Geology.com | News - October 7, 2009

Mars Rover Finds Another Meteorite Posted: 06 Oct 2009 11:46 PM PDT NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity drove just 700 meters after finding the “Block Island” meteorite and spotted another! This one is about 47 centimeters long and has been named “Shelter Island”.

California Hydroelectric Dams To Be Removed Posted: 06 Oct 2009 09:24 PM PDT Four PacifiCorp hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River will be decommissioned. Environmentalists are pleased because the dams reduced water quality and salmon will be able to swim upstream to their historic spawning areas.

Cape Verde Landslides and Flooding Posted: 06 Oct 2009 09:11 PM PDT Photos and commentary on rainfall-triggered landslides and flooding damage that occurred in the Cape Verde islands on September 22.

Water on the Moon: USGS Podcast Posted: 06 Oct 2009 08:41 PM PDT Interview with USGS scientist Dr. Roger Clark about his September 24th Science article that suggests water exists on the moon. Imaging spectroscopy led Clark and others to this discovery which opens the possibilities into further moon exploration.

Barnett Shale Technology Goes Global Posted: 06 Oct 2009 07:24 PM PDT An article in the Star-Telegram explains how technology that was initially used to produce natural gas from the Barnett Shale of Texas is now employed or being planned in many parts of the world.

Supreme Court Declines Oil and Gas Royalty Appeal Posted: 06 Oct 2009 07:15 PM PDT In the 1990’s Congress gave oil and gas companies relief from certain Gulf of Mexico royalties in the Deep Water Royalty Relief Act. The Interior Department tried to collect, Anadarko Petroleum challenged, the Supreme Court declined the appeal.

Activity at Shiveluch Volcano Posted: 06 Oct 2009 06:53 PM PDT Shiveluch Volcano, on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, has displayed intermittent activity over the past several months. This NASA image from October 3, 2009 shows a plume of ash and/or steam streaming from the volcano. The satellite also detected a hot spot in the summit caldera which is probably a sign of lava dome growth.

Himalayan Glaciers: Melted by 2035? Posted: 06 Oct 2009 06:27 PM PDT A report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that glaciers in the Himalayas are melting rapidly and could be gone by 2035. The loss of meltwater from these glaciers will be an enormous problem for agricultural economies downstream.