Lamont Weekly Report – November 5, 2004

OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
P.O. Box 1000, 61 Route 9W Palisades, New York 10964

<> REPORT SUMMARY <>

– Recent Grant Awards –
– Recent Publications –
– Recent New Hires –
– Current B & G Projects –
– Letter from the Director –
____________________________________

<> RECENT GRANT AWARDS
For the period 9/1/2004 – 9/30/2004

Hunkins, K., Request for subcontract from Middlebury College: Waves and currents in Lake Champlain, Middlebury College

deMenocal, P., Koutavas, A. Tracking past shifts of the eastern Pacific ITCZ with oxygen isotopes and magnesium paleothermometry. NSF

van Geen, A., Stute, M. Zheng, Y., Abiotic arsenic mobilization in Bangladesh groundwater aquifers? NSF

Liepert, B., Romanou, A., SGER: Evaluation of surface solar irradiance in coupled climate models. NSF

Robertson, A., Studies of regional-scale climate variability and change: Hidden markov models and coupled ocean-atmosphere modes. DOE

Ting, M., Stationary wave changes and teleconnection dynamics in the warmed climate scenarios as represented in the coupled model intercomparison project Phase II models. NSF

Karner, G., Bell, R., Studinger, M., Collaborative research: Calculation of Antarctic gravity field from grace satellite data and comparison with independent measurements. NSF

Anderson, R.N., Phase I: Ongoing evaluation of potential improvements to Con Edison’s processes using Columbia's decision support learning system. Phase IA: Proof-of-concept of Columbia's control center decision supp. Con Edison

Goldstein, S., Collaborative proposal: Integrated hydrothermal and petrological studies of the Eastern LAU spreading center. NSF

Schaefer, J., Collaborative research: Age, origin and climatic significance of buried ice in the western valleys. NSF

Smethie, W., Ho, D., Collaborative research: Development of SF5 CF3 for ocean tracer experiments. NSF

Lehnert, K., Goldstein, S., Lenhardt, W., Vinayagmoorthy, S., An online registry for unique sample identification in the solid earth sciences (SESAR). NSF

Ljunggren, P., Purdy, G.M., Shipboard scientific support equipment- 2004. NSF

Chen, R., Web feature service for government units and population of the northeast U.S. USGS

Balstad-Miller, R., USAID strategic warning for fragile states. ISCIENCES

<> RECENT PUBLICATIONS
(The following list is derived from the Lamont Publications Database which identifies all publications that hold a Lamont contribution number, thereby qualifying the publications as a Lamont paper).

Bohnenstiehl, D.R., R.P. Dziak, M. Tolstoy, C.G. Fox, and M. Fowler. Temporal and spatial history of the 1999-2000 Endeavour Segment seismic series, Juan de Fuca Ridge, Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, vol. 5, Art. no. Q09003, September 1, 2004.

Caplow, T., P. Schlosser, D.T. Ho, and R.C. Enriquez. Effect of tides on solute flushing from a strait: Imaging flow and transport in the East River with SF6; Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 38, no. 17, p. 4562-4571, September 1, 2004.

D'Arrigo, R.D., R.K. Kaufmann, N. Davi, G.C. Jacoby, C. Laskowski, R.B. Myneni, and P. Cherubini. Thresholds for warming-induced growth decline at elevational tree line in the Yukon Territory, Canada; Global Biogeochemical Cycles, vol. 18, no. 3, Art. No. GB3021, September 24, 2004.

Hill, J.C., N.W. Driscoll, J.K. Weissel, and J.A. Goff. Large-scale elongated gas blowouts along the US Atlantic margin; Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, vol. 109, no. B9, Art. no. B09101, September 9, 2004.

Hönisch B., N.G. Hemming, A.G. Grottoli, A. Amat, G.N. Hanson, and J. Buma. Assessing scleractinian corals as recorders for paleo-pH: Empirical calibration and vital effects; Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, vol. 68, no. 18, p. 3675-3685, September, 2004.

Horneman, A., A. van Geen, D.V. Kent, P.E. Mathe, Y. Zheng, R.K. Dhar, S. O'Connell, M.A. Hoque, Z. Aziz, M. Shamsudduha, A.A. Seddique, and K.M. Ahmed. Decoupling of As and Fe release to Bangladesh groundwater under reducing conditions. Part 1: Evidence from sediment profiles, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, vol. 68, no. 17, p. 3459-3473, September, 2004

Hunkins, K. (2004) A Review of Vorticity Waves in Lakes, In: Lake Champlain: Partnership and Research in the New Millennium, T. Manley et. al. (Eds.) Kluwer Academic/ Plenum Publishers.

John, C.M., G.D. Karner, and M. Mutti. Delta O-18 and Marion Plateau backstripping: Combining two approaches to constrain late middle Miocene eustatic amplitude; Geology, vol. 32, no. 9, p. 829-832, September, 2004.

Liang, X.Z., L. Li., K.E. Kunkel, M.F. Ting, J.X.L. Wang. Regional climate model simulation of US precipitation during 1982-2002. Part I: Annual cycle; Journal of Climate, vol. 17, no. 18, p. 3510-3529, September, 2004.

Muttoni, G., D.V. Kent, P.E. Olsen, P. Di Stefano, W. Lowrie, S.M. Bernasconi, and F.M. Hernandez. Tethyan magnetostratigraphy from Pizzo Mondello (Sicily) and correlation to the Late Triassic Newark astrochronological polarity time scale; Geological Society of America Bulletin, vol. 116, nos. 9-10, p. 1043-1058, September - October, 2004.

Nitsche, F.O., R. Bell, S.M. Carbotte, W.B.F. Ryan, and R. Food. Process-related classification of acoustic data from the Hudson river estuary; Marine Geology, vol. 209, nos. 1-4, p. 131-145, August 30, 2004.

Pekar, S.F., C.M.G. McHugh, N. Christie-Blick, M. Jones, S.M. Carbotte, R.E. Bell and J. Lunch-Stieglitz. Estuarine processes and their stratigraphic record: paleosalinity and sedimentation changes in the Hudson Estuary (North America); Marine Geology, vol. 209, nos. 1-4, pp. 113-129, August 30, 2004.

Piotrowski, A.M., S.L. Goldstein, S.R. Hemming, and R.G. Fairbanks. Intensification and variability of ocean thermohaline circulation through the last deglaciation; Earth and Planetary Science Letters, vol. 225, nos. 1-2, p. 205-220,
August 30, 2004

Stafford, K.M., D.R. Bohnenstiehl, M. Tolstoy, E. Chapp, D.K. Mellinger, and S.E. Moore. Antarctic-type blue whale calls recorded at low latitudes in the Indian and eastern Pacific Oceans; Deep-Sea Research Part I-Oceanographic Research Papers, vol. 51, no. 10, p. 1337-1346, October, 2004.

Shaw, B.E. Self-organizing fault systems and self-organizing elastodynamic events on them: Geometry and the distribution of sizes of events; Geophysical Research Letters, vol. 31, no. 17, Art. no. L17603, September 8, 2004.

Studinger, M., R.E. Bell, and A.A. Tikku. Estimating the depth and shape of subglacial Lake Vostok's water cavity from aerogravity data; Geophysical Research Letters, vol. 31, no. 12, Art. No. L12401, June 19, 2004.

Tourre, Y.M. and S. Paz. The North-Africa/Western Asia (NAWA) sea level pressure index: A Mediterranean signature of the Northern Annular Mode (NAM) Geophysical Research Letters, vol. 31, no. 17, Art. no. L17209, September 8, 2004.

van Geen, A., J. Rose, S. Thoral, J.M. Garnier, Y. Zheng, and J.Y. Bottero. Decoupling of As and Fe release to Bangladesh groundwater under reducing conditions. Part II: Evidence from sediment incubations; Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, vol. 68, no. 17, p. 3475-3486, September, 2004.

Winckler, G., R.F. Anderson, M. Stute, P. Schlosser. Does interplanetary dust control 100 kyr glacial cycles? Quaternary Science Reviews, v. 23, nos. 18-19, p. 1873-1878, October, 2004.

Zappa, C.J., W.E. Asher, A.T. Jessup, J. Klinke, and S.R. Long. Micro breaking and the enhancement of air-water transfer velocity; Journal of Geophysical Research-Oceans, vol. 109, no. C8, Art. No. C08S16, August 27, 2004.

<> RECENT NEW HIRES
For the period 10/01/2004 – 10/ 31/2004

*Biro, Yasemin E.K.
09/27/04
Sr. Staff Associate
IRI

*Brown, Casey
09/07/04
Post Doctoral Research Scientist
IRI

Calungcagin, Anna
10/18/04
Casual
Geochemistry

Falk, Brian
10/18/04
Systems Analyst / Programmer
IRI

Franklin, Denis
10/01/04
Casual
Oceanography

Goldstein, Howard
10/17/04
Research Staff Assistant
Marine Affairs

Horst, Andrew
10/14/04
Casual
Biology & Paleo Enviornment

Lopez Jr., Ramon
10/19/04
Research Staff Assistant
Geochemistry

Mehta, Kirti
10/01/04
Casual
Geochemistry

Mosquera-Muchado, Silvia del Carmen
10/01/04
Post Doctoral Research Scientist
IRI

Pant, Devika
10/22/04
Casual
CIESIN

Stoltz, Sarah
10/17/04
Research Staff Assistant
Marine Affairs

* Correction - 09/2004 IRI hires

<> CURRENT B&G PROJECTS

• Oceanography Emergency Generator:
  Building permit issued, Wednesday, 11/03/04. Contractor has been notified and work will commence shortly.

• Front Entrance / Left Hand Turn Lane:
  Not much accomplished this month as NJDOT contractor is working on other Route 9W sites. They hope to return the end of next week, weather permitting, to apply the final layer of blacktop on our entrance area and the northbound side of 9W. Early next week the contractor working for Ray Long will install the island for the new security gates and associated electrical conduit for the guardhouse and island. They will be working in the middle of the road so please drive carefully.

• Geoscience Walk-In Freezer:
  The old freezer has been demolished and the new box installed in its place. Wiring and (refrigeration) connections are underway.

• Marine Biology, Labs 2 & 3:
  All purchase orders have been issued. As soon as lab contents are moved to a storage container, block walls will be taken down, phone equipment relocated and renovation of the space will begin.

• Marine Biology, Room 7:
  Fume hood variable speed controls installed. Ductwork installed for make-up air system.

• Geochemistry, Room 3:
  Replacement fume hood exhaust blowers with matching variable speed controls have been installed.

• Geochemistry, Room 10:
  New windows installed. Three 4X12 Unistrut lab benches are being constructed.

<> LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

The only thing I am going to say about Tuesday is that it was a wonderfully quiet day in the office, expended in the writing of a paper for a long overdue workshop report.

Today I am in DC for meetings on the Hill, at OMB and at NSF. Needless to say it is an extremely hectic time down here - most of the agencies from whom the research community receive funding are operating on 'Continuing Resoltutions' (CR) (i.e. without an actual budget for this fiscal year) that expire on November 20th. Will the House-Senate conference process be able to reach agreement before November 20th (and so give these agencies 'real' budgets to work with)? Will the Republicans extend the CR into the spring so that they can use their increased majority to exert more control over the budget process? Will the CR be extended through the whole year (something that, terrifyingly enough was actually mentioned)? We should know the answer to these questions in the next couple of weeks, and they will have significant impact on practically all the agencies that we deal with. We were surprised by the generally positive feelings expressed about the outcome for NSF - (very pleasantly surprised, of course). That is particularly important for us this year because of the $40M request in the Major Research Equipment account for the new drill ship for IODP.

You should all be aware that we are undergoing a routine audit by CU - it should take a few weeks to complete - it is a healthy process designed to ferret out weaknesses in the way we manage and provide oversight for the institution. It is our job to provide the auditors with all the information they request, so they can do a good job of advising us about how we can improve our business practices.

I am coming home tonight and will spend at least some time over the weekend thinking of amazingly wise things to say at the Vetlesen Award dinner in Low Library next Tuesday night. I hope to see many of you there.

Have a great weekend,

– Mike
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