Atlanta Geological Society Newsletteratlantageologicalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/... ·...
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AUGUST MEETING Join us Tuesday, September 30, 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 will be Dr. Timothy M. Dellapenna, Associate Professor at Texas A&M University. His topic will be: Where have all the oysters gone- yonderings from a decade of oyster reef research along the Gulf of Mexico shores. Dr. Dellapenna’s research is presently focused on sedimentary processes in estuarine, inner and mid shelf systems along the northern Gulf of Mexico, including the geology of oyster reefs. Please come and enjoy the social time, pay your dues if necessary, talk with our generous sponsor, Pace Analytical Laboratories and learn from an interesting presentation on Tuesday, September 30, 2014. Next meeting of the Atlanta Geological Society is September 30, 2014 Fernbank Museum of Natural History (Clifton Road) Social begins at 6:30 pm – Meeting begins at 7:00 pm September 2014 Atlanta Geological Society Newsletter ODDS AND ENDS Ben Bentkowski, Newsletter Editor Last week I had an opportunity to present at Stone Mountain during a conference. Out topic was about vapor intrusion. This topic is consuming more of my professional life in recent months and years. We were done about noon and it was a beautiful day. I just had to take a ride up the gondola to take in the view. This was a weekday, so it was not crowded on top. Clear as a bell, the view to the horizon was unobstructed. I thought about how the soilders 150 years ago must have been tracking Sherman’s advance from this perch. Even with all the looking around, a geologist eventually looks down. And there were these long linear features, mostly quartz veins. They went on for 50 to 100 feet, parallel, aligning mostly north/south. All the time I’ve been there and never noticed these veins. I especially like the ones filled with the tourmalines. The lesson is, keep looking down; you never know what new you will find.
Transcript of Atlanta Geological Society Newsletteratlantageologicalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/... ·...
AUGUST MEETING
Join us Tuesday, September 30, 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 will be Dr. Timothy M.
Dellapenna, Associate Professor at
Texas A&M University. His topic
will be: Where have all the oysters
gone- yonderings from a decade of
oyster reef research along the Gulf
of Mexico shores.
Dr. Dellapenna’s research is
presently focused on sedimentary
processes in estuarine, inner and
mid shelf systems along the
northern Gulf of Mexico, including
the geology of oyster reefs.
Please come and enjoy the social
time, pay your dues if necessary,
talk with our generous sponsor, Pace
Analytical Laboratories and learn
from an interesting presentation on
Tuesday, September 30, 2014.
Next meeting of the Atlanta Geological Society is
September 30, 2014
Fernbank Museum of Natural History (Clifton Road)
Social begins at 6:30 pm – Meeting begins at 7:00 pm
September 2014
Atlanta Geological Society Newsletter
ODDS AND ENDS Ben Bentkowski, Newsletter Editor
Last week I had an opportunity to present at
Stone Mountain during a conference. Out topic
was about vapor intrusion. This topic is
consuming more of my professional life in
recent months and years. We were done about
noon and it was a beautiful day. I just had to
take a ride up the gondola to take in the view.
This was a weekday, so it was not crowded on
top. Clear as a bell, the view to the horizon
was unobstructed. I thought about how the
soilders 150 years ago must have been tracking
Sherman’s advance from this perch.
Even with all the looking around, a geologist
eventually looks down. And there were these
long linear features, mostly quartz veins. They
went on for 50 to 100 feet, parallel, aligning
mostly north/south. All the time I’ve been
there and never noticed these veins. I
especially like the ones filled with the
tourmalines. The lesson is, keep looking down;
you never know what new you will find.
Page 2 AGS SEPTEMBER 2014
AGS SEPTEMBER 2014 Page 3
SPEAKER’S BIO, AGS Meeting:
Dr. Timothy M. Dellapenna is an Associate Professor at Texas A&M University
and holds joint appointments with the Department of Oceanography (TAMU-
College Station) and Marine Sciences (TAMU-Galveston). His research is
presently focused on sedimentary processes in estuarine, inner and mid shelf
systems along the northern Gulf of Mexico. Included in this work is the impact
of hurricanes on various coastal systems, the geology of oyster reef, modern
sedimentary processes within estuaries and how they respond to human
changes, how sediments are trapped and transported within modern deltas, and
geological controls on habitats and geological framework studies of barrier
island systems. He has active research projects in Galveston Bay; Gulf of Mexico
off of Galveston Island; Copper River, AK; estuaries in Korea, the Belize shelf
and estuaries in Brazil. In other phases of his career he was an exploration
geologist in the Michigan and Permian Basins and also worked as an
environmental/hydrogeologist geologist in Michigan. He earned his B.S. in
Geology at Michigan State University, M.S. in Geology and also a M.S. in
Hydrogeology at Western Michigan University and his Ph.D. in Marine Science
from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science/College of William and Mary.
SPEAKER’S BIO, AGS P.G. Study Group:
Mr. Fineis is the owner of Atlas Geo-Sampling Company a full service drilling
firm based in Alpharetta, GA. Jim obtained his B.S. in Geology from Georgia
Southwestern State University in Americus Georgia. Jim worked as an
environmental consultant prior to opening Atlas Geo Sampling in 2003. Recently,
Jim has concentrated on conducting vapor intrusion assessments within the
United States as well as internationally. The most high profile job that he is
currently involved with is the off base vapor intrusion investigation at Fort
Gillem in South Atlanta.
Page 4 AGS SEPTEMBER 2014
Hidden Napa Earthquake Faults Found by NASA Radar
By Becky Oskin, Senior Writer | September 11, 2014 05:17pm ET http://www.livescience.com/47804-napa-earthquake-faults-nasa-uavsar.html
The Aug. 24 Napa earthquake woke several small, previously unrecognized Napa Valley
faults, according to the first results from a high-flying NASA radar instrument. The
magnitude-6.0 Napa earthquake, the biggest to shake northern California in 25 years, injured
170 people and killed one woman, who died from brain bleeding caused by a falling
television. Some 800 homes were damaged, and 103 have been deemed too dangerous to
enter.Most of the damage was centered on the West Napa Fault. The U.S. Geological Survey
(USGS) found that the West Napa Fault moved a total of 18 inches (46 centimeters) along a
9.3-mile-long (15 kilometers) length, USGS scientist Dan Ponti said Sept. 4 at a USGS
earthquake seminar.
New radar images of Napa Valley also confirm that the West Napa Fault caused the deadly
earthquake. But the remarkable detail of the images also reveals a handful of smaller faults
running roughly northwest to southeast, parallel to the West Napa Fault. While these newly
found faults let off the region's pent-up strain, they may never trigger their own quake.
"These really tiny ones are probably not big enough faults to have a significant earthquake,
but it's a good thing to have people go out and check whether they are part of a larger fault
system," said Eric Fielding, a geophysicist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in
Pasadena, California.
The radar images were created from UAVSAR (uninhabited aerial vehicle synthetic aperture
radar) data collected during flights on May 29, 2014, three months before the quake, and on
Aug. 29, 2014, five days after the quake. The UAVSAR detects surface changes between
repeat flights over the same spot. UAVSAR can measure ground movements of less than a
half-inch (1 cm). The UAVSAR team has prepped for earthquakes by systematically mapping
California's faults, starting in 2009.
With the UAVSAR data, the USGS and the California Geological Survey mapping teams
discovered new areas of ground damage, Fielding told Live Science. For example, the
UAVSAR team spied movement at the Napa County Airport, and geologists confirmed a
small crack with less than a half-inch of slip ran across the runway.
JPL scientists hope to fly the UAVSAR instrument over Napa again in October, Fielding said.
The flight would document the afterslip, or movement on faults in the days after an
earthquake. The Napa earthquake afterslip — a few inches so far — bumps the earthquake's
magnitude to 6.1, USGS scientists said.
AGS SEPTEMBER 2014 Page 5
Hidden Napa Earthquake Faults Found by NASA Radar
Ground deformation from the Aug. 24 earthquake in Napa, California. Each color
fringe corresponds to deformation of 4.7 inches (12 centimeters).
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASI/Google Earth
Page 6 AGS SEPTEMBER 2014
Icy plate tectonics detected on Europa
Monday, 8 September 2014 Stuart Gary, ABC
Jupiter's moon Europa may have an active system of plate tectonics, according to a new study. The
findings reported in the journal Nature Geoscience, would make the ice moon the only known place in
the solar system other than Earth, to have a surface shaped by active tectonic plates.
"We see areas where cracks have opened and new material has come up from underneath the ice,
creating new surface areas," says the study's lead author Dr Simon Kattenhorn of the University of
Idaho.
"And unless the moon is expanding which we don't think is the case, you have to remove surface from
somewhere else in order to accommodate the new surface area being created."
The researchers think a plate tectonic system is moving old portions of Europa's surface beneath
adjacent plates, just like a subduction zone on Earth.
Kattenhorn and co-author Louise Prockter of the Johns Hopkins University, reached their conclusions
after examining images from NASA's Galileo mission, which launched on the Space Shuttle Atlantis in
1989, and orbited Jupiter system until 2003.
They reconstructed the geological history of a portion of Europa's surface which is criss-crossed by
ridges and fractures. "The surface of Europa is covered in ancient geological features which [we think]
are older than the subduction zones and plate boundaries we identified," says Kattenhorn
"We were able to reconstruct the original pattern of these features like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle,
matching the geology patterns. You could see that rigid portions of the surface had been rearranged like
tectonic plates." As the authors matched up the geology, they found that a piece of the surface was
missing along a boundary between two tectonic plates. "We think one plate of ice sank beneath the
other into warmer ice layers below at this boundary, just like subduction zones on Earth," says
Kattenhorn.
The subducting plates move a few kilometres down and are reincorporated into the ice shell. Friction
generated during subduction, produces heat which melts the ice and causes cryovolcanic (ice volcano)
activity on the surface. "There are patches on the surface near subduction zones that look like lava," says
Kattenhorn. "This is water that's melted, has come up and flowed across the surface before freezing, just
like a lava flow."
Tidal forces
Europa is thought to have a subsurface global ocean containing several times more water than all the
oceans on Earth. As the moon orbits Jupiter its repeatedly crushed and stretched by the giant planet's
immense gravity, generating enough friction to keep water liquid beneath its 20 to 30 kilometre thick icy
shell. "Until now all the fractures and features seen on the surface of Europa were thought to have
formed through gravitational tidal heating," says Kattenhorn
AGS SEPTEMBER 2014 Page 7
Icy plate tectonics detected on Europa
Page 8 AGS SEPTEMBER 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 – Ben Bentkowski
cell -770-296-2529 [email protected]
AGS SEPTEMBER 2014 Page 9
AGS Professional Geologist Registration Study Class
Date: September 27, 2014 Time: 10:00am to 12:00pm
Venue: Fernbank Science Center
156 Heaton Park Drive, N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30307
http://fsc.fernbank.edu/ 678-874-7102
Speaker: Mr. Jim Feines, PG
Subject: Vapor Intrusion, What it is and why you should care.
Jim will present the basic concepts of vapor intrusion and why it is such a hot topic and why you
should be concerned about it.
Mr. Fineis is the owner of Atlas Geo-Sampling Company a full service drilling firm based in
Alpharetta, GA. Jim obtained his B.S. in Geology from Georgia Southwestern State University in
Americus Georgia. Jim worked as an environmental consultant prior to opening Atlas Geo
Sampling in 2003. Recently, Jim has concentrated on conducting vapor intrusion assessments
within the United States as well as internationally. The most high profile job that he is currently
involved with is the off base vapor intrusion investigation at Fort Gillem in South Atlanta.
Please join us and forward this message to anyone interested in becoming a Georgia Registered
Professional Geologist, or anyone who might be interested in the topic. Two Professional
Development Hours are available for attendees.
The classes are open to all, membership in the AGS is not required, but for $25 per year ($10 for
students) it is quite a bargain. The AGS is one of the most active geological organizations in the
southeast US, providing networking opportunities, geoscience teacher grants Please consider
joining.
Thanks,
Atlanta Geological Society
Professional Geologist Registration Committee
Ken Simonton, P.G. John Salvino
Page 10 AGS SEPTEMBER 2014
See next page for one additional opportunity.
AGS SEPTEMBER 2014 Page 11
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
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 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.
Please follow the link for the rerst of the story. Ed.
Page 12 AGS SEPTEMBER 2014
The Old with the New; Lyell’s Work contrasting with Eurpoa Tectonics
Principles of Geology, Lyell's first book, was also his most famous, most influential, and most important. First
published in three volumes in 1830–33, it established Lyell's credentials as an important geological theorist and
propounded the doctrine of uniformitarianism. It was a work of synthesis, backed by his own personal
observations on his travels. Lyell continued to publish new revisions until his death in 1875, when he was revising
the twelfth edition of this work
.
Lyell's multi-volume Principles of Geology, first published from 1830 to 1833, was a major contribution in
promoting the doctrine of uniformitarism. Uniformitarianism, held the earth was shaped entirely by slow-
moving forces still in operation today, acting over a very long period of time. This was in contrast to
catastrophism, a geologic idea of abrupt changes, which had been adapted in England to support biblical
belief and Noah's flood. Lyell's view that the slow geological processes that shaped the Earth are still
occurring today was effectively captured in his book's subtitle: "An attempt to explain the former changes
of the Earth's surface by reference to causes now in operation." Lyell saw himself as "the spiritual saviour
of geology, freeing the science from the old dispensation of Moses."[7]
Lyell drew his explanations from field studies conducted directly before he went to work on the founding
geology text.[2] He was, along with the earlier John Playfair, the major advocate of James Hutton's idea of
uniformitariansm. Though Hutton believed in uniformitarianism, the idea was not widely accepted at the
time.
The two terms, uniformitarianism and catastrophism, were both coined by William Whewell;[8] in 1866, R.
Grove suggested the simpler term continuity for Lyell's view, but the old terms persisted. In various
revised editions (12 in all, through 1872), Principles of Geology was the most influential geological work
in the middle of the 19th century, and did much to put geology on a modern footing. For his efforts he was
knighted in 1848, then made a baronet in 1864.
AGS SEPTEMBER 2014 Page 13
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.
Page 14 AGS SEPTEMBER 2014
Now Showing (BUT ending real soon) in the Fernbank IMAX movie theater:
Great White Shark Now showing through September 18, 2014 Run time: 40 min
Misrepresented, maligned and misunderstood, the great white shark is an iconic
predator: the creature we love to fear. Get closer than ever to the “king of the ocean” in
this giant screen adventure and discover why this animal is not the menacing villain
many believe it to be.
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)
AGS SEPTEMBER 2014 Page 15
Galapagos: Nature's Wonderland Opens October 17, 2014*
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 in constant evolution. Meet these friendly creatures and the unexpected friendships they developed in this new giant screen adventure. Official Site**Dates and show times are subject to change.
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 PoisonOpens 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.
Page 16 AGS SEPTEMBER 2014
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: Josh Jenkins
Phone (770) 421-3412
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.
Social Media Coordinator: Carina O’Bara
Newsletter Editor and Membership
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.
September 27 – PG Workshop
September 30 – AGS meeting
October 25 – PG Workshop
October 28 – AGS meeting
November 25 – AGS Meeting
Novenber 29 – PG Workshop
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
AGS SEPTEMBER 2014 Page 17
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: .)
