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1 in 8 Californians Now Face Extreme Fire Danger
Gift Article From the Washington Post

One in 8 Californians now live in places at risk for the kinds of devastating wildfires that tore through Los Angeles this winter, according to a Washington Post analysis of state fire maps released on Monday.

Key Findings in the National Water Availability Assessment
United States Geological Survey

This interactive website highlights key scientific findings of the National Water Availability Assessment report through engaging stories, plain-language explanations, and interactive data visualizations.

Greenland Is Hard to Defend. As Trump Threatens, the Danes Are Trying.
Gift Article from the Washington Post
...as tensions rise across a melting, militarizing Arctic, Greenland, the world's largest island, is back on the map.
What Marks the Southern Boundary of the Arctic?
Geology.com
Boundaries of the Arctic
Boundaries of the Arctic: This map shows the three boundaries commonly used to define the southern geographic extent of the Arctic: 1) the Arctic Circle (shown as a dashed blue line); 2) the area where the average temperature of the warmest month is less than ten degrees Celsius (shown as a solid red line); and, 3) the arctic treeline (shown as a solid green line). Public domain image from the CIA Factbook, treeline added by the National Snow and Ice Data Center.

Oceans' Ability to Absorb Carbon Dioxide Could Be Key in Fighting Global Warming
Associated Press
NYC Will Eventually Have to Abandon Part of Its Water Supply If It Keeps Getting Saltier
Associated Press
From the article: Suburban road salt is contaminating ten percent of NYC's reservoir water supply, threatening its future use.
Rock Salt: A Sedimentary Rock With Many Uses that is Composed of the Mineral Halite
Geology.com
colorful rock salt at an Indian spice shop
Rock Salt of various colors offered for sale at a spice shop in the Chandni Chowk markets in Old Delhi, India. Photo by Christopher Bellette / Alamy Stock Photo.

Sunrise Solar Eclipse on March 29th for Eastern North America
Sky & Telescope
Water Stored in the Mantle for Millions of Years May Be Linked to Continental Volcanism
EOS Science News
From the article: "New research shows that intraplate volcanism is more likely to occur over areas of the mantle that are more hydrated - particularly those that have been hydrated for a long, long time."
Seismometers Provide Fuller Picture of Los Angeles Groundwater
EOS Science News
From the article: "A new method to evaluate deep aquifers shows even torrential rains have not fully replenished groundwater beneath Los Angeles."
A New Hydrothermal Feature at Yellowstone
United States Geological Survey

From the article: "The summer of 2024 was a busy time, with July's hydrothermal explosion at Biscuit Basin and the first hydrothermal explosion ever recorded by geophysical monitoring data in Norris Geyser Basin. In addition to these higher energy events, a new hydrothermal feature popped up right in front of our eyes - literally!"

About the photo: Looking south from near a pullout along the Mammoth to Norris road just north of the Nymph Lake overlook. On the other side of the marsh is a tree-covered rhyolite lava flow, and at the base of the flow is a new thermal feature marked by a plume of steam and that formed in early August 2024. Photo by Mike Poland, USGS, September 1, 2024.

Studying This Slow-Moving Alaskan Landslide May Help Avert Future Disaster
Smithsonian Magazine

From the article: If the landslide at the Barry Arm fjord collapses, its falling ice and rock could generate a devastating 650-foot-high tsunami. See the story and video about the Lituya Bay Tsunami below.

The aerial photograph above shows the landslide at Barry Arm fjord with the Barry Glacier below and to its right, and, the Cascade Glacier descending the slope on the left of the moving mass. The photo was taken by Christian E Zimmerman, Ph.D., Director of the Alaska Science Center. Public Domain.

World's Tallest Tsunami - Lituya Bay, Alaska - a Record Run-Up Height of 1720 Feet
Geology.com

The Most Visited - and the Least Visited - National Parks in 2024
Smithsonian Magazine

From the article: America's national park sites saw a record number of visitors last year. Great Smoky Mountains, Zion and Grand Canyon national parks are perennial favorites among travelers. The image above is a photograph from Joshua Tree National Park by Brad Sutton, NPS staff member.

How to Value Opal and Why It's a Head-Scratcher (Video Included)
Black Opal Direct
This article contains a video in which Justin, owner of Black Opal Direct, explains how opals are graded using the 4Cs (Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight) and how the grading goes into other characteristics of opal such as body tone, brightness, pattern, play-of-color, color combinations, and more. Hear it from an expert.
All About Opals of All Kinds
Geology.com

Opal is one of the world's most popular gemstones and the birthstone for the month of October. A nice precious opal can flash every color of the spectrum with an intensity and quality of color that surpasses the fire of diamond. Visit the Geology.com Gemstones page.

Understanding the Connection Between Isla Tortuga Volcano and
Magmatism in the Guaymas Basin (Gulf of California, Mexico)

Speaking of Geosciences Blog

From the article: "As Isla Tortuga is a relatively young volcano in the central Gulf of California, Mexico, one might expect it to be frequently visited by geologists. However, after Rodey Batiza's expeditions in the 1970s, to our knowledge no other geologists have set foot on the island for research purposes."

About the map: The base map is a blank vector graphic created by Yavidaxiu and distributed under a Gnu Free Documents License. Semhur improved the appearance of the map and added geographic boundaries. Then, Kmusser changed the projection of the map to standardize it with similar maps on Wikipedia, and Wikigraphists improved the map, added the push pin, and shared it under a Creative Commons License. Thanks to everyone!

A Sign in Space
A Sign in Space YouTube Channel

A Sign in Space is an interdisciplinary project by media artist Daniela de Paulis, in collaboration with the SETI Institute, the European Space Agency, the Green Bank Observatory and INAF, the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics.

Climate Change Demands Louisiana Rethink Its Oil and Gas Industry
Voice of America
Rising Salinity Threatens Rice Crops on Southeast Asia's Sinking Coast
Voice of America
Forget About Rare Earth Minerals. We Need More Copper
National Public Radio
From the article: The demand for copper has surged in the past two decades, driving its price up nearly 75% since 2020.
Pyroclastic Eruption! at Santiaguito (Santa Maria) Volcano, Guatemala
YouTube.com

Gold Hits New Milestone --- $3,000 an Ounce
JCKonline
From the article: "On March 14, the spot price of gold crossed a once unimaginable milestone -- $3,000 an ounce."
The Many Uses of Gold
Geology.com

The United States government currently mints coins from gold and other precious metals; however, they are intended for investment and collecting. They are not intended for use as legal tender.

USGS Releases Assessment of Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources in WY and MT
United States Geological Survey

The U.S. Geological Survey released its assessment of potential for undiscovered oil and gas in formations under Wyoming and parts of southern Montana as well as parts of western South Dakota and Nebraska, assessing that there are technically recoverable resources of 47 million barrels of oil and 876 billion cubic feet of gas. Map by the United States Geological Survey.

A New Perspective on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill:
What Can Benthic Foraminifera Tell Us 14 Years After the Spill?

Speaking of Geosciences Blog
World's Largest Oil Spills Map
Geology.com

This map shows the location of eleven of the world's largest oil spills. The colored squares indicate the source of the spill - war (red), a well on land (green), a well in the ocean (blue) or a ship (black). Map copyright by Geology.com.

Tiny Icequakes Ripple Through Greenland's Largest Ice Stream
EOS Science News
Tiny quakes have been recorded in the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream. This glacier is the largest ice stream on Greenland and carries about 12% of the island's ice discharge into the North Atlantic Ocean.
Students Walked Past This Rock for 20 Years...
It Turned Out to Host 66 Dinosaur Footprints From the Jurassic Period

Smithsonian Magazine
From the article: "A paleontologist studied the 200-million-year-old prints that had been hiding in plain sight, then discovered even more tracks in another rock sitting in a nearby parking lot."
Fossilised Footprints Found at Queensland School
ABC News Australia on YouTube

The Six Most Amazing Discoveries Made by Exploring Uranus
Smithsonian Magazine

From the article: "Don't let the placid and bland surface fool you -- Uranus is a singularly dynamic planet." Image of Uranus by NASA and Caltech.

USGS Projects World Production Capacity for 7 Critical Minerals and Helium
USGS
From the article: "The USGS released projections for world production capacity for seven critical minerals and helium for the next five years in the first World Minerals Outlook, a forward-looking assessment that is part of a larger effort to provide forecasts and scenarios for global mineral supply chains."
Helium: A Byproduct of the Natural Gas Industry
Geology.com

Helium Blimp: Most people have heard of helium being used as a lifting gas for weather balloons, blimps, and party balloons. These are very minor uses of helium. The use that consumes more helium than any other is cooling the magnets in MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) machines in medical facilities. Goodyear blimp photo by Derek Jensen.

US Pauses Water-Sharing Negotiations With Canada Over the Columbia River's Water
The Guardian

From the article: "Break in negotiations comes as Trump escalates trade war with Canada and threatens its sovereignty." Map by the United States Army Corps of Engineers / Government Accounting Office.

Astronomers Discover 128 New Moons Orbiting Saturn
The Guardian

Saturn now has 274 moons, almost twice as many as all the other planets in the solar system combined. Image produced by NASA using data from the Cassini-Huygens mission.

Lunar Eclipse Visible in the Western Hemisphere on March 13-14
NASA

Skywatchers in Earth's Western Hemisphere will have the opportunity to see a full lunar eclipse this week. For viewers in the United States' Eastern time zone, the "blood moon" will reach totality around 2:30 AM on Friday, March 14 and last for about an hour. Image by NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio.

The World's Largest Iceberg Runs Aground
Smithsonian Magazine

After months of drifting with the wind and currents and running aground, iceberg A23a is now grounded in shallow waters off the Southern Ocean, about 50 miles from South Georgia Island. The image above is a USGS video from February 19th. Click to view the video on the USGS website.

600,000 People In Alaska Will Receive a $1,702 Natural Resource Dividend
MSN.com
The Permanent Fund Dividend is a financial initiative that shares oil revenues directly with eligible Alaska residents.
Coal Miners Discover Ancient Roman Boat in Serbia
Smithsonian Magazine
From the article: "Measuring nearly 43 feet long, the ship's remains were found near the bustling Roman city of Viminacium."
Oldest Known Impact Crater Discovered in Australia
Smithsonian Magazine
shatter cone
From the article: "The discovery bolsters the theory that meteorite impacts played an important role in Earth's early geological history."

Important evidence for the field identification of an impact crater is the presence of 'shatter cones' in the local rocks. See image above of a shatter cone from the Nordlinger Ries impact structure, created by Johannes Baier and displayed here under a GNU Free Documentation License.

Extreme Heat and Rain Turned These Arctic Lakes Brown
EOS Science News
From the article: "Scientists are stunned by the changes in multiple Arctic lakes, all transforming in the same way."
Deep Groundwater Might Be a Sustainable Solution to the Water Crisis in Some Areas
EOS Science News
From the article: "Scientists are finding fresh groundwater buried deep underground, but questions remain about the scale of these resources, how they're resupplied, and whether they can be used sustainably."
NASA: Parts of California Are Sinking, and It Could Worsen the Effects of Sea-Level Rise
Smithsonian Magazine
From the article: "The ground in many parts of the state -- including Los Angeles, San Francisco and the Central Valley -- is subsiding due to groundwater withdrawal, landslides and compacting of sediment."
Where California's Land Is Sinking and Rising
NASA Earth Observatory

The elevation changes may seem small, amounting to fractions of inches per year, but over time they can increase or decrease local flood risk, wave exposure, and saltwater intrusion. NASA Earth Observatory image by Michala Garrison, using data from Govorcin, M., et al. Text adapted from materials provided by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

The U.S.A. Puts "Country of Mining" Requirement for Diamond Imports on Hold
JCKonline
From the article: "The United States is postponing its plan to require diamond and diamond jewelry importers to declare the "country of mining" for every stone they import"
Which Countries Mine the Most Gem-Quality Diamonds?
Geology.com

Once centered in Africa, diamond mining now occurs in many countries throughout the world. In recent years, Russia, Canada and Botswana have been leading producers of mined diamonds.

REE - Rare Earth Elements and their Uses
Geology.com

REE Periodic Table: The Rare Earth Elements are the 15 lanthanide series elements, plus yttrium. Scandium is found in most rare earth element deposits and is sometimes classified as a rare earth element. Image by Geology.com.

Fearing Toxic Waste, Greenland Ended Uranium Mining.
Now, They Could Be Forced to Restart - Or Pay $11B

The Guardian
Greenland is being sued by a mining company that invested $100,000,000 in a mine and was then blocked by legislation that banned uranium mining. The company is suing for billions.
Some Harsh Realities Behind Greenland's Minerals
Gift Article from the New York Times
From the article: "There is excitement about the potentially lucrative resources scattered around the island, especially the rare earths. But extreme weather, fired-up environmentalists and other factors have tempered hopes of a bonanza."
Map of Greenland
Geology.com

A map showing the location of Greenland relative to the North Pole, Arctic Ocean, Arctic Circle and northern lands such as the Canadian Archipelago, Iceland, Svalbard, and Scandinavia.
Plunging Prices Continue for Lab-Grown Diamonds
Gift Article from the New York Times
From the article: "Despite interest from consumers and some watch and jewelry brands, oversupply and industry consolidation have slashed prices."
De Beers' DiamondProof Instrument Lands In Stores
JCKonline
From the article: "By rapidly and reliably identifying whether a diamond is natural, DiamondProof is instrumental in enhancing consumer confidence in natural diamond purchases"
Private Lunar Lander Blue Ghost Aces Moon Touchdown With a Special Delivery for NASA
CNBC.com
From the article: "A private lunar lander carrying a drill, vacuum and other experiments for NASA touched down on the moon Sunday"
Cyclone Flurry in the Southern Hemisphere
NASA Earth Observatory

From the article: An unusual number of tropical storms churned across the planet's southern oceans simultaneously in February 2025. NASA Earth Observatory image by Michala Garrison, using MODIS and VIIRS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview and the Joint Polar Satellite System. Story by Lindsey Doermann.

Birthstones for the Month of March: Aquamarine and Bloodstone
Geology.com

Aquamarine is a greenish blue to blue variety of the mineral beryl. Compared to other varieties of beryl such as emerald and red beryl, aquamarine gemstones are abundant and affordable.

Bloodstone is a green chalcedony with splashes of red. It is sometimes referred to as "heliotrope" in books from the 18th century. It has been used as a birthstone for the month of March since 1912.

How to Build the World's Highest Mountain
EOS Science News
From the article: "The rocks of Mount Everest's peak made an epic journey from seafloor to summit."
How Can Scientists See Ice Underground?
Blogs of the European Geosciences Union
From the article: "Ground-Penetrating Radar is a geophysical method that uses radar pulses to image underground structures. Think of it like an underground ultrasound-except instead of scanning for bones or organs, it's used to detect changes in soil, rock, and ice."
Angola Energy Report
Energy Information Administration

Angola was the second-largest total liquid fuels producer in sub-Saharan Africa, after Nigeria, in 2024 production. Angola's economy is largely based on hydrocarbon production, making it vulnerable to crude oil price swings. Angola primarily consumes hydroelectricity and fossil fuel-derived fuel sources to meet its domestic needs for power generation. The image above... in 2023, Angola exported about 175 billion cubic feet of natural gas. Image by the Energy Information Administration.

The "Red" Color of Mars Might Not be Caused by Hematite
Smithsonian Magazine

From the article: "A new study suggests the iron oxide responsible for the red planet's distinctive hue is [not hematite, but instead it is] ferrihydrite, pointing to the bygone presence of water, an important ingredient for life." Image source: ESA & MPS for OSIRIS Team - MPS / UPD / LAM / IAA / RSSD / INTA / UPM / DASP / IDA, 2007, ESA Standard Licence.