Tucson science museums on 'back burner'

Rio Nuevo director Greg Shelko is quoted in today's Tucson Citizen as saying, "The science center goes to the back burner. So does all that other work (with the other museums). They are not projects we can do today. What museums we are going to build and when we are gong to build them, that is a conversation for another day."

He was referring to a group of planned museums on Tucson's West Side, collectively known as the Tucson Origins museums: Mission San Agustín, a University of Arizona Science Center/Arizona State Museum [right], Arizona History Museum, and Tucson Children's Museum.

In a related topic, the UA closed its Flandrau Science Center to the public earlier this year, due to budget cuts and suspended work on the Rio Nuevo science museum.

Water level measurements underway in Verde Valley & Big Chino basins

The Arizona Dept. of Water Resources is measuring water levels in about 1,000 wells in the Big Chino and Verde Valleys basins and Prescott Active Management Area (AMA) now through April, according to the Prescott Daily Courier. [right, Williams Wash, north of Prescott, looking towards the Verde River source area. My photo, March 12, 2009]

The last round of well measurements was in 2004.

The water level measurements are stored in the Groundwater Site Inventory (GWSI).

Is there a "peak coal" curve?

"We'll stop using coal before we run out of it," according to retired USGS coal expert Hal Gluskoter, in a review article by Richard Kerr in this week's issue of Science.

Hal was on an NRC committee that concluded in 2007 that the "long-standing estimate of about 267 billion short tons of recoverable reserves in the U.S." was not supportable. Instead of a 250-year supply, it's more likely that we have 100 years of coal left in the U.S. [right, credit USGS]

Kerr examines the claims that coal production follows a curve similar to that for oil, replicating Hubbert's 'peak oil' concept.

A Swedish group estimates world coal production peaking as soon as 2020, "entering a 30-year-long plateau and then declining."

Others are skeptical, just as there are skeptics that the world oil peak has been reached. They suggest alternate energy sources will become more economically competitive and widespread, replacing coal before we deplete our reserves.

It's interesting to read this article today, right after reading Tom Zoellner's piece (see my previous post) about the U.S. turning away from nuclear power. Nuclear accounts for about 20% of U.S. electricity; coal for over 50%. Finding replacements for 70% of our electricity generation is a daunting task, even with the public and government enthusiasm over alternative energy sources such as solar, wind, and geothermal. I don't see that this country has yet made the decisions and investments needed to achieve that switchover.

Bypassing nuclear energy

Tom Zoellner, former reporter for the Arizona Republic and author of the new book, "Uranium," makes an interesting argument in the Republic this morning. He notes that the federal economic stimulus package "contains not a dime of loan guarantees for nuclear plants," and that the Obama administration is stopping work on the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository in Nevada.

This is a double blow to utilities. They need federal backing if they are to seriously pursue construction of new plants.

Zoellner points out the problems with uranium mining past and present but also reminds us that the rich uranium deposits of northern Arizona and other areas on the Colorado Plateau [right, credit NASA] "one day may be considered a possible tool of deliverance from global warming."

Asarco settlement for Arizona claims

Asarco seems to be trying to settle all the outstanding environmental claims against it before the bankruptcy court makes its final decision on its sale to Sterlite Industries.

As part of the $1.1 billion settlement plan, the company has "set aside $233.8 million to pay for remediation and closure costs and $27.5 million for administrative costs associated with non-operating mines, including ones in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Arkansas," according to the Arizona Republic.

The company signed a settlement deal with the governor and attorney general of Montana on Monday for 4 sites in that state.

Motley Fool sees ascent of Freeport stock

The Motley Fool financial site sees rising prices for Phoenix-based Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold stock.

Today's analysis notes that "Freeport director Robert Day had recently acquired more than 600,000 shares of the company's stock for an average price of $35.36 per share" [the current price is around $37] and last month the company sold 26.8 million shares at $28 per copy, raising $750 million.

"The company operates mines in the Southwestern U.S., Peru and Chile, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Beyond that, its Grasberg mining complex in Papua, Indonesia contains the largest deposit of recoverable copper reserves and the largest gold reserve in the world. Indeed, the company's strengths include its geographic diversity and long-lived reserves."

In the past few days, I have seen a bevy of articles talking about copper demand increasing, particularly in China, and prices rising, all boding well for Arizona copper miners, who produce 60% of US needs.

Gigapans of Organ Pipe National Monument

Ron Schott has posted gigapan photos from Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and nearby areas around Ajo in southwest Arizona at his blog - http://ron.outcrop.org/blog/?p=348

Here's a screenshot of one of his scenes, of the Ajo Mountains, from December 26. It's made up of 161 views, comprising 1.46 gigapixels.

If you haven't looked at a gigapan photo before, go to the full image and start zooming in and moving around. The amount of detail and resolution is spectacular.

More brainiac scientists needed to fight the monsters

You gotta love a movie review that starts out, "The world needs more giant mutant lizards, and more brainiac scientists who rise up to fight the monsters."

A new documentary, "Monsters from the Id," premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas this past Friday. The premise is that "films that tell simplistic, good-versus-evil stories and frame scientists as superheroes" serve as motivational messages and those of the 1950s served to propel the U.S. space program.

For me, Forbidden Planet, with its monsters of the id, is still one of my all time favorite movies. How much did it and the zillion other sci-fi flicks I saw as a kid help draw me into science? I just know that there never was any other career that was even conceivable to me. I stand ready to fight the next invasion of giant mutant lizards.

"Uranium" - the rock that shaped the world

Author Tom Zoellner is speaking and signing copies of his new book, "Uranium: War, Energy and the Rock That Shaped the World" at the Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe tonight.

Zoellner looks primarily at the rock rather than the nuclear weapons or power plants that almost every other author pursues.

The book is drawing favorable reviews across the country. The review at the Christian Science Monitor was particularly enjoyable. It quotes Zoellner as saying, “In this rock we can see the best and worst of mankind.”

Americans value science; we just don't know any

Americans apparently overwelmingly value science as "absolutely essential" or "very important" to the U.S. healthcare system (86%), the U.S. global reputation (79%), and the U.S. economy (77%) but have a dismal understanding of the topic.

"A new national survey commissioned by the California Academy of Sciences and conducted by Harris Interactive® reveals that the U.S. public is unable to pass even a basic scientific literacy test."

According to the survey:
* Only 53% of adults know how long it takes for the Earth to revolve around the Sun. [right, credit UCAR.edu]
* Only 59% of adults know that the earliest humans and dinosaurs did not live at the same time.
* Only 47% of adults can roughly approximate the percent of the Earth's surface that is covered with water.*
* Only 21% of adults answered all three questions correctly.

You can take the same literacy test at the Cal Academy website at www.calacademy.org.

[quotes and stats from Cal Academy news release]

ASU's THEMIS camera: "Live from Mars"

During the past year, I've posted extensively on the HiRISE camera and the Phoenix Mars Lander, but have mostly forgotten about Arizona's other Martian camera - THEMIS.

Now, in conjunction with the new Google Mars site, THEMIS has launched a "live from Mars" scrolling photo, make up of several hundred images just as they are received by the mission team.

In fact, the images are from a few weeks ago, but the impression you get is watching out a spacecraft window as the scenery flies by beneath you.

The Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) is an instrument on board the Mars Odyssey spacecraft. It combines a 5-wavelength visual imaging system with a 9-wavelength infrared imaging system. [right, Terra Sirenum. Credit, ASU THEMIS site]

Copper stock prices double from lows

Copper prices have recovered from their low of about $1.28 per pound to around $1.70 now, but still only a fraction of their $4+ high of last year. Copper producers, including Arizona-based Freeport McMoRan and Southern Copper, are seeing stock prices double on average, as a possible signal that investors treat copper as a "proxy" on the global economy, according to a report in Mineweb.com.

Freeport stock is $37.04, down 70.9% from its high but up 135.9% from its low. Southern Copper is at $16.07, down 61.7% from its high, but up 76.2% from its low.

Augusta Resources, which is developing the Rosemont copper mine south of Tucson, is at $0.82, down 88% from its high, but up 110.3% from its low. [photo credit Freeport]

Omnibus lands bill fails in House

The giant omnibus lands bill, S-22, that passed the US Senate easily, was defeated in the House last week, 282-144. The bill combines160 public lands, water and resources bills from across the country, including reauthorization of the National Geologic Mapping Act that funds much of the geologic mapping we and other geological surveys do in most states.

The massive bill was intended to offer something for everyone to attract votes, but House members argued that many of the bills in the 1,200 page package had never been heard in the House. E&E News says, "The omnibus would designate more than 2 million acres of wilderness in nine states and would establish three new national park units, a new national monument, three new national conservation areas, more than 1,000 miles of national wild and scenic rivers and four new national trails. It would enlarge the boundaries of more than a dozen existing national park units and establish 10 new national heritage areas. It would also authorize numerous land exchanges and conveyances to help local Western communities and address water resource and supply issues, and includes provisions to improve land management."

An amendment was added to ensure that the bill would not close off lands that are already open to hunting and fishing, but that wasn't enough.

The Senate may add an Idaho wilderness provision, and attach the ominbus to another bill already in the pipeline, in an effort to produce something more attractive to the House.

Asarco proposes largest environmental settlement in U.S. history

The announcement of Asarco's proposed environmental settlement made local headlines. The Daily Star said it's the largest one in history at $835.7 million with another $275.3 million going to federal and state governments, for a total of $1.1 billion.

But there is as much as $7.9 billion in claims against the company from governments and individuals in asbestos-related claims. The bankruptcy court will approve the final deal - but the question I have is whether the judge will accept the $1.1 billion. Will the claimants be demanding a larger settlement or expect this will be the best they can get?

The Star reports that "The bankruptcy court had previously approved cleanups at sites in Arizona, including $880,000 for the Helvetia mine, a century-old, contaminated mining site southeast of Tucson and $13.5 million to clean up Asarco sites in Hayden and Winkelman northeast of Tucson.

Central Arizona Geology Club

Prescott's Central Arizona Geology Club is one of the most dynamic groups in the state. The group's monthly meeting includes a show 'n tell where members bring out a rock they found or had stashed away for years, to get the group's interpretation of what it is. It creates a fun, relaxed, interactive atmosphere. At right, Yavapai College geology prof Beth Boyd solicits ideas on the origin of a specimen she's had for 24 years. Club president Debbie Allen is standing at left. She blogs about club activities and more at http://centralarizonageologyclub.blogspot.com/

I had the privilege of giving a talk on geologic hazards to the group Wednesday night at the Prescott Library. Big turnout and great discussion and questions. It's exciting to see such a wonderfully dynamic geologic community in the area.

Needles 7.5' geologic quad map released by USGS

The geologic map of the 7.5' quad of Needles has been published by the USGS and various versions are available online.

The announcement says "The quadrangle is underlain by structurally undeformed sediments of Pliocene and younger age that were deposited by the Colorado River, as well as alluvial fan deposits on the piedmonts that flank the Black Mountains (in Arizona) and the Sacramento Mountains (in California)."

China copper imports set record

China imported a record amount of copper in February according to Mineweb.com, sending signals that the Chinese economy may be recovering from last year's slump with implications for global commodity prices.

China is the world's biggest consumer of copper, and imported 329,311 tonnes of unwrought copper in February, up more than 41% from January.

Arizona produces 60% of U.S. copper consumption, with prices set in the global market, so this development affects operations and jobs in the state. [right, copper cathode tanks. Credit Asarco]

'Lucy' discoverer Johanson interview in Time

Time magazine ran an interview last week with ASU anthropologist Donald Johanson about his discovery of his discovery of the 3.18 million year old hominid skeleton popularly known as "Lucy"

Sarewitz on conveying climate complexity

The Dot Earth blog by Andrew Revkin in the New York Times looks at the just-completed Copenhagen conference on climate change science and policy and delves into concerns by some scientists "that overheated descriptions of looming dangers coming out of the conference could actually backfire."

Geologist Daniel Sarewitz, who is Director of the Consortium for Science, Policy and Outcomes at Arizona State University is quoted as saying, "this was a classic example of how scientists and the media play down complexity in their thirst for powerful framing that catches attention and might drive action. The problem, he and several colleagues said, is that over-reaching can also lead to distrust and further polarization of advocates threatened or empowered by the controversial finding."

I've always found Dan to offer fresh, uncompromising, and often provocative views of topics that are taken as granted by the scientific community. I pay attention to what he says.

Shuttleworth made Regents Professor at UA

The Arizona Board of Regents today designated William "Jim" Shuttleworth, UA professor of hydrology and water resources, as one of three new Regents' Professors at the University of Arizona, the highest honor awarded by the University to its faculty members.

The UA announced said Jim "is considered one of the world's leading experts in understanding the interaction between the land surface, its vegetation and the atmosphere through the physical process of evapotranspiration"

A fuller description of Jim's achievements was released by the UA press office.