Geoscience research in U.S. national parks

Abstract

Characterizing volcanic rock alteration in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park to better understand Martian data; developing a groundwater flow model for a Grand Canyon National Park karst aquifer to enhance understanding of the area's drinking water; investigating sand waves on Fire Island National Seashore to help with the interpretation and management of dynamic coast‐lines: Each of these projects has benefited from recent U.S. National Park Service (NPS) research procedure revisions that streamline the NPS's Research Permit and Reporting System.Geology, which forms the foundation of park ecosystems as well as many spectacular views within the national parks, and frames the natural and historic heritage of the United States, is central to the national park concept. The NPS has identified more than 160 national parks with significant geologic resources, including important fossil deposits, dynamic shorelines, karst formations, geothermal systems, and volcanic features. Park museum collections contain over 270,000 geologic and paleontological specimens. Although good management decisions demand understanding the underlying science, about 90% of U.S. national parks and most regional NPS offices lack a geoscientist.