Geology.com | News - September 4, 2009

EPA Climate Change Toolkit for Middle School Posted: 03 Sep 2009 11:30 AM PDT The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently released a new free collection of resources to enhance middle school students’ understanding of climate change impacts on the United States’ wildlife and ecosystems. “Climate Change” is the theme for this year’s Earth Science Week which will be celebrated October 11th through 17th, 2009.

DOE Funds Unconventional Gas Projects Posted: 03 Sep 2009 10:53 AM PDT “The Office of Fossil Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has selected nine new projects targeting environmental tools and technology for shale gas and coalbed methane (CBM) production. NETL’s goals for these projects are to improve management of water resources, water usage, and water disposal, and to support science that will aid the regulatory and [...]

Making Diesel and Aviation Fuel From Natural Gas Posted: 03 Sep 2009 09:08 AM PDT A article on the Reuters website reports that BP is closing a research facility at Nikiski, Alaska where they successfully produced 300 barrels of diesel fuel and aviation fuel from natural gas.

BP Discovery May Boost Gulf Exploration Posted: 03 Sep 2009 08:53 AM PDT Some oil industry experts believe that BP’s announcement of a “giant oil discovery” in the Gulf of Mexico may yield an increased interest in exploration in that basin, which many believed had been thoroughly explored.

Northwest Passage Satellite Image Posted: 03 Sep 2009 08:45 AM PDT “In late August 2009, ice clogged some but not all of the Northwest Passage, and snow had retreated from most of the islands in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.” Quoted from the image release at Earth Observatory.

The World’s Biggest Natural Arch Posted: 03 Sep 2009 08:02 AM PDT An short article on the Utah Geological Survey blog explores the question… “Does Utah have the biggest natural arch in the world?” The answer depends how you define “biggest”. Does that mean tallest, longest, biggest? There is a more in-depth article in their May, 2009 issue of Survey Notes. If you have not [...]