May 2004

Geological Society of America

Yellowstone hot spot a hot topic at GSA meeting in Boise this week

Boulder, Colo. – Geoscientists are gathering May 3-5 in Boise, ID, for a joint meeting of the Cordilleran and Rocky Mountain Sections of the Geological Society of America. Approximately 700 geoscientists are expected to attend the meeting at the Boise Centre on the Grove, hosted by the Department of Geosciences, Boise State University.

Program highlights include:

THE TRACK OF THE YELLOWSTONE HOT SPOT: WHAT IS THE GEOLOGY TELLING US ABOUT THE PROCESSES BELOW?
Wednesday, May 5, 8:20 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:00-4:00 p.m., Boise Center on the Grove, Payette-Snake Rivers room

A full-day session of presentations and posters addresses the possibility of mantle plume origins for the hot spot, thermal structure of the underlying transition zone, plate boundary processes, and the Lovejoy basalt. Brennan Jordan, Wooster College, looks at the relationship between the Oregon high lava plains and the Yellowstone-Snake River plain volcanic systems. Robert B. Smith, University of Utah, considers an inclined plume beneath Yellowstone. David Fee, University of Wyoming, shares new receiver function imaging of the transition zone. Victor Camp, San Diego State University, presents a two-stage spreading model for a Yellowstone mantle plume head.

View abstracts:
http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2004RM/finalprogram/session_13278.htm
http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2004RM/finalprogram/session_12409.htm
http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2004RM/finalprogram/session_13222.htm

THE ROLE OF SCIENCE IN MAKING NATURAL RESOURCES DECISIONS
Monday, May 3, 7:50 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Boise Center on the Grove, The Summit

Policymakers from several levels of government – state, federal, and tribal – discuss this timely and increasingly controversial topic. Highlights include science and the national Environmental Protection Act process, mining, land use planning, and natural resource development on Native lands. Abstracts are not available online. For additional information, contact Ann Cairns at 303-357-1056 or [email protected].

Telephone interviews may be arranged during the meeting by calling the GSA Registration Desk, 208-336-1435. After May 5, contact Ann Cairns 303-357-1056 or [email protected].