Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Feb 12, 2015 by Elizabeth Howell, Astrobiology Magazine The Mariner 9 mission first saw the peak of Olympus Mons on Mars in the midst of a global dust storm in 1971. Credit: NASA/JPL

A new study of emissions from Martian volcanoes suggests there is no activity going on right now, but researchers aren't ruling out recent eruptions.

Using NASA's Infrared Telescope Facility at Mauna Kea in Hawaii, the science team searched for signs of sulfuric acida key indicator of volcanic activity. They focused on the major volcanic provinces of Mars (Tharsis and Syrtis Major) in two, multi-week observation sessions, one from December to January 2012, and another in May and June 2014.

From Earth, they couldn't spot any signs of volcanic eruptions in those brief periods. These findings match similar negative results from searches the team conducted using the Very Large Telescope in Chile (an optical telescope) and the California Institute of Technology's Palomar Observatory radio telescope.

Different types of molecules emit characteristic "signatures" based on the energy of their individual elements, with each one acting as a sort of fingerprint for investigators. In radio wavelengths, the search technique is slightly different; scientists look for distinctive lines that occur as the molecules rotate. Fortunately, sulfuric acid shows up quite well in these wavelengths.

The results were presented at the American Astronomical Society Department of Planetary Sciences meeting in November under the title, "A new search for active release of volcanic gases on Mars: Sensitive upper limits for OCS," led by Alain Khayat (University of Hawaii).

Researcher and co-author Geronimo Villanueva says the next logical step in the research is getting up close to Mars to do a lengthy search. Fortunately for Villanueva, he has use of an instrument approved on a forthcoming European spacecraft to do that very thing.

"From Earth, searching is tricky. Telescope time only gives you a particular time or instance and you don't have the whole picture," said Villanueva, a research assistant professor at Catholic University of America in residence at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. "The orbiter provides daily maps of the atmosphere, so we're going to learn a lot about the actual processes on the planet."

Villanueva is a co-investigator of NOMAD (Nadir and Occultation for Mars Discovery), a spectrometer that will fly on the 2016 ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter with the European Space Agency. The instrument will not only look for volcanisma sign of energy that could be a source for life to grow onbut also organic substances that could indicate byproducts of life itself.

On Earth, for example, volcanoes recycle carbon dioxide, which plants use, and also spew out plant-friendly ash. Hot springs are also a common feature of nearby volcanoes, and they form when heated rocks underground interact with groundwater. Despite the tough environment of hot springsthe high temperature and acidity, for examplecertain organisms, such as extremophiles, live in this habitat.

Read the original here:
The search for volcanic eruptions on Mars reaches the next level

QUINCY The Port of Quincys request for $16.2 million in state transportation funding to expand intermodal rail terminal has received widespread support.

Port Commissioner Curt Morris states that the proposal received widespread support with dozens of shippers and organizations sending letters to the Washington state Legislature in support of the request.

The Great Northern Corridor Coalition, an organization formed to promote shared regional cooperation, planning and project implementation to improve rail freight movement across the Great Northern Corridor between Seattle and Chicago, supports the funding.

The Port of Quincy Intermodal Terminal is a cross-country rail mainline. It runs near Interstate 90, which is convenient for trucking operations to the intermodal terminal. The terminal is located in one of the largest irrigated agricultural and food processing regions in North America.

In 2011, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) Railway designated Quincy an official intermodal terminal on its national intermodal map.

Morris cited a recent study of 29 western US and Canadian locations with intermodal connections that found Quincy to be the lowest cost location for operating a distribution center or warehouse.

As proposed, a state-funded project would expand the infrastructure at the Port of Quincy Intermodal Terminal to meet unit train requirements of BNSF and help eliminate congestion on the Great Northern Corridor Rail Line at Quincy, according to Morris.

The expansion project would include installation of three additional intermodal tracks to increase the capacity of the ports terminal to be able to simultaneously load or unload longer intermodal container trains. It would include a new longer siding track and set-out and pick-up tracks allowing longer trains to pull off of the BNSF mainline in Quincy for arrival and departure in one piece.

The project would involve expanding the surface area of the Quincy intermodal terminal to allow for more storage of containers.

A bridge across the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation West Canal near Quincy would be constructed.

Read more from the original source:
Port of Quincy's $16.2 million funding request gaining support

Essex County Roofing Contractor 973 487 3704 Affordable West Caldwell Roofing company west essex cou
Your affordable exterior home remodeling Contractor, serving Passaic, Bergen, Essex, Morris, Union County New Jersey. Installation of Cedar shake panels,...

By: NJ Discount Vinyl Siding

Go here to read the rest:
Essex County Roofing Contractor 973 487 3704 Affordable West Caldwell Roofing company west essex cou - Video

Your Local Roofing Specialists - A V Roofing
Whether you need a spot repair or a whole new roof, A V Roofing are here for you. We are FMB members and are fully insured, taking on insurance and private w...

By: Yell

View post:
Your Local Roofing Specialists - A V Roofing - Video

Malcolm Adams Roofing LLC is Roofing Contracting and Roofing Company near Baton Rouge, LA
The Company provides roof installation, maintenance, inspection and repair services to building/home owners and property managers. All of the services by the Company will be rendered on site....

By: Malcolm Adams Roofing LLC

Go here to read the rest:
Malcolm Adams Roofing LLC is Roofing Contracting and Roofing Company near Baton Rouge, LA - Video

Harness Training - M J Flat Roofing

By: M JFlat Roofing

Read more from the original source:
Harness Training - M&J Flat Roofing - Video

Demmons Roofing Snowy Roof

By: WABI Sales

See the article here:
Demmons Roofing Snowy Roof - Video

Central Roofing Siding Co Choosing a Contractor
Contact us on our website http://www.centralexteriors.com/

By: Central Roofing and Siding Co

Continue reading here:
Central Roofing & Siding Co Choosing a Contractor - Video

Fort Saskatchewan AB Flat Roofing Contractors|(780) 800-7295|East Edmonton Flat Roof Repair Services
http://edmontonflatroofer.com/ (780) 800-7295 Edmonton Flat Roofer - Give us a call to find out the cost for flat roof replacement. Residential or smaller Commercial or Industrial, we...

By: Edmonton Flat Roofer

Link:
Fort Saskatchewan AB Flat Roofing Contractors|(780) 800-7295|East Edmonton Flat Roof Repair Services - Video

Re-roofing the Scout Hall
Port Pirie Scouts had their roof placed. This come about by the generosity of Nyrstar with a grant, along with Scouts SA the expertise of members of the Risdon Hockey Club. Thanks to All...

By: Karkana District

Here is the original post:
Re-roofing the Scout Hall - Video