Geologic Report on the Landslide near Budge Drive, Jackson, Wyoming
On Thursday, May 29, 2014, the Geologists of Jackson Hole submitted a Geologic Report on the landslide near Budge Drive, Jackson, Wyoming, to the Jackson Town Council and Teton County Commissioners in an effort to provide earth science perspective for this recent geologic crisis of key importance to the citizens of Jackson Hole.
To download the report, click here.
To download the related detailed analysis of the cores from five drill holes, click here.
Global Warming Can be Explained by Depletion of Stratospheric Ozone Caused by Human Activities and Volcanism
Changes in mean temperatures on Earth result from changes in the mean amount of solar energy reaching Earth’s surface determined primarily by changes in the mean amount of ozone and of volcanic aerosols in the lower stratosphere. While greenhouse gases are well mixed throughout the atmosphere, ozone exists primarily in the lower stratosphere where concentrations vary regionally by 10% to as much as 50% on time scales of hours, seasons, decades, and longer. The catalytic processes of photodissociating and forming ozone again absorb solar ultraviolet energy, increasing the temperature of air very efficiently, over and over, heating the stratosphere. When the normal amount of ozone is depleted, less ultraviolet energy from Sun is absorbed in the stratosphere, the stratosphere cools, the tropopause rises, and more ultraviolet energy reaches Earth warming primarily the ocean and thereby raising mean surface air temperatures.
To read the basis for these conclusions, click here.
Earthquake Hazard Reduction
In 1990, I conceived of, wrote, produced, and published a magazine entitled “The Next Big Earthquake May Come Sooner then You Think. Are You Prepared?” A total of 3.3 million copies were distributed in 41 newspapers throughout northwestern California and by request. The magazine was printed in English, Chinese, Spanish, and Braille. Creation of this magazine won me the Public Affairs Award of the Department of Interior and the highest award of the National Association of Government Communicators.
Click here to read this magazine and to find other
documents concerning earthquake hazard reduction
Plate Tectonics
Tectonics is the study of earth’s structural features. I wrote several papers relating the structural features of western North America to the motion of ocean plates in the northeast Pacific. These papers provide new insight into the origin and structure of major silicic volcanic provinces whose roots form the granite batholiths such as those seen today in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. The papers provide insight into how subduction zones go through cycles, the origin of hot spots, and the origin of the California Central Valley.
Click here to read these papers
Public Warning
People at risk from natural or terrorist hazards can take appropriate action saving lives and property when they are warned in a timely manner. Numerous technologies exist to reach only the people at risk no matter where they are or what they are doing. What is missing is coordination by the federal government fostering national and international standards. From 1997 to 2005, I led several groups exploring the problems and needs of such a system. It could have easily been implemented after 9/11 but was not