GSA update 1
The Annual meeting of the Geological Society of America is underway!
I enjoyed a nice field trip yesterday, investigating some anomalous igneous rocks around Portland; more on that in a later (illustrated) post.
Last night, I had dinner at the Deschutes Brewpub with Michelle Arsenault of NSF, volcanological blogger Erik Klemetti and his wife, and a fan of NOVA Geoblog, Dennis M. This was a fun and eclectic group of people, with all sorts of unexpected connections! And the Obsidian Stout was lovely...
Today the meeting proper began, and I have been delighted to attend talks on topics as diverse as geoscience education, the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake, biomarkers (chemical "fossils"), uplift of the Teton range, oxidation of the shallow ocean before the "Great Oxidation Event," and the recently-much-hullabalooed plumbing system beneath a Permian "supervolcano" in Italy. Wow! Such interesting topics, such skilled speakers, such inspiring scientists. I heard one geologist tell firsthand about his experiences living through the Hebgen Lake quake, and another put forward the suggestion that Ediacaran fossils are lichens, not animals. Several workers presented evidence that there was a substantial land biota in the Neoproterozoic. When ideas like that are being batted around, it's hard not to catch the excitement. More later... Now it's time for me to head off for another round of talks!
I enjoyed a nice field trip yesterday, investigating some anomalous igneous rocks around Portland; more on that in a later (illustrated) post.
Last night, I had dinner at the Deschutes Brewpub with Michelle Arsenault of NSF, volcanological blogger Erik Klemetti and his wife, and a fan of NOVA Geoblog, Dennis M. This was a fun and eclectic group of people, with all sorts of unexpected connections! And the Obsidian Stout was lovely...
Today the meeting proper began, and I have been delighted to attend talks on topics as diverse as geoscience education, the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake, biomarkers (chemical "fossils"), uplift of the Teton range, oxidation of the shallow ocean before the "Great Oxidation Event," and the recently-much-hullabalooed plumbing system beneath a Permian "supervolcano" in Italy. Wow! Such interesting topics, such skilled speakers, such inspiring scientists. I heard one geologist tell firsthand about his experiences living through the Hebgen Lake quake, and another put forward the suggestion that Ediacaran fossils are lichens, not animals. Several workers presented evidence that there was a substantial land biota in the Neoproterozoic. When ideas like that are being batted around, it's hard not to catch the excitement. More later... Now it's time for me to head off for another round of talks!
2 Comments:
Thanks for the great info! It's amazing how ideas change... anyone would have been laughed out of the room for suggesting neoproterozoic land fauna not so long ago.
Many thanks, wish I were there. Studying now about the great oxidation event of 250,000,000 years ago. Earth Geology very fascinating.
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