Generations Of Earth Scientists Research Articles

Next generations of earth scientists IV: Mentoring and inspiring students and early career geophysicists

Next generations of earth scientists IV: Mentoring and inspiring students and early career geophysicists

Some burning questions remaining unanswered

Writing a book on the geodynamic evolution of India (Valdiya, 2010), which involved going through and perusing voluminous literature, I was confronted with many burning questions for which I could not find decisive answers. Maybe I missed the answers, or perhaps I failed to grasp and comprehend the logics of authors. I also felt that many very crucial problems of the evolutionary history of India await addressing squarely by the new generation of earth scientists. When the President of the Geological Society of India, Dr. Harsh Gupta, kindly invited me to speak at the Annual General Meeting of the Society in October 2010 I could not suppress my urge to voice my ignorance through some questions that tantalizingly tease me.

Preface: Geology and information technology

The image of geologist is often associated with a “tough natural scientist” operating in the field without technology. This has changed with the large diffusion of information and communication technology; today, geologists face the digital world. The geological maps and cross sections have been fundamental for synthesizing the geological knowledge of a region, but GIS, 3D digital modelers, and web-based applications allow to easily analyze, interpolate, showing and sharing data, information, interpretations, and thoughts. This new way of operating has deeply affected the new generations of earth scientists and it changed the approach to the knowledge management in geology. In 2005, the need for communication among people working with digital tools in the earth sciences in Italy lead to the constitution of an informal group called GIT (Geology and Information Technology—www.gitonline.eu) which became later a section of the Italian Geological Society. This special issue showcases some of the main contributions to the second meeting hold in Bevagna (Perugia-, Italy) on 4–6 June 2007.

Introduction: analysing orogeny—the Alpine approach

The European Alps, the prototype collisional orogen and playground of geologists from all over the world, have been studied by generations of Earth scientists. The density of data is probably matched by no other mountain chain. Still, the Alpine chain is far from being over-studied, since many fundamental questions have not yet found a satisfactory and generally accepted answer, e.g. the formation of the Western Alpine arc. In recent years however, tectonic research on the Alpine mountain chains has made dramatic progress due to new findings (e.g. coesite), new methods (e.g. GPS), and new—or newly considered—concepts (e.g. subduction roll-back). Our picture of the Alpine orogeny has changed completely. Extremely important for Alpine research, the opening of borders between western and eastern parts of Europe has opened new perspectives: seen from the east, the Alps are the result of the junction of the Dinarides and the Carpathians. Parts of the Alpine evolution, e.g. Jurassic tectonics in the Northern Calcareous Alps, can only be understood in the context of processes in the Internal Dinarides and Internal Carpathians. The exchange of information and ideas between Alpine, Carpathian, Pannonian and Dinaride Earth scientists—in which Stefan Schmid played and still plays a most important role—has been fruitful for all sides. The present volume on the Alps, Carpathians and Dinarides (Fig. 1) includes articles that are related to key aspects of the tectonic evolution of these mountain chains. These articles are examples of the Alpine approach to orogeny, which combines careful fieldwork with a broad variety of laboratory methods, and integrates this into the extensive and detailed knowledge base that has been accumulated over a long history of geological research.

MEMORIAL FOR ROBERT MASTERMAN STAINFORTH

Robert Stainforth was always known as Charles and this is how he preferred it. So be it! Charles was born in Kingston-upon-Hull in East Yorkshire on October 5, 1915, and died where he had chosen to retire—in Victoria, Vancouver Island, British Columbia—on September 30, 2002. He retired to Canada in 1969 after a long career in the oil industry. He was retained as a consultant for some time, during which he produced one of his major publications. It is possible that the present generation of earth scientists may not be aware of Charles’ impact on thought in the 1950’s and for two decades beyond, a legacy of research that still affects our thinking today. When Charles finally thought it time to be with his family and friends he became well known for his abilities as a Bridge player and on the golf course, and as an avid stamp collector. In fact, such was his modesty, that his local friends were amazed to hear that he had been a well known—in fact, we could say a famous—micropaleontologist. Such was the way of Charles. Modest and unassuming in everything he did. Charles’ father was originally in the family business but he took time out to equip himself with two external degrees—one in Classics and one in Biology. First he was Biology Curator in the Hull Museum and then he moved to Hull Technical College where he stayed until he retired as Head of Biology. Because of this, the children, Charles and his two elder sisters, were all strongly encouraged to go to University. Which they all did in their turn. As a child Charles enjoyed many expeditions to the surrounding countryside—often on the back of his father’s old motor-bike. They went to many places in South Yorkshire: to the Yorkshire Wolds and …

Data and information system for mission to planet earth

Abstract Mission to Planet Earth (MTPE) is a comprehensive program established by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to study Earth as an integrated and coupled system consisting of the atmosphere, oceans, and continents interacting through exchange of energy, mass, and momentum on a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. MTPE is NASA's contribution to the U.S. Global Change Research Program, which is supported by all U.S. federal agencies that sponsor Earth science research. MTPE consists of four major elements: (1) space‐based and in situ observational capabilities; (2) a comprehensive data and information system for capturing, processing, archiving, and distributing observations and the resulting information; (3) support for scientific studies to develop algorithms for retrieving the information content of remotely sensed observations and interdisciplinary investigations focused on developing integrated and coupled Earth system models and using the understanding gained from these efforts to assess the impact of global climate changes; and (4) educating and training the next generation of Earth scientists and engineers in support of this mission. The ultimate goal is to establish a sound scientific basis for an intense study of planet Earth to help make sound environmental policy decisions during the twenty‐first century. This requires long‐term, calibrated, congruent, and simultaneous observations that are captured, processed, archived, and made readily available to Earth scientists and policy makers. The commitment to make data and information resulting from MTPE easily available to users is critical to the success of the project. NASA has started to meet this commitment through incremental and evolutionary development of the Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) with significant user involvement in all of its phases.

The Founding of Geology in America: 1771 to 1818

Geological research in North America developed from a few isolated inquiries in the eighteenth century to a mature descriptive science by 1818. In 1771, the study of earth science in America was limited to a few observations on diverse subjects. Systematic investigation and classification of rocks, minerals, and fossils was unknown. Several European and American scientists recognized the need for a standardized nomenclature and unambiguous identification methods in the earth sciences. Thus by 1818, through the efforts of Werner and Maclure in field geology, Cuvier and Brongniart in paleontology, and Cleaveland in mineralogy, systematic classification of geological materials had been introduced to America. These contributions established the science of geology in the United States and enabled the next generation of earth scientists to describe fully the natural history and resources of North America.