New Research Opportunities in the Earth Sciences (2012) / Chapter Skim
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3 Findings and Recommendations
3 Findings and Recommendations
Pages 71-86
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From page 71... ...
faulting and EAR funding of research projects initiated and deformation processes; (4) interactions among climate, conducted by individual investigators and small groups surface processes, tectonics, and deeper Earth processes; of investigators is the single most important mecha(5)
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From page 72... ...
were the formation of directed research efforts. That report presented examples planetesimals, planetary embryos, and the moon; the of how advances in basic Earth science research areas mineralogy, petrology, and dynamics of magma oceans; intersect with five national imperatives and, as exempli- the dynamics and chemistry of core formation and fied in Chapter 2 of this report, significant progress has initiation of the geodynamo; formation of the earliest been made toward each of these imperatives: crust, atmosphere, and ocean; acquisition of surface vol atiles; transition from an impact-dominated surface to 1.
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From page 73... ...
advanced training needed to solve early Earth problems. THERMO-CHEMICAL Recommendation: EAR should take appropriate steps to INTERNAL DYNAMICS AND encourage work on the history and fundamental physical VOLATILE DISTRIBUTION and chemical processes that governed the evolution of Earth f rom the time of its accretion through the end of late heavy The most compelling problems associated with bombardment and into the early Archaen, perhaps by estab- the deep Earth, of which three have been summarized lishing a specific initiative on early Earth.
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From page 74... ...
Finding 1: S ustaining progress in studies of the thermo-chemical dynamic system in Earth's interior Instrument and Facilities Needs for Deep Earth requires continued data collection -- archival and open D ynamics and Volatile Distribution distribution of seismic, geodetic, mineral physics, geomagnetic, and geochemical information on a global Finding 1: Disciplinary-based facilities provide critiscale. Community-vetted open software for seismology cal data for these major undertakings.
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From page 75... ...
These approaches facilities for mineral physics experiments in national are flourishing, and in the next decade integrative laboratories, and deployments of additional seismic efforts built around natural fault zone and subduction and geodetic sensors in oceanic and polar environ- z one laboratories hold promise of greatly advancments, can enhance the EAR research programs. This ing our understanding of faulting and deformation involves a coordination and cooperation across NSF processes and associated roles of fluid, volatile, and structural entities as well as interagency coordination material fluxes.
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From page 76... ...
INTERACTIONS AMONG CLIMATE, F inding 4: Understanding fault zone and plate bound- SURFACE PROCESSES, TECTONICS, AND ary processes is strongly linked to understanding and DEEP EARTH PROCESSES mitigating natural hazards; thus, there is great societal relevance to understanding faulting and deformation The broad interactions among climate, Earth surprocesses as well as volcanic processes in these environ- face processes, and tectonics are an area of growing ments. Industry, insurance, and municipal partnerships interest and compelling research opportunities.
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From page 77... ...
Instrument and Facilities Needs for Advancing Finding 1: Significant opportunities exist to encourage Research on Interactions Among Climate, Surface coordination and communication within the communi- Processes, Tectonics, and Deep Earth Processes ties engaged in research on linkages between climate, tectonics, surface processes, and deeper Earth processes Finding 1: Important existing facilities that support such as workshops that promote community interac- research in this area include NCALM (LiDAR data) , tions around this theme.
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From page 78... ...
and proteomics) methods have placed the community on the cusp of a major advance in our understanding Instrument and Facilities Needs for Research on of the influence of major externally driven climate Co-evolution of Life, Environment, and Climate and environmental change on life and the feedbacks on climate caused by the evolution of new life forms.
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From page 79... ...
to Finding 4: Dedicated computational resources for the dynamics of biotic communities, including idenpaleoclimate modeling focused on past warm periods tification of hydrological and morphological leading and extreme and abrupt climate events are required for indicators of landscape and ecosystem state change. improved parameterization, development of higher- Model development can continue to work toward resolution regional-scale models to capture climate bringing the influence of biotic processes into formal variability, and the integration of innovative paleo- representations of geomorphological and hydrological climate intercomparison models and data-model com- processes and to couple these with models of climate parisons consistent with Intergovernmental Panel on and human-landscape dynamics.
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From page 80... ...
new theory, coupled systems models, and new data. Several reports and science plans underscore the need Recommendation: EAR should facilitate research on for integrated studies of biogeochemical and water cycles coupled hydrogeomorphic-ecosystem response to climate in terrestrial environments, particularly in the critical change and disturbance.
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From page 81... ...
a need for computational facilities and community model provides a fruitful template for evaluation and modeling efforts like the CSDMS and the Community possible expansion of integrated studies of the critical Hydrologic Modeling Platform (CHyMP)
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Department of Energy. Large-scale quality, innovative research will remain essential modeling capabilities of U.S.
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From page 83... ...
Expanding data collection ized skills in these areas are not typically developed to oceanic and cryosphere environments remains a key in Earth science curricula and a possible approach is challenge for global investigations, and EAR coordina- to foster attraction of more students with good comtion with OCE and Office of Polar Programs (OPP) putational skills into Earth science research through in instrument development and data acquisition in outreach to those programs and students.
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From page 84... ...
for Minority Participation is a valuable mechanism to attract Earth science majors as they transition from Finding 1: Bringing the Earth sciences into the high high school to undergraduate institutions. The NSF school curriculum at the same level as chemistry, biol- Research Experiences for Undergraduates program has ogy, and physics would pay large dividends to the also been successful and could be further geared toward discipline in the next generation.
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From page 85... ...
citizens' understanding of the Earth sciences will be further challenged. One solution is to Finding 4: The decline in traditional science journalism provide training and support for scientists interested may be partly offset by fostering the scientist commu- in popular science writing such as online science blognicator.
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