses in his/her specialty.

Qualifications: an active research program open toundergraduate participation, dedication to liberal artseducation, and leadership capability in programmatic andcurricular development. Preference given to candidatescapable of excellent teaching in environment-relatedcourses such as Geographic Information Systems, earthsurficial processes, low-temperature aqueous geochem-istry, or closely allied fields.

Pacific Lutheran University, 40 miles from Seattle nearMount Rainier, is a comprehensive institution that enrolls3,400 students. Its mission is to educate for lives ofthoughtful inquiry, service, leadership, and care. PLUenjoys a healthy and progressive relationship with theEvangelical Lutheran Church in America, serves a diverseclientele, and actively seeks applications from womenand persons of color. For more information see Web sitewww.plu.edu/~envt/.

Send complete curriculum vitae, undergraduate andgraduate transcripts, statement of teaching philosophy,summary of plans for undergraduate research and threeletters of recommendation to: Search Committee, Envi-ronmental Studies Program, Pacific Lutheran University,Tacoma, WA 98447. Review of applications beginsDecember 1, 2001.

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN HYDROGEOLOGYLOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY

The Department of Geology and Geophysics and theLouisiana Geological Survey (LGS), both at LouisianaState University, invite applications for a joint, tenure-track faculty position in hydrogeology at the assistantprofessor level. The successful candidate must have aPh.D. at the time of appointment, fall 2002. Postdoctoralor professional experience in hydrogeology is preferred.We are looking for an outstanding, quantitative scientistwith demonstrated teaching ability and research interestsin the development of water resources, field methods andequipment, subsurface transport, groundwater flow andaquifer characterization. The candidate should have aworking knowledge of computer modeling software andtechniques used in hydrogeology.

The successful candidate will be expected to con-tribute to the teaching programs in the Department ofGeology and Geophysics and develop courses in his/herarea of specialization. Development of a strong researchprogram, including supervision of graduate studentresearch, publication in peer-reviewed journals and LGStechnical reports and generation of external funding, isrequired. Active participation in ongoing and developmentof new LGS research projects on the subsurface waterresources of Louisiana is expected.

The Department of Geology and Geophysics consistsof 20 faculty members covering a wide range of exper-tise. In support of our faculty and students, we havemany well-equipped analytical and computational labora-tories. Geology and geophysics has strong support fromthe LSU administration as evidenced by our selection asone of the 12 priority departments at LSU. For more infor-mation about our department, see our Web site atwww.geol.lsu.edu.

The Louisiana Geological Survey consists of a staff of22, including faculty and research associates. It has anumber of ongoing funded research projects in hydroge-ology, environmental geology, GIS, geologic mappingand oil and gas projects, with necessary equipment andsupport. The LGS Web site is www.lgs.lsu.edu.

Interested persons should send a copy of their vita, astatement of their research and teaching interests, andthe names, addresses, and phone numbers of at leastthree references to: Chair, Hydrogeology Search Commit-tee, Department of Geology and Geophysics, LouisianaState University, E235 Howe Russell Geoscience Com-plex, Baton Rouge, LA 70803. The review process willbegin December 1, 2001. The search will be continueduntil a suitable candidate is found. Louisiana State Uni-versity is an equal opportunity employer.

STRATIGRAPHER/SEDIMENTOLOGISTThe Earth Sciences Department at Southern ConnecticutState University (www.scsu.ctstateu.edu) invites applica-tions for a tenure-track position at the assistant or associ-

ate professor level, beginning August 2002. A Ph.D. isrequired at the time of appointment. We seek a broadlyeducated, collegial, field-based geoscientist with special-ization in stratigraphy/sedimentology and a strong com-mitment to undergraduate education. Teaching responsi-bilities may include introductory geology lecture andlaboratory, stratigraphy and sedimentation, and historicalgeology. Candidates with expertise in Mesozoic stratigra-phy, Pleistocene stratigraphy, or paleontology are partic-ularly suitable. A willingness to encourage undergraduateresearch and to participate in a potential summer fieldprogram is also desirable.

The Earth Sciences Department is a comprehensiveearth sciences department with six full-time faculty whosupport a broad-based earth science curriculum withconcentrations in geology, oceanography, meteorology,environmental earth science, mineral resources, and earthscience education.

To apply, please send a curriculum vitae, a statementof teaching and research interests and experience, copiesof transcripts, and letters from three references by Febru-ary 15, 2002, to Dr. John W. Drobnyk, Chairman, EarthSciences Department, Southern Connecticut State University, 501 Crescent Street, New Haven, CT 06515.

SCSU is on EEO/AA Employer. Women and membersof minority groups are encouraged to apply.

TWO TENURE-TRACK POSITIONS:(1) ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGIST/HYDROGEOLOGIST;

(2) MINERALOGIST/PETROLOGIST/ STRUCTURAL GEOLOGIST,

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITYThe Department of Geoscience, Winona State University,Winona, MN, is hiring two entry-level, tenure-track, assis-tant professors with a starting date of August 26, 2002.Candidates must have the Ph.D. in hand by start date.Salary is commensurate with rank and experience. Weare seeking candidates who have a strong commitmentto undergraduate teaching and who have expertise in thefields of environmental geology, hydrogeology, and/orgeomorphology, or who have expertise in the fields ofstructure, mineralogy, petrology, and/or tectonics.

The successful environmental candidate will assumean active role in a growing interdisciplinary environmentalscience option within the geoscience major, and will alsodirect the work of the department’s water resources cen-ter. Environmental geologists and/or hydrogeologists whoalso have a background in geomorphology, geology ofsoils, geochemistry, and/or geophysics are especiallyencouraged to apply. The successful hard-rock/structurecandidate will assume an active role in a geology pro-gram with a strong field component. Structural geologistsand/or mineralogists/petrologists who are broadly trained,field oriented, and able to apply these disciplines to thesolution of environmental problems in geoscience areespecially encouraged to apply.

Applications must include a cover letter, at least threeletters of recommendation, and transcripts of all aca-demic work. Please submit applications to: Office ofHuman Resources, Geoscience Search, Somsen Hall,Winona State University, Winona, MN 55987. Dossierswill be reviewed beginning December 3, 2001, althoughthe positions will remain open until filled.

Winona State University is a comprehensive four-yearinstitution with about 50 geoscience majors. The campusis located in the upper Mississippi River Valley at the baseof 600-foot-high bluffs of Cambrian and Ordovician sand-stone and carbonate. Karst topography in the upland tothe west, Pleistocene and Holocene gravel in the Missis-sippi River Valley, and the river and associated wetlands,provide opportunities for student and faculty research in environmental geology and groundwater geology. Precambrian terranes of Minnesota and Wisconsin liewithin easy driving distance, and provide student and faculty research opportunities in structure, petrology,and tectonics.

For a complete job description, see the HumanResources Office Home Page: www.winona.edu/Human-Resources or contact our office: [email protected], (507) 457-5639. For additional depart-mental information, go to www.winona.edu/geology

Positions available pending budgetary approval.Winona State University (MnSCU) is an equal opportunityeducator and employer. Women, minorities and individu-als with disabilities are encouraged to apply.


continued from p. 33


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Positions OpenUNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH

TWO TENURE-TRACK POSITIONSSEDIMENTOLOGY/STRATIGRAPHY/PALEONTOLOGY/BASIN ANALYSIS/

TECTONICS/STRUCTUREThe Department of Geological Sciences at the University ofMinnesota Duluth seeks to fill two tenure-track positions inthe general areas of sedimentology, stratigraphy, paleon-tology, basin analysis, tectonics, or structure. The subdis-cipline is open. We seek individuals to complement exist-ing departmental strengths. Both positions will be at theassistant professor level and begin as early as September2002. Essential qualifications are: a Ph.D. in the geo-sciences required at time of appointment; evidence ofpotential for achievement in research and teaching. Weseek versatile geoscientists who may collaborate with fac-ulty in the Geosciences Department (http://www.d.umn.edu/geology), the Large Lakes Observatory (http://www.d.umn.edu/llo), the Natural Resources Research Institute(http://www.nrri.umn.edu), or the Water Resources Sci-ences graduate program (http://wrs.coafes.umn.edu). Thesuccessful applicants will be expected to develop activeexternally funded research programs, supervise M.S. andPh.D. students, and teach appropriate undergraduate andgraduate courses in their disciplines. Teaching load is flexi-ble depending upon research activities and departmentalteaching needs.

Applicants should send a letter of application includinga statement of research and teaching experience, philoso-phy and interests, a curriculum vitae, reprints of significantpublications, a summary of relevant coursework, and thenames and addresses of at least three references to: Dr.Howard Mooers, Search Committee Chair, University ofMinnesota, Department of Geological Sciences, 230 HellerHall, 1114 Kirby Dr., Duluth, MN 55812. Review of com-pleted applications will begin January 1, 2002, and con-tinue until the positions are filled. Prospective candidateswith questions regarding this position may contact HowardMooers by email at [email protected].

The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunityeducator and employer.

ST. CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITYDEPARTMENT OF EARTH SCIENCES

St. Cloud State University seeks applications for an assis-tant professor in the Department of Earth Sciences tobegin June 1, 2002. Salary commensurate with qualifica-tions and experience.

Responsibilities: Teach undergraduate physical geologyfor majors and general education earth science courses.Additional teaching to include two or more of the followingupper division courses for majors: earth materials (mineral-ogy and petrology), field geology, tectonic systems (struc-tural geology and tectonics), or geophysics. Additionalresponsibilities include participation in undergraduateresearch program, appropriate scholarly activity, continued

professional development, advising, and university/com-munity service.

Qualifications: Ph.D. in geology with specialty in a solidearth discipline required; field geology experience desir-able. Evidence of a commitment to excellence in teachingrequired with university-level teaching experience pre-ferred. Evidence of ability to establish a research programinvolving undergraduates required. Demonstrated ability toteach and work with persons from diverse backgroundsdesired.

Apply to: Anthony Hansen, Search Committee Chair,Department of Earth Sciences, MS 49, St. Cloud State Uni-versity, 720 4th Avenue South, St. Cloud, MN 56301-4498.A completed application must include a letter of applica-tion, vitae, transcripts (copies acceptable for initial screen-ing), and three recent letters of references. Review of appli-cations will begin January 7, 2002, and the position willremain open until a suitable candidate is found.

SCSU is committed to excellence and actively supportscultural diversity. To promote this endeavor, we invite indi-viduals who contribute to such diversity to apply, includingminorities, women, GLBT and persons with disabilities.

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEYMENDENHALL POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH

FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMThe U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) invites applications forthe Mendenhall Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Pro-gram for Fiscal Year 2003. The Mendenhall Program pro-vides an opportunity to conduct research in associationwith selected members of the USGS professional staff.Through this program, the USGS will bring current exper-tise in science to assist in implementation of the sciencestrategy of its programs. The program is also intended toprovide research fellows with experiences that enhancetheir personal scientific skills and accomplishments. FiscalYear 2003 begins in October 2002.

Opportunities for research are available in a wide rangeof areas including: application of stable isotope and traceelement techniques to ecological studies; hydrogeology offractured-rock aquifers; gas hydrate field and lab investiga-tions; bitumen generation and oil expulsion; landslide pro-cess studies; exploring active volcano-tectonic processes;in situ studies of faulting and earthquake generation; car-bon dioxide sequestration; carbon cycling; remote sensingresearch; applications of numerical modeling; and develop-ing magnetic models linking geophysics and geology.

The postdoctoral fellowships are 2-year USGS appoint-ments with full benefits and salaries. The closing date forapplications is January 18, 2002. Appointments will startbetween October 2002 and May 2003, depending on avail-ability of funds. A complete description of the program,research opportunities, and the application process areavailable via the WWW at http://geology.usgs.gov/postdoc.The U.S. Geological Survey is an equal opportunityemployer.

FACULTY POSITION IN EARTH SURFACE SYSTEMSNORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

The Department of Geological Sciences at NorthwesternUniversity invites applications for a tenure-track facultyposition in the area of modern and ancient earth surfacesystems. Subdisciplines of interest include geochemistry/biogeochemistry, process sedimentology, geomorphology,and paleoclimatology. The position is at the rank of assis-tant professor, but exceptional candidates at a higher rankwill be considered. Candidates are expected to comple-ment existing areas of departmental expertise, and todevelop strong programs of cross-disciplinary researchand teaching. Applications should include a statement ofresearch accomplishments and future directions, curricu-lum vitae, copies of significant publications, names of atleast three professional references, and be received nolater than Jan. 15, 2002. Address applications to: SearchCommittee, Department of Geological Sciences, 1847Sheridan Road, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL60208-2150.

Women and members of minority groups are encour-aged to apply. Northwestern is an Affirmative Action andEqual Opportunity Employer.

GEOLOGY FACULTY, UTAH VALLEY STATE COLLEGEThe Department of Earth Science at Utah Valley State Col-lege (UVSC) is seeking a student-oriented, motivatedteacher and scientist to participate in the continued growthof our department. The department is dedicated to innova-tive and effective undergraduate teaching, and we takeadvantage of Utah’s diverse geologic setting to incorporatefield-based learning into our programs. Candidates for this

tenure-track faculty position must have an earned Ph.D. byJune 2002, with expertise in one or more of the followingareas: environmental geology/hydrogeology, mineralogy/petrology, or sedimentology/stratigraphy. The successfulcandidate will have a broad technical background, thedrive and ingenuity to develop new courses and programs,and the ability to attract and retain students. Duties willinclude teaching lower-division and upper-division geologycourses, developing new courses and study programs,and participating in department field trips and projects.UVSC faculty are expected to maintain knowledge in theirfields by conducting research, professional work, and/oractivity in professional organizations. The position mayinvolve maintenance and of the department’s laboratoryequipment and supplies. UVSC in an equal opportunity/affirmative action/equal access employer and encouragesapplications from women and minorities. Final approval forthe position is pending funding. Applicants must submit aletter of interest, a statement of teaching philosophy, a cur-riculum vitae, copies of transcripts/degrees, and three let-ters of recommendation. Submit application materials toHuman Resources, MS #184, Utah Valley State College,800 West University Parkway, Orem, Utah 84058, (801)222-8207. We began reviewing applications on November30, 2001. For more information, contact Daniel Horns(Earth Science Department Chair) at (801) 222-8582,[email protected], or see an expanded job description athttp://www.uvsc.edu/hr/employ/job_announcements/.

DEPT. OF EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCESCALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FRESNO

Faculty Positions. The Department of Earth and Environ-mental Sciences of the California State University, Fresnoinvites applications to fill two tenure-track positions start-ing August 2002 at the assistant professor level in the fol-lowing areas. (1) Igneous petrology/mineralogy. Teachingresponsibilities will include igneous and metamorphicpetrology, crystallography, and mineralogy, and graduatecourses in area of expertise as well as introductory andgeneral education courses. (2) Environmental science.Responsibilities will include teaching in one of the followingareas: environmental hydrology, earth resources and sus-tainable development, atmospheric pollution and globalchange. A Ph.D. is required. Candidates nearing comple-tion of the Ph.D. may be considered. To ensure full consid-eration, applicants are advised to submit an applicationincluding a resume, list of publications, statements ofteaching and research interests, and the names of at leastthree references by: February 4, 2002. For the environmen-tal science position, application should be sent to Dr. C.John Suen, [email protected], and for the igneouspetrology/mineralogy position, to Dr. Fraka Harmsen,[email protected], at the following address:Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Califor-nia State University, Fresno 2345 E. San Ramon Avenue,M/S-MH24 Fresno, CA 93740-8031. Phone: (559) 278-3086; fax: (559) 278-5980. California State University,Fresno is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Oppor-tunity Employer.

EVOLUTIONARY PALEOBIOLOGISTUNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN—MILWAUKEE

The Department of Geosciences at the University of Wis-consin—Milwaukee seeks to hire an evolutionary paleobi-ologist at the tenure-track assistant professor level. Appli-cants must hold a Ph.D. in geology or related field andhave demonstrated field and research experience in evolu-tionary paleobiology. Postdoctoral experience is desirable.The successful candidate is expected to conduct an activeresearch program, and teach undergraduate and graduatecourses in paleontology, historical geology and relatedsubject areas. Information is available online regarding thedepartment at http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/Geosciences/.

Candidates must mail a curriculum vitae with a researchplan, a statement of teaching philosophy, and three lettersof reference postmarked by January 30, 2002, to NormanP. Lasca, Chair, Department of Geosciences, University ofWisconsin—Milwaukee, P.O. Box 413, Milwaukee, WI53201, fax: 414-229-5452; e-mail: [email protected]. TheUniversity of Wisconsin—Milwaukee is an Equal Opportu-nity/Affirmative Action Employer.

TWO TENURE-TRACK POSITIONS—BIOGEOCHEMISTRYUNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN

The Department of Geological Sciences at the University ofSaskatchewan is accepting applications for two tenure-

CLASSIFIED Advertising

continued on p. 36

track positions in the field of biogeochemistry. For the firstposition, we are seeking a candidate with a background instable isotope methods applied to biogeochemical prob-lems in modern or ancient oceanography, climatology, orecology. The successful candidate will have strong analyti-cal training. For the second position, we are seeking a can-didate with a research focus in environmental biogeo-chemistry of trace metals. This candidate will work bothwithin the department and the broader cross-campusinterdisciplinary toxicology program.

Both candidates should be prepared to develop vigor-ous research programs, and participate in undergraduateand graduate student teaching and research. Candidatesmust hold a Ph.D. when appointed. Previous teachingexperience is preferred, although not essential. Appoint-ments will be at the assistant professor level (tenure-track),although outstanding candidates may be considered at ahigher level.

The department has 15 full-time faculty, including twoendowed research chairs in geochemistry. The analyticalinfrastructure is one of the finest in North America withTIMS, IRMS, MC–ICP–MS, laser ablation quadrupoleICP–MS, electron microprobe, XRD, SEM, and trace-metalclean room. Exceptional opportunities exist for innovativecollaboration with researchers from the Colleges of Agri-culture, Engineering, Medicine, and Veterinary Medicine,and the Toxicology Centre. Also located on campus arethe Canadian Wildlife Service and National Water ResearchInstitute. The University of Saskatchewan is home to thefirst synchrotron light source in Canada (under construction).

Applications, including full resume and three letters ofreference will be addressed to Dr. James Basinger, Head,Department of Geological Sciences, University ofSaskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada. E-mail:[email protected]; fax: 306-966-8593; www.usask.ca/geology/. We will begin reviewing applications on December10, 2001.

Both positions have been cleared for advertising at thetwo-tier level. Applications are invited from qualified indi-viduals regardless of their immigration status in Canada.The University of Saskatchewan is committed to employ-ment equity. Members of designated groups (women, Abo-riginal people, people with disabilities and visible minori-ties) are encouraged to self-identify on their applications.

GEOLOGY INSTRUCTORSanta Monica Community College is accepting applica-tions for a full-time, tenure-track geology instructor to startfall 2002. Will teach introductory lecture and laboratorycourses in physical, historical geology and physicaloceanography, and further develop the geology curriculum;conduct field work with students separate from or as a partof assigned class load; teach evening classes and/or Sat-urday classes as needed; serve as a proponent for geologyeducation on campus and in the community; participate inthe development of geology, academic and administrativeprograms. The minimum qualifications for this position area master’s in geology, geophysics, earth sciences, meteo-rology, oceanography or paleontology or bachelor’s ingeology and master’s in geography, physics or geochem-istry, or the equivalent. Advanced graduate work in physi-cal geology and/or historical geology and/or oceanographyis preferred. Fieldwork experience, demonstrated experi-ence and interest in teaching college level geology andoceanography lecture and laboratory courses are desir-able. Ability to use technology as a teaching tool. Salary:$39,456–$81,361. Deadline to apply: February 14, 2002.Please call (310) 434-4336 for a district application anddetailed job description, or write to Santa Monica College,Human Resources, 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA90405. EOE.

ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGISTNORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

The Department of Physics and Geology invites applica-tions for a tenure-track position in environmental geologybeginning in August 2002. Undergraduate teaching experi-ence and a Ph.D. in geology with experience in environ-mental geology are required. Teaching responsibilities willinclude upper division undergraduate courses and intro-ductory geology courses with labs. Preference will be givento individuals with strong backgrounds in hydrogeologyand environmental studies of groundwater quality. Candi-dates will be expected to develop a research program thatwill include undergraduate geology and environmental sci-ence majors. The candidate will also be expected to con-tribute to the department’s educational outreach programsto P–12 and nontraditional science students. The ability tocollaborate with NKU’s emerging Environmental Scienceprogram, Environmental Resource Management Centerand/or the Center for Integrative Natural Science andMathematics will offer the successful candidate additionalprofessional opportunities. Rank and salary will be com-mensurate with qualifications. Send letter of application,

curriculum vitae, separate statements of teaching philoso-phy and research interests, and the names, addresses,phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of three referencesto: Geology Search Committee, Department of Physicsand Geology, Northern Kentucky University, HighlandHeights, KY 41099-1900, by Jan. 7, 2002. Candidates maybe required to submit additional documentation. For addi-tional information on Northern Kentucky University visithttp://www.nku.edu. Northern Kentucky University is anEqual Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

TENURE-TRACK FACULTY POSITIONSUNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH

The Department of Geology and Planetary Science at theUniversity of Pittsburgh seeks applicants for two full-time,tenure-track faculty positions beginning in September2002, pending budgetary approval. We expect to fill oneposition up to the associate professor level and the otherat the rank of assistant professor. Each successful candi-date will be expected to develop an active, externallyfunded research program. Teaching duties will includeundergraduate and graduate courses in geology and plan-etary science, as well as supervision of M.S. and Ph.D. stu-dents and undergraduate research projects. Necessaryqualifications include a Ph.D. at time of appointment, aswell as demonstrated excellence in teaching, research, andintellectual leadership.

For the first position, we seek applications from individ-uals with expertise in planetary surface processes/vol-canology. Our preferred candidate would have an activeresearch program in physical volcanological processes onEarth and other planets, with additional research interestsin areas such as remote sensing, geophysics, and Mars-related mission activities. We seek someone who will con-tribute to one or more of the department’s focusedresearch groups in remote sensing, spectroscopy, and vol-canology; in astrobiology and geochemistry; and in paleo-magnetics and tectonics.

For the second position, in astrobiology/life history,applications are invited from individuals with expertise inpaleontology, geomicrobiology, or biogeochemistry whocan work in modern environments as well as the fossilrecord. We seek individuals who examine the impact of lifeon geological processes and earth history, and who haveinterests in the evolution of life in extreme / extraterrestrialenvironments and in the geological factors that haveguided evolution. The successful candidate could interactwith colleagues currently pursuing research in paleoclimatereconstruction, environmental and earth surface pro-cesses, and planetary geology and geochemistry.

Qualified applicants should send a curriculum vitae(including past and current grant support and relevant pub-lications), statements of research and teaching interests,and the names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail ofat least four referees to: Faculty Search Committee,Department of Geology and Planetary Science, 200 SRCCBuilding, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260,USA. Please specify the position to which you are apply-ing. Evaluation of applications will begin January 15, 2002,and continue until the position is filled. For additionaldetails and information about the department please seeour Web site: http://www.geology.pitt.edu/.

The University of Pittsburgh is an affirmative action,equal opportunity employer. Women and members ofunder-represented minority groups are especially encour-aged to apply.

ANALYTICAL FACILITIES TECHNICIANUNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO

The Department of Geological Sciences at the University ofTexas at El Paso invites applications for a full-time positionas analytical facilities technician. The department isequipped with numerous analytical instruments located in anoutstanding facility that is the centerpiece of the university.

Duties will include maintenance of a Cameca SX50electron microprobe, a Scintag XDS2000 XRD, a gamma-ray detection INAA unit, a variety of optical microscopesand other equipment, as well as assistance and training offaculty and students from diverse backgrounds in the suc-cessful use of the facilities. Collaborative or independentresearch is encouraged, however, the primary focus of theposition is successful operation of the facility. The candi-date would also assume a variety of other duties includingserving as safety officer and monitoring inventory.

Minimum requirements include an M.S. or Ph.D. in geo-sciences, material sciences, or related fields. Direct experi-ence with an electron microprobe and good communica-tion skills are essential.

Interested persons should send a resume, and namesof two references to: Dr. Kate C. Miller, Chair, Departmentof Geological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, ElPaso, TX 79968-0555, E-mail: [email protected].

We will begin reviewing applications on December 15,2001, and will accept applications until the position is filled.

The University does not discriminate on the basis of race,

color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or sexualorientation in employment of the provision of services.

TENURED OR TENURE-TRACK POSITIONCAVE AND KARST STUDIES

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology invitesapplications for a new tenure-track position in cave andkarst studies in the Department of Earth and EnvironmentalScience (www.ees.nmt.edu), starting summer or fallsemester 2002. New Mexico Tech is the academic partnerin the newly established federal National Cave and KarstResearch Institute (NCKRI), located near Carlsbad CavernsNational Park, and the position will serve as the linkbetween activities at New Mexico Tech and NCKRI. Theposition will be on New Mexico Tech’s campus in Socorro.We seek an individual specializing in an earth-science ori-ented aspect of cave and karst research such as karst haz-ards, paleoclimatology based on cave deposits, or cavebiogeochemistry. Applicants must have a Ph.D. in one ofthe earth sciences, or a related field, at the time of appoint-ment. Demonstrated excellence in research, potential forfuture growth, broad expertise in national cave/karstissues, and ability to coordinate New Mexico Tech’s activi-ties within NCKRI are the most important qualifications.Responsibilities will include developing an active programof extramurally funded research, supervising and support-ing graduate students, and teaching two graduate orundergraduate courses per year. The successful candidatewill join a department of 21 full-time faculty, 26 adjunct fac-ulty, 100 graduate, and 80 undergraduate students. TheDepartment has strong programs in hydrology, geo-physics, and geology/geochemistry. The New MexicoBureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, with 35 otherearth-science professionals, is also located on campus.The position may be filled at any level, commensurate withqualifications. Salary is negotiable and competitive. For fur-ther information on this position see http://www.ees.nmt.edu/cavekarst.html. Applicants should submit a letterof interest, resume, college transcripts, and the names andcontact information of three references to New MexicoInstitute of Mining and Technology, 801 Leroy Place,Human Resources, Wells Hall Box 116B, Socorro NM87801. E-mail applications are not accepted. To receive fullconsideration, all materials must be received by January15, 2002. New Mexico Tech is an Equal Opportunity/Affir-mative Action employer.

MULTIPLE FACULTY POSITIONSDEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES

INDIANA UNIVERSITYThe Department of Geological Sciences at Indiana Univer-sity invites applications for two endowed, tenured positionsat the full or associate professor level and one tenure-trackposition at the level of assistant professor. The twoendowed positions supplement two endowed professor-ships that were filled in the past year.

We seek individuals with a solid record of scholarlyachievement and demonstrated success in obtaining, orthe potential to obtain, external research support. Prioritywill be given to candidates who can enhance our existingresearch strengths and expand our collaborative analyticalfacilities. All positions will include teaching across the cur-riculum and supervision of student research.

Murray Chair in Applied Clay Mineralogy: We seek aclay mineralogist with high visibility in some area of appliedclay mineralogy, which could include: novel industrial usesof clays, clay minerals as biohazards, and environmental orbiomedical applications of clay minerals.

Mead Professorship in Geophysics: We seek a geo-physicist with expertise in applied and exploration geo-physics. Applicants should demonstrate an ability andinterest in fostering interdisciplinary study in geophysics,tectonics, and basin analysis.

Geochemistry: We seek a metal-isotope geochemist or microbial biogeochemist working on ICP-MS instrumen-tation to investigate metal-isotope systematics inhydrothermal mineralization, extremophile metabolism,cosmic reactions or other processes where partitioning ofmetals occurs.

The Department of Geological Sciences currently has16 full-time and 5 part-time faculty shared with other I.U.units and the Indiana Geological Survey, which is locatedin the same building as the department. The department’soutstanding existing laboratory infrastructure and FieldStation in Montana are expected to be augmented in thenear future with the completion of a new multi-disciplinaryscience building housing state-of-the-art analytical equip-ment. More information about the department can befound at http://www.indiana.edu/~geosci.

Applications should include a personal statement ofteaching and research interests, a detailed curriculumvitae, and names and addresses (including email) of fivereferees. They should be sent to the appropriate personlisted below at the Dept. of Geosciences, Indiana Univer-sity, Bloomington, IN 47405. Review of applicants will




begin on December 20, and will continue until the positionsare filled. Indiana University, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, encourages the candidacies ofwomen and minorities.

Dr. Mark Person, Chair, Clay Mineralogy Search Com.,(812) 855-4404, [email protected]; Dr. Lee Suttner,Chair, Geophysics Search Com., (812) 855-4957,[email protected]; Dr. Lisa Pratt, Chair, GeochemistrySearch Com., (812) 855-9203, [email protected].

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, STRUCTURAL GEOLOGYLOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY

The Department of Geology and Geophysics at LouisianaState University invites applications for a tenure-trackassistant professor position to begin fall semester of 2002.A position at the associate professor level may be consid-ered for an exceptional candidate. Required Qualifications:Ph.D. in geology or related field at the time of appointment.Additional Qualifications Desired: postdoctoral experience;outstanding, quantitative geoscientist with demonstratedexpertise in the areas of structural geology.

The successful candidate is expected to contribute toour undergraduate and graduate teaching programs anddevelop courses in his or her area of specialization.Responsibilities: develops a strong research program;supervises graduate student research; active publication innational or international highly ranked journals; generatesexternal funding.

The department consists of 20, tenure-track facultymembers covering a wide range of expertise. In support of our faculty and students, we have many well-equippedanalytical and computational laboratories. Geology and geophysics has strong support from the LSU adminis-tration as evidenced in our selection as one of the 12 prior-ity departments at the university. For more informationabout our department, see our Web site at http://www.geol.lsu.edu.

The review process will begin December 15, 2001. Thesearch will be continued until a suitable candidate is found.Interested persons should send a copy of their vita, astatement of their research and teaching interests, and thenames, addresses, and phone numbers of at least threereferences to: Chair, Structure Search Committee, Depart-ment of Geology and Geophysics, Louisiana State Univer-sity, Ref. Log #0468 Baton Rouge, LA 70803.

LSU IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/EQUAL ACCESSEMPLOYER

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO, DEPT. OF GEOLOGYEARTH AND PLANETARY MATERIALS

The Department of Geology is readvertising its vacanttenure stream position on the downtown (St. George) cam-pus in the field of earth and planetary materials at theassistant professor level. We are particularly interested in,but not limited to, candidates with research interests inquantitative aspects of planetary studies, igneous andmetamorphic petrology, mineralogy and high-temperaturegeochemistry. Candidates must have a Ph.D. degree at thetime of appointment and be able to demonstrate both theirability for independent research and a potential to comple-ment existing research programs described on our Website, www.geology.utoronto.ca. In addition to establishingan internationally recognized independent research pro-gram, the successful candidate will have a strong commit-ment to teaching at all levels. Salary will be commensuratewith the candidate’s qualifications and experience. Theposition is available from July 1, 2002.

The Department of Geology is well equipped with ana-lytical and experimental facilities to support earth and plan-etary materials research. More information on facilities andprograms is available on our Web site.

Applicants should send their complete curriculum vitae,including a list of publications, and a short statementdescribing their research program. They should alsoarrange to have at least three letters of reference sentdirectly to: Chair, Department of Geology, University ofToronto, 22 Russell Street, Room 1066, Toronto, Ontario,Canada M5S 3B1.

To ensure full consideration, all information should bereceived by January 15, 2002. Applications after this datewill be considered until the position has been filled.

The University of Toronto is strongly committed todiversity within its community. The University especiallywelcomes applications from visible minority group mem-bers, women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities,members of sexual minority groups, and others who mayadd to the diversity of ideas.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSASDEPARTMENT OF GEOSCIENCES

The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville invites applicationsfor a tenure track position in the Department of Geo-sciences in the area of igneous petrology and volcanologyat the rank of associate professor commencing August2002. Minimum qualifications are a Ph. D. in the earth sci-

ences. The candidate should have expertise and researchinterests in igneous and metamorphic petrology and volcanology. The application of GPS and geodesy to prob-lems in volcanology and plate movement would be an asset.

The successful candidate will be expected to develop arigorous, externally funded research program, supervisegraduate students and teach undergraduate and graduatecourses. Collaboration with existing faculty who haveresearch interests in plate movement and structural geol-ogy will be strongly encouraged.

The University of Arkansas is committed to equity anddiversity in the workplace and welcomes applications frompersons with disabilities and members of minorities. Appli-cations from women are particularly encouraged.

Applications should include: a letter of application; adetailed curriculum vita; a research plan; a statement ofteaching interests; teaching evaluations or evidence ofeffective teaching if available; and three current letters ofreference forwarded by the referees. To insure full consid-

eration, complete applications and letters of referenceshould be submitted by January 4, 2002, to: Doy Zachry,Search Committee Chair, Department of Geosciences,Ozark Hall 113, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR72701; e-mail [email protected]; phone (501) 575-2785;fax (501) 575-3469.

ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGISTGEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

The Environmental Science and Policy Program invitesapplications for a tenure-track assistant professor positionin environmental geology for fall 2002. We seek a dynamicperson with research expertise in one or more of the fol-lowing: geochemistry, soil science, hydrology, geologichazards, and global change. Special consideration will begiven to candidates with expertise in remote sensing, GIS,and/or environmental modeling. The successful candidatewill be expected to pursue an active externally funded

Department of GeosciencesPRINCETON UNIVERSITY

HARRY HESS FELLOWS PROGRAM

The Department of Geosciences at Princeton University announces competition for the2001-2002 Harry Hess Fellows Program. This honorific postdoctoral fellowship programhas been established to provide opportunities for outstanding young geoscientists to workin the field of their choice. Research may be carried out independently or in collaborationwith members of the Geosciences Department. One or more Hess fellows are usuallyappointed each year. Applicants must have obtained a Ph.D. at the time of the start of thefellowship, but not more than five years before. Current areas of research include:

Geochemistry PetrologyBiogeochemical Cycles Structural GeologyPaleontology GeophysicsMineral Physics SeismologyTectonics Geomicrobiology

Candidates should send a letter of application and the supporting materials listed below tothe HESS FELLOWS COMMITTEE, c/o Professor F. A. Dahlen, Department of Geo-sciences, Guyot Hall, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544. Applications will con-tinue to be accepted until the available positions are filled, but no later than December 31,2001.

• Curriculum vitae• List of publications and preprints• Brief statement of research interests and goals• Name, address and email address of three referees familiar with the candidate's work

Hess fellowships provide a competitive annual stipend, depending upon experience,along with an allowance for travel to meetings and research support. Initial awards are forone year, with a starting date that must be before January 1, 2003. Extensions for an addi-tional year are generally granted depending upon satisfactory performance. Applicationswill continue to be accepted until the available positions are filled, but no later thanDecember 31, 2001. Hess fellowship applicants will also be considered for other avail-able postdoctoral positions in the Geosciences Department.

Princeton University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and particu-larly welcomes applications from women and members of minority groups.

Information about the research activities of the Department of Geosciences may beviewed at http://www.geoweb.princeton.edu.

continued on p. 38

research program, aspire to teaching excellence, andengage in interdisciplinary collaboration. Teaching dutieswill include undergraduate courses as well as graduatecourses in area of expertise. A Ph.D. is required.

The program offers undergraduate degrees in geol-ogy/earth science and M.S./Ph.D. in environmental scienceand policy. Our faculty includes ecologists, microbiolo-gists, geologists, earth scientists, oceanographers, andsociologists. Additional information about the program anduniversity may be found at www.mason.gmu.edu/~esppand www.gmu.edu, respectively.

Candidates should submit CV, letter of intent includingstatements of research and teaching interests, examples ofpublished work, teaching evaluations (if available), andcontact information (with e-mail addresses) of three refer-ences to Randy McBride, Search Committee Chair, Envi-ronmental Science and Policy Program, Mail Stop 5F2,George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030-4444. Appli-cation deadline is 31 December 2001. George Mason Uni-versity is an Affirmative Action/Equal OpportunityEmployer. We strongly encourage women and minoritycandidates to apply.

UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRESOLID EARTH GEOCHEMISTRY

The Department of Earth Sciences at the University of NewHampshire invites applications for a tenure-track positionin solid earth geochemistry at the assistant professor levelstarting September 2002, or as soon as possible there-after. The successful candidate will be expected to teachgeochemistry, an introductory earth sciences course aspart of the core curriculum in geology, graduate course(s)in his/her specialty, and to develop a strong research pro-gram involving graduate and undergraduate students.Research specialization is open (e.g., stable isotopes, high-temperature geochemistry, geochronology) but should becomplementary to current departmental and collegeefforts. UNH offers bachelor’s degrees in the areas of geol-ogy, hydrology, oceanography and earth sciences; fiveM.Sc. options; and the Ph.D. in earth sciences. Thedepartment (http://www.unh.edu/esci) has strong ties tothe Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space,and the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping. A Ph.D. atthe time of appointment is expected.

Review of applications begins December 17, 2001.Please send complete CV, statement of research andteaching interests, and names and addresses of three ref-erences to Geochemistry Search Committee, UNH Depart-ment of Earth Sciences, 56 College Road, Durham, NH03824. UNH is committed to excellence through diversityin its faculty and strongly encourages women and minori-ties to apply.

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTASOLID-EARTH GEOPHYSICS

The Department of Geology and Geophysics at the Univer-sity of Minnesota invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in solid-earth geophysics. The appointmentwill be made at the assistant professor or, under excep-tional circumstances, at a higher level with faculty rank and tenure status dependent on the qualifications of the candidate.

Candidates are sought with interests in one or more ofthe following areas: geodynamics, geomagnetism, mineraland/or rock physics, and seismology. Outstanding candi-dates in other areas of geophysics will also be considered.Potential areas of focus include the crust, mantle and/orcore of the Earth or other planetary bodies.

The appointee will be expected to develop a vigorousresearch program, attract external funding, and comple-ment existing research activities. Teaching duties willreflect the expertise of the candidate and include bothundergraduate and graduate courses. This position isenhanced by potential interactions with colleagues atresearch centers throughout the university including theMinnesota Supercomputer Institute, the Institute for RockMagnetism, the geophysical fluid dynamics program at St.Anthony Falls Hydraulic Laboratory, the LimnologicalResearch Center, the Minnesota Geological Survey, andthe Institute of Technology Characterization Facility. Infor-mation concerning collaborative research and relatedinstrumentation is available at http://www.geo.umn.edu/dept/positions/geophysics.html.

A Ph.D. degree must be earned by the time of theappointment in August 2002. The review of completedapplications will begin January 11, 2002, and continueuntil an appointment is made. Application requirements are(1) curriculum vitae, (2) complete list of publications, (3)statement of research interests, (4) statement of teachinginterests, and (5) at least three letters of recommendation.Send application to Chair, Geophysics Search Committee,Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Min-nesota, 310 Pillsbury Dr. S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455

USA. Questions may be addressed to Professor DavidKohlstedt at [email protected].

The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunityeducator and employer.

TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITYThe Department of Geology and Geophysics at Texas A&MUniversity invites applications for two entry-level, tenure-track faculty positions beginning fall of 2002.

Environmental/Engineering Geology. We seek aresearcher interested in fundamental questions concerningsocietal interactions with geologic systems, such as waterresources; biogeochemistry and ecosystem functioning;fluvial geomorphology; or urban development. The candi-date will join a dynamic program with expertise in hydroge-ology, biogeochemistry, near-surface geophysics, engi-neering geology, and neotectonics, as well as many othergeoscience areas. This position is funded through a major,campus-wide, interdisciplinary research program, The Sus-tainable Coastal Margins Program (SCMP, http://scmp.gerg.tamu.edu).

Responsibilities for this position include the develop-ment of an outstanding, externally funded, research pro-gram, involvement in the SCMP program, and a commit-ment to undergraduate and graduate teaching. Submit acurriculum vita, reprints, a summary of research and teach-ing interests, and the names, postal and e-mail addressesof three or more references to: Dr. Bruce Herbert, Environ-mental/Engineering Search Committee Chair, Geology and Geophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station,TX 77843-3115. Review of applications will start on Dec. 1, 2001.

Paleobiology, Biotic response to global change. Weseek an individual to develop an outstanding research andteaching program that will complement interdisciplinaryresearch in paleoecology, paleoclimatology, and paleo-ceanography within the College of Geosciences, includingthe Depts. of Geology and Geophysics, Oceanography andthe Ocean Drilling Program. Research areas of particularinterest include, but are not restricted to: paleoecology,taphonomy, paleoceanography and paleoclimatology,paleoproductivity, molecular paleobiology and the biogeo-chemistry of ancient environments, paleoproductivity, andevolutionary theory.

Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in geology or related field,and demonstrate research productivity in the form of publi-cations and current or potential external funding. Submit acurriculum vitae, reprints, statement of research interests,and the names, postal, and e-mail addresses of three ref-erences to: Dr. Anne Raymond ([email protected]),Paleobiology Search Committee Chair, Dept. of Geology &Geophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX77843-3115 USA. Review of applications will begin on Jan.10, 2002, and continue until the position is filled.

Texas A&M University, a land-, sea- and space-grantinstitution, is located in College Station, Texas, a dynamiccommunity of 140,000 people. Texas A&M University is anaffirmative action/equal opportunity employer committedto excellence through diversity and compliance with theAmericans with Disabilities Act. Departmental facilities andprograms can be reviewed at our Web site (http://geoweb.tamu.edu/).

UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDAASSISTANT PROFESSOR

HYDROGEOLOGY/HYDROGEOMORPHOLOGYThe Department of Environmental Studies, University ofWest Florida, invites applications for a tenure-track posi-tion in hydrogeology/hydrogeomorphology, beginningAugust 2002. We seek candidates with expertise in appliedgroundwater hydrology or water/land surface interactions.Interest in environmental issues is highly desirable. Appli-cants should have an appreciation for undergraduate edu-cation and will be expected to teach classes in geology,geomorphology, and hydrology. Applicants are expectedto develop an active research program and should becommitted to peer-reviewed publication. A Ph.D. in geol-ogy or geography at the time of appointment is required.Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The Department of Environmental Studies offers amajor in environmental studies and minors in geographyand environmental studies. Over 135 majors specialize innatural science and environmental policy tracks. A geogra-phy track is being developed. The department is housed in a renovated building with new research and teachingfacilities. The department maintains the university-wideGeodata Center, which has extensive GIS capabilities. For more information on the department see http://uwf.edu/environmental/.

Candidates are requested to submit a statement ofresearch and teaching interests and experience, a curricu-lum vitae, and three letters of reference by December 17,2001. Inquires may be made at [email protected] or atphone (850) 474-2065.

Apply: Dr. Johan Liebens, Department of Environmental

Studies, University of West Florida, 11000 University Park-way, Pensacola, FL 32514.

The University of West Florida is an Equal Opportu-nity/Access/Affirmative Action Employer.

GEOCHEMISTRY/PETROLOGY OF THE LITHOSPHEREBOSTON UNIVERSITY

The Department of Earth Sciences at Boston Universityinvites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at theassistant professor level, to begin September 1, 2002.

We seek a scientist to build a vibrant research andteaching program emphasizing geochemical and petro-logic approaches to solving tectonics problems, with inter-ests in the composition and evolution of the continentaland/or oceanic lithosphere. The scientist may utilize meth-ods based on one or more of the following: (1) isotope geo-chemistry and/or geochronology, (2) igneous and/or meta-morphic petrology and geochemistry, (3) experimentalpetrology or geochemistry, and (4) field geology. The newfaculty member will complement existing strengths in litho-sphere deformation and geochemistry, tectonics, geo-physics, low-temperature geochemistry, and marine andsurface processes.

The successful applicant will be expected to supervisegraduate thesis work in M.A. and Ph.D. programs, maintainan externally funded research program, and teach at alllevels in the earth sciences curriculum. Interaction isencouraged with the Departments of Geography, Chem-istry, and Physics, the Center for Remote Sensing the Cen-ter for Energy and Environmental Studies, and the B.U.Marine Program. For more information about the depart-ment, see http://www.bu.edu/ES.

A Ph.D. at the time of appointment is required. Appli-cants should send a curriculum vitae, a statement ofresearch and teaching interests, and the names andaddresses of at least three referees to: Search CommitteeChair, Department of Earth Sciences, Boston University,685 Commonwealth Ave., Boston MA 02215 USA; e-mail:[email protected]. Review of applications will begin onDecember 1, 2001. Boston University is an equal opportu-nity/affirmative action employer.

FACULTY POSITIONSTRATIGRAPHY/SEDIMENTOLOGY

WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, ST. LOUISWashington University in St. Louis announces a tenure-track position at the assistant professor level in the fields ofstratigraphy and sedimentology to begin in fall 2002. Underspecial circumstances, an outstanding candidate may beconsidered for appointment at a higher level. The success-ful candidate will be a creative individual who uses field,laboratory, and analytical techniques to investigate modernand ancient sedimentary rocks and processes. Areas ofinterest might include, but are not limited to: sequencestratigraphy and its relationship to tectonic subsidence,eustasy, and sediment flux; sedimentary rocks asrecorders of climate change; environmental geology asdeduced from sedimentary strata. Candidates shoulddemonstrate promise of excellence in both teaching andresearch and must have been awarded a Ph.D. at time ofappointment. Send resume, statement of future researchinterest, and names and contact information for at leastthree references to: Robert Tucker, Search Committee Co-Chair, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Wash-ington University, Campus Box 1169, One Brookings Dr.,St. Louis, MO 63130, or via e-mail: [email protected]. EO/AA employer. Employment eligibilityverification required upon employment. Consideration ofapplicants will begin on December 31, 2001, and continueuntil the position is filled.

GEOLOGY INSTRUCTORThe Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District,located in El Cajon, CA, is currently accepting applicationsfor a full-time, tenure track geology instructor beginning fall2002. Applications are required and may be obtained atwww.gcccd.net/hr/academic.htm. Applications must bereceived by 01/18/02. AA/EEO/Title IX Employer

TENURE-TRACK POSITION IN GEOMORPHOLOGYMIAMI UNIVERSITY

The Department of Geology at Miami University invitesapplications for a tenure-track faculty position at the assis-tant professor level, beginning August 2002. Applicantsmust have a Ph.D. degree at the time of appointment. Thesuccessful applicant will be expected to teach effectively atthe undergraduate and graduate levels, supervise studentresearch at the undergraduate, M.S. and Ph.D. levels, andinitiate and maintain a vigorous, externally funded researchprogram.

We are seeking an outstanding candidate who is under-taking significant field and/or laboratory based research.The particular research emphasis should complement cur-rent program strengths. Thus, areas of emphasis mayinclude, but are not limited to active tectonics, remotesensing, Quaternary geology, and climate change.



The successful applicant will join an active departmentthat consists of 10 faculty members, two technical staffmembers, 50 undergraduate majors and 20 graduate stu-dents. The department maintains active research programsin environmental geology, hydrogeology, low-temperaturegeochemistry, geomicrobiology, sedimentology andstratigraphy, mineralogy, igneous petrology, volcanology,isotope geochemistry, structural geology, and tectonics.Included among departmental instrumentation are: DCplasma spectrometer, thermal ionization mass spectrome-ters (new multi-collector to arrive spring 2002), HPLC ionchromatograph, atomic force/scanning tunneling micro-scope, single-crystal and powder x-ray diffractometers(including a new CCD diffractometer), single-crystal x-raycameras, electrophoretic mobility analyzer, and cathodelumniscope. The department also owns a truck-mountedhollow-stem auger drilling rig. Please visit www.muohio.edu/geology/ for additional information.

Miami University, with 16,000 students, is located in asmall-town setting within a one-hour drive of Cincinnatiand Dayton. Interested candidates should submit a packetcontaining a letter of application, curriculum vitae, state-ment of teaching and research objectives and accomplish-ments, transcripts, and arrange three letters of reference tobe sent to: Geomorphology Search Committee, Depart-ment of Geology, Miami University, 114 Shideler Hall,Oxford, OH 45056 (fax: 513-529-1542). Applications will be accepted until January 11, 2002, or until the position is filled.

We encourage applications from women, members ofethnic minorities, and individuals with disabilities. MiamiUniversity offers equal opportunity in employment andeducation.

FACULTY POSITIONREMOTE SENSING GEOSCIENTIST

UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALOTHE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK

The Department of Geology at the University at Buffalo, aResearch I University, invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in remote-sensing geoscience, start-ing in August 2002 at the rank of assistant or associateprofessor. The successful candidate will demonstrate apotential for research and teaching that will complementand integrate with our existing programs in volcanologyand environmental geology. Existing research in thedepartment includes studies of volcanoes, surficial pro-cesses, neotectonics, fractured rock systems, groundwater, and basin analysis, including oil and gas explo-ration. All these research programs presently involveremote sensing. The successful candidate may also wishto collaborate with the National Center for GeographicInformation and Analysis and the Center for ComputationalResearch at the University at Buffalo. Teaching duties willinvolve undergraduate and graduate level courses in thecandidate’s specialties, and will include introductory struc-tural geology. Successful candidates must have a Ph.D.degree at the time of appointment. Apply with a statementof teaching and research goals and a curriculum vitae,including published research, grant support, and names ofat least three references to: Chair, Search Committee,Department of Geology, 876 Natural Science Complex,University at Buffalo, The State University of New York,Buffalo, NY 14260-3050. More information about ourdepartment can be found at: http://www.geology.buffalo.edu. We will begin evaluating applicants December15, 2001. The University at Buffalo is an Equal OpportunityEmployer/Recruiter.

UTAH STATE UNIVERSITYDEAN—COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

Utah State University seeks a successful scholar to provideleadership and administration to a dynamic faculty in biol-ogy, chemistry/biochemistry, computer science, geology,mathematics/statistics, and physics. A full positiondescription is available at: http://personnel.usu.edu/W1-104-01.htm. Send letter of application, resume and contactinformation for five references to: Dr. Noelle E. Cockett,Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Utah State University,1435 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322-1435, ph: (435) 797-0979, e-mail: [email protected]. Review beginsJanuary 3, 2002; open until filled. AA/EOE.

SEDIMENTARY GEOLOGYCALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FULLERTON

The Department of Geological Sciences, California StateUniversity, Fullerton, invites applications for a tenure-trackposition starting August 2002. We anticipate filling thisposition at the rank of assistant professor, however, candi-dates with exceptional qualifications may be consideredfor appointment at a higher rank. The successful applicantwill have the following credentials and capabilities: a Ph.D.in geology; a primary interest in teaching and achievingexcellence in teaching; a vigorous, field-based researchprogram in sedimentary geology that can involve under-graduate and graduate students.

Teaching responsibilities will include some of the fol-lowing: physical geology, historical geology, sedimentationand stratigraphy, paleontology, advanced sedimentology/stratigraphy, and field geology, as well as upper divisionand graduate courses in the new faculty member’s area ofexpertise. Research activities must result in publications inrefereed journals.

CSU Fullerton is a large urban university dedicated tothe preeminence of learning. Located 22 miles southeast ofmetropolitan Los Angeles, the city of Fullerton is renownedfor its unique mix of residential, commercial and industrial,educational, and cultural environments that provide resi-dents with an outstanding quality of life. The departmenthas 10 full-time faculty with expertise in traditional andapplied areas of geology. The nearby geological provincesprovide abundant opportunities for field-based research,which the department emphasizes in its curriculum. Wehave about 50 undergraduate majors and a growing M.S.graduate program. Additional information is available fromour Web page at http://geology.fullerton.edu/.

To apply, please send the following: a detailed curricu-lum vita; a letter of application that explains how you meetthe qualifications outlined above; a statement about teach-ing that includes a discussion of relevant course workand/or experience in preparation for teaching, a list ofcourses you would feel comfortable teaching, and a state-ment of your teaching philosophy; a statement of yourfuture research plans and goals; letters of recommendationfrom at least three references familiar with your teaching

and research activities and potential—referees must sendtheir letters directly to the address below.

Send application to: Dr Brady P. Rhodes, Chair, SearchCommittee, Department of Geological Sciences, CaliforniaState University, P.O. Box 6850, Fullerton, California92834-6850. Applications will be accepted until January31, 2002. Applications received after this date will bereviewed only if the position is not filled from the originalpool of applicants.

California State University, Fullerton is an AffirmativeAction/Equal Opportunity Employer. All personnel policiesconform to the requirements of Executive Order 11246, theAmericans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, Title IX ofthe Higher Education Amendments of 1972 and other fed-eral regulations regarding nondiscrimination.

COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINESDEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND GEOCHEMISTRY

ASSISTANT PROFESSORThe Department of Chemistry and Geochemistry (CG) atthe Colorado School of Mines (CSM) invites applicationsfor an anticipated tenure-track position in organic geo-chemistry, at the rank assistant professor.

A Ph.D., received prior to August 2002, in chemistry,geochemistry, or a closely related field is required. Post-doctoral experience is desirable. The department will con-sider all individuals with educational and research experi-


The University of Texas at AustinTwo Faculty Positions

The Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin seeks to fill two faculty positions. Whereas appointments at the tenure-track assistant professor levels are anticipated, candidates at all ranks will be considered.

Hydrogeology. This position is in the general area of hydrology to complement our growing program in physical, biological, and chemical hydrogeology. The specific area of research is open, but we are interested in a scientist with a research background in (1) groundwater/surface water interactions or (2) reaction-transport modeling on a variety of scales. The successful candidate will be expected to teach an undergraduate course in surface water hydrology and to help with the hydrogeology field methods course, as well as courses in his/her own specialty.

Remote Sensing. This position is the second of three faculty positions in Global Change/Earth System Science. We are seeking an individual who uses remotely sensed observations to study surface processes linked to the hydrological cycle and relationships with global change. Examples of research areas include surface water hydrology, soil moisture, groundwater, sedimentation and erosion, biosphere-atmosphere interaction, and ice sheet processes.

These new faculty will join the newly formed Jackson School of Geosciences with a large and diverse community of geoscientists and superb research facilities and support. The successful candidates will be enthusiastic teachers, direct the research of M.S. and Ph.D. students, and conduct vigorous externally funded research programs. The anticipated starting date is August 2002; a Ph.D. is required at the time of appointment. Please see http://www.geo.utexas.edu for additional information. To apply, please send a curriculum vitae, statements of research and teaching interests, and the names and contact information for four references to: Faculty Searches, (Designate Hydrogeology or Remote Sensing Search), Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712. Review of applications will begin December 1, 2001, and will continue until positions are filled. The University of Texas at Austin is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.

continued on p. 40


ence in the broad field of organic chemistry. However, weare particularly interested in individuals with experience ingas-chromatographic-isotope-ratio mass spectrometry(GC-irMS) and its applications to topics such as environ-mental chemistry and geochemistry, compound-specificbiomarker analyses, and petroleum geochemistry.

The successful candidate will be expected to develop aviable research program as well as teach undergraduateand graduate courses within the CG department.

CSM offers M.S. degrees in chemistry and geochemistryand Ph.D. degrees in applied chemistry and geochemistry.Applicants should submit a letter of application, under-graduate and graduate transcripts, curriculum vitae, state-ment of teaching philosophy, statement of research inter-ests, and the names and complete contact information(including e-mail) of three references. Review of applicationwill begin January 11, 2002, and the anticipated positionwill remain open until filled. Interested individuals shouldsubmit their applications to: Colorado School of Mines,Office of Human Resources, Search # 01-031420, 1500 Illi-nois Street, Golden, CO 80401. EEO/AA Employer.

FACULTY POSITIONCARBONATE SEDIMENTOLOGY/

SEISMIC STRATIGRAPHYUNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA

DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGICAL SCIENCESThe Department of Geological Sciences invites applica-tions for a tenure-track faculty position in carbonate sedi-mentology/seismic stratigraphy beginning August 2002.The position will be filled at the assistant professor level.Candidates must have a strong record of research and aPh.D. in geology, geophysics or a related field. The candi-date will be expected to teach graduate courses in carbon-ate sedimentology and multichannel seismic methods, toattract and supervise master’s and doctoral students, andto obtain external research funding. Experience with geo-logic and geophysical software used to construct 3-D earthmodels and geographic information systems is desired.This position compliments programs in basin analysis,geophysics, tectonics, coastal geology and petroleum sys-tems. Equipment available includes a seismic data acquisi-tion system and a state-of-the-art computing facility sup-porting seismic data processing, interpretation, andsubsurface mapping. Applicants should send a vita, state-ments of research and teaching interests, copies of tran-scripts, and contact information for five referees to Dr.Ernest Mancini, Carbonate/Seismic Search CommitteeChair, The University of Alabama, Department of Geologi-cal Sciences, Box 870338, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0338.Further information is available on our Web site at http://www.geo.ua.edu. Review of applications willbegin on January 15, 2002, and continue until the positionis filled.

The University of Alabama is an Equal-Opportunity,Affirmative-Action Employer. Applications are solicitedfrom women and minority candidates.

THREE FACULTY POSITIONS, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON

STRUCTURE AND TECTONICS,PETROLOGY/GEOCHEMISTRY, SEISMOLOGY

The Department of Geosciences at the University of Hous-ton is seeking applicants for three tenure-track facultypositions. Appointments will be at the rank of assistantprofessor and begin in September 2002. Successful candi-dates are expected to demonstrate outstanding researchand teaching potential. Teaching duties will reflect theexpertise of the candidate and include both undergraduateand graduate courses. Appointees will be expected todevelop vigorous research programs, attract external fund-ing, and supervise masters and doctoral research projects.A Ph.D. in geology or geophysics is required at the time ofappointment. Candidates will be considered from the fol-lowing three fields.

Structure and Tectonics We are seeking a geologistwith a background in field-based regional structural geol-ogy and tectonics. Candidates are sought to complementor extend existing research programs in global plate tec-tonics, continental tectonics, marine tectonics, earthquakeand reflection seismology, thermochronology, geochem-istry, paleomagnetism, and fluid-rock interactions. Candi-dates should be capable of originating, leading and direct-ing breakthrough research projects in structural geologyand/or tectonics. Allied strengths in neotectonics, struc-tural interpretation of 2-D and 3-D seismic reflection data,geochronology, petrology, basin analysis, remote sensing,and/or GIS are advantageous.

Geochemistry/Petrology We are seeking a geologistwith a strong background in geochemistry and petrologyand knowledge of advanced analytical approaches in solv-ing problems related to the composition and evolution ofcontinental and/or oceanic lithosphere. Candidates withexperience in ICP-MS analytical techniques that can par-

ticipate in a planned MC-ICP-MS laboratory with laserablation capabilities will be strongly considered. Candi-dates who also complement one or more existing researchareas, including continental and/or marine igneous petrol-ogy, high-temperature geochemistry, isotope geochem-istry, geochronology, mineralogy, planetary geology, orfluid-rock interactions, will be strongly considered. In sup-port of geochemistry and petrology, the department anduniversity maintain instruments for analytical work, includ-ing an ICP-OES, electron microprobe, SEM, rare gas massspectrometer, stable isotope mass spectrometers, as wellas facilities and instrumentation for organic geochemistry(GCs and GC-MS), hydrochemistry, microscopy, rockpreparation and mineral separation.

Seismology We are seeking an outstanding researcherand teacher in geophysics capable of originating, leadingand directing research projects in seismology. Specializa-tion areas may include earthquake seismology, mantle andcore seismology, reflection seismology, 3-D seismic inter-pretation, multi-component seismology, seismic physicalor numerical modeling, seismic acquisition, continentaland/or marine seismology, and applied reflection, reservoiror borehole seismology. In support of seismology, thedepartment maintains a seismic physical modeling facility,high-performance Sun and Beowulf cluster computer facili-ties, Sun and SGI workstation teaching and research facili-ties, and a full suite of commercial seismic processing andinterpretive software packages.

The department currently has 17 tenure-track facultyand seven research faculty in geology and geophysics. For more information about the department, candidatesare encouraged to visit our Web page: http://www.geosc.uh.edu.

Review of complete applications will begin January 10,2002, and continue until appointment is made. To apply,please send (1) a letter describing research and teachinginterests, (2) a curriculum vita, (3) transcripts from degree-granting institutions, and (4) at least three letters of refer-ence. Application materials and letters should be sent to:Faculty Search Committee, Department of Geosciences,University of Houston, 312 Science & Research I, Houston,TX 77204-5007.

The University of Houston is an Equal OpportunityEmployer. Minorities, women, and veterans are encour-aged to apply.

FACULTY POSITION, HYDROGEOLOGYUNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA

DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGICAL SCIENCESThe Department of Geological Sciences invites applica-tions for a tenure-track position in hydrogeology beginningAugust 2002. The position will be filled at the assistant pro-fessor level. We seek an outstanding individual who com-bines field-based research with theoretical studies. Thesuccessful applicant will be expected to establish a rigor-ous, externally funded research program in one or more ofthe following areas: groundwater microbiology, vadosezone hydrology, basin-scale fluid flow, and reactive trans-port modeling, and to teach introductory geology andgraduate-level courses in specialized topics. The positionwill build on the Environmental Geology Program’s existingstrengths in contaminant transport modeling, environmen-tal geochemistry, and global climate change. Applicantsmust hold a Ph.D. degree in hydrogeology or a related fieldat the time of appointment. Please send a curriculum vitae,statements of research and teaching interests, and contactinformation for 5 referees to Dr. Chunmiao Zheng, Hydro-geology Search Committee Chair, The University ofAlabama, Department of Geological Sciences, Box870338, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0338. The Department of Geological Sciences is housed in a modern researchfacility that provides laboratory space as well as state-of-the-art analytical instrumentation and computing equip-ment. Further information is available on our Web site athttp://www.geo.ua.edu. Review of applications will beginon January 15, 2002, and continue until the position is filled.

The University of Alabama is an Equal-Opportunity,Affirmative-Action Employer. Applications are solicitedfrom women and minority candidates.

Services and SuppliesMINERAL SPECIMENS FOR RESEARCH, EDUCATION,AND FOR MINERAL COLLECTIONS. Our Web site atwww.mineralminers.com is a virtual gallery displaying thou-sands of photographic images of unique mineral speci-mens from mining locations around the world. Also dis-played are rare gemstones, mineral spheres, largedecorator minerals, lapidary rough, and a variety of hand-crafted mineral gift ideas. www.mineralminers.com—Collector Quality at Miner’s Prices!™

Opportunities for StudentsJonathan O. Davis Scholarship, administered by the

Division of Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, DesertResearch Institute. The family and friends of Jonathan O.Davis, a prominent geologist and geoarchaeologist, haveestablished an endowment, which provides an annualscholarship of $3,750. Jonathan was tragically killed in anautomobile accident in December 1990. It is the wish of hisfamily and friends to support graduate students working onthe Quaternary geology of the Great Basin and surroundingareas. The scholarship is open to graduate studentsenrolled in an M.S. or Ph.D. program at any university inthe United States. Quaternary geology encompasses awide range of topics normally considered as part of theQuaternary sciences. The research, however, must have asubstantial geologic component or demonstrate a strongreliance on geological techniques and must be focused onthe Great Basin and immediately adjacent areas.

Applications should include: (1) a cover letter explaininghow the individual qualifies for the award (please includeyour social security number); (2) a current résumé or vitae;(3) a two-page, single spaced description of the thesis/dis-sertation research, which also clearly documents the geo-logical orientation and research significance; (4) a letter ofrecommendation from the thesis/dissertation supervisor,which emphasizes the student's ability and potential as aQuaternary scientist. Applications must be postmarked byFebruary 2, 2002. Applications should be addressed to:Executive Director, Division of Earth and Ecosystem Sci-ences, Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway,Reno, NV 89512. Contact: Mary Ann Moran, (775) 673-7458; or email [email protected].

Ph.D. Position on the Tectonics of Mars, University ofColorado. The geology department at CU-Boulder hassupport for a PhD student to study fault-related folds andreactivated thrust fault systems on Mars. The applicantmust have an interest in structural geology and analysis ofdigital terrain models with GIS. The position carries a livingallowance, tuition and other support for three years. Appli-cations should send a letter outlining their research inter-ests and experience, a CV and names and email addressesof three references to Karl Mueller, Dept of Geological Sci.,Univ. of Colorado, Boulder CO 80309-0399.

Kottlowski/Bureau Fellowship, New Mexico Bureau OfGeology & Mineral Resources, New Mexico Tech. TheNew Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources (adivision of New Mexico Tech) is seeking candidates for thenewly established Kottlowski/Bureau Fellowship. The fel-lowship, for an incoming PhD candidate in the earth sci-ences at NMTech, offers a 12-month, $18,000 salary plusactual tuition costs (guaranteed for 1 year, renewable for 3years). Additional funding is available to cover some fieldand laboratory expenses. Applicants can have interests inany earth or environmental science specialty, but will beexpected to do a project that is either within the state or ofparticular interest to the state in conjunction with advisorsfrom both the bureau and the department. Applicationdeadline is February 1, 2002. Applicants will automaticallybe considered for other forms of support through theDepartment. NMTech is a highly rated science and engi-neering school, located in Socorro, NM, with 1,600 stu-dents and more than 60 professional earth-science facultyand staff shared between the academic division and theBureau.

A more complete description of the fellowship, NMTechand the Bureau is available on departmental and bureauWeb pages (http://www.ees.nmt.edu and http://geoinfo.nmt.edu). In addition to applying for graduate admission tothe department, a letter indicating your interest in this fel-lowship should be addressed to: Director, Bureau of Geol-ogy & Mineral Resources, New Mexico Tech, 801 LeroyPlace, Socorro, NM 87801.

Graduate Student Opportunity in Sedimentology/Stratigraphy at Washington State University. TheDepartment of Geology at Washington State University ispleased to offer an NSF-funded Ph.D graduate assis-tantship to study how eustasy and/or climate fluctuationsinfluenced the early evolution of metazoans in Early Cam-brian carbonate and siliciclastic rocks. The field area, in theNorthwest Territories, Canada, is rugged and remote sothe successful candidate must be in good physical shapeand enjoy working in small groups in such areas.

The WSU Geology Department offers expertise in sedi-mentology/stratigraphy/paleoclimatology, hydrogeology,volcanology, economic geology, structural geology andmineralogy. The Geoanalytical Laboratory (http://www.wsu.edu/~geology/Pages/Services/ Geolab.html) housedin our department is well equipped for quantitative analysisof sediments.

For more information about this opportunity, contact Dr. Mike Pope, Dept. of Geology, Washington State Uni-versity, Pullman, WA 99164-2812, (509) 335-5989,[email protected].


GRAND CHALLENGES IN EARTH ANDENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

So what are the big environmental problems, the grandchallenges of the coming decades? Here are six, characterized on a process level rather than a discipline or theme basis:

▲ Recognizing the signal within the natural variability

▲ Defining mass flux and energy balance in natural systems

▲ Identifying feedback between natural and perturbed systems

▲ Determining proxies for biodiversity and ecosystem health

▲ Quantifying consequences, impacts, and effects

▲ Effectively communicating uncertainty and relative risk

Each of these challenges will require creative attacks involvingintegration of efforts in all the disciplines mentioned above. Foran alternative view of grand challenges in environmental sciencefrom a topical perspective, see National Research Council (2001).

Recognizing the Signal Within the Natural Variability

This first challenge is, of course, at the crux of the globalwarming conundrum. Are steady increases in global temperature(and accompanying climate changes) in the past 150 yearssimply an expression of natural variability, or are they a directresult of mankind’s activities that have resulted in an increase ingreenhouse gases? The weight of the scientific evidence suggeststhe latter, however the debate on global warming has turned intoa high-stakes, international issue with potentially multibillion-dollar implications.

Documenting and understanding natural variability is a vexingtopic in almost every environmental problem: How do werecognize and understand changes in natural systems if we don’tunderstand the range of baseline levels? Our geologic perspectiveallows us to view the short interval of historical records with ahealthy skepticism. Figure 1 shows a 350 year record ofprecipitation in California (1600–1950), determined using 52 tree-ring chronologies as proxies for precipitation (Fritts, 1984). I haveadded two important historical dates to this chronology: 1769,the founding of the first of the Spanish missions in California andthe inception of written records; and 1849, the beginning of theCalifornia gold rush that within years increased the number and

2000 Presidential Address:

Grand Challenges in Earth and Environmental Sciences:Science, Stewardship, and Service for the Twenty-First CenturyMary Lou Zoback, U.S. Geological Survey, MS 977, 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA

INTRODUCTIONA measure of our future success as earth scientists will dependon our ability to help our global society find and implementeffective solutions to environmental problems. In its mostinclusive sense, environmental science could be consideredto be “the” earth science. As used here, environmentalscience is defined to be a broadly integrative study ofprocesses occurring at or near the surface of Earth andinvolving interactions between the uppermost lithosphere, theatmosphere, the hydrosphere, and the biosphere (whichincludes mankind). It encompasses a broad range oftraditional disciplines including biology, ecology,meteorology, atmospheric sciences, hydrology, oceanography,geology, and geophysics.

Broad agreement exists within the scientific community thatwe must employ an integrated systems approach to solvingcomplex environmental problems. Our long-term goal forenvironmental science should be to understand natural andperturbed systems well enough to predict outcomes,consequences, and impacts.

The effects of a number of important drivers of environmentalscience must be factored into our approaches to solvingenvironmental problems: population growth, concentration ofpopulation into huge urban centers (many of which aresituated in areas subject to natural hazards), an acceleratingneed for resources, mankind as a significant agent of changein the earth system, and unrealistic expectations for absoluteguarantees from science. This final driver is a purelysociopolitical factor, but a critical one in seeking societallyacceptable solutions to environmental problems.

Rapid technological developments in information science,telecommunications, and sensor development in the past fewdecades have greatly increased our ability to tackle complexenvironmental problems. In the earth sciences, we are onlybeginning to harness the power of broad bandwidthobservational systems and real-time data delivery to probeactive natural systems and processes on spatial scales andtime scales never before possible. For example, we now havethe capability to globally monitor physical properties daily(e.g., see www.ssec.wisc.edu/data/sst.html for daily seasurface temperature maps). Fifty years ago, the concept ofhaving daily global snapshots of direct measurements of avariety of earth properties freely available on home computerswas unthinkable. These advances will enable increasinglysophisticated numerical modeling of natural systems, but inmany cases our scientific understanding of the interconnectedphysics, geology, chemistry, and biology of these naturalsystems is still at the infancy stage.



distribution of population manyfoldthroughout the state. These two datesroughly bracket a significant 80–90 yearinterval of apparent drought relative tothe 1901–1961 average precipitationvalue. While this extended dry periodoccurred during a period of historicalrecords, it was probably not noteworthysince the mission padres had no baselineagainst which to judge the climate.Clearly, a repeat of a similar extended dryperiod in California today due to naturalvariability would be devastating to thevast agricultural enterprise that provides~50% of the vegetables, fruits, and nutsfor the entire nation (California AgricultureStatistics Service, 1999) and feeds a thirstypopulation with one of the fastest growthrates in the country.

Natural variability is important on bothspatial and temporal scales. In an attemptto establish natural geochemical back-ground baselines to monitor environ-mental change, Davenport et al. (1993)analyzed samples of organic sediment inmore than 40,000 lakes in Newfoundlandand Labrador. They concluded thatcompared to the regional background,there was no evidence of enrichment ofarsenic levels in the vicinity of the majorurban center of St. John’s. In contrast, thelead levels they measured near St. John’swere above the ninety-ninth percentile ofvalues found in all Newfoundland,including areas of lead mineralization,suggesting an anthropogenic source nearSt. John’s. The regional baseline data thusprovide the range of natural variability toassess the geochemical signals within theurban areas.

Defining Mass Flux andEnergy Balance in Natural Systems

This second challenge requires athorough quantitative understanding ofthe physics, chemistry, geology, andbiology of natural systems. Understandingbiogeochemical cycles such as the carbonor nitrogen cycle is fundamental to

understanding how larger natural systems,such as the global climate system,function. The name itself—biogeochemical cycles—implies complex,interconnected processes, which involvewater, air, soil, biological, and sometimeshuman pathways (Fig. 2).

Figure 1. Average annual precipitation in California for 1600–1950 as determined using tree-ring chronology from 52 trees as a proxy forprecipitation (Fritts, 1984). Horizontal line represents 1901–1961 average precipitation value from instrumental records.

Figure 2. Major fluxes and storage associated with carbon cycle. Image courtesy of NASAEcology Program. Fluxes and storages from Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,1995 Special Assessment Report on Climate Change. See www.unep.ch/ipcc/pub/sarsum1.htm.


A practical example of a natural systemthat we have a critical need to understandis the vadose or unsaturated zone: thenear-surface zone in Earth where waterexists but does not fill interconnected porespace. As indicated in Figure 3, interactionof climate, rock properties, hydrology, andbiology through evapotranspiration areessential in producing the net upwardflux of moisture within the near surface toassure that the zone remains unsaturated.The vadose zone in fractured rock in thearid west is where we plan to store (andin fact are already inadvertently storing)high-level radioactive waste (e.g., theproposed repository at Yucca Mountain,Nevada, and the Hanford Reserve, aformer nuclear weapons facility locatedalong the Columbia River in southeasternWashington). However, quantitativeunderstanding of the myriad of criticalinterconnected atmospheric, hydrologic,geochemical, and biological processesacting on and within this zone remainselusive. As indicated by former under-secretary of energy, Ernest Moniz, in aNew York Times article on the myriad ofproblems with tanks leaking high-levelwaste at the Hanford Reserve (“AdmittingError at a Weapons Plant,” March 23, 1998),“There has not been enough science forvadose zone assessment. …The vadosezone is intellectually virgin territory.”

Moniz, a former chair of the PhysicsDepartment at the Massachusetts Instituteof Technology, recognized the need tounderstand the entire system in order tobe able to assess human impacts upon it.

A lack of understanding of this naturalsystem has led to solutions that couldexacerbate existing environmentalproblems at the Hanford Reserve, whichis currently under U.S. Department ofEnergy (DOE) control for maintenanceand cleanup. On the central plateau ofthe Hanford site, ~55 million gallons ofliquid, high-level radioactive waste isstored in 177 below-ground tanks. Thetanks, 148 of which are single walled,were filled with the waste beginning inthe 1940s. Not surprisingly, at least one-third of the tanks are believed to haveleaked, and more than one milliongallons of the liquid waste (with anestimated more than 1.8 million curies) isnow in the subsurface (National ResearchCouncil, 2000). DOE engineers initiallybelieved that the unsaturated zone wouldact as a barrier to contaminant migration,and that transit times to deep aquifersbelow the vadose zone would be on theorder of tens of thousands of years.However, large plumes of radioactive andchemical contaminants have already beendetected in the aquifer underlyingHanford and indicate transit times

through the vadose zone of somecontaminants of tens of years, not tens ofthousands of years (National ResearchCouncil, 2000).

To protect workers from possiblehazards associated with the leaking tanks,site engineers decided to cover theground surface above the tanks withgravel to prevent the spread ofcontamination by wind, rootingvegetation, and burrowing animals. Thissolution, of course, reduced the risk ofsurface contaminant transport as well asfire hazards, but may have increasedinfiltration, thereby providing a potentialdriving force to carry already leakedcontamination to the groundwater. Inaddition, by destroying the vegetation, acritical biological pathway for upwardflux of water through evapotranspirationin the vadose zone was destroyed.

Identifying FeedbackBetween Natural andPerturbed Systems

As the vadose zone exampledemonstrates, this third challenge islinked to the previous challenge butincludes the recognition that actions ofman have deliberately or inadvertentlyperturbed natural systems. A dramaticexample of such feedback affecting localurban weather has been suggested nearAtlanta, Georgia. A comparison of satelliteinfrared imagery taken over a 19 yearperiod indicates the extensive urbansprawl in the vicinity of that city over thepast two decades (Fig. 4). The imageryindicates the ground is actually hotter andemitting more heat at night even thoughevening air temperatures are cooler(Quattrochi et al., 2000). Bornstein andLin (2000) have suggested that eveningthunderstorms southwest of Atlanta arecaused by the effects of an urban heatisland created by the urban sprawl.

Probably nowhere has mankind had abigger impact than on the water cycle. Inaddition to the natural components of thiscycle, we must also understand the effectsof irrigation, flood control, pollution,reclamation, urban use, and agriculturaluse, among others. For millennia,mankind has been a victim of the watercycle. Today, while we fundamentallycontrol a great deal of the water cycle, wehave only a nascent understanding of thefull impact of our control on this system.The water cycle is, of course, just onecomponent of the global climate cycle,the one natural system for which we arefurthest along in developing complexcomputer models that incorporate notonly the significant physics and chemistry

Figure 3. Block diagram showing processes acting within proposed vadose (unsaturated) zonerepository at Yucca Mountain (Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, 1998).


of the system but also attempt to incorporatesome of the complex feedbacks induced by theactivities of man.

Identifying Proxies forBiodiversity or Ecosystem Health

Identifying geologic, chemical, or biologic parameters or asuite of parameters that can indicate the health or biodiversity ofan ecosystem represents a substantial challenge for allpractitioners of environmental science. This challenge gets at thecrux of solving environmental problems. Once we think wehave found solutions for environmental problems, how do wemonitor or measure (one hopes remotely) parameters thatindicate the effectiveness of our corrective actions or efforts atrestoration or remediation?

Some tools for remote monitoring of ecosystem health alreadyexist. A National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)sensor currently being tested, the Vegetation Canopy LIDAR(light detection and ranging), or VCL tool, can measure thedensity and structure of forest vegetation (NASA, no date). Byanalyzing multiple bounces within the reflecting radar signal,this sensor is able to map the areal distribution of tree height,the vertical structure within the forest, and the subcanopy topog-raphy at very high resolution. NASA plans to launch a satellite-based VCL system to do forest biomass monitoring on a globalscale in 2003. Interestingly, geologists in the U.S. GeologicalSurvey (USGS) Earthquake Program have used LIDAR obtainedfrom aircraft to map the topography under the dense tree coverand discover young thrust fault scarps in the Seattle,Washington, region (Haugerud et al., 2001; Blakely et al., 2002).In this case, the vegetation canopy information is simply noise!

We also need to explore new types of land-based monitoringtechniques and capabilities to measure the health of natural orperturbed systems. Restoration of wetlands is an issue currentlyreceiving a great deal of political and economic attention.Ecologically, wetlands provide numerous critical functions,including: filtering sediments and chemicals from water washedthrough them, providing flood control, helping regulateatmospheric gases, and providing habitat and food that attract

and support abundant fish and wildlife (Constanza et al., 1997).The state of California alone has lost 90%–95% of its wetlandssince the middle of the nineteenth century (Natural ResourcesConservation Service, 1999; California Habitat ProtectionDivision, Wetlands, no date). Louisiana has requested federalfunding for a $14 billion plan to restore its coastal wetlands,which are disappearing at a record pace (Bourne, 2000). Howcan we monitor the progress of such a massive restorationeffort? Perhaps by deploying millions of low-cost, low-powersensors to monitor and report back in real-time criticalparameters such as temperature, humidity, salinity, and waterchemistry, which are then continuously processed and analyzed.Of course, to do useful monitoring, we need to understand thesystem being monitored. Maybe it is time for a grand experimentto make a big step forward.

Quantifying Consequences, Impacts, and Effects

This fifth challenge is directly related to the long-term goal of understanding natural systems well enough to quantify theirconsequences and impacts in response to changes in natural or anthropogenic forcings. We need to build complex computermodels of natural systems that can forecast impending disastersand predict their likely effects or can predict the consequencesof a given societal decision or the trend or change in a naturalsystem.

Figure 5 illustrates such a prediction for the change inDouglas fir growth range corresponding to a doubling in CO2

over pre-industrial levels, a level we might experience sometimethis century if current emission rates of greenhouse gasescontinue. Thompson et al. (1998) used knowledge of the factorscontrolling Douglas fir growth and the results of climatemodeling to predict a significant contraction of the range ofDouglas fir in western North America in a 2 × CO2 climate.

Figure 4. Urban heat island created by urban sprawl in vicinity of Atlanta, Georgia. A: Comparison of infrared images taken in 1973 and1992 indicating extensive growth of development in this 20 year period. B: Comparison of daytime (left) and nighttime (right) surface temperaturesaround Atlanta inferred from thermal infrared data. Images courtesy of Dale Quattrochi, Project ATLANTA (ATlanta Land use ANalysis:Temperature and Air quality), at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. See www.ghcc.msfc.nasa.gov/urban/urban_news.html.

A

B


For most systems, however, we will notbe able to predict absolutely, but mustforecast probabilistically. We can predictthe most likely outcome and assign alevel of certainty to that prediction—orgive a range of the most likely outcomesat a given confidence level. Probabilisticforecasting is widely applied in my ownfield, the study of earthquakes andearthquake hazards. We are currentlyunable to scientifically predictearthquakes, and even if we could, thatwould not prevent the damage tobuildings and infrastructure. A recentstudy led by the USGS in the SanFrancisco Bay area assigned a 70%likelihood of a damaging earthquake(≥6.7 M) striking the region during thenext 30 years (Working Group forNorthern California EarthquakeProbabilities, 1999). The 30 year timeframe of this forecast was selected aslarge enough to represent a significantfraction of the earthquake cycle for majorevents on any given fault (typicallyseveral hundreds of years) and shortenough to have some societal reference(e.g., the length of a typical homemortgage). The high likelihood indicatesmitigation measures might be costeffective.

This forecast gives only a likelihood ofthe occurrence of a future earthquake andnot its likely effects. The forecastinformation can be combined withtheoretical models of earthquake rupturesand seismic wave propagation to giveannual likelihoods of exceeding a givenlevel of ground motion. The USGS NationalSeismic Hazards maps (http://geohazards.cr.usgs.gov/eq/) are probabilistic maps ofannual exceedance of ground-motionlevels over different time periods.Exceedance maps are used to developand upgrade seismic design criteria in theUnified Building Codes.

Effectively CommunicatingUncertainty and RelativeRisk

Perhaps our biggest challenge as earthscientists is to refocus society’s desire forabsolute guarantees from science andreplace it with an acceptance that mostsolutions are uncertain and will carrysome level of risk and also some level ofenvironmental consequences. We mustframe the questions and explain thechoices so that decision makers can makebetter-informed decisions. Forcing onecorrect, “ultimate” solution will rarely besocially acceptable.

Safe, long-term containment of high-level radioactive waste is an excellent

example of the dilemmas faced in findingacceptable solutions to environmentalproblems. Spent nuclear fuel and otherhigh-level radioactive waste is currentlystored at 72 commercial reactors in 33U.S. states as well as at an additional 86government sites around the country(Office of Civilian Radioactive WasteManagement, 1998; Fig. 6). Many of thenuclear reactors are along coastlines or inriver valleys. Typically, the spent fuel rodsare stored in cooling ponds located at thesurface of these sites. If we don’t comeup with a long-term solution forradioactive waste storage, we are optingfor the default solution of continuedstorage at the widely dispersed sites,many of which were never designed forvery long-term storage (>100 years, 30–50years of which have already passed) andare exposed to multiple hazards.

The nation is near the end of sitecharacterization for a potential high-levelradioactive waste underground storagerepository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada.Many of the geologic, geochemical, andhydrologic processes affecting the sitehave been carefully examined andquantified. However, the long-termsuitability of this site for a geologicrepository cannot be guaranteedabsolutely; only statements about thelikelihood of migration of radioactivecontaminants away from the site and

traveling through the aquifer can bemade. The “default” solution I mentionedand the risks associated with it have notbeen factored into our public discussionand dialogue on the suitability of YuccaMountain or any other site as the nation’sgeologic repository for high-levelradioactive waste, nor have the policychoices between Yucca Mountain andcontinued existing storage been properlyframed for decision makers.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO MEET THESECHALLENGES?

We, as earth scientists, can do a greatdeal to meet these grand challenges inenvironmental science. First, we need tolearn some biology and ecology. We needto aggressively exploit technologicaladvances in the area of monitoring activeprocesses, both in situ and remotely fromspace or aircraft. We need to work withinformation technology experts todevelop the means to process hugeamounts of data generated by thesemonitoring sensors in real time andassimilate this information into self-learning complex numerical models of

Figure 5. Distribution of Douglas fir in western North America at present and anticipatedchanges in range in 2 × CO2 environment (from Thompson et al., 1998).


natural systems that incorporate feedbackand evolve in real time.

However, finding workable solutions tolarge-scale environmental problems willrequire more than first-rate integrativephysical and biological science. Implicitin its definition, environmental sciencehas a human and social aspect.Environmental scientists must work withsocial scientists and economists to gainsocietal acceptance of proposed solutionsthat utilize the best scientific andengineering judgment, but that willundeniably be associated withconsiderable uncertainty. Solutions forenvironmental problems will represent adelicate balancing act in which societymust weigh the level of risk they arewilling to live with as well as the level ofenvironmental consequences.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO?We should begin now to design grand,

bold, process-level experiments that fullyexploit modern technology to tackle these

challenges. We should acknowledge thatsolving these problems is every bit asdifficult and complex as building theatomic bomb that started the radioactivewaste problem.

For example, we should tackle safe,long-term isolation of high-levelradioactive waste as one of the grandestscientific, technological experiments ofthe twenty-first century. Globally, our lackof solutions to this problem will continueto affect our world’s energy future. DOEis now considering a staged approach torepository design, development, andoperation that recognizes that we do notyet understand many of the importantprocesses involved. In a 1999 letter to theNational Research Council, DOErequested a study on such an option,stating that they were interested in anapproach in which “decisions must bemade in a step-wise and reversiblefashion.” This is exactly the approach thescientific community has been advocatingfor more than a decade (NationalResearch Council, 1990). We, the earthscience community, should become active

participants in such a grand experiment.The challenges I’ve outlined are

daunting, but I think earth scientists areextremely well equipped and positionedto address them. I’m proud to be part of ascience and a scientific society that canhelp the nation and the world addressthese challenges.

REFERENCES CITEDBlakely, R.J., Wells, R.E., Weaver, C.S., and Johnson, S.Y.,2002, Location, structure, and seismicity of the Seattlefault zone, Washington: Evidence from aeromagneticanomalies, geologic mapping, and seismic-reflection data:Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 114 (in press).

Bourne, J., 2000, Louisiana’s Vanishing Wetlands: Going,Going...: Science, v. 289, p. 1860–1863.

Bornstein, R., and Lin, Q., 2000, Urban heat islands andsummertime convective thunderstorms in Atlanta: Threecase studies: Atmospheric Environment, v. 34, p. 507–516.

California Agricultural Statistics Service, 1999, Agriculturaloverview: A ten-year history of California’s agriculture:Sacramento, California, U.S. Department of Agriculture,www.nass.usda.gov/ca/bul/agstat/indexcas.htm (October2001).

Constanza, R., d’Arge, R., de Groot, R., Farber, S., Grasso,M., Hannon, B., Limburg, K., Naeem, S., O’Neill, R.V.,Paruelo, J., Raskin, R.G., Sutton, P., and van den Belt, M.,1997, The value of the world’s ecosystem services andnatural capital: Nature, v. 387, p. 253–260.

Figure 6. Map showing approximate locations of surface storagesites for spent nuclear fuel from commercial reactors and for otherhigh-level waste and radioactive materials within continentalUnited States. Illustration courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy.


Davenport, P.H., Christopher, T.K., Vardu, S., and Nolan,L.W., 1993, Geochemical mapping in Newfoundland and Labrador: Its role in establishing geochemical base-lines for the measurement of environmental change:Journal of Geochemical Exploration, v. 49, p. 177–200.

Fritts, H.C., 1984, Discussion of Bredehoeft, J., PhysicalLimitations of Water Resources, in Engelbert, E.A., andScheuring, A.F., eds., Water scarcity impacts on westernagriculture: Berkeley, California, University of California,p. 44–48.

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inside - university of california, berkeleyseismo.berkeley.edu/~yuan/papers/gsa_dueker.pdf ·...

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