The isotopic composition of organic sulfur (δ34Sorg) is a potential recorder of past biogeochemical conditions that has, thus far, received relatively little attention in comparison to the pyrite sulfur isotope record (δ34Spyr). This study presents continuous organic and pyrite δ34S records from three basins of the organic-rich Miocene Monterey Formation, deposited over a similar time interval of c.14.5-6 Ma but under varying depositional conditions. In the San Joaquin basin, δ34Sorg and δ34Spyr average 0‰ and -4‰ respectively and maintain a relatively constant pyrite-organic sulfur isotopic offset of c. 5‰. The Santa Maria Basin exhibits δ34Sorg values that are >10‰ higher than in coeval San Joaquin basin intervals, with average δ34Sorg of c. 24‰ in the upper siliceous member the highest yet reported for marine organic sulfur and roughly 2-3‰ higher than Miocene seawater sulfate. δ34Spyr is consistently c. 12‰ depleted in comparison to organic sulfur in the lower phosphatic member of the Santa Maria Basin, but an abrupt enrichment in both δ34Spyr and δ34Sorg coincident with a sharp lithostratigraphic transition at c. 11 Ma reduces this offset to <4‰ for much of the upper siliceous shales. The Santa Barbara Basin shows a sulfur isotope record intermediate between the San Joaquin and Santa Maria Basins, with average δ34Spyr and δ34Sorg of 3‰ and 12‰ respectively, and relatively consistent c. 10‰ pyrite-organic isotope offset. Records for all three basins demonstrate a close correlation between coeval δ34Spyr and δ34Sorg values which we attribute to derivation from an equivalent, or at least similar, source of sedimentary or water column sulfide. However, marked offset in the isotopic composition of coexisting pyrite and organic sulfur, of variable magnitude within and between basins, implies some contrast in the diagenetic processes underlying sulfur incorporation into the two phases. We argue that the prominent δ34Spyr and δ34Sorg isotopic differences between broadly coeval basin sections are largely the result of differences in sedimentation regime and the associated balance of iron and sulfide supply during diagenesis. A likely factor of additional importance to this iron-sulfide balance is basin-specific sedimentary and water column redox. These findings illustrate the importance of determining independent constraints on the nature of a sedimentary system before conclusions are made relating the sulfur isotope composition of sedimentary species to paleoenvironmental conditions. Additionally, we suggest that records of δ34Spyr have a strong dependence on interaction with organic sulfur during formation, and thus that existing δ34Spyr records are more effectively interpreted in combination with δ34Sorg records.

Venus is the most Earth-like of the terrestrial planets, though very little is known about its surface composition. Thanks to recent advances in laboratory spectroscopy and spectral analysis techniques, this is about to change. Although the atmosphere prohibits observations of the surface with traditional imaging techniques over much of the EM spectral range, five transparent windows between ~0.86 µm and ~1.18 µm occur in the atmosphere’s CO2 spectrum. New high temperature laboratory spectra from the Planetary Spectroscopy Laboratory at DLR show that spectra in these windows are highly diagnostic for surface mineralogy [1]. The Venus Emissivity Mapper (VEM) [2] builds on these recent advances VEM is the first flight instrument specially designed to focus solely on mapping Venus’ surface using the windows around 1 µm. Operating in situ from Venus orbit, VEM will provide a global map of composition as well as redox state of the surface, enabling a comprehensive picture of surface-atmosphere interaction on Venus. VEM will return a complex data set containing surface, atmospheric, cloud, and scattering information. Total planned data volume for a typical mission scenario exceeds 1TB. Classical analysis techniques have been successfully used for VIRTIS on Venus Express [3-5] and could be employed with the VEM data. However, application of machine learning approaches to this rich dataset is vastly more efficient, as has already been confirmed with laboratory data. Binary classifiers [6] demonstrate that at current best estimate errors, basalt spectra are confidently discriminated from basaltic andesites, andesites, and rhyolite/granite. Applying the approach of self-organizing maps to the increasingly large set of laboratory measurements allows searching for additional mineralogical indicators, especially including their temperature dependence. [1] Dyar M. D. et al. 2017 LPS XLVIII, #1512. [2] Helbert, J. et al. 2016. San Diego, CA, SPIE. [3] Smrekar, S.E., et al. Science, 2010 328(5978), 605-8. [4] Helbert, J., et al., GRL, 2008 35(11). [5] Mueller, N., et al., JGR, 2008 113. [6] Dyar M. D. et al. 2017 LPS XLVIII, #3014.

The process of scientific visualization often involves making design choices- colors being one one them, to effectively communicate and highlight features in the data (e.g. high/low temperatures). Using the techniques of registration and image tracking, which are widely used in Augmented Reality (AR) applications to anchor digital content to the real world, an iPad/iPhone application has been developed that visualizes hand colored earth science datasets. The application would scan a student’s hand-colored page of a rectangular image of some global dataset, obtain the colors used, and convert that to an AR interactive, 3D globe with the dataset in study, animated with the students’ colors. This exercise could also be used to educate students about different map projections and is a flexible, customizable, inexpensive tool for teachers to teach a variety of geoscience topics. This engaging interactive environment could help instill a sense of ownership of the data and encourage the student to be more engaged with the science being presented.

Interest towards continuous cover forestry (CCF) has grown in recent years as it is considered more favorable from environmental perspectives than even-aged management. CCF could be particularly feasible on peatlands and other lowland soils as continuously maintaining a tree cover with significant evapotranspiration capacity could decrease the need for artificial drainage. Clear cutting, site preparation, and regular cleaning of drainage ditches increase greenhouse gas emissions and affect water quality by releasing sediment, nutrients and carbon to water bodies. Whereas even-aged management on peatlands relies on these intensive and environmentally adverse practices, regeneration in CCF forests would occur naturally and evapotranspiration of the tree stand would play a key role in maintaining drainage conditions. Partial harvest is an essential component of CCF and our study focuses on understanding its impacts on hydrology. The study site comprises a fertile drained peatland forest in Southern Finland, where three parallel sites were established in March 2016: (i) clear-cut with site preparation and seedling planting, (ii) partial harvest removing 75% of tree biomass, and (iii) control left untouched as reference. Data on ecosystem fluxes (Eddy covariance) and ground water depth were available from each site after the harvest and for a pre-treatment period of 6 years. In our attempt to understand the mechanisms behind observed changes after clear-cut and partial harvest, we applied a one-dimensional multi-layer multi-species soil-vegetation-atmosphere transfer model in conjunction with data analysis. The hydrology of each parallel site was simulated to explore the role of the amount and diversity of vegetation. Results suggested that on the partial harvest site the undergrowth of birch and spruce had the potential to partly compensate for the transpiration of the harvested pine, which dominated the stand before the treatment and limited the light received by the undergrowth trees. Such changes in vegetation-driven water balance components revealed by mechanistic modeling form the basis for understanding vegetation controls on growing season ground water depth, which is a key factor for the successful implementation of CCF in peatland forests.

Elevated nitrate concentrations in groundwater are observed in regions of intensive agriculture worldwide, threatening the safety of drinking-water production. Aquifers may contain geogenic reduced constituents, such as natural organic matter (NOM), pyrite, or biotite, facilitating aerobic respiration and denitrification. Because these electron donors are not replenished, the breakthrough of nitrate (and eventually dissolved oxygen) in production wells is only delayed. Frameworks of modeling nitrate fate and transport that assume constant rate coefficients of nitrate elimination cannot address the reduction of the aquifer’s denitrification potential by the reaction itself. We have tested several approaches of modeling the fate of dissolved oxygen and nitrate in aquifers, including multi-dimensional bioreactive transport models with dynamic abundances of aerobic and denitrifying bacteria, approaches neglecting the dynamics of biomass and dispersive mixing, and simple models based on an electron balance. We found that the primary control on the timing of nitrate breakthrough is the ratio of the bioavailable electron-donor content in the aquifer material to the electron-acceptor load in the infiltrating water. Combined spatial variability of groundwater velocities and electron-donor content can explain most of the spread in nitrate breakthrough, whereas kinetics of the reaction plays a minor role under most conditions. Our modeling study highlights the need for field surveys on joined physical and chemical heterogeneity of aquifers under the stress of pollutants that can react with the aquifer material.

There is much discussion in the literature about the need to balance abilities to respond to short-term and long-term risks among water systems. Yet our understanding of what contributes to our ability to respond to acute as well as long-term change is challenged by insufficient empirical work on water systems to date. We begin to fill this gap through an examination of the capacities of community water systems to absorb short-term shocks as well as to learn from them and act to reduce future risks. We investigated these capacities and how they interact using interviews (n=24) and a survey (n=85) of Connecticut community water systems. We found most systems have increased their capacity to respond to short-term risks and most have some (but differing levels) of capacity for learning from those experiences. However, few are preparing adequately for future risks. We present opportunities for reducing this gap.

Advising policy makers of ongoing geologic energy research is a key facet of enabling long-term energy security. If policy makers and their staffs do not hear from practicing scientists, they will likely rely on public opinion instead of making scientifically-informed choices about our energy future. As much of what the public hears related to geologic energy research has negative connotations (e.g., environmental harm, induced seismicity), this can lead to public pressure on policy makers to discourage all geologic energy research. Providing information to stakeholders to make informed decisions will help ground policy decisions in facts. Traditional geologic energy fuels (e.g., coal, oil, and natural gas) are still a necessary part of our energy portfolio, even as other energy sources are being developed. The Energy Investigations Program (EIP) at the Geological Survey of Alabama conducts research on all geologic energy resources that would affect the state and region, including fossil fuel resource assessment. EIP provides unbiased information about potential development, including projected costs, environmental impact, and broader economic impact. This research helps people make informed decisions about how (or even if) they want to develop these resources. Researchers must be sure that policy makers are aware of the broader role of geologic energy research as we move beyond old-school petroleum geology. For example, current work in EIP focuses on how carbon dioxide produced from burning fossil fuels might be captured and then either used or stored permanently (carbon capture, utilization, and storage, CCUS). CCUS includes permanent geologic sequestration and enhanced hydrocarbon recovery. Knowledge and support of continued geologic CCUS work is vital to long-term energy security. To ensure energy security, fossil fuels cannot be the only geologic energy solution. For example, compressed air energy storage and low-temperature geothermal energy are vital to understand as part of the energy revolution beyond fossil fuels. If decision-makers are unaware of these research efforts, it will be more difficult to gain support for a more balanced energy portfolio. By informing the public, legislators, and industry about these varied geologic energy sources, we enable a stronger energy future and bridge the interface between geoscience research and public policy.

The Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR) of South Africa includes marine and terrestrial biomes with species diversity rivaling mega-diverse tropical rainforests in a compact area (300x700km). Extinction risk studies suggest that GCFR species are among the most vulnerable to climate change over the next 50 years. I present a scoping proposal commissioned by NASA to develop a field campaign to measure and monitor the distribution and abundance of biodiversity with new remotely-sensed data and the rich historical data in this region. I will summarize the central questions to be addressed by this field campaign and lay out the proposed study design to integrate satellite, airborne, and in situ data collection. Our plan centers around the collection of new hyperspectral imagery from AVIRIS-NG, PRISM, and HyTES spectrometers combined with the LVIS laser altimeter. These data will be collected at approximately 20 m spatial resolution across much of the GCFR and nearby aquatic and marine ecosystems. These data will then be combined with existing and new observations of the spatial distribution of community composition and functional traits to enable high resolution mapping and modeling of several essential biodiversity variables (EBVs) including species distributions, functional traits (including leaf properties), and three-dimensional canopy structure. Given the wealth of available independent in situ data available that can be brought to bear, the GCFR is an ideal system to fully evaluate the capabilities of remote-sensing technology to characterize biodiversity patterns across diverse landscapes in a relatively compact geographic area. In combination with the rich historical data and well-developed ecological understanding in this region, these new observations will enable detailed exploration into the drivers and mechanisms of change including the feedbacks from changing biodiversity to regional climate, disturbance, post-fire recovery, freshwater provisioning, and other ecosystem services.

Sea Level Rise is a global concern that has varying and potentially serious consequences on the local level. Although national policies and international frameworks can help to reduce the severity of sea level rise by limiting future emissions, in the current policy framework in the United States, local governments hold most of the responsibility for protecting their communities from flooding and the impacts of future sea level rise, with limited assistance from state and federal governments. Recognizing that local governments are largely driven by their community’s needs and desires, a survey of 500 persons affiliated with coastal communities across the east coast of the United States was conducted to identify public perceptions on the relative priority of sea level rise planning, components that should be included in local plans, protection priorities, funding mechanisms, methods to resolve conflict, and acceptable adaptation responses. The information from this survey was then provided to representatives from six local governments in a barrier island New Jersey to help identify its appropriateness and usefulness for local planning. In addition to discussing the key findings of the public survey, an overview of the responses from government officials will be presented, with an emphasis on comparing and contrasting the viewpoints of public officials and members of the public to help foster stronger collaborations among all members of a community (residents, businesses, utilities, governments and others) to help address local adaptation in light of this complex issue.

The Early Cretaceous was dominated by greenhouse conditions coupled with increased ocean crust production rate, which led to critical climate, geographic and oceanographic changes and abrupt shifts in redox conditions in the oceans. Regarding Earth’s magnetic field, the Aptian time interval recorded a high rate of polarity reversals. However, after 121.4 Ma, a long period of polarity stability, known as the Cretaceous Normal Polarity Superchron (CNPS), was established for ~38 Myr. Although, there is debate on the causes and consequences of this extreme event, the exact behavior of the geomagnetic field during the Aptian–Albian is still poorly understood, and data from volcanic and sedimentary rocks are usually conflicting. Here we integrate paleomagnetic and biostratigraphic data across the Aptian–Albian transition in the Sergipe-Alagoas Basin (Brazil). Studies suggesting the correlation between magnetostratigraphic and biostratigraphic data for this interval in the Brazilian sedimentary basins are rare, as well as for the South Atlantic marginal basins. Additionally correlations with the Tethyan realm are still unclear. Magnetic parameters, such as magnetic susceptibility, with a resolution of 25 cm, and anhysteretic remanent magnetization (ARM), with a resolution of 2.1 m, were collected over the ~200 m-long succession of Core SER-03 in the Sergipe-Alagoas Basin. ARM acquisition curves were separated into discrete coercivity components and they were interpreted as related to detrital magnetite and/or eolian dust inputs. The entire section spans 6 Myr, including the Aptian–Albian boundary. Our interpretation of environmental magnetism parameter, therefore, allow us to trace shifts between wet and dry climate conditions. Therefore, these data will aid to develop an age model framework in order to assist this uncovered region and future comparisons with Tethyan sections (e.g., Vocontian Basin - France and Poggio Le Guaine - Italy).

Since first diagnosed in the early 1990s, chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) has markedly increased in the North Central Province in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. CKDu has been identified as a global health issue in more than a dozen countries in Asia, South America, and the Middle East. It has been reported that out of these countries, Sri Lanka is the most affected, with the highest cases of CKDu patients and mortality rates. In Sri Lanka, the disease primarily affects male paddy (rice) farmers from low socioeconomic levels. A major river diversion scheme completed in the 70s feeds water from wet zones to ancient tanks that rely on rainwater only. The drinking water for the CKDu affected farming communities comes from the irrigation canals, shallow regolith water table aquifers recharged by canal seepage and precipitation, and deep-bored wells. Many contributing factors and hypotheses have been presented and discussed in the literature. Out of these multiple factors, the suspected environmental exposure pathways are through water (potable water and food) and air (unprotected pesticide spraying). Extensive data on water quality have been collected to develop, test, and support hypotheses on the role of water on the disease. However, no systematic investigations have been conducted to identify, study and analyze how pathways develop through the water storage and distribution systems from sources to the receptors where human exposure occurs. This study proposes a systems-based framework to conduct such analysis using numerical models of the intergraded surface and subsurface system. The models will simulate the fate and transport of naturally occurring toxins and agrichemicals and their geo-bio-chemicals transformation products. These models should incorporate characterization parameters of the surface water storage and distribution system and hydrogeologic data for shallow and deep aquifers, water quality data, epidemiological data, and climate drivers. Innovations methods to use the downscaled climate and regional hydrological model simulations to evaluate exposure pathways at local scales (e.g., villages) under different climate scenarios.

Nightside magnetospheric processes (dynamics) directly reflect to auroral morphology and type. By investing type of auroras and the auroral morphological changes, we can expect to understand what physical processes would take place in the magnetotail. Under northward Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) conditions, transpolar arcs (TPAs) and aurora spiral can be observed. A source of TPA is considered as field-aligned currents induced by the plasma flow shear (including the plasma flow vortices) between the fast plasma flows generated by magnetotail magnetic reconnection and slower background magnetospheric plasma flows. On the other hand, it is well-known that aurora spiral is also likely to be formed by the field-aligned current induced by the flow shear in the magnetotail, such as the Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities. Based on the contemporaneous observations of TPA and aurora spiral, we try to investigate (diagnose) how the plasma and its energy are transported in the nightside magnetosphere toward ionosphere under northward IMF conditions. On January 10th, 1997, transpolar arc (TPA) and aurora spiral contemporaneously occurred for about 5.5 hours between 17:58 UT and 22:23 UT even when Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) orientation changed from weakly southward to northward at ~21:00 UT. Because no in-situ magnetotail observations were unfortunately found in this day, we performed global MHD simulations based on the Open Geospace General Circulation Model (Open GGCM) distributed in the Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC), and discussed the physical relation between two different auroral appearances and nightside magnetospheric processes. In this simulation, after the IMF-Bz orientation turned from weakly southward to northward, clear flow shear between fast earthward plasma flows triggered by magnetotail reconnection and slower tailward background magnetospheric flows was seen around Xgsm ~ -40 Re in the dawn sector, being consistent with the TPA and aurora spiral brightening. These flow shears may be a “source” of field-aligned currents to form the TPA. Furthermore, they bifurcated toward dawn and dusk, and showed stronger vortices in the dusk region than those in the dawnward sector. These vortex(-like) structures, bifurcated duskward, and associated field-aligned currents would be linked to the formation of the aurora spiral. In this presentation, we will discuss further the relation between the variations of these flow shear (vortex) structures, TPA and aurora spiral formations under northward IMF conditions, followed by weak southward IMF intervals.

Two rock magnetic methods can be used to determine the emplacement temperature of pyroclastic deposits. The first is by looking at the unblocking temperature spectra of the thermoremanent magnetization (TRM) and the second is through the repeatability of thermomagnetic behavior. Chachimbiro volcanic complex is an andesitic-dacitic stratovolcano located at the northern zone of the Ecuadorian volcanic arc. The lateral blast eruption that occurred at 3640-3510 BC originated from a ∼650 m wide and ∼225 m high rhyodacite dome. This satellite lava dome, located ∼6 km to the east of the main vent, erupted, resulting in a large pyroclastic density current (PDC). PDCs are hot mixtures of lithic fragments, gas and pumice, varying in size from fine ash up to metric blocks that descend the flanks of a volcano at great speeds, being the primary cause of death during explosive eruptions. The resulting PDC from this violent laterally directed explosion covered an area of 62 km^2, with the thickest parts of the deposit displaying as much as 15 m. We collected ~63 oriented block samples from 6 locations; their distances varying between 1.8 km to 6.7 km away from the source. Here we present the emplacement temperatures of the Chachimbiro pyroclastic deposits and the potential factors controlling them. Our rock-magnetic results indicate low titanium Ti-magnetite as the main magnetization carrier; maghemite being present in trace amounts. We have recognized that, based on the unblocking analysis of the TRM, the overall temperatures vary from 250 °C to 450 °C depending on the clast size and type. In general, our results suggest a minimum temperature of ~250 °C, with a large portion of the juvenile clasts having temperatures up to about ~450 °C. Furthermore, the analysis and the comparison of the Curie temperature executed in ~30 samples, against the emplacement temperatures obtained through the typical paleomagnetic studies will be presented. This work highlights the usefulness of paleomagnetism and rock magnetism to evaluate the emplacement temperatures of PDCs, thereby allowing to better assess the associated risk.

Since the advent of particle-track methods, it has been understood that the energy loss rate of an ion changes continuously along the particle trajectory, and that energy loss rate in turn affects etching rate. As fission particles slow down and stop, their energy loss rate also drops, which in turn reduces their along-track etching velocity. Conversely, the conceptual model that underlies the way we interpret track length data is based on a more simplified paradigm of a constant along-track etching velocity, vT, with the track tip marking the transition to bulk crystal etching, vB, at its maximum etchable extent. We present a new model for the etching and revelation of confined fission tracks that incorporates and attempts to quantify variable along-track etching velocity, vT(x). The model attempts to fully represent the track-in-track (TINT) revelation process, consisting of etchant penetration along semi-tracks intersecting the polished grain surface, expansion of etchant channels to intersect latent confined tracks, etching of confined tracks, and finally selection by the analyst of tracks suitable for measurement. We successfully use the model to fit step-etching data for spontaneous and unannealed and annealed induced confined tracks in Durango apatite. All model fits support a continuous decrease in etching velocity toward track tips, and lead to a series of insights concerning the theory and practice of fission-track thermochronology. Etching rates for annealed induced tracks in Durango apatite are much faster than those for unannealed induced and spontaneous tracks, impacting the relative efficiency of both confined track length and density measurements, and suggesting that high-temperature laboratory annealing may induce a transformation in track cores that does not occur at geological conditions of partial annealing. However, we are still investigating to what degree that pattern holds for other apatite varieties. The model also quantifies how variation in track selection criteria by analysts, which we approximate as the ratio of along-track to bulk etching velocity at the etched track tip (vT/vB), is likely to play a first-order role in the reproducibility of confined length measurements, and may explain the bulk of the variability observed in inter-laboratory calibration exercises. The concept of a “fully etched track” is subjective. Finally, the model illustrates how a substantial proportion of tracks that are intersected are not measured, which in turn indicates that length biasing is likely to be an insufficient mathematical basis for predicting the relative probability of detection of different track populations.

Ice shelves control the stability of ice sheets and regulate ice sheet contribution to sea level rise by buttressing ice �ow. Most of Greenland’s ice shelves have already been lost, and many ice shelves around Antarctica are thinning and retreating. Ice shelves are increasingly vulnerable to thinning and destabilization due to surface and basal melting, and these processes may be exacerbated by the presence of basal channels, which are deep grooves that entrain meltwater at the base of ice shelves. Basal channels have been observed alongside spatial and temporal changes in grounding line geometry, strain rates and stress transfer, and the incidence and advection of other surface and basal features. The relationships between these processes, and their implications for ice shelf stability, remain largely unknown due to the lack of observations of su�ciently high spatial and temporal resolution. Our methodology employs high temporal and spatial resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) from REMA and ArcticDEM, laser altimetry from ICESat-2, radar sounding and laser altimetry from Operation IceBridge, and velocity data derived from interferometry, enabling us to constrain the morphology and evolution of channels and other ice shelf features at the fringes of both ice sheets. We intend to investigate how the relationships between channels, grounding line processes, and rifts and crevasses impact the persistence of ice shelf area necessary to maintain a “safety band”, or su�cient buttressing force, against grounded ice. Where time-evolving grounding line position data are sparse, we use the DEMs to track the boundary of hydrostatic equilibrium, which we use as a proxy for changes in grounding line position in order to investigate changes in ice shelf geometry. We have completed analysis of three ice shelves and plan to observe at least twelve more in order to develop an inventory of at- risk ice shelves. Based on our preliminary results, we hypothesize that rapidly evolving basal channels are associated with high rates of change in the grounding zone. This work is integral to assessing past and future ice shelf stability, and it will help the glacier dynamics community more accurately account for small-scale ice shelf processes in computational models which predict ice sheet contribution to sea level rise.

The window remove-restore technique, suggested by Abd-Elmotaal and Kühtreiber (2003) to get rid of the double consideration of the topographic-isostatic masses within the data window, is implemented for the African gravity field recovery in the framework of the activities of the IAG Sub-Commission on the gravity and geoid in Africa. Within the course of the window technique, one needs to compute the effect of the topographic-isostatic masses (terrain correction) for the full data window. Since the African data window is fairly large (-42º ≤ φ ≤ 44º; -22º ≤ λ ≤ 62º), the computation of the effect of the topographic-isostatic masses of the full data window consumes very long CPU time using the common TC-program (Forsberg, 1984). This investigation proposes an optimal terrain correction software for the window remove-restore technique. It uses three radii around the computational point. The first radius is used for the innermost zone utilizing the finest DTM for a relatively short radius (around 2 km). The second radius is used for the inner zone up to a short radius (10-15 km). Here a reasonably fine DTM is sufficient. The third radius is used for the rest of the full data window utilizing a coarse DTM. A thorough comparison between the developed software and the TC-program is performed to assess the quality of the developed technique and to compare the needed CPU time to perform the terrain correction for Africa.

Experts in the area of educational research have documented that students can simultaneously possess alternate knowledge frameworks. Furthermore, the development and use of such knowledge frameworks are context dependent. John Heron, of University of Surrey provides guidelines to transform attitudes towards learning in educational institutions and society at large. Inspired by John Heron’s Research, the author has generated DISCUSS to cultivate inspiration in the college experience. In this presentation, the author presents an analysis of the data he has collected and tries to draw conclusions as to how to improve classroom teaching techniques. Directional: By providing direct guidance and steering them in the appropriate direction. Informative: By giving instruction and documenting necessary knowledge and information. Supporting: By affirming the worth and value of student’s beliefs, actions and qualities. Catalytic: By motivating and encouraging them to learn and to move towards self-discovery. Uplifting: By enabling the student to ease tension and to react to powerful emotions. Steering: By means of creative feedback to challenging the student to rise to the occasion. Stimulating: By asking the student to develop interesting problem-solving methodologies. In this presentation, the author tries to present a model analysis. Here, he tries to apply qualitative research to establish and interpret a quantitative data representation. References Gardner, Howard. Intelligence Reframed: Multiple Intelligences for the 21st Century. New York: Basic, 2000. Barr, R. B., & Tagg, J. (1995, November/December). From teaching to learning: A new paradigm for undergraduate education. Change: The Magazine of Higher Education, 13-24. Saxe, S. (1990, June). Peer influence and learning. Training and Development Journal, 42 (6), 50-53. Senge, P. M. (1990). The fifth discipline: The art and practice of the learning organization. New York: Currency Doubleday. Sims, R. R. (1992, Fall). Developing the learning climate in public sector training programs. Public Personnel Management, 21 (3), 335-346.

This repository creates a GUI (graphical user interface) for the BALTO (Brokered Alignment of Long-Tail Observations) project. BALTO is funded by the NSF EarthCube program. The GUI aims to provide a simplified and customizable method for users to access data sets of interest on servers that support the OpenDAP data access protocol. This interactive GUI runs within a Jupyter notebook and uses the Python packages: ipywidgets (for widget controls), ipyleaflet (for interactive maps) and pydap (an OpenDAP client). The Python source code to create the GUI and to process events is in a module called balto_gui.py that must be found in the same directory as this Jupyter notebook. Python source code for visualization of downloaded data is given in a module called balto_plot.py. This GUI consists of mulitiple panels, and supports both a tab-style and an accordion-style, which allows you to switch between GUI panels without scrolling in the notebook. You can run the notebook in a browser window without installing anything on your computer, using something called Binder. Look for the Binder icon below and a link labeled “Launch Binder”. This sets up a server in the cloud that has all the required dependencies and lets you run the notebook on that server. (Sometimes this takes a while, however.) To run this Jupyter notebook without Binder, it is recommended to install Python 3.7 from an Anaconda distribution and to then create a conda environment called balto. Simple instructions for how to create a conda environment and install the software are given in Appendix 1 of version 2 (v2) of the notebook.