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Can Oceans Store More Carbon Dioxide to Help With Climate Change?
United States Geological Survey
Diamond Industry Gears Up For G7 Russia Ban
JCKonline
Torrential Rain Wreaks Havoc in Libya
NASA Earth Observatory

A Mediterranean cyclone contributed to deadly flooding along the coastline of Libya. The satellite image above shows how precipitation nearly 100 kilometers inland contributed to flooding in coastal communities. Image by Wanmei Liang, NASA Earth Observatory, story by Emily Cassidy.

Damage Proxy Map of Morocco's Recent M6.8 Earthquake
NASA Earth Observatory

This earthquake occurred on September 8, 2023. While urban areas in Marrakesh experienced strong, damaging shaking, the most severe destruction occurred in small communities in rural, mountainous areas in the High Atlas Mountains.

Where Is Morocco?



Map by Geology.com.
Girl Celebrating 7th Birthday Finds 2.95-Carat Diamond
Smithsonian
Quote from the article: "Aspen Brown stumbled upon the pea-sized, golden-brown gem while visiting an Arkansas park."
Crater of Diamonds: The Only Diamond Mine In the World Where You Can Be the Miner
Geology.com

Diamonds Found at the Mine: This small handful of diamonds was found at Crater of Diamonds State Park. Yellow, brown and "white" diamonds are all found regularly at the park. Many have a rounded octahedral or a rounded dodecahedral crystal habit. Image courtesy of Arkansas.com.

Optimizing Carbonate Classification on Mars
EOS Science News
Decoding an Ancient Tsunami from the Ground Up
Smithsonian
Quote from the article: "The seafloor around Santorini is helping scientists investigate forces behind the devastating Minoan tsunami."
How Pterosaurs Might Inform the Next Generation of Flight
Smithsonian
M 4.4 Earthquake, Shallow (2.8 km) Widely Felt, Near Modesto, California
United States Geological Survey

Map by the United States Geological Survey.

Humans Have Exceeded Six of the Nine Boundaries Keeping Earth Habitable
Smithsonian
Summer 2023 Was the Hottest on Record
NASA Earth Observatory

June, July, and August were 0.23 degrees C (0.41 degrees F) warmer than any other summer in NASA's record. NASA Earth Observatory image by Lauren Dauphin, based on data from the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies. Story by Jenny Marder, NASA Earth Science News Team.

Warnings About Disclosure When Selling Diamonds, Lab-Grown Diamonds, Diamond Simulants
JCKonline
In Libya: A New Flood Hazard: Landmines
Reuters
California Sues Oil Giants, Saying They Downplayed Climate Change.
National Public Radio
Atlantic Storm Lee Makes Landfall in Canada. Winds at 70 mph and 1 Killed in Maine
Associated Press
Post-Tropical Cyclone Lee Track Map
National Hurricane Center

Post-tropical cyclone Lee is having a direct impact upon New England, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, New Brunswick and eastern Quebec. Map from the National Hurricane Center of Saturday, September 16th at 7:45 PM eastern time.

Survivors of Libya's Deadly Floods Describe Catastrophic Scenes and Tragic Losses
National Public Radio
NASA Finds No Evidence UFOs Are Extraterrestrial, Promises Further Study
Sky & Telescope
Temperature Extremes Hit Lower- and Middle-Income Countries Hardest
EOS Science News
Our Evolving Understanding of Biological Carbon Export
EOS Science News
Hurricane Lee Approaches New England With Effects Likely Confined to the Coast
Gift Article from the New York Times
Flooding Death Toll Soars to 11,300 in Libya's Coastal City of Derna
Aljazeera
USGS Releases Products Documenting the Effects of Hurricane Ida
United States Geological Survey
The documents include:

1) A geonarrative on the USGS data collection efforts.

2) Documentation of peak flow and flood frequency from USGS streamgages.

3) GIS data files for flood extent, flood depth, and flood frequency information.

Tilt Measurements Still Vital to Volcano Monitoring After More Than a Century
United States Geological Survey

A water tube tiltmeter. The tiltmeter is read by looking into the portal on each pot and adjusting the sight until two pins appear to touch. In fact, one of the pins is a reflection, so having the pins almost touch establishes the exact water level within the pot. The difference in water level gives the tilt, and repeated measurements give changes in tilt over time. Article by Ingrid Johanson. Photo by Michael Poland.

Webinar: Application of Field Techniques and Technology in Geologic Mapping
American Geosciences Institute
In this webinar, Valarie Harrison, an Environmental Scientist at the Nashville Office of the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation will discuss her background, education, and work with geologic maps. Tuesday, October 3, 2023.
School Students Finds the Asteroid Hit by NASA Seems to Be Moving Strangely
Smithsonian
This Exoplanet May Be a Distant Ocean World
Smithsonian
Quote from the article: James Webb Telescope detected evidence of methane and carbon dioxide -- and tentatively observed a molecule that, on Earth, is only made by living things.
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Top $90 a Barrel for the First Time Since November 2022
CNBC
England's Nutrient Neutrality Laws
The Guardian
Why Germany's Wild Boars Are Radioactive
Smithsonian
Amateur Metal Detectorist Makes "Gold Find of the Century" in Norway
Smithsonian
Outcrop of Bishop Tuff from the Long Valley Caldera in California
United States Geological Survey

USGS geoscientists examine air fall tephra and pyroclastic flow deposits at the base of the Bishop Tuff, in a quarry near Bishop, CA. This pumice-rich tuff was laid down by the caldera-forming eruption of the Long Valley Caldera around 760,000 years ago. USGS photo by Jessica L. Ball.

Bolivian Salt Flats
NASA Earth Observatory

An otherworldly landscape on a plateau in the Andes provides a natural laboratory for scientists studying Earth and Mars. What you see here is an example of Bolivian salt flats penetrated by volcanic eruptions. Photograph by astronauts on the International Space Station. Caption by Amber Turner, NASA-JSC.

Bodies "Everywhere" in Libyan City After Floods; Thousands Still Missing
Gift Article from the Washington Post
De Beers to Spend $20 Million Promoting Natural Diamonds This Holiday
JCKonline
Mapping Libya's Catastrophic Flood Damage in Derna After Storm Daniel
Aljazeera
BBB and Natural Diamond Council Warn Retailers about Disclosure of Diamond Simulants
JCKonline
Over 5,000 Dead in Libya As Deadly Floods Hit Coastal Cities
Associated Press
Hurricane Lee, Now Very Large, Raises Wind and Flood Dangers as It Heads Toward Maine
National Public Radio
Does Earth Hold Vast Stores of Hydrogen -- A Renewable, Carbon-Free Fuel?
Science
How Heat Can Take a Deadly Toll on Humans
National Public Radio
The End May Be In Sight for Phoenix's Historic Heat Wave of 110-Degree-Plus Weather
National Public Radio
From the article: Sunday... "marked the 55th day this year that the official reading at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport reached at least 110 F (43.3 C)".
Thousands Dead, Tremors Hamper Rescue Efforts After Earthquake in Morocco
CBS News
At least 2400 people were killed by the earthquake.
American Researcher Stuck Deep in a Turkish Cave Is Rescued After Falling Ill
National Public Radio
The rescue occurred in Morca Cave in southern Turkey.
Hurricane Lee Remains a Major Hazard as It Possibly Heads Towards New England, Bermuda
Gift Article from the Washington Post
Hurricane Lee: Possible Track Map
National Hurricane Center

Hurricane Lee begins turning north towards Bermuda and possibly on towards New England.

New Eruption at Kilauea Summit Continues
United States Geological Survey

An aerial view of the eruption at the summit of Kilauea at approximately 6:30 a.m. HST on September 11, 2023. Multiple minor fountains remain active in the eastern portion of Halema'uma'u crater floor and on the downdropped block within Kilauea's summit caldera. USGS photo by M. Patrick.

Eruption at Kilauea Summit Upgraded to Red / Warning
United States Geological Survey

An eruption at the summit of Kilauea volcano began on September 10, 2023. The main fountain, which HVO geologists estimate is approximately 50 meters tall, is on the eastern margin of Halema'uma'u crater. As of approximately 4:30 p.m., the fissures extend approximately 1350 meters to the northeast, onto the downdropped block that formed during the 2018 summit collapse. Photo from the new webcam at Kilauea Summit. Explore webcams at Kilauea Summit.

Newly Discovered Green Comet Is Passing By Earth This Week
Smithsonian
Current and Future Sinkhole Susceptibility in Karst and Pseudokarst Areas of the United States
Frontiers in Earth Science
Karst in the United States: A Digital Map Compilation and Database
United States Geological Survey

Map above is from USGS Open File Report 2014-1156.

Hurricane Lee Is Now a Category 5 Storm, but Its Eventual Path Is Unclear
Gift Article from the New York Times

In the next few days the hurricane will pass near Puerto Rico and the northern Caribbean Islands. After that it could travel past The Bahamas or head north towards Bermuda. Click the map above to see the current version at the National Hurricane Center.

Deadly Floods Hit Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria as Extreme Weather Swarms Europe
Gift Article from the Washington Post
Turkish Teams Race to Rescue Sick American in 1km Deep Cave
The Guardian
Venice Will Start Charging an Entry Fee Next Year
Smithsonian
Quote from the article: "By charging daytrippers to visit on peak travel days, the city hopes to combat overtourism"
'Alarming' Scale of Marine Sand Dredging Laid Bare by New Data Platform
The Guardian
From the article: "UN-developed Marine Sand Watch estimates 6 billion tonnes dug up a year, well beyond rate at which it is replenished."
How Is Padparadscha Defined?
Lotus Gemology
Padparadscha is a color variety of sapphire characterized by a mix of red and yellow. However, it is not as simple as that.
Circular Depressions Seep Hydrogen Gas
NASA Earth Observatory

Naturally occurring hydrogen was discovered emanating from "fairy circles" in Australia. NASA Earth Observatory image by Wanmei Liang, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey and fault lines from the Government of Western Australia. Story by Lindsey Doermann.

NASA Researchers Measure Sinking Land in American Samoa
NASA

Landsat image of American Samoa's Tutuila Island, acquired on July 22, 2022, with the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8. Image by Lauren Dauphin, NASA Earth Observatory.

NASA Shares First Images from US Pollution-Monitoring Instrument
NASA

Satellite measurements of nitrogen dioxide levels over the DC/Philadelphia/New York region on August 2, as measured by TEMPO. Image by Kel Elkins, Trent Schindler, and Cindy Starr/NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio.

This 8,000-Year-Old Village on Stilts May Be the Oldest of Its Kind in Europe
Smithsonian
Norwegian Oilmen Lay Out a Picture of Svalbard
The Barents Observer
Where Is Svalbard?
Geology.com

Svalbard is an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. Several communities on these islands are the northernmost permanently inhabited settlements in the world. Svalbard is located north of the Arctic Circle and so far north that trees will not grow there. Base map by Rob984, displayed here under a Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0 license. Annotations by Geology.com.

McDermitt Caldera May Be Among the Largest Known Lithium Reserves in the World
Phys.org

McDermitt Caldera is located on the Nevada/Oregon border. It is the oldest known caldera (16.1 mya) in a sequence formed by the Yellowstone hotspot. The map above shows historic eruption locations of the Yellowstone Hotspot. Numbers indicate the estimated time of the eruptions, in millions of years ago. The map by Kelvin Case is displayed here under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.

At Risk From Rising Seas, Norfolk, Virginia, Plans a Massive, and Controversial Floodwall
National Public Radio
Bill Gates: The Major Contributor to Climate Change that People Are "Probably Least Aware Of"
CNBC
Vibrant Fireball Streaks Across Mid-Atlantic After Record Hot Day
Gift Article from the Washington Post
Home Insurers Cut Natural Disasters From Homeowners Policies As Climate Risks Grow
Gift Article from the Washington Post
Homeowners Insurance Doesn't Cover Types of Damage You Might Expect That It Should
Geology.com

Flood, earthquake, expansive soil, hurricane, landslide and subsidence damage are often not covered!

What It Costs to Save a Town from Sea Level Rise
CNBC.com

New Natural Gas-Fired Capacity Additions Expected to Total 8.4 Gigawatts in 2023
Energy Information Administration
The Dire Consequences of Depleting California's Groundwater
Gift Article from the New York Times
The Locations of These Shipwrecks Are No Longer a Secret
Smithsonian
Volcano Watch: Using Remote Acoustic Monitoring to Distinguish Volcano Styles
United States Geological Survey
Revisiting the Roots of Minerals' Names: A Journey to Mineral Etymology
Blogs of the European Geosciences Union
U.S. Natural Gas Production Grew by 4% in 2022
Energy Information Administration

U.S. natural gas production grew by 4% (4.9 billion cubic feet per day) in 2022, averaging 119 Bcf/d. Three regions -- Appalachia, Permian, and Haynesville -- accounted for 60% of all U.S. production in 2022, similar to the proportion in 2021.

New Legal Challenge Reignites Battle Over Tunnel Near Stonehenge
Smithsonian
Stonehenge: A Monument Made of a Unique Diabase
Geology.com

Sunrise at Stonehenge: The standing stones at Stonehenge were placed to be in alignment with sunset on the winter solstice and sunrise on the summer solstice. Photograph copyright iStockphoto / Stephen Barnes.

Just 50 Miles From Niagara Falls Lies the True Waterfall Capital of the World
Smithsonian
A website for waterfalls in The City of Hamilton, Ontario can be found at City of Waterfalls.