News

News, announcements, policy updates, spotlighted websites, software updates and other info that may be of interest to practicing geotechnical engineers, engineering geologists, geophysicists, hydrogeologists and related professions.

Geologic Hazards

Landslide at Traunsee Lake in Austria

December 4, 2007 Wolfgang Fritz Comments Off on Landslide at Traunsee Lake in Austria

The people living on the eastern bank of the Traunsee (map on following page) in Austria are able to observe geology in motion these days. About one million tons of soil and rock are moving in a slow landslide toward the lake, throwing over trees (picture at left) and threatening to take parts of a village with them. More… 

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Geologic Hazards

Kilauea Volcano: Examining Hazards from Latest Redirected Flow Event

December 3, 2007 rockman Comments Off on Kilauea Volcano: Examining Hazards from Latest Redirected Flow Event

In July of 2007, The Big Island’s Kilauea began eruting approximately 500,000 cubic meters of lava a day in a direction that has not previously seen lava flows. Most importantly, the northeasterly direction of flow takes it towards Pahoa Village, 11 miles from the erupting fissure but still possibly at risk. Read on for more. (USGS Photo)

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Geoarchaeology

Drilling to Save Aswan Obelisk Quarry

December 3, 2007 rockman Comments Off on Drilling to Save Aswan Obelisk Quarry

The Ancient Egyptians are still marveled at today for some of their enduring hard-rock creations. Of course everyone thinks of the Sphinx and the Great Pyramids, but perhaps just as impressive if not more impressive were the gigantic obelisks that were quarried and somehow transported into place. There is work underway to preserve a rare archaeological site, a granite quarry with a large unfinished obelisk near Aswan.

Archaeological evidence combined with some shallow seismic refraction surveys and bore holes confirm the finding of a canal believed to have been used to transport these obelisks to the Nile River during flooding. However, dewatering will be needed to excavate these canals to verify these claims. Another problem is the salt deposits that are slowly destroying the quarry. National Driller Magazine is the location of this interesting article. Link after the break.  (Photo by Son of Groucho)

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Press Releases

NOAA, USGS Warning System to Help Protect Southern Californians from Debris Flows and Flash Floods

December 3, 2007 rockman Comments Off on NOAA, USGS Warning System to Help Protect Southern Californians from Debris Flows and Flash Floods

Released: 11/7/2007 1:18:29 PM

Contact Information:
U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
Office of Communication
119 National Center
Reston, VA 20192		 Clarice Nassif Ransom &n=Clarice+Nassif+Ransom">1-click interview
Phone: 703-648-4299

Matt Ocana (NOAA)
Phone: 801-524-5692

Winter Rains on Burn Areas Could Spawn New Danger

NOAA logo A debris flow and flash flood warning system developed jointly by NOAA’s National Weather Service and the U.S. Geological Survey will help protect Southern Californians from potentially devastating debris flows-commonly known as mud slides- and flash floods in and around burn areas created by the recent wildfires.

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Press Releases

54 Dams Slated for Removal in 2007

December 3, 2007 rockman Comments Off on 54 Dams Slated for Removal in 2007

Contact: Garrett Russo, Press Secretary, American Rivers, (202) 347-7550; Stephanie Lindloff, American Rivers, (518) 482-2631

Washington, D.C. — With dams across the country falling into disrepair, dam owners in 12 states have chosen to eliminate obsolete infrastructure by removing their dams. An annual survey of government agencies and private conservation organizations shows that 54 dams in 12 states have been removed or are slated for removal in 2007.

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Press Releases

IPET Risk Maps Released in June for New Orleans Are CORRECT

December 3, 2007 rockman Comments Off on IPET Risk Maps Released in June for New Orleans Are CORRECT

Vicksburg, Miss. – The Interagency Performance Evaluation Task Force (IPET) reaffirmed today that the New Orleans-area risk maps released on June 20, 2007, are correct. A data error discovered in the draft technical supporting documentation released by IPET on Nov. 7 raised questions about risk map accuracy for two sections of New Orleans.

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Failures

La Jolla Landslide Update – Remediation and Legal Affairs

December 3, 2007 rockman Comments Off on La Jolla Landslide Update – Remediation and Legal Affairs

[Update 12/6/07] San Diego City Council approved $20 Million for the repair of Soledad Mountain Road despite concerns by some about whether funds diverted to pay for the fix will ever be repaid by Federal and State monies. Additionally, shear pin installation mentioned on the next page is scheduled to be completed by Saturday. [/Update]

A lot has happened since my last post on the Soledad Mountain Road landslide in La Jolla. I’ll try to get you caught up on the latest with remediation and legal issues. Click through for the summary.

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Geologic Hazards

Java Mud Volcano: Economic Damages Estimated $8.6 Billion

November 29, 2007 rockman Comments Off on Java Mud Volcano: Economic Damages Estimated $8.6 Billion

The Java mud volcano continues to erupt at the same pace as before, showing no signs of stopping. Indonesia’s national planning agency has put the economic damages at $334 million a month and says the final bill could be as high as $8.6 billion. There are a number of environmental impacts as well since the mud is contaminated with heavy metals, benzene and sulfur dioxide. More…

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Miscellaneous

More Free Online Journal Access from Springer

November 21, 2007 rockman 3

Springer is the publisher of a number of geo-industry journals. They have recently sent an email notifying of free access to  various Hydrogeology journals. But I have found out that their definition of Hydrogeology is rather broad, and the free access applies to a number of journals such as… 

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