NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) 19980237733: Board on Earth Sciences and Resources and its Activities

100 Pages·3 MB·English

by  NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grant Title:
BOARD ON EARTH SCIENCES AND RESOURCES
AND ITS ACTIVITIES
PERFORMANCE REPORT
January 15, 1996- January 14, 1997
Principal Investigator: Dr. Craig M. Schiffries
Board on Earth Sciences and Resources
Commission on Geosciences, Environment, and Resources
National Research Council
Washington, D.C. 20418
Grant Number: NAG 5-2866

CONTENTS
CONTINUING ACTIVITIES
Board on Earth Sciences and Resources
Committee on Earth Resources
Committee on Seismology
U.S. Geodynamics Committee
Committee on Geophysical and Environmental Data and
World Data Center-A Coordination Office
Mapping Science Committee
U.S. National Committee for Rock Mechanics
U.S. National Committee for the International Union of
Quaternary Research (USNC/INQUA)
U.S. National Committee for the International Union of
Geological Sciences CUSNC/Geology)
U.S. National Committee for the International Union of
Geodesy and Geophysics CUSNC/IUGG)
U.S. National Committee for the International Geographical
Union CUSNC/IGU)
AD HOC ACTIVITIES
Earthmap Forum
Panel to Review the Mineral Resource Surveys Program of the
U.S. Geological Survey
Panel on Review of the Oil Recovery Demonstration Program of
the Department of Energy
Panel on Geodynamics of Sedimentary Basins
Committee on Earth Gravity from Space
Panel on Basic Research Requirements in Support of Comprehensive
Test Ban Monitoring
Panel on Seismic Hazard Evaluation
Rediscovering Geography Committee
"Seeing" into the Earth: Non-Invasive Characterization of the Shallow
Subsurface for Environmental and Engineering Applications
The Science of Earthquakes
BIBLIOGRAPHY

CONTINUING ACTIVITIES

COMMISSION ON GEOSCIENCES, ENVIRONMENT, AND RESOURCES
BOARD ON EARTH SCIENCES AND RESOURCES
BOARD ON EARTH SCIENCES AND RESOURCES
TASK: The Board will provide oversight of the earth science and resource activities within
the National Research Council, provide a review of research and public activities in the solid-
earth sciences, and .provide analyses and recommendations relevant to the supply, delivery,
and associated impacts of and issues related to hydrocarbon, metallic, and non-metallic mineral
resources. The Board will monitor the status of the earth sciences, assess the health of the
disciplines, and identify research opportunities, and will respond to specific agency requests.
ACTIVITIES:
The Board on Earth Sciences and Resources is the focal point for National Research Council
activities related to solid-earth science issues in research, education, the environment, geologic
hazards, information management, and resource utilization. The Board conducts its activities
through more than a dozen separately appointed committees and panels of volunteer earth
scientists drawn from academia, industry, and government.
The Board and its committees released 21 peer-reviewed reports in 24 months during 1994-95,
and it expects to release 9 reports in 1996. These reports provide recommendations on
national and international policy, address the state of science and technology, and review
federal programs and agencies. They are summarized in the Biennial Report of the Board on
Earth Sciences and Resources. Additional information on the Board's activities is provided on
its Web page (http://www2.nas.edu/besr).
The Board's recent reports have been featured in Congressional hearings and briefings, formed
the basis of an Executive Order signed by President Clinton and a recommendation in Vice
President Gore's National Performance Review, and influenced national and international
policy regarding restrictions on access to scientific data. The Board's reports have also been
featured in the scientific literature, including Science and Nature, and the popular press,
including newspapers, television, and national magazines.
The earth sciences are at a critical juncture in their evolution. The Board on Earth Sciences
and Resources stands ready to assist public and private agencies and foundations as they
prepare for the 21 st century.
SOURCES OF FUNDING: The Board receives core funding from a variety of federal
agencies and ad hoc funding for specific studies.
NRC STAFF: Craig M. Schiffries Updated November 7, 1996

OUTLOOK Nationtl and b_term_tiomd policy State of science sad te¢_oiolff Ca_uo M. Somqnu_
Several recent reports by the Board have had The BoardonDu_ Sciencesand_ BoardonElrmSciencesandResourcesNa_
amgmficant tmpac_ on nat/omd and interna- has a long history of publ_hing repom d_ flmtrct_ Council,2101Cons_u_onAve..NW
tional policy. The Conu_rtee on Geophysical add,"ess the s_te of science and technology. W_hlngt0n, D.C.20418
and Em_onmental Data released an in_uen- Recent publlcimons include Effects of Past Scfliffr_sIsdirectorofU1eBoarsOn
National Research I_dreport.On theFull and Open E:tchange of Global Change oo Life and Airborne Geo- ScOncesan0ResourcesofmeNat,0nalR_
Scientific Data. Tt_ report, _ich _s com- physics and Prt,_se Positioning• Forth- Council.Manyoft_ re_ortsment,one_m_m
Council pleted m lessthanone month,was acnUcad coming sludiesincludeHigh.Pe#.ormance arbcteareavadab',el_om_e Nabonat._.aOemy
factor m theU.S.decmion to oppose a pro- Computing in .._ismologV, Geody_amtcs of Pressat(800)624-6242 ortramt_eBoar0on
posal to resmc_ access tosc,en_c damthat Sedimentorll Basins. and Mineral Rmoun'es Eartl_SciencesandResources
The XmonaJ Research Council (NRC) is _e was under consideration by the World and Susto inoble Dew/opment: _ges for
principal operating agency of the Nauonal Meteomlolpcal Or_uzatJOrL in the face of Earth Scien_ist_. The Conumttee on Re-
AoKiemyof Sciences andthe No,anal Academy s_ong U.S.opposition,the proposM was not i_,,'entmg Geography _ releue the R.--st
of_nng. Itsen'esasan independent brought toavote at the World MeteomJo_cal comprehenmve m_*s=mem ofthe discipline |OAID ON IAIITH SClIN¢I!
advL_ronsoenUfic andtech,'ucal ques_onsof Organization CongressmGeneva. of geography tn30yelu_ TheBoardisunder- AND I_[IOUI ¢lS
mmonaJ unponance. The NRC brings the re- The Mapping Science Committee has _g as_dy incoUaboranon with the Board
sources of the enute scnentafic and technical issued aseries of reports that have m.quenced onNalm'al Disasters onTheScienceofEarth-
commmu_' to bear on national problems the developmem of the National Spa_ Data quake. Itisalsou_denal_g astudyincol-
• --',Sh itsvolunteerad_'isoryboardsandcorn- Lf,frastructuxe. Its 1993 report. Toward o laboration with the Water Sciences and
:.The nauon's science and technology Coordinated Spatial Data lnfra_tnucture for Technolo_' Boardon"Seeing" into th_Earth:
• , =sfacing unprecedented challenges m L_eNotion,resultedm aRconunend,_on m No_.lnmau_ Chamcm-iza:wn of ll_ _4_OW
U_se turbulent tunes.The NRC has amandate V'K'ePresident Gore'sA'olio_ml Performance Subsurfoce for Envlronmenmi and _rt_nee_-
torespond torequests from federaJagenoes as Re_imc and formed muchof the basis of an ing Applicatio_.
they redefine t.heu"nusmon,restructure their execuuve order signed byPresident Clinton.
progrcms,andbecome moreresponmve tocus- The concept of a National SpatialDm.a Reviews of fedend prol_ums
tomerneedsandsocietagloal._. Infrastructure has beenfurther elabormedm _Jad agencies
TheBoardonKm'd_SciencesandResouxves subsequent reports by the Mapping Science The cha_ contex_ for science and tech- N=,,_H.r_, _ _,
_sthefocaJpointfortheCocmcU'sadviceon Comnurtee m 1994and 1995. nology policy m the PO_-Cold W& em has
sobd-ear,.h soencesmsuesrelatedto resean-h. Sinceitsreception m1960.theConumnee profound implicationsforfederal_encies CkndmG.G_, _ d _m mBI_
educa_on,the em_ronment, geolo_c hazard_ on,Seismologyhasph_yedanu'npormntrolein that support the earthsciences.Ifrecem hL_
andresource u_orc The Board idem_es scientifiiscsues re|a_ed to monitoring under- tory ts I reliable I_de. then the next few
oppom.u'uaesforach'ancmgbasicresearchand ground nuclear testing and compliance with years are UkeJy toseeprograms cu_,agencies'
undem.andmg,analyzesthe credJbdip..o,f earth nuclear nonpro_erauon agreements. Its lal- abolLshedorconsolJd_ed,andperhapswhole Pt_TIpEElMomlux.RE b_
soence ud'orn_on Ibr pohcy decLsions,and estcontributionisSeismological Reatmrch federal departments eb.mmmed.
reportsontheappbcanonsofea_ sciences to Require_ents for a Coulp_he_it'e Test Ban The Boa_ onEar,,ShciencesandResources
_ponant sooeu,JL_SUeS.Through itsacuons. Monitoring System. Prior to publication of its rouunely works w,th federal agencies to
the Board addresses the overall hea.[th of finalreport, theconmu_teereleasedtwo inter- idenRfy opporm_r.im, establish pnonoes.
researchand educauon programs related to imreports that provided timely ack'icetoL'.S. improvethequ_w. ofThen"reseaxch,ande_tiu-
sohd-eaxth sciencesand resourceLssues. The negotiators at the Comprehensive Test Ban arewhether thezrrese=rchp_ a:ealined
Board also _er_s as a forumfor dtscu._lons talks inGeneva. w_th socieud goals. Most recently, ithas been
.laOl.P==_=,W=ki_m_ _
and exchangeofUffommnon among govern- The Boardhas mternazionaJresponsibili- asked to conductres_ewsoftheresearchpro-
ment. urn-getty,and industry soent_Ls,and tiesreded toitsrole incoordmaung ac'mi_ies of the U.$. Bureau of ]_es. _he
poh_'-maker_. of various U.SoNational Conumnees. including Resen'oi_CLassReld Demonsmmon Prot_'m-n
The Board conduc_ its acmicies through thosefor the intemauonal Umon ofGeodesy. oftheDepan_em ofE_ergy.andtheMinend
more tha_ l0separmely appointed conmunees and Geophysics.the intenumon,'dUmon of Resource 5u_ Program Plan ofthe U.S. N'mONA_ RlStUm COUNCJL STAFI
andpanels of_olumeer geosc_eno.vd.rsawnf_orn GeologicalSciences, the lntema,uomd f_xiew. GeologicalSun_..: The Bored has conducted
academia,indus,2,.: andgmemmeoL The Board of Rock Mechanics. the intemauomd Geo- similar renews foroU,,erageooes, mduclm_ the
a_d itscornnuueesreleased 19peer-reviewed g_phJcai Union. and the _nterna_onal Umon National Oceamc and Atmospheric Admm- •rlx_ umlmm, m,mo_ dlr_o"
reportsm 1994-95 These reports provide recom- forQumerrmry Research. istraUon. NASA. and the Na_Jomd Science Im S.Akll_, w,a" progrom=_I
menclanons onr_onal andmtemanonal po[ic_: Fotmdanon. TheBoardon EarthSciencesreel
W'_l_a_h,l_, w_r _ cf_r
addresstheS_Zeofsoence andtechnoio_', and Resources stands re_." to_ federala_en-
r_ew federaplro_an_ andagenc-w_ ciesasthe.'p,r"epareforthe21sicentury.
AnneL_, w_er _ c_q_r
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FEBRUARY 1996'Geolimes t 7