Geological Insights & Event News

Dr. Julia Wellner’s abstract describes how Antarctic sediment cores, geophysical surveys, and radiometric dating reveal past ice sheet extent, retreat rates, and links to high CO₂ climates. She contrasts diachronous ancient retreats with today’s rapid, widespread change. Her team integrates 3.5 kHz geophysical profiles, multibeam bathymetry, and sediment cores to reconstruct former ice sheet extent, flow speed, and retreat style. A new field trip is announced in early June: The Tocito, El Vado and Gallup Sands of the San Juan Basin with Dr. Leslie Wood.

The August 2016 FCGS newsletter highlights the annual summer picnic and announces fall talks by Marsha W. French, Cat Campbell, Steve Cossey, and Ian Walton. Election results name Rebecca Helms as President, with new and returning officers for both the Society and Foundation. Regional field trip opportunities include the Colorado Groundwater Association’s Manitou Springs Mineral Waters trip and AEG RMS’s Colorado Springs Landslides and Debris Flow Hazards tour.

Dr. Katherine Potter presents results from the 1912 m Kimama core, showing continuous mafic volcanism on the central Snake River Plain for 6.4 Ma, with basalt, loess, and fluvial sands recording steady accumulation and variable magma sources . In his Prez Sez column, President John Youle outlines 2016 goals: a spring field trip in the San Juan Basin, a new FLC research mapping feature, and launching Oil and Gas Fields of the Four Corners, Vol. IV . Regional news includes upcoming meetings, workshops, and the June Tocito, El Vado & Gallup Sands field trip led by Dr. Leslie Wood.