http://www.geosociety.org/sections/rm/2012mtg/

TECHNICAL PROGRAM

Abstract deadline: 14 Feb. 2012

Please submit your abstract online. An abstract submission fee of US$10 for students and US$15 for all others will be charged. If you cannot submit an abstract online, please contact Linda Battan, +1-303-357-1018, lbattan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx. Theme Sessions are listed below; we also welcome abstract submission to discipline sessions.

THEME SESSIONS

1. Geoscience Education: Current Practice and Research.
Steve Semken, Arizona State University; Matt Nyman, University of New Mexico.: This session highlights current and innovative curriculum development, teaching, assessment, K–12 science teacher preparation or professional development programs, and education research in the earth sciences. Presentations on geoscience education in formal settings (classroom, lab, field-trip, hybrid, online) and informal settings (parks, museums, media) are all welcome. We particularly encourage abstracts on teaching and learning done in and about the Rocky Mountain region and its environs.
2. Undergraduate Research in the Rocky Mountains (Posters).
David Mogk, Montana State University; Darrell Henry, Louisiana State University; Paul Mueller, University of Florida; David Foster, University of Florida.: This session will showcase the breadth of research being done by undergraduate students in the Rocky Mountain region. Contributions are encouraged from (a) students to present the results of their original research (e.g., thesis or independent study projects); (b) research programs for pre- and in-service teachers; and (c) faculty to demonstrate undergraduate research program design and implementation (e.g., Research Experiences for Undergraduate programs, USGS EDMAP program, institutionally sponsored research programs, and other sponsored research activities).
3. Geologic Mapping in the Digital Era: Integrating Research, Modern Mapping Techniques and Map Products (Posters).
Mike Timmons, New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources.: This session will highlight recent geologic research with a strong geologic mapping component using modern techniques in data capture, storage, and presentation. Modern geologic maps provide researchers, students, and the public with a powerful tool for understanding the geologic landscape and history. For decades, geologic mapping has been recognized as a vital tool to researchers for understanding events and processes in the geologic past. More recently, modern digital geologic maps are more recognized by the public sector—helping to inform the community and aide in planning for critical resource issues. We invite you to present your latest geologic mapping research, methods for training the next generation of geologic mappers, techniques in field mapping, and/or advances in modern map design.
4. Water Quality and Biogeochemistry Before and After the Los Conchas Fire, Jemez Mountains, New Mexico.
Cliff Dahm, University of New Mexico; Jon Chorover, University of Arizona.: The Los Conchas fire that burned throughout much of the summer of 2011 was the largest fire in the recorded history of the state of New Mexico. The fire burned catchments where extensive research has been ongoing for many years and provides opportunities to address fire effects on water quality and biogeochemistry on catchments with excellent background data. This session will look at the water quality and biogeochemistry of the area affected by the fire both before and after the large burn. The State of New Mexico Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), the Critical Zone Observatory (CZO) based at the University of Arizona, and the Valles Caldera National Preserve (VCNP) all have extensive research activities in the burned catchments. This session will focus on the water quality and biogeochemistry of these catchments and the effects of the fire on the streams and rivers within these catchments.
5. Arsenic, Uranium, and Radionuclides: Geology and Health Impacts in the Southwest and Rocky Mountains.
Malcolm Siegel, Sandia Laboratories.: Concentrations of carcinogenic arsenic and radium and nephrotoxic uranium are naturally high in rocks and waters in many parts of the Navajo Nation and in the Southwest and Rocky Mountain States. Development of mineral resources and urbanization has led to significant pollution in several areas. Populations may be exposed to these substances via inhalation, ingestion, and dermal routes. Evaluation of health effects due to past and potential future exposures has political, social, and economic implications and requires collaboration among earth scientists, civil engineers, and health professionals. This session will bring together researchers from academic, government, and private agencies to examine various dimensions of such topics as past and proposed uranium mining and the impact of new drinking water regulations for arsenic and radionuclides on communities in this area.
6. Hydrogeology of the Sierra Blanca, Sacramento Mountains, and Tularosa Basin, New Mexico.
Geoffry Rawling, New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources; Mike Darr, USGS New Mexico Water Science Center.: This session invites talks covering all aspects of hydrology and geology as it pertains to the groundwater and stream systems in the mountains and sedimentary basins of south-central New Mexico. It will be a good forum to present new research by the NMBGMR and USGS, as well as other research groups, agencies, and private consultants.
7. Surface to Groundwater Interactions in New Mexico and Southern Colorado.
Mark Person and Emily Woolsey, New Mexico Institute of Technology.: This session focuses on recent field and modeling studies conducted to assess groundwater–surface water interactions and mountain front recharge within the Rio Grande, southern Colorado, and the Rocky Mountain region. We especially encourage submissions of studies focusing on how changes in climate, forest fires, and land-use practices have influenced surface-water and groundwater resources and water quality. Submissions of papers on mountain-front recharge are also encouraged.
8. Multidisciplinary Studies of the Rio Grande Rift: Basins, Volcanism, Geophysics, and Hydrogeology.
S.D. Connell and D.J. Koning, New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources; V.J.S. Grauch, U.S. Geological Survey.: Ongoing multidisciplinary studies of the Rio Grande rift, from Colorado to Mexico, continue to elucidate landscape development, structure, tectonic evolution, stratigraphic architecture, depositional history, and volcanism of this tectonically active region. Knowledge gained from interdisciplinary approaches is essential to address societal challenges facing burgeoning communities within basins of the Rio Grande and surrounding extensional basins of the Basin and Range, including the distribution of aquifer units and groundwater-flow paths, potential area for aggregate commodities and oil and gas extraction, environmental challenges of resource development, and seismic hazards. Results of these studies can be extended to other alluvial basins throughout the American Southwest. This session gathers multidisciplinary contributions that investigate all aspects of structure, tectonism, sedimentation, volcanism, geochronology, geomorphology, and hydrogeology in the Basin and Range and Rio Grande rift.
9. Cenozoic Landscape Evolution in the Rocky Mountains and Colorado Plateau: Deciphering the Interplay between Mantle Buoyancy and Surface Processes.
Eric Kirby, Pennsylvania State University; Andres Aslan, Colorado Mesa University.: Although the role of mantle buoyancy has long been recognized as an integral component supporting high topography in the western United States, recent acquisition of high-resolution images of present-day mantle structure and improved models of mantle flow suggest an intimate association between small-scale convective flow and surface topography. This session will bring together new geologic, geomorphic, and thermochronologic constraints on the history of landscape evolution with geophysical observations and models to explore the coupling between mantle dynamics and the topographic evolution of the Rocky Mountains and Colorado Plateau. We welcome submissions dealing with field, laboratory, experimental, and modeling approaches to understanding the evolution of topography in this region.
10. Deep Lithospheric Structure of the Rocky Mountain Region.
Rick Aster, New Mexico Institute of Technology; Jolante van Wijk, University of Houston.: This session invites talks that address the structure and evolution of the continental lithosphere of the Rocky Mountain region, the nature of interactions between the lithosphere and asthenosphere, and geophysical and geodynamic studies of western U.S lithospheric and upper mantle evolution.
11. Advances in Our Understanding of Paleogene Climate and Vegetative Change in the North American Mid-Continent and Rocky Mountain Region.
Grant Boardman, University of Nebraska; William Lukens, Temple University.: This session will focus on the various proxies used to elucidate climatic and vegetative change during the Paleogene in the Rocky Mountains and adjacent physiographic regions. We invite contributions that utilize proxies ranging from stable isotopes to phytoliths, from floral remains to paleosols, and any other related tools that contribute to our understanding of climate and vegetative biomes in this region during the Paleogene.
12. Basin-Scale Sedimentology and Stratigraphy of Continental Strata in the Rocky Mountain Region.
Gary Weissmann, University of New Mexico; Kate Zeigler, New Mexico Highlands University; Kevin Hobbs, University of New Mexico.: This session will focus on fluvial and eolian strata in the Rocky Mountains and adjacent physiographic regions, with emphasis on basin-scale processes. Stratigraphic units such as the Ogallala Formation, the Nacimiento Formation, the Morrison Formation, and the Chinle Group contain information that can be used to untangle the complex web of processes operating in these large basins. We invite contributions that describe the large-scale sedimentologic and stratigraphic evolution of the many continental successions found in the Rocky Mountain region.
13. Detrital Zircons Studies in the Western Interior U.S. and Their Implications for Ancient Landscape Evolution.
Carol Dehler, Utah State University; Mark Pecha, University of Arizona; Timothy Lawton, New Mexico State University.: Talks and posters are encouraged that use detrital zircon geochronology to address diverse aspects of the sedimentary and tectonic evolution of the western U.S. as well implications of these studies for understanding continental-scale basins and river systems, ancient landscape evolution, and supercontinent configurations.
14. From the Archean to the Eocene and from the Surface to the Mantle: New Perspectives on Laramide Orogenesis in the Rocky Mountain Region.
Jeff Bader, AECOM Technology Corporation.: This session focuses on recent research on Laramide tectonism. New findings from several researchers could be presented during this session. These works would include, among others: Lower crustal and upper mantle studies (EarthScope and CREST), studies of transcurrent relations to Laramide uplifts/arches, relation and control of basement anisotropies on Laramide tectonism, role of allochthonous terranes in the Precambrian development of the Wyoming and Colorado Provinces and their controls on Laramide tectonism, paleomagnetic studies, plate tectonic relations to Laramide orogenesis, geophysical studies related to basement rocks involved in Laramide orogenesis, seismic investigations and basin development related to petroleum generation and entrapment, Ancestral Rockies influence on Laramide orogenesis.
15. Exploring Stratigraphic, Geochemical, and Paleobiologic Records in Phanerozoic Marine Systems of the Rocky Mountain Region.
Maya Elrick, University of New Mexico.: This session focuses on a range of stratigraphic, geochemical, and paleobiologic tools utilized to detect paleoceanographic, paleoclimatic, and paleoenvironmental changes occurring in Phanerozoic marine systems throughout the Rocky Mountain and western U.S. regions. Topics might include sequence stratigraphy, cyclostratigraphy, stable and radiogenic isotope records, detrital zircon provenance studies, and paleontologic trends across a range of geologic time scales, from thousands to tens of millions of years.
16. Paleoproterozoic Orogeny and Mesoproterozoic Enigmas: Constraints on the Formation, Assembly, and Evolution of the Precambrian Rocks in the Rockies.
Chris Andronicos, Cornell University; Chris Daniel, Bucknell University.: The Proterozoic orogenic belt of the western United States stretches from the Wyoming craton in the north to the Grenville suture zone in west Texas and northern Mexico. Conventional views on the orogenic belt hold that assembly of juvenile crust to the southern margin of Wyoming craton occurred in the Paleoproterozoic during two major orogenic phases, the Yavapai and Mazatzal orogenies. However, over the past 20 years, diverse geochronological data sets provide evidence for regional metamorphism and variable but intense deformation during the Mesoproterozoic, broadly synchronous with “1.4 Ga plutonism,” which affected much of the orogenic belt. This session will bring together experts on the Precambrian Geology of the Rocky Mountain region to present results of new research on in situ geochronology, detrital zircon data, and direct dating of metamorphic minerals to review existing models and discuss new models for crustal evolution in the southwest, and to propose new directions for research.
17. Meteorites and Impact Craters.
Rhian Jones and Adrian Brearley, University of New Mexico: The Rocky Mountain Region and the Southwestern US are fertile hunting grounds for meteorites, and home to several notable meteorite collections. Meteorites form the basis for understanding the origin and geological evolution of the planets and small bodies of the Solar System. Meteorite impacts are a significant geological process on the Earth and are represented in this region by several recognized impact craters, including the well-known Barringer Crater ("Meteor Crater") and the recently identified Santa Fe impact structure. Evidence for the K/T impact is preserved at sites such as the Raton Basin. We invite contributions to this session that cover all topics related to meteorites and impact structures, with the goal of communicating current ideas in these fields to the broader geoscience community.
18. Cenozoic Drainage Evolution and River Incision History of the Colorado Plateau-Rocky Mountain Region.
Richard Young, SUNY Geneseo; Karl Karlstrom, University of New Mexico: We encourage abstracts submissions regarding the Cenozoic landscape evolution of the Colorado Plateau-Rocky Mountain region, including studies based on: river incision history, thermochronology, detrital zircons, geomorphology, and sedimentary studies. We are interested in comparing river incision histories across the continental divide, from the Colorado River to the Rio Grande drainages.

Volcano Listserv is a collaborative venture among Arizona State University (ASU), Portland State University (PSU), the Global Volcanism Program (GVP) of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History, and the International Association for Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior (IAVCEI).

To contribute to the volcano list, send your message to: volcano@xxxxxxx. Please do not send attachments.

VOLCANO: Rocky Mountain Meeting

TECHNICAL PROGRAM

THEME SESSIONS