CONTENTS
I. Introduction
II. Meeting Highlights
III. Support for Journalists
IV. Media Registration Policy and Procedures
I. INTRODUCTION
The 35th annual meeting of the Northeastern Section of the Geological Society of America (GSA) will be held March 13-15, 2000, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, New Brunswick, NJ. Geologists at Rutgers University, in cooperation with the New Jersey Geological Survey, Stockton State College, and Rider University, will host the meeting. Over 900 geoscientists are expected to attend the 33 scheduled sessions, with over 360 papers presented. The meeting offers geoscience news of interest at regional, and, in some cases, national levels. Topics include climate change, coastal hazards, extinction events, radium and radon contamination of drinking water, and sea-level changes. (See meeting highlights below.) Complimentary registration is available for media representatives who wish to attend.
II. MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
CLIMATE CHANGE
The following papers argue a link between climate change in the northeastern U.S. and changes in global deepwater circulation, particularly the component originating in the north Atlantic. Tuesday, March 14, 8:30-12:30
MILLENNIAL-SCALE HOLOCENE LAKE-LEVEL FLUCTUATIONS IN THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES: EVIDENCE FOR
OCEAN-ATMOSPHERE FORCING AND FEEDBACK
Martin F. Hilfinger III, Dept. of Earth Sciences, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, mfhilfin@mailbox.syr.edu, 315-443-3828; et
al. Wednesday, March 15, 8:10-12:00
LAURENTIDE ICE MARGIN-RECESSION IN MAINE: A CRITICAL RECORD IN UNDERSTANDING THE MOST RECENT
DEGLACIATION
James D. Wright, Dept. of Geological Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, jdwright@rci.rutgers.edu.
COASTAL HAZARDS
The following papers will be among those delivered in, "Coastal Hazards and Management Problems in the Mid-Atlantic Bight,"
Tuesday, March 14, 1:30-5:30 p.m.
HURRICANE THREAT FOR THE NORTHEAST UNITED STATES -- HOW REAL IS IT?
Michael E. Wyllie, Meterologist-in-Charge, National Weather Service Forecast Office, Upton, NY, michael.wyllie@noaa.gov.
Hurricane experts have observed an increase in both the number and intensity of hurricanes. This paper addresses the following
questions: "Is this increase due to a climatic cycle or is it due to global warming and other environmental factors?" "What
effect will warmer climates have on hurricanes and will the storms that do move north be stronger?"
COASTAL HAZARDS AND SEA LEVEL RISE IN THE NEW YORK CITY METROPOLITAN REGION
Vivien Gornitz, Center for Climate Systems Research, Columbia University, New York, NY, vgornitz@giss.nasa.gov.; et al.
Lead author Gornitz discusses anticipated rises in sea level and examines consequences for several shoreline communities
along the south shore of Long Island and New Jersey.
STORM DYNAMICS AND COASTAL RESPONSE IN THE APEX OF THE NEW YORK BIGHT -- ANSWERS FOR SOME
ANOMALIES
Nicholas K. Coch, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Queens College, CUNY, Flushing, NY, 718-997-3326,
ncoch@acunix1.qc.edu.
This paper looks at why storms along western Long Island cause a level of damage generally associated with much more severe
storms. Given projections of greater frequency and intensity of nor'easters and hurricanes, the need to understand this
phenomenon and plan for future damage mitigation takes on increased urgency.
INLET CLOSURE AND COASTAL RESTORATION (1993-1999) AT WESTHAMPTON DUNES, FIRE ISLAND, NY: IS THE
INTERIM PROJECT A SOLUTION TO THE BASIC PROBLEM?
Manfred P. Wolff, Geology Dept., Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, geompw@hofstra.edu
This paper addresses the conflict between natural geologic processes and beach nourishment programs. Nor'easters in 1992
and 1993 opened a 600-meter-wide inlet at Westhampton Beach, washing away or destroying over 75 homes. Through the NY
State Breach Contingency Plan, the inlet was closed, sand was dredged in, and homes were rebuilt. Twice in 1999, sections of
the beach eroded near the location of the former inlet but the presence of enough sand allowed the scarp to fill back in.
Current policy (the "Interim Plan") guarantees $1.5 million per year for maintenance and renourishment for 30 years.
EXTINCTION EVENTS
The following paper is among those presented in "East Coast Rift Basins and Late Triassic-Early Jurassic Paleoclimatology," Tuesday, March 14, 1:30-5:10 p.m.
CYCLOSTRATIGRAPHIC CONTROLS ON THE DURATION AND CORRELATION OF THE TRIASSIC-JURASSIC MASS
EXTINCTION AND ASSOCIATED BASALTS
Paul E. Olsen, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Palisades, NY, polsen@ldeo.columbia.edu
The Triassic-Jurassic boundary, at about 200 million years ago, marks one of largest extinction events in the last half billion
years, at least as severe as that at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary. In eastern North America and Morocco, the
Triassic-Jurassic boundary is recognized by dramatic floral changes and a massive decline in reptile diversity. Olsen will present
a review of previous work in eastern North America as well as new results from Morocco that shows that the extinctions were
abrupt and related very closely in time to what may be the largest igneous event in Earth history. The new Moroccan data
indicate that immensely thick lava flows poured over northeastern North America and northwestern Africa in three remarkably
brief pulses that began shortly after the Triassic-Jurassic extinctions. Olsen will also suggest these paroxysmal pulses were
probably part of an even larger event that might have caused the extinctions and ushered in the dominance of the dinosaurs.
NEGSA Keynote Address, Tuesday, March 14, Approx. 8:00 p.m. (Follows Banquet Which Begins at 7:00 p.m.):
CRETACIOUS-TERTIARY BOUNDARY EVENTS ON THE NEW JERSEY CONTINENTAL MARGIN
Richard K. Olsson, Dept. of Geological Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, olsson@email.rci.rutgers.edu
Olsson reviews and updates his 1996-1997 research on the 6-centimeter ejecta layer at the Cretaceous-Tertiary (K/T) boundary
in Bass River, New Jersey. New data will be shared on: geochemistry associated with the asteroid impact which occurred in
Chicxulub, Mexico, nearly 2500 km away; a sea level history of New Jersey across the K/T boundary; effects of the 600-foot
tsunami generated by the impact in the Gulf of Mexico; the pre-impact warming trend in near-sea-surface temperatures related
to the main outpouring of the Deccan Traps in India; and the post-impact ocean, characterized by reduced diversity of life, that
took 3 million years to recover.
RADIUM AND RADON CONTAMINATION OF DRINKING WATER
The following papers are among those to be delivered in, "Radium, Radon, and Short-Lived Isotopes," an all-day session (8:30-12:00, 1:30-4:30) Monday, March 13.
GEOLOGIC AND CLIMATIC CONTROLS ON THE VARIABILITY AND DISTRIBUTION OF RADON IN SOIL, WATER, AIR AND
INDOORS IN THE UNITED STATES
Gundersen, Linda C.S., US Geological Survey, Reston, VA; lgundersen@usgs.gov, 703-648-6601; et al.
Lead author Gundersen provides a national overview of radon in the environment, including new data from the National
Academy of Sciences' risk assessment of radon in drinking water, released in 1999. The author explains the importance of
geologic and climatic influences on the average ambient (outdoor) radon concentration and the contribution of water-borne
radon to indoor air. The risks from ambient radon and radon from water are relatively small compared to potential lung cancer
deaths from breathing radon in indoor air.
RADIONUCLIDES IN DRINKING WATER: AN OVERVIEW OF RISK AND LEVEL OF PROTECTION
Gardner, Patricia L., NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection, Trenton, NJ, pgardner@dep.state.nj.us, 609-984-5400; et al.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is reevaluating current drinking water regulations in light of new information on the
health effects of radiation and improvements in risk modeling methods. Lead author Gardner reviews current thinking on
maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) and the consequences for New Jersey.
RADIUM IN THE MAGOTHY FORMATION AND POTOMAC GROUP AQUIFERS OF THE MARYLAND COASTAL PLAIN
Bolton, David W., Maryland Geological Survey, Baltimore, MD, dbolton@mgs.md.gov, 410-554-5561
Groundwater in parts of the Magothy Formation and Potomac Group aquifers in the Maryland coastal plain has been found to
contain high concentrations of radium. Radium-226 plus radium-228 concentrations from 60 of 123 wells in Anne Arundel
County exceeded the EPA's Drinking Water Standard of 5 picocuries per liter. In the county, radium concentrations were higher
where aquifers are shallower and closer to the surface than where aquifers are deeper. Elsewhere in the upper Chesapeake Bay
area of Maryland, levels of gross alpha particle activity (an indicator of radium) exceeded 15 picocuries per liter in wells from
five of the six other counties tested.
VARIATIONS OF RADON IN WELL WATER RADON IN VIRGINIA AND MARYLAND
Mose, D.G., Dept.of Chemistry, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, dmose@gmu.edu, 703-993-1068.
Approximately 10% of the population in northern Virginia and south-central Maryland consumes well water, where radon in
drinking water from some wells exceeds EPA proposed maximum contamination levels. Lead author Mose will discuss results of
a study of municipal water supplies obtained from wells, in which several methods for removing radon were tested. Two methods
removed approximately 90%.
INFLUENCE OF LOCAL GEOLOGY ON INDOOR RADON IN VIRGINIA AND MARYLAND
Mushrush, G. W., Dept. of Chemistry, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, gmush@gmu.edu; et al.
Indoor radon measurements, obtained using activated charcoal and alpha-track measurements, were compiled according to zip
code areas and used to create state-size radon hazard maps. Areas with highest indoor radon are the western half of the
Piedmont Province and the eastern half of the Valley and Ridge Province. The coastal plain was found to have the lowest
levels. Intermediate levels were found in other areas in the Piedmont and Valley and Ridge Provinces, the Blue Ridge
Province, and the Plateau Province.
SEA-LEVEL CHANGES
The following paper is among those presented in an all-day (8:50-12:00, 1:30-5:10) symposium entitled "Sedimentary Processes, Sea Level, Sequences, and the U.S. Atlantic Continental Margin," Monday, March 13:
A NEW METHOD FOR EXTRACTING WATER DEPTH, RELATIVE SEA-LEVEL, AND EUSTATIC RECORDS FROM ONSHORE
NEW JERSEY OLIGOCENE SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY
Stephen F. Pekar, Dept. of Geological Science, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 732-445-6989, spekar@rci.rutgers.edu; et al.
A composite relative sea-level history of New Jersey has been constructed. An innovative means for extracting global sea-level
change estimates was used, which involved drilling in the New Jersey coastal plain.
III. SUPPORT FOR JOURNALISTS
GSA Director of Communications and Marketing, Ann Cairns, will be onsite to assist journalists. During the meeting, she can be reached by calling her cell phone at 303-725-6334. Onsite interviews can be conducted in the 2nd floor board room of the Hyatt Regency. Advance interviews with scientists can be arranged and conducted on an embargoed basis, with release dates coinciding with presentation dates.
IV. MEDIA REGISTRATION POLICY AND PROCEDURES
Media will register at the main meeting registration desk at the Hyatt Regency, where they will receive badges and program/abstract books. Registration hours are: Sunday, March 12, 4-8 p.m.; Monday and Tuesday, March 13-14, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; and Wednesday, March 15, 7-10 a.m.
Registration entitles journalists and public information officers (PIOs) from geoscience and other related organizations to access to all scientific sessions and the exhibition area. Eligibility for complimentary media registration is as follows, all of whom have equal access:
- Working press representing bona fide news media with a press card, letter, or business card from the publication.
- Freelance science writers, presenting a current membership card from NASW, ISWA, regional affiliates of NASW, or evidence of work pertaining to science published in 1998 or 1999.
- PIOs of scientific societies, educational institutions and government agencies.