The USGS Alaska Science Center was contacted by the Refuge Manager of the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge concerning a recently released USGS geologic map of Kodiak and adjacent islands. The Refuge discovered that certain rare plant communities were restricted to ultramafic rocks. They contacted USGS for a better understanding of ultramafic rock and were able to use the map to help locate these plant communities based on the rock unit distribution.
Contact:
Frederic Wilson
Anchorage, AK, (907) 786-7448
At the invitation of the USGS Alaska Science Center, Dr. Arni Snorrason, Director of Hydrological Services, National Energy Authority of Iceland presented a discussion of climate change affects on hydrology and hydropower in the Nordic countries at the October 17 meeting of the Alaska Chapter of the American Water Resources Association. Dr. Snorrason is the chair of the Arctic-HYDRA International Polar Year (IPY) project, in which the USGS Alaska Science Center represents the United States. Dr. Snorrason will be spending October 18-19 with the Alaska Science Center Water Resources Office Chief and staff visiting field sites and observing the use of advanced instrumentation and model development. Discussions between Iceland's Hydrological Services and the Alaska Science Center have been focused on technological exchanges and potential collaborations.
Contact:
Steven Frenzel
Anchorage, AK, (907) 786-7107
On October 8, 2007, Dave Schneider, a geophysicist with the USGS Alaska Volcano Observatory, provided two hour-long training sessions on issues related to volcanic ash cloud detection and tracking to approximately ten meteorologists from Northwest Airlines as part of their bi-annual refresher class. He also provided a one-hour briefing on the USGS Volcano Hazards Program and its volcanic ash hazard mitigation efforts to five chief international and domestic dispatchers.
Contact:
David Schneider
Anchorage, AK, (907) 786-7037
On October 10-12, Dave Schneider, a geophysicist with the USGS Alaska Volcano Observatory, served as the USGS representative to the Multiphase Array Radar (MPAR) working group at the MPAR Research Symposium in Norman, OK. This working group is organized under the auspices of NOAA's Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology and is charged with developing a strategy to met Federal research and development needs and priorities for phased array radar. The MPAR system, if funded and developed, will serve as the replacement to the current NEXRAD weather and FAA air traffic control radars. The USGS currently uses weather radar data for natural hazards work on volcanoes and landslides, and in studies of migratory bird populations.
Contact:
David Schneider
Anchorage, AK, (907) 786-7037
On October 19 - 20, 2007, USGS Alaska Science Center (ASC) staff participated in the Alaska Math and Science Conference in Anchorage, AK. ASC staff conducted two workshops introducing participants to a wide variety of activities by the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) focused on Alaska’s volcanoes; and approximately 30 conference participants participated in a field trip to the Alaska Science Center for a variety of tours, presentations and hands-on materials focused on wildlife telemetry, volcano hazards and monitoring, mineral assessment, and USGS products and services available through the Earth Science Information Center in Anchorage. There were 250 pre-registered conference attendees.
Contact:
Jennifer Adleman
Anchorage, AK, (907) 786-7019
On October 15, 2007, USGS Alaska Science geologist Tina Neal spoke with the Associated Press (AP) about the eruption of Bezymianny Volcano in Russia, the interagency partnerships related to the operation of the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO), the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers (VAACs), the Significant Meteorological Event statements (SIGMETS) and ash clouds and aviation.
Contact:
C. (Tina) Neal
Anchorage, AK, (907) 786-7458
On October 18, 2007 the USGS Alaska Science Center's Earth Science Information Center was contacted by National Geographic Explorer for information on the Chugach Mountain Range.
Contact:
Gregory Durocher
Anchorage, AK, (907) 786-7009
