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OCTOBER MEETING
Join us Tuesday, October 28, 2014 at
the Fernbank Museum of Natural
History, 760 Clifton Road NE,
Atlanta GA. The meeting social
starts at 6:30 pm. This month the
speaker is Dr. Grant S. Boardman,
currently a Visiting Assistant
Professor of Geology at Berry
College. His presentation will be :
“Straight from the Eocene Horse's
Mouth: Using Enamel Stable
Isotopes to Uncouple Regional
Geomorphic Change from Global
Climate Fluctuation”
Our sponsor for this evening ans
well as next month’s meeting is
Premier Drilling of Loganville, GA.
Please read their information in the
following pages.
Please come and enjoy the social
time, pay your dues if necessary,
talk with our generous sponsor and
learn from an interesting
presentation.
Next meeting of the Atlanta Geological Society is October 28, 2014
Fernbank Museum of Natural History (Clifton Road) Social begins at 6:30 pm – Meeting begins at 7:00 pm
October 2014
Atlanta Geological Society Newsletter
ODDS AND ENDS The clear, dry days of fall are upon us. I maybe
getting used to finding all sorts of new
geology ideas and images in the web but it is
still suprising to se what’s out there, literally.
This month, a satellite of the Eurpoean Space
Agency is getting closer to Comet 67P (a.k.a
Chury) and plans to send a pod to land on it
November 11! As a friend of mine says, ‘That’s
crazy talk!’ The newsletter has a series of
images each taken nearer to the comet and the
details are amazing.
And there’s a bucket list of sorts from the
Geological Society of London; The 100 Great
Geosites in the UK and Ireland. (Link below)
I’ve been to a few of these on my one vacation
there. I’ll have to work in Siccar Point when I
go to Scotland, someday.
Also in the fall, the Geologic Society begins the
annual election process. This month,
nominations for officers will be received by
Ken Simonton andalso during this month’s
meeting. The elections will be held during the
November meeting. Please consider stepping
up and becoming more involved in the
running of our/your Atlanta Geological
Society – Like Burton Dixon! He has recently
become the membership chairman. Many
thanks to Burton.
Ben Bentkowski, Newsletter Editor
http://apps.esriuk.com/app/GreatGeosites/3/wmt/view/5e0d44
970b3a4b4dafb7da0404b2d8ed/index.html
Page 2 AGS OCTOBER 2014
Bio: Dr. Grant S. Boardman is a vertebrate paleontologist and stable isotope
geochemist who earned his Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln in
2013. Dr. Boardman is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor of Geology at
Berry College. Dr. Boardman's research focuses on the use of light stable isotopes
in paleoecological interpretation.
_______________________________________________________________________
Enigmatic fossils could be oldest known animals Thursday, 25 September 2014Stuart Gary
ABC http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2014/09/25/4093899.htm
they could be the ancient precursors to animals, or a type of multicellular algae.
Reported in the journal Nature, the research is offering scientists fresh insights
into the early evolution of complex multicellular organisms. "Our work shows
evidence that this organism developed multiple kinds of cells 600 million years
ago," says one of the study's authors, Professor Shuhai Xiao from Virginia Tech.
"This is an important discovery for cell differentiation, and a critical step towards
multicellular life."
The fossils provide evidence that multicellularity appeared nearly 60 million
years before the Cambrian Explosion, when most major animal phyla suddenly
appeared in the fossil record.
SPEAKER’S BIO:
Scientists have discovered
some of the oldest
multicellular organisms -
and possibly the world's
first animals - in 600
million year old
Ediacaran fossils from
China. A detailed
examination of the
unusual, small,
spheroidal fossilised
organisms concludes that
AGS OCTOBER 2014 Page 3
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AGS OCTOBER 2014 Page 5
Lots o' Water! 117 Million Lakes Dot Earth, Most Accurate Survey Finds
By Becky Oskin, Senior Writer | September 29, 2014 05:09pm ET
http://www.livescience.com/48061-how-many-lakes-on-earth.html
Until now, no one knew for sure how many lakes exist on Earth. Blame geography — most
of the world's lakes are in places where humans don't live, said David Seekell, an
environmental scientist at Umea University in Sweden. "This is something one would have
assumed had been done long ago, and was in a textbook somewhere," Seekell said.
Lake size was a liability, too. Millions of lakes are too small for mapmakers to bother charting.
Instead of counting lake by lake, earlier estimates were statistical guesses, based on the
number of lakes in a parcel of land or on average lake size. One widely cited study from 2006
estimated the lake total at 304 million.
A new study published Sept. 16 in the journal Geophysical Research Letters sidesteps these
problems. With high-resolution satellite data and supercomputers to check every cloudless
pixel, researchers now have the best count yet of lakes on Earth. The result? There are 117
million lakes in the world.
Yet the bodies of water cover more land (3.7 percent of Earth's surface) than previous studies
had predicted. This is because quite a few medium- to large-size lakes were missing from
older databases.
How many lakes there are in the world and how much surface area do they cover?
About 90 million of the lakes fall in the smallest size category, measuring 0.5 to 2.5 acres (0.2 to
1 hectare), the study reports. That's equal to a country house lot, a large farm pond or 1.9
American football fields.
"Most lakes are in the far North, and there's actually quite a few of them," said Seekell, a co-
author of the new study. "Even if they're small and no one sees them, they are potentially
important for global-scale environmental issues like the carbon budget," he told Live Science.
This natural-
color satellite
image shows
small blue
and green
lakes in
northern
Siberia, near
the Gulf of
Ob. Credit:
NASA Earth
Observatory
Page 6 AGS OCTOBER 2014
VIDEO OF EXFOLIATION OF RECENTLY EXPOSED GRANITE
There is an ongoing geological drama going on the Sierra Nevada that may be
unique (to the extent of my knowledge, which is admittedly limited in this area).
Exfoliation, a process long recognized as the shaper of granitic domes and
monoliths, is presently busting up the surface of a small dome at Twain Harte
Lake a few miles east of the Mother Lode town of Sonora. The process has been
captured on video, and is presently being monitored, due to the effects it is
having on a reservoir abutment. The event burst into the news in August when a
possible dam failure warning was issued following a loud popping sound and
the leakage of water from the edge of the reservoir. Once the site was
investigated, a decision was reached to drain the lake until the full extent of the
damage was clear. There have been at least three 'events', the last on August 3.
Recent exfoliation. Paste the link to find the video of the exfoliation releasing the
stress. The money shot is at about 40 seconds. Look for the dust in the
background, on the other side of the slab releasing. Ed. http://geotripper.blogspot.com/2014/09/ongoing-exfoliation-event-at-twain.html
AGS OCTOBER 2014 Page 7
49 Open Challenges in Earth Science - The Known Unknowns http://retosterricolas.blogspot.com/2014/02/49-open-challenges-in-earth-science.html
What keeps Earth scientists busy? These 4 of the 49 open scientific questions aim at providing an
updated, fully-referenced account of the main current scientific questions, disputes, and challenges in
Geoscience.
1. Was there ever a collision of the Earth with another planet Theia, giving birth to our
satellite? [Canup, 2013,Science] There is compelling evidence, such as measures of a shorter
duration of the Earth's rotation and lunar month in the past, pointing to a Moon much closer to
Earth during the early stages of the Solar System. [Williams, CSPG Spec. Pubs., 1991]
2. What is the relative importance of the forces driving plate tectonics: slab pull, slab suction,
mantle drag, and ridge push? [e.g., Conrad & Lithgow-Bertelloni, 2004; Negredo et al., GRL,
2004, vs. van Benthem & Govers, JGR, 2010]. What is the force balance and the geochemical
cycle in subduction zones? [Emry et al., 2014, JGR] How much water (and how
deep) penetrates into the mantle? [Ranero et al., 2003, Nature]How much subcontinental erosion
takes place under subduction areas? [Ranero et al., 2000, Nature]
3. Do we need a new geological epoch called Anthropocene? When do the Homo Sapiens start to
have a significant impact on the Earth System? 8000 BP?[Ruddiman, 2003, Climatic Change];
2000 BP? [Scalenghe, 2011, The Holocene]; 1850 AD? [Crutzen & Steffen, 2003]
4. What were the causes and what shaped the recovery from mass extinctions as those at the K-T
boundary, the Permian-Triassic or the Late Triassic? Massive volcanism? Meteorites?
Microbes? [recent papers: ex.8, ex.9, ex.10, Rothman et al., 2014, PNAS]
http://geolog.egu.eu/2014/10/17/the-known-unknowns-the-outstanding-49-questions-in-earth-sciences-
part-iv/
___________________________________________________________________________________
http://hint.fm/wind/ An invisible, ancient source of energy surrounds us—energy that
powered the first explorations of the world, and that may be a key to the future. This map
shows you the delicate tracery of wind flowing over the US.
Page 8 AGS OCTOBER 2014
BENEFITS OF AN AGS MEMBERSHIP
Location – AGS meets at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, which is
a truly awesome facility central to most of our membership.
Cost – AGS membership ($25 general; $10 student) is the most inexpensive
for any geological society in the SE.
Active – AGS holds nine lectures a year and is one of the most active
geological societies in the SE.
AEG – For one of our lectures, AGS co-sponsors with the Association of
Environmental & Engineering Geologists to annually present the “Richard
H. Jahns Distinguished Lecturer” while in Atlanta.
PDH – AGS is recognized by Alabama, South Carolina, and other
professional state boards to provide Professional Development Hours for
our lectures, as well as field trips and workshops.
PG Classes – AGS offers nearly monthly Professional Geologist
development training classes in preparation for passing the ASBOG
examinations and has been recognized by the Georgia State Geologist as
enhancing PG test scores for participants.
Free Food – AGS offers free pizza and Coke at all of our regular meetings,
sandwiches and hors d’oeuvres at the Jahns lecture, and a sit-down BBQ
dinner at our June social.
IMAX – As part of the June social, AGS and Fernbank present a free IMAX
movie.
Networking – AGS meetings include professionals, academics, regulators,
and others who all share the same interest in geological sciences.
Resume – AGS membership and even involvement in one of our many
committees will enhance any resume.
Annual membership dues for the Atlanta Geological Society are $25 for
professional membership, $10 for students, and $100 for corporate sponsorship
(which includes up to 4 professional memberships). Please complete
the application form and submit with your payment to the AGS Treasurer.
For further details about membership, please contact the AGS Membership
Chairman – Burton Dixon [email protected]
AGS OCTOBER 2014 Page 9
ROSETTA'S TARGET: COMET 67P/CHURYUMOV-GERASIMENKO
European Space Agency’s (ESA) comet-chasing Rosetta mission. As the mission took shape,
the science team was faced with the difficult task of sifting through these candidates until
they identified a handful of suitable objects.
http://sci.esa.int/rosetta/14615-comet-67p/
On 20 September, Klim Churyumov was examining a
photograph of comet 32P/Comas Solá, taken by
Svetlana Gerasimenko, when he noticed another
comet-like object. After returning to Kiev, he studied
the plate very carefully and eventually realised that
they had indeed discovered a new comet.
Comet 67P is one of numerous short period comets
which have orbital periods of less than 20 years and a
low orbital inclination. Since their orbits are
controlled by Jupiter's gravity, they are also called
Jupiter Family comets.
These comets are believed to originate from the
Kuiper Belt, a large reservoir of small icy bodies
located just beyond Neptune. As a result of collisions or gravitational perturbations, some of
these icy objects are ejected from the Kuiper Belt and fall towards the Sun.
When they cross the orbit of Jupiter, the comets gravitationally interact with the massive planet.
Their orbits gradually change as a result of these interactions until they are eventually thrown
out of the Solar System or collide with a planet or the Sun.
Churyumov-Gerasimenko reflects the steplike process of how encounters with Jupiter push a
comet further into the inner Solar System. Analysis of its orbital evolution shows that, up to
1840, its perihelion distance – closest approach to the Sun - was 4.0 AU (four Sun-Earth distances
or about 600 million km). This was too far from the Sun's heat for the ice-rich nucleus to
vaporise and for tails to develop. This meant that the dormant comet was unobservable from
Earth.
The comet has now been observed from Earth on seven approaches to the Sun - 1969
(discovery), 1976, 1982, 1989, 1996, 2002 and 2009. Like all comets, it has a fairly small, solid
nucleus which is thought to resemble a dirty snowball.
Astronomer Klim Churyumov, ESA
Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain
and astronomer Svetlana Gerasimenko,
pictured in 2004.Credit: Christian Sotty
Page 10 AGS OCTOBER 2014
The density of the nucleus seems to be much lower than that of water, indicating a loosely
packed or porous object. Like other comets, its nucleus is generally blacker than coal, indicating
a surface layer or crust of carbon-rich organic material.
We still know very little about the surface properties of the nucleus, so the selection of a suitable
landing site for the Philae probe will only be possible after the arrival of Rosetta in August 2014,
followed by a detailed survey from close quarters.
When Rosetta arrives at the comet it will be at a distance of about three Astronomical Units (450
million km) from the Sun. As it moves towards the Sun, the ice in the nucleus begins to
sublimate and the comet begins to eject increasing amounts of dust. Ejection of micron-sized
grains starts at about 4.3 AU, but millimetre-sized grains are more likely to appear between 3.4
and 3.2 AU. This leads to the development of a coma (a diffuse cloud of dust and gas
surrounding the solid nucleus) and subsequently a tail of dust that trails away from the Sun.
Early observations of the comet showed some evidence for variable activity between April and
June 2014, with the coma brightening rapidly and then dying down again over a period of about
six weeks. Approaching from the sunward side of the comet's orbit, the spacecraft should
encounter less dust, with a low probability of being disabled by a large impact.
During the 2002/2003 apparition, the tail was up to 10 arc minutes long as seen from Earth, with
a bright central condensation in a faint extended coma. Seven months after perihelion the tail
continued to be very well developed, although it subsequently faded rapidly.
As is the case with most comets, activity is not evenly distributed on the surface of the nucleus
and the coma of 67P is fed by several dust jets - at least three prominent active areas were
identified during the 2009 apparition. In general, a rapid increase in cometary activity could be a
problem for Rosetta, so the mission team plans to move the spacecraft further from the nucleus
as the level of activity increases beyond an acceptable level.
Even at its peak of activity about one month after perihelion, the comet is not very bright, with a
typical visual magnitude of around 12, meaning that it will require a telescope to see it from
Earth.
Comet 67P is classed as a dusty comet, with a dust to gas emission ratio of approximately 2:1.
The peak dust production rate in 2002/03 was estimated at approximately 60 kg per second,
although values as high as 220 kg per second were reported in 1982/83.
AGS OCTOBER 2014 Page 11
Date: 06 August 2014 Satellite: Rosetta
Depicts: Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
Copyright: See below
Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko by Rosetta's OSIRIS narrow-angle camera on 3
August 2014 from a distance of 285 km. The image resolution is 5.3 metres/pixel.
Credit: ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS Team
MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA
Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
Diameter of nucleus - estimated (km) 3 × 5
Rotation period (hours) 12.4043 ± 0.0007 *
Orbital period (years) 6.45
Perihelion distance from Sun (million km) 186 (1.243 AU)
Aphelion distance from Sun (million km) 849.7 (5.68 AU)
Orbital eccentricity 0.640
Orbital inclination (degrees) 7.04
Year of discovery 1969
Discoverers Klim Churyumov &
Svetlana Gerasimenko
* Reference: Mottola, S. et al. [2014]
Page 12 AGS OCTOBER 2014
Image of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko shows the diversity of surface structures on the comet's
nucleus. ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM
A new image of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko shows the diversity of surface structures
on the comet's nucleus. It was taken by the Rosetta spacecraft's OSIRIS narrow-angle camera on
August 7, 2014. At the time, the spacecraft was 65 miles (104km) away from the 2.5-mile-wide
(4km) nucleus.
In the image, the comet’s head — in the top half of the image — exhibits parallel linear features
that resemble cliffs, and its neck displays scattered boulders on a relatively smooth, slumping
surface. In comparison, the comet's body — lower half of the image — seems to exhibit a
multivariable terrain with peaks and valleys and both smooth and rough topographic features.
AGS OCTOBER 2014 Page 13
This image is from an altitude of 12 miles. http://imgur.com/a/TKI3r#mCbUPCh
“The perfume of 67P/C-G is quite strong, with the odor of rotten eggs (hydrogen sulfide), horse stable
(ammonia), and the pungent, suffocating odor of formaldehyde. This is mixed with the faint, bitter,
almond-like aroma of hydrogen cyanide,” Kathrin Altwegg, head of the ROSINA project at the
Center for Space and Habitability (CSH) at the University of Bern, described the smell. “Add some
whiff of alcohol (methanol) to this mixture, paired with the vinegar-like aroma of sulfur dioxide and a hint
of the sweet aromatic scent of carbon disulfide, and you arrive at the ‘perfume’ of our comet“. “What’s
surprising is we already have extremely rich chemistry at this distance from the sun,” she added.
http://rt.com/news/199424-space-rosetta-comet-stink/ http://rosetta.jpl.nasa.gov/
November 11, 2014 Rosetta will deploy Philae on November 11 at 11:35 PM PST. Confirmation of
the landing will arrive at ground stations around 8:03 AM PST.
Page 14 AGS OCTOBER 2014
Goose Bumps! The Science of Fear Opens September 27, 2014
Are you curious about coulrophobia? Paranoid about pyrophobia? Avidly avoiding aviophobia?
Fear is a universal emotion. Regardless of what scares us, we all share the same biological response to fear. Goose Bumps! The Science of Fear examines the physiological, neurological and sociological aspects of this often misunderstood emotion. Immersive and engaging hands-on activities encourage visitors to experience fear in a safe and enjoyable environment, while also measuring their responses and thinking about what it means to them. Exhibit Highlights
Fear of Animals: Reach inside an opaque box connected to terrariums filled with snakes and other creatures - it's easier said than done.
Fear of Electric Shock: Feel your heart beat faster as you anticipate an electric shock. Faces of Emotion: Identify which facial expressions correspond to our basic emotions and
learn about how we communicate our feelings to others. Facial Recognition: Interact with the Facial Expression Analysis system, a software
program that detects movements of the face and tries to match them to their corresponding emotional expressions.
Freeze Game: Play an immersive put-yourself-in-the-picture video game that transports you to a savannah where you find out how important the freeze response is to survival in the animal kingdom.
Make a Scary Movie: Experiment with different soundtracks and sound effects to create your own scary movie. Fear has never been so much fun! Tickets for Goose Bumps! The Science of Fear are included with Museum admission and are free for members. Field Trips *Coulophobia = fear of clowns; pyrophobia = fear of fire; aviophobia = fear of flying.
Goose Bumps! The Science of Fear developed by the California Science Center and supported, in part, by the Informal Science Education program of the National Science Foundation under grant ESI-0515470. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the National Science Foundation.
AGS OCTOBER 2014 Page 15
Now Showing (BUT ending real soon) in the Fernbank IMAX movie theater:
Galapagos: Nature’s Wonderland Travel to a paradise like no other. The Galapagos Islands is a wonderland of nature, a
universe of remarkable and unique creatures that learned to survive against all odds
on this volcanic archipelago that is constantly evolving. Meet these fascinating
creatures and learn how they’ve adapted to unique environments in this new giant
screen adventure.
Pandas: The Journey Home Loveable, iconic and highly endangered. This groundbreaking natural-history film
tells the story of the pandas of the Wolong Panda Center and their reintroduction into
the wild. Witness an incredible story of survival and fall in love with these black and
white gentle giants. See pandas like never before—on the biggest screen in town,
Fernbank’s IMAX® Theatre. Learn more.
Membership Dues Payment Status:
Professional Student Corporate* Complimentary 2003 62 22 5 15
2004 81 3 8 15
2005 26 0 3 16
TOTAL 168 22 14 15
* 14 corporate sponsors with329 of 56
individual memberships in active use
Finances:
The AGS account balance is
growing as we receive new 2005
dues payments, advertising, and
sponsors.
Account Balance
as of January 10,
2005 - $ 8,017.69
Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Upcoming Public Programs and Events (All programs require reservations, including free programs)
Page 16 AGS OCTOBER 2014
Humans in Space Youth Art Competition Now on View See an inspiring selection of winning entries from the international Humans in Space Youth Art Competition. Youth ages 10-18 were asked to visually communicate their vision of the future of space science, travel and exploration. The competition is part of the Humans in Space Art Program and received more than 2,000 entries from 52 countries. Fernbank’s display will feature 30 of the winning entries. This temporary exhibition located in The Star Gallery, Lower Level. Learn More
Coming Soon
Jerusalem Back by Popular Demand! Opens November 21, 2014* Immerse yourself into one of the world's most beloved cities in this stunning new IMAX® film. Discover why this tiny piece of land is sacred to three major religions through the stories of Jewish, Christian and Muslim families who call Jerusalem home. Unprecedented access to the city's holiest sites, as well as rare and breathtaking aerial footage of the Old City and the Holy Land, combine to make Jerusalem a unique and stunning cinematic experience. Presented in conjunction with the special exhibition Winter Wonderland.
Winter Wonderland Opens November 21, 2014
This holiday-inspired exhibition features trees and other displays decorated by local cultural partners that recognize celebrations including Christmas, Hanukkah and the Festival of Lights, as well as traditions and practices like origami, indigenous art and national symbols. Learn More
The Power of Poison Opens February 7, 2015
Explore poison’s roles in nature, myth, and human health—as a defense against predators, source of strength, or lethal weapon-turned-lifesaving treatment. This new special exhibition uses models, objects, interactives and live animals to explore the biology of poison and its role in nature, human history, and health. Learn More
All dates and titles subject to change.
AGS OCTOBER 2014 Page 17
AGS Committees
AGS Publications: Allison Keefer
Phone (404) 657-8642
Career Networking/Advertising: Todd Roach
Phone (770) 242-9040, Fax (770) 242-8388
Continuing Education: Currently Open
Fernbank Liaison: Chris Bean
Phone (404) 929-6313 [email protected]
Field Trips: Open
Georgia PG Registration: Ken Simonton
Phone: 404-825-3439
John Salvino, P.G.
Teacher Grants: Bill Waggener
Phone (404)354-8752
Hospitality: Currently open
And in need of a volunteer or two.
Membership Burton Dixon
Social Media Coordinator: Carina O’Bara
Newsletter Editor
Ben Bentkowski
Phone (404) 562-8507,(770) 296-2529
Web Master: Kathaleen Bentkowski
www.atlantageologicalsociety.org
AGS 2014 Meeting Dates
Listed below are the planned meeting
dates for 2014. Please mark your
calendar and make plans to attend.
October 28 – AGS meeting
We’ll have to sort November out with
Thanksgiving timing.
December No meeting, No P.G. Study
Class
Enjoy the Holidays
AGS Officers
President: Nils Thompson
Phone (678) 486-2766
Vice-President: Cassidy
Sutherland
Phone (770) 492-8230
Secretary: Rob White
Phone (770) 891-0519
Treasurer: Shannon George
Phone (717)-343-4452
Page 18 AGS OCTOBER 2014
ATLANTA GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
www.atlantageologicalsociety.org
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FORM Please print the required details and check the appropriate membership box.
DATE:
NAME:___________________ _
ORGANIZATION:____________________________________________________________
TELEPHONE (1): TELEPHONE (2): EMAIL (1): EMAIL (2):
STUDENT $10 PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP $25 CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP $100 (Includes 4 professional members, please list names and emails below)
NAME: EMAIL: NAME: EMAIL: NAME: EMAIL: NAME: EMAIL: For further details, contact the AGS Treasurer: [email protected]
.
Please make checks payable to the “Atlanta Geological Society” and remit with the completed form to: Atlanta Geological Society c/o Golder Associates Attn: Shannon George 3730 Chamblee Tucker Road Atlanta, GA 30341
CASH
CHECK (CHECK NUMBER: .)