| 11 March 2010 GSA Release No. 10-09 |
| Contact: Christa Stratton Director - GSA Communications & Marketing +1-303-357-1093 |
|
Earth Science Meeting takes Baltimore by Storm
Geological Society of America hosts joint regional meetings in Baltimore, Maryland, 13-16 March 2010
Boulder, CO, USA –The joint meeting of The Geological Society of America’s Northeastern and Southeastern sections, “Linking North and South: Exploring the Connections between Continent and Sea,” will bring more than 1,500 geoscientists together in Baltimore starting this weekend to discuss new earth-science research and its relationship to society. Topics include health hazards, impacts of climate change, history of the Chesapeake Bay, coastal national parks, new interpretations of Appalachian geology, and energy resources in the eastern United States.
SELECTED SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
- Asbestos: Past, Present, and Future
- Geoscience and Public Policy: The Role of Earth Science in Shaping Effective Environmental Policies
- Energy Resources in the Eastern United States and Associated Environmental Effects
- The Impact of Climate Change on Barrier Island-Backbarrier Systems
- Coastal and Nearshore Processes Affecting Our National Parks
- Tectonic Significance of Buried Terranes of the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains
- Geologic and Paleoenvironmental History of the Chesapeake Bay
View the entire technical program at www.geosociety.org/sections/ne/2010mtg/techprog.htm.
Find complete meeting information at www.geosociety.org/sections/ne/2010mtg.
1. Asbestos: Past, Present, and Future (Sessions 4 and 16)
Sunday, 14 March, Sheraton Baltimore City Center: Carroll Room
"Asbestos" is a term most people have heard and consider synonymous with "health hazard." These earth materials are the topic of an all-day symposium and evening panel discussion that will present the basic scientific techniques for identification of this group of minerals, their sources, and the health issues that continue to bedevil us. Researchers tackling the salient features of "asbestos" morphology will document the methods and techniques employed for hazard designation as well as review the long-term global studies on exposure and monitoring.
- Morning Session, 8:00 AM-12:05 PM, http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2010NE/finalprogram/session_25013.htm
- Afternoon Session, 1:30 PM-4:15 PM, http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2010NE/finalprogram/session_25867.htm
- Evening Panel Discussion, 7-9 PM: A "must-hear" event that will focus on current topics; e.g., the "Ban the Asbestos Bill" being promulgated in California and topics that have made asbestos one of the most expensive health hazards of our times, affecting individuals, communities, commerce, and industry. The discussions should allow attendees not only to hear, but to speak with the experts gathered for this session, including lawyers and representatives from regulating groups such as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The aim is to elucidate details so the crossovers between the science and applications are clear. Asbestos, a well-studied natural material, is an example with potential to contribute to future problems related to local and global impacts of airborne particulates in general. Plan for an animated discussion!
2. Geoscience and Public Policy: The Role of Earth Science in Shaping Effective Environmental Policies (Special Plenary Session)
Sunday, 14 March, Sheraton Baltimore City Center: Liberty Ballroom, 4:00-5:00 PM
This session will address natural resource development, environmental restoration, and other key issues at the interface between geoscience and public policy. Drawing upon geographic examples from Florida, Maryland, New York, and Vermont, it will include a panel discussion and questions from the audience.
Speakers:
- Jean Bahr, GSA President, "Scientific Review of Large-Scale Public Works: the Florida Everglades Restoration"
- David Russ, USGS Regional Executive, "Restoration of Chesapeake Bay"
- William Kelly, "State Geologist of New York, Natural Gas Development of the Marcellus Shale in New York"
- Laurence Becker, State Geologist of Vermont, "Public Policy Applications of Geologic Maps: Examples from Vermont"
Moderator: Geoffrey Feiss, Provost emeritus, College of William and Mary.
3. Energy Resources in the Eastern United States and Associated Environmental Effects (Session 8)
Sunday, 14 March 2010, Sheraton Baltimore City Center: Pratt A/B Room
Papers of note in this session will explore carbon capture and storage in rejuvenating and diversifying the energy portfolio of the southeastern United States, and a Virginia case study of the legislative and regulatory framework for managing offshore energy resources. The session also addresses the development of natural gas and coal resources in the northeastern U.S.
- Morning Session, 8:00 AM-12:05 PM, http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2010NE/finalprogram/session_25033.htm
- Poster Session #42 on this topic will be presented Monday, 15 March, 8:00 AM-12:05 PM, in the Sheraton Baltimore City Center: International ABCDF, http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2010NE/finalprogram/session_25857.htm.
4. The Impact of Climate Change on Barrier Island-Backbarrier Systems (Session 48)
Monday, 15 March, Sheraton Baltimore City Center: Room Liberty A
Geologic data can provide insight into the climate-induced changes that have occurred to coastal environments. Given the density of development that has occurred along highly dynamic barrier shorelines during the past several decades, the continued trends toward increased development, and the potential impacts to sensitive coastal ecosystems, papers in this session aim to determine the impact of climate change on barrier island and backbarrier systems (marsh, lagoon, and bay environments). The session contains papers that will discuss how climate change has altered, if at all, the magnitude and/or frequency of coastal processes and/or how barrier-tidal inlet-backbarrier systems have responded to process changes over a variety of spatial and temporal scales.
- Afternoon Session, 1:30 PM-5:35 PM, http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2010NE/finalprogram/session_25025.htm
- Poster Session #41 on this topic will be presented Monday, 15 March, 8:00 AM-12:05 PM, at the Sheraton Baltimore City Center: International ABCDF, http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2010NE/finalprogram/session_25851.htm
Speakers:
- Maria Honeycutt et al. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) will discuss climate adaptation strategies underway at NOAA and highlight projects that show some of the assumptions, challenges, and opportunities associated with translating scientific research for use in the policy and management arenas.
- Orrin Pilkey (Duke University) and Rob Young (Western Carolina University) will lay out some of the ramifications of global-warming induced sea-level rise.
- Abby Sallenger (U.S. Geological Survey) will discuss how a sequence of six hurricanes (Lili, Ivan, Katrina, Rita, Gustav, and Ike) over six years (2002 to 2008) drove the Chandeleur Islands toward a persistent inundation regime — as well as the role of sea-level rise.
5. Coastal and Nearshore Processes Affecting Our National Parks (Session 31)
Monday, 15 March, Sheraton Baltimore City Center: Room Pratt A/B
Our coastal national parks protect important coastal ecosystems from the increasing urbanization of the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. These national parks provide unique opportunities to study natural coastal areas and processes. The research presented in this session will improve parks’ abilities to manage and protect their natural resources and also provides a foundation for understanding the more complicated processes of areas with human modifications. Session participants will share results that are improving our understanding and management of coastal national parks from Maine to Texas.
- Morning Session, 8:00 AM-12:05 PM, http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2010NE/finalprogram/session_25027.htm
- Poster Session #54 on this topic will be presented Monday, 15 March, 1:30-5:35 PM, in the Sheraton Baltimore City Center: International ABCDF, http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2010NE/finalprogram/session_25853.htm
Speakers:
- In a NPS-funded study, Rob Young, Western Carolina University, will discuss the somewhat surprising extent of coastal engineering in ten coastal national parks and how these modifications may impact those parks.
- In her research on several national parks along North Carolina's Outer Banks, Dorothea Ames, East Carolina University, contrasts undeveloped barrier islands, which are strengthened and maintained by storm processes, with developed islands, which are weakened by human modifications, such as road maintenance.
- In a third study, Chris Houser, Texas A&M University, investigates the storm impacts and dune resilience of several Gulf Coast parks; his results will help to guide post-storm response plans for the national parks.
6. Tectonic Significance of Buried Terranes of the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains (Session 29)
Monday, 15 March, Sheraton Baltimore City Center: Room Liberty B
Speakers who use both direct sampling from scientific, mineral, and energy exploration drilling and remote sensing based on geophysical methods will present their interpretations of the geology of vast areas of the Appalachian Mountains now buried under hundreds to thousands of feet of younger sediments in this special session (T3). Accurately characterizing these buried rocks poses one of the most daunting challenges in understanding the evolution of the mountain belt and its mineral and energy resources. Presentations will address the location of geological boundaries, role of supercontinent cycles, rift basins that preceded opening of the Atlantic Ocean, and earthquake hazards.
- Morning Session, 8:00 AM-12:05 PM, http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2010NE/finalprogram/session_25016.htm
- Poster Session #53 on this topic will be presented Monday, 15 March, 1:30-5:35 PM, in the Sheraton Baltimore City Center: International ABCDF, http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2010NE/finalprogram/session_25846.htm
7. Geologic and Paleoenvironmental History of the Chesapeake Bay (Session 77)
Tuesday, 16 March, Sheraton Baltimore City Center: Carroll Room
The Chesapeake Bay provides an ideal system for exploring how coastal ecosystems respond to threats, including human activity, climate change, and sea-level rise. This session will focus on the sedimentary record of the bay, from fossils to biomarkers, and how we can use it to reconstruct past drought and climate change events. Topics to be discussed include the effects of European settlers on the bay environment, how the bay has responded to “natural” versus anthropogenic disturbances, the extent to which the fossil record can provide a baseline for ecological reconstruction, and how the sedimentary record can inform current management practices.
- Afternoon Session, 1:30 PM-5:35 PM, http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2010NE/finalprogram/session_25032.htm
- Poster Session #70 on this topic will be presented Tuesday, 16 March, 8:00 AM-12:05 PM, in the Sheraton Baltimore City Center: International ABCDF, http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2010NE/finalprogram/session_25876.htm
MEDIA REGISTRATION
Eligibility for media registration is as follows:
- Working press representing bona fide, recognized news media with a press card, letter, or business card from the publication.
- Freelance science writers, presenting a current membership card from NASW, ISWA, regional affiliates of NASW, ISWA, CSWA, ACS, ABSW, EUSJA, or evidence of work pertaining to science published in 2009 or 2010.
- PIOs of scientific societies, educational institutions, and government agencies.
Present media credentials to Beth Engle or William Cox onsite at the GSA Registration desk to obtain badge for media access.
Complementary meeting registration covers attendance at all technical sessions and access to the exhibit hall. Journalists and PIOs must pay for any short courses, field trips, or ticketed events in which they wish to participate.
Representatives of the business side of news media, publishing houses, and for-profit corporations must register at the main registration desk and pay the appropriate fees.
For additional information and assistance, contact Christa Stratton, GSA Director of Communications, at the address above.
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