Wilf named Distinguished Speaker by Paleontological Society

University Park, Pa. -- Peter Wilf, associate professor of geosciences at Penn State, has been named Distinguished Speaker for fall 2009 through fall 2012 by the Paleontological Society.

The Paleontological Society selects outstanding scientists whose current research or other work in paleontology is highly regarded and of broad interest to serve as distinguished lecturers. The lecturers are excellent speakers who communicate the interest and importance of their work in paleontology well. The program is intended to make outstanding speakers available to the general public, to conduct workshops for teachers, or to speak in lecture series at colleges and universities.

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Solomon Islands earthquake sheds light on enhanced tsunami risk

University Park, Pa. -- The 2007 Solomon Island earthquake may point to previously unknown increased earthquake and tsunami risks because of the unusual tectonic plate geography and the sudden change in direction of the earthquake, according to geoscientists.

On April 1, 2007, a tsunami-generating earthquake of magnitude 8.1 occurred East of Papua New Guinea off the coast of the Solomon Islands. The subsequent tsunami killed about 52 people, destroyed much property and was larger than expected.

"This area has some of the fastest moving plates on Earth," said Kevin P. Furlong, Professor of Geosciences, Penn State. "It also has some of the youngest oceanic crust subducting anywhere."

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Deep sea rocks point to early oxygen on earth

Red jasper cored from layers 3.46 billion years old suggests that not only did the oceans contain abundant oxygen then, but that the atmosphere was as oxygen rich as it is today, according to geologists.

This jasper or hematite-rich chert formed in ways similar to the way this rock forms around hydrothermal vents in the deep oceans today.

"Many people have assumed that the hematite in ancient rocks formed by the oxidation of siderite in the modern atmosphere," said Hiroshi Ohmoto, professor of geochemistry, Penn State. "That is why we wanted to drill deeper, below the water table and recover unweathered rocks."

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Earthquakes, volcanoes and the African superplume are only some of the phenomena under investigation through AfricaArray, a program that establishes geophysical observatories, trains African and American students and examines geophysical phenomena on the African continent. "In order to train masters and doctoral students there has to be a research effort," said Andrew Nyblade, professor of geosciences, Penn State and co-director of AfricaArray. "We started with geophysics but we think it is a good model to support all geoscience," he told attendees at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Friday (Feb. 13) in Chicago.

Read the full story on Live: http://live.psu.edu/story/37609/nw1

Climate change show features Penn State faculty

University Park, Pa. -- "How do we know? Physics, Forcings, and Fingerprints," the first episode of the National Science Foundation's "To What Degree? What Science is Telling Us About Climate Change" television series will premiere Thursday (Feb. 19) on the Research Channel, with two Penn State climate researchers featured.

Richard B. Alley, Evan Pugh professor of geosciences and Michael E. Mann, associate professor of meteorology and director of the Earth System Science Center were both interviewed for the show. Alley, a glaciologist, is an expert on ice, ice sheets and abrupt climate change. Mann is one of the researchers who developed the hockey stick graph of the Earth's increased warming.

The Research Channel can be found on the University Park cable system on channel 31. Comcast and D&E cable both broadcast the Research Channel on channel 98 during some time periods. The show will be available online at http://www.researchchannel.org/prog/displayevent.aspx?rID=28217&fID=345 after Feb. 19.

Penn State professor channels rock stars to teach rock science

University Park, Pa. -- The music may come out of the 1960s, but an open courseware class available at Penn State that includes a guitar playing and singing professor is definitely designed for the Millennial Generation. Highlighted with video clips, animations and song parodies, the course not only instructs, it also entertains and fulfills general education requirements for undergraduates not majoring in geoscience.

Read the full story on Live: http://live.psu.edu/story/37307

Geosciences Alumni Reception held at GSA Meeting

On October 6, 2008, the Geosciences and Crop and Soil Sciences Departments hosted a joint Alumni Reception at the Hilton Americas-Housting during the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America. Approximately 114 alums, faculty and current students from Geosciences were in attendance as well as 60 alums, faculty and students from Crop and Soil Sciences. A great time was had by all!

Click here to see pictures from the event.

Penn State experts appear on '20/20' program

Penn State faculty experts appeared on April 18, 2008 on the ABC television news program "20/20" in a topical show devoted to wild weather and weather myths. Sam Champion, weather anchor of ABC's "Good Morning America" and weather editor of ABC News, traveled to Penn State in late March to interview the faculty members. Our own Chuck Ammon and Kevin Furlong were featured on the show.

Click here to see the video.

Penn State offers Master of Education in Earth Sciences online

At a time when science education for young people in the United States is being recognized as a critical priority for the future of the nation, Penn State hopes a new online master's degree program will help to put the right information and tools at the disposal of the teachers who can make a difference. A global leader in geography, meteorology, and the earth sciences, Penn State has recently launched an online Master of Education in Earth Sciences degree. Beginning in summer 2008, secondary science teachers from around the globe will be able to learn from renowned Penn State faculty through the University’s World Campus. Click HERE for the full article.

Ancient Leaves Point to Climate Change Effect on Insects

Insects will feast and leafy plants will suffer if temperatures warm and atmospheric carbon dioxide increases, according to a team of researchers who studied evidence of insect feeding on fossil leaves from before, during and after the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM). The PETM occurred 55.8 million years ago and was an abrupt global warming event linked to a temporary increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This event is comparable in size and rate to the current climate changes brought on by human activity. Click here for full story.

Unconventional natural gas reservoir in PA poised to dramatically increase U.S. production

Natural gas distributed throughout the Marcellus black shale in northern Appalachia could conservatively boost proven U.S. reserves by trillions of cubic feet if gas production companies employ horizontal drilling techniques, according to a Penn State and State University of New York, Fredonia, team. "The value of this science could increment the net worth of U.S. energy resources by a trillion dollars, plus or minus billions," said Terry Engelder, professor of geosciences, at Penn State. Click here for the full story.

Shake, Rattle and Rocks, 2008

On January 8, 9 and 10, Shake, Rattle and Rocks took place. SR&R is the Geosciences Department annual outreach event that hosts local 5th grade students and their teachers for a few days of fun and geology! This year, over 550 students were in attendance. Faculty and graduate students offered several hands-on activities, with topics including coral reefs, earthquakes, volcanoes and magnetism. A great time was had by all! Click here for photos of the day. Special thanks to all SR&R volunteers and to Mr. and Mrs. Roberto Pabalan for their generous donation.

Geosciences Alumni Reception held at GSA Meeting

On October 29, 2007, the Geosciences Alumni Reception was held at the Hyatt Regency Denver during the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America. Approximately 100 alums, faculty and current students were in attendance. The Dean of EMS, Bill Easterling, was also present and welcomed everyone with a short presentation. A great time was had by all!

Click here to see pictures from the event.

AAPG Welcomes New PSU Student Chapter

On November 19, the first PSU Student Chapter was inducted into the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG). This effort was spear-headed by Geosciences Club President Alex Bryk and Vice President Rachel Shaak. The new chapter will be advised by Professor Terry Engelder. The Student Chapter Program of AAPG is made up of collegiate groups of geoscience students and one of the world's foremost co-educational programs within the geoscience sector with over 145 chapters. It provides students the opportunity to develop leadership skills and serves as a focal point for developing a feeling of professionalism through meeting industry representatives.

Share of Nobel Prize Comes to Department Faculty

Sure, Al Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize last week. In effect, so did more than 2,000 climate change scientists around the world. And at least five them, as it turns out, are Penn State scientists based at University Park.

“I think it’s helpful,” associate professor Michael Mann said, referring to the attention that the prize has heaped on global warming science. “It helps the public understand that this is a real problem, that the science is quite solid and that this is something we need to think about as a society: How are we going to deal with this problem?”

Mann, Richard Alley, Bill Easterling, Klaus Keller and Anne Thompson — all Penn State faculty members — are substantial contributors to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The United Nations established the network almost two decades ago.

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In search of Africa's superplume
Geoscience graduate student Angela “Mouse” Larson is in Tanzania this month to install seismic stations for Penn State's AfricaArray initiative. She recently spoke by phone with Research Penn State associate editor Melissa Beattie-Moss and told us how her mission is going.

Larson describes the ups and downs of her installation mission to date, including tracking a non-existent village; the balance between access and security; and speaking Swahili with the local people.

Listen to an update from the field.

Richard Alley briefs Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., chairwoman of the Environment and Public Works Committee during a boat trip on July 29th on Disko Bay, near Illulisat Greenland.