Dear Friends, Below are two announcements. The first is a job announcement in Guan and the second is a call for cave and karst abstracts for this year's Geological Society of America Convention. If you have questions, contact the people and organizations listed below and feel free to share this message with anyone who may be interested.
George ----------------------- Guam Hydrologic Survey (GHS) Research Associate: This person would be responsible for working at the Water and Environmental Research Institute to maintain the Aquifer Database, WERI Hydrology Research Lab and equipment, and GHS portion of the WERI website; and to help prepare annual scientific reports on Guam's water resources status and trends. An understanding of karst aquifers would be an asset for applicants, as 90% of Guam's drinking water comes from the aquifer beneath the limestone plateau that comprises the northern half of the island. CHARACTER OF DUTIES: The Guam Hydrologic Survey (GHS) Research Associate reports to the Water and Environmental Research Institute Groundwater Hydrologist. Primary duties include maintaining and operating WERI's Hydrologic Database of electronic data, historical (paper) records, and geological samples for Guam, CNMI, and FSM. The Guam Hydrologic Survey (GHS) Research Associate coordinates with local and regional data-source agencies and organizations to ensure timely and complete archiving, updating, back-up, accessibility, and security of the data in the Database. Additionally, the Hydrologic Survey (GHS) Research Associate coordinates with WERI faculty and University service-providers and vendors to maintain WERI's GIS system network computers and its local area network, including maintenance of network security. The Guam Hydrologic Survey (GHS) Research Associate also supervises the laboratory work of designated student research assistants, as assigned by the Groundwater Hydrologist, for the production of Database products, including spreadsheets, charts, graphs, maps, geologic cross-sections, posters, schematic diagrams, and three-dimensional graphics in both paper and electronic form. Other duties include 1) assisting WERI faculty in the production and dissemination of GHS-mandated reports, educational materials, and other products, especially via the WERI/GHS website (www.guamhydrologicsurvey.com<http://www.guamhydrologicsurvey.com>); 2) assisting WERI faculty with designated research activities and the development and preparation of related reports and educational materials; 3) assisting the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) field team during its visits to collect data from the Guam Comprehensive Water Monitoring Program stations, and help maintain equipment and facilities between visits; and 4) assist in the identification of long-term and immediate work priorities in the implementation of all tasks necessary to ensure that WERI continues to meet the GHS mandate of Public Law 24-247. The Guam Hydrologic Survey (GHS) Research Associate may perform other duties as assigned. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: * M.S. degree in environmental science or related area from a US-accredited institution or foreign equivalent * Proficiency with computer-based database software and analytical tools, including MS Office applications, with interest and ability to learn and apply more-specialized tools such as Adobe, ArcGIS, and other graphics, mapping, and modeling software * A self-starter and team player with solid social and communication skills * Ability to set up and assist in the use and maintenance of field and laboratory instruments, including networked computers, and to post-process and archive the data GUAM HYDROLOGIC SURVEY (GHS) RESEARCH ASSOCIATE<https://uog.peopleadmin.com/postings/725> ----------------------- Geological Society of America Convention It is that time of year to announce the call for papers for the Geological Society of America (GSA) Convention. This year it will be held in Denver, Colorado, USA, on 25-28 September. A seven nine karst sessions are offered this year, showcasing the diversity and importance of karst research. Registration is open. General information on the conference can be found at http://community.geosociety.org/gsa2016/home. Because the convention will be earlier than usual, notice that the abstract deadline is also earlier than usual at12 July 2016. Information on how to submit abstracts and the full list of sessions is available at http://community.geosociety.org/gsa2016/science-careers/sessions Ten sessions focused on karst have been proposed this year and NCKRI is sponsoring the following eight, with additional information provided by some session chairs. For information on all GSA topical sessions visit http://www.geosociety.org/meetings/2016/sessions/topical.asp. ----------------------- T109. Karst Hydrology: New Insights of Dynamic Aquifer Systems Andrew Luhmann<mailto:[email protected]>, Carol Wicks GSA Hydrogeology Division; GSA Karst Division; National Cave and Karst Research Institute; Karst Waters Institute Karst aquifers are dynamic hydrological systems because of conduits and fractures, responsible for producing large physical, chemical, and biological gradients. We welcome studies that improve characterization and insight of hydrological processes in these systems. Dear colleagues and friends, We would like to draw your attention to a session (T109. Karst Hydrology: New Insights of Dynamic Aquifer Systems) that we are organizing for the 2016 Geological Society of America (GSA) annual meeting in Denver, CO from Sept. 25-28. The meeting is earlier than normal this year, with an abstract deadline of July 12. Invited speakers for our session include: Pierre-Yves Jeannin - Department of Hydrogeology, Swiss Institute for Speleology and Karst Studies Benjamin Schwartz - Department of Biology, Texas State University Laura Toran - Department of Earth and Environmental Science, Temple University The session description and rationale are provided below. Please submit an abstract to our session and let us know if you have any questions. Also, please forward this announcement to friends, students, and colleagues who would be interested in contributing. We hope to see you at GSA in Denver! Best regards, Andrew Luhmann ([email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>) and Carol Wicks ([email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>) Rationale for session - Karst aquifers are important water resources for up to a quarter of the world's population. They are also dynamic systems because of the presence of conduits and solutionally-enlarged fractures. These preferential flow paths, while creating highly heterogeneous and anisotropic flow systems, distinguish karst aquifers from all other aquifer types. Conduits facilitate high groundwater velocities and deep penetration of water originating from the surface, and this ultimately introduces large gradients for a variety of water-related parameters. This session will highlight field, modeling, and theoretical studies that improve characterization of karst aquifers and our understanding of flow and physical, chemical, and/or biological processes in these systems. T115. Advances in Cave and Karst: A Tribute to the Distinguished Career of E. Calvin Alexander Jr. Yongli Gao<mailto:[email protected]>, J.M. Feinberg, Daniel H. Doctor GSA Karst Division; GSA Geobiology & Geomicrobiology Division; GSA Hydrogeology Division; GSA Environmental and Engineering Geology Division; GSA Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division; GSA Planetary Geology Division; International Association of Hydrogeologist; Karst Waters Institute; Minnesota Groundwater Association; National Cave and Karst Research Institute; National Ground Water Association This session honors Dr. Calvin Alexander and his contributions in many aspects of cave and karst studies, ranging from hydrogeology, geomorphology, geochemistry, microbiology, resource management, hazard assessment, and extraterrestrial karst. T117. Karst Investigations in the Digital Age Cory W. BlackEagle<mailto:[email protected]>, Douglas R. Gouzie GSA Karst Division; National Cave and Karst Research Institute; GSA Environmental and Engineering Geology Division; GSA Geoinformatics Division; GSA Hydrogeology Division This session will examine the use of digital data and methods to study karst features in scientific, engineering, planning, and cave exploration projects, including GIS, spatial analysis, remote sensing, and other emerging digital methods. T118. Karst Systems in Arid and Semi-Arid Environments Lewis Land<mailto:[email protected]>, Victor J. Polyak GSA Karst Division; National Cave and Karst Research Institute; GSA Sedimentary Geology Division; SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology) Karst in arid environments is distinctly different from karst phenomena formed in more humid regions. We welcome papers on karst-related topics including geomorphology, hydrology, paleoclimatology, geohazards, and resource development in arid and semi-arid settings. Rationale for session: Karst systems in arid and semi-arid environments are often distinctly different from those formed in more humid regions, in terms of their morphology, bedrock lithology, hydrology, and societal impact. For example, in semi-arid and desert environments surface water resources are limited, or too brackish for human consumption; in such settings, groundwater stored in karstic aquifers may be the only reliable water resource for irrigation and human consumption. In arid settings lithologies other than limestone are more likely to be host rocks for karst phenomena. In North America west of approximately the 100th meridian, a significant percentage of karst features are formed in evaporitic rocks such as gypsum. Halite karst is found only in extremely arid regions such as Central Asia and the Middle East. Carbonates, by contrast, are more likely to be cliff-formers. Because evaporitic bedrock is mechanically weaker and more soluble, karst features in arid regions may form more rapidly, sometimes over the course of a single human lifetime, and thus have greater potential to form geohazards such as sinkholes. As human populations expand into arid and semi-arid environments in the American southwest and globally, the societal impact of karst features and processes on these populations will increase. T119. Pseudokarst: "Ain't nothin' like the real thing..." Patricia N. Kambesis<mailto:[email protected]>, Jason Polk, Max Cooper GSA Karst Division; National Cave and Karst Research Institute Documentation and study of pseudokarst, a landscape resembling karst in morphology and sometimes function, lags behind that of traditional karst studies. This session provides a venue for research on all aspects of pseudokarst. T120. Sinkholes, Cave Collapses, and Closed Depressions: Exploring the Mechanisms and Consequences of Sinkholes Jason Polk<mailto:[email protected]>, Patricia N. Kambesis GSA Karst Division; National Cave and Karst Research Institute This session is intended to explore sinkholes (dolines) around the globe, including, but not limited to, cover collapses, cave collapse, subsidence, urban sinkhole formation, and other processes, mechanisms, and remediation techniques in karst and non-karst terrains. T121. Voids and Their Resources: Intersections of Research and Policy in Karst Terrains Benjamin W. Tobin<mailto:[email protected]>, Johanna Kovarik GSA Karst Division; GSA Geology and Society Division; National Cave and Karst Research Institute; U.S. Forest Service We encourage abstracts on studies illustrating the relationship between research and policy or management in karst and pseudokarst terrain. ******************** George Veni, PhD Executive Director National Cave and Karst Research Institute 400-1 Cascades Avenue Carlsbad, New Mexico 88220-6215 USA Office: 575-887-5517 Mobile: 210-863-5919 Fax: 575-887-5523 [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> www.nckri.org<http://www.nckri.org/>
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