Geology Weekly Brief: May 27âJune 2, 2025
This week in geology has been marked by significant developments across various fronts, highlighting the dynamic nature of Earth sciences and their direct relevance to environmental management, resource development, and public safety. From critical updates on drought conditions impacting tribal lands in the Pacific Northwest to new insights into air quality challenges near the Salton Sea, the geological community continues to address pressing societal issues. Further advancements were observed in volcanic monitoring at KÄŤlauea, with ongoing fieldwork complementing remote sensing. Additionally, upcoming airborne geological surveys across the Midwest and the validation of crucial geospatial data for elevation programs underscore the continuous investment in foundational data infrastructure. These stories collectively illustrate how geological research and applied science are increasingly contributing to solutions for water scarcity, air quality, disaster preparedness, and robust geospatial data infrastructure, reinforcing the critical and evolving role of geological professionals in addressing complex global and regional challenges.
Key Geology News & Trends:
-
Pacific Northwest Tribal Nations Face Intensifying Drought
A special edition drought status update, released on June 2, 2025, reveals that nearly two-thirds of tribal lands in the Pacific Northwest are experiencing drought or abnormal dryness as of May 27. Early snowmelt, coupled with recent dry and warm conditions, has led to rapidly declining streamflows, particularly in western Washington and Oregon, prompting a Drought Emergency declaration for portions of the Yakima Basin. This situation raises significant concerns for water supplies, agricultural yields, and an increased potential for wildfires throughout the upcoming summer season across the region. The data clearly indicates a direct cause-and-effect relationship where above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation are causing rapid snowmelt and declining streamflows, triggering a cascade of negative consequences including unmet irrigation demands and increased wildfire risk. The specific focus on tribal lands and the declaration of a Drought Emergency underscore how climate-induced geological and hydrological changes disproportionately affect certain communities, highlighting the crucial need for geoscientists to collaborate with affected communities and policymakers to develop equitable and effective adaptation and mitigation strategies.
Published: June 2, 2025
Special Edition Drought Status Update for Pacific Northwest Tribal Nations | June 2, 2025 | Drought.gov -
Study Reveals Underestimated Toxic Emissions at Salton Sea
A new study, published on June 2, 2025, reveals that existing air-quality monitoring systems âvastly underestimateâ toxic hydrogen sulfide emissions from Californiaâs Salton Sea. Researchers from Brown University and other institutions, working with a local nonprofit community organization, found that these emissions frequently exceed state air quality standards, particularly at sites closest to the lake and during summer months. The findings highlight a significant, underreported environmental health crisis for nearby communities, especially lower-income and Indigenous populations, and strongly advocate for increased and more strategically placed monitoring to accurately assess and address the public health risks. This research not only identifies a geological and environmental problem stemming from a drying lake but also exposes a systemic failure in environmental monitoring and its disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations.
Published: June 2, 2025
Air-quality monitoring underestimates toxic emissions to Salton Sea communities, study finds | Brown University -
KÄŤlauea Summit Fieldwork Advances Volcanic Monitoring
On May 29, 2025, geologists from the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) conducted vital fieldwork at KÄŤlaueaâs summit, specifically after episode 23 of the ongoing Halemaâumaâu eruption. Utilizing high-precision kinematic GPS instruments, they collected ground positions to accurately determine the thickness of recent tephra deposits. This critical, hands-on data collection, carried out in coordination with the National Park Service within a closed area, is essential for advancing scientistsâ understanding of the eruptionâs dynamics, validating remote sensing observations, and refining hazard assessments for this active volcano. This news highlights the enduring importance of traditional, direct fieldwork in geological monitoring, even in an era dominated by advanced remote sensing technologies, as precise, localized data is indispensable for calibrating and refining eruption models.
Published: May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025 â KÄŤlauea summit fieldwork after episode 23 | U.S. Geological Survey
Tools & Tips
This section highlights recent and useful tools relevant to geological professionals, emphasizing their practical applications.
- ArcGIS Geological Symbol Pack: Enhancing Geologic Mapping
For professionals engaged in geological mapping, the ArcGIS Geological Symbol Pack offers a valuable resource to ensure clarity and consistency in their work. This downloadable pack can be easily added to ArcGIS Pro, providing access to a comprehensive set of standardized geological symbols such as strike and dip markers, various rock types, and fault lines. Adhering to these standardized symbols is crucial for creating clear, consistent, and professional geologic maps that meet industry and academic standards, thereby ensuring effective and unambiguous communication of complex geological information to a broad audience. This tool reinforces the enduring value of fundamental cartographic principles even amidst rapid technological advancements in Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Mapping Resources - Geological Sciences Reference Guide - Research Guides at University of Alabama
Fun Fact
Did you know that maps sometimes contain âphantom settlementsâ or âpaper townsâ? These are fictitious places intentionally added by cartographers to their maps, often as a clever trick. The primary purpose of these fabricated locations is to catch copyright infringers; if another map includes the exact same made-up town, it serves as undeniable evidence of plagiarism. For instance, Algoe, New York, was an anagram created by cartographers Otto G. Lindberg and Ernest Alpers to protect their work, and it later appeared on a Rand McNally map, leading to plagiarism accusations. Similarly, âBeatosuâ and âGobluâ in Ohio were added by a University of Michigan fan in a transportation department to subtly chant âBeat OSUâ and âGo Blueâ. This quirky practice highlights the historical and ongoing challenges of intellectual property in cartography, adding a fascinating and often humorous layer of intrigue to the seemingly objective maps we rely on daily.
Weâd love to hear from you!
Have you participated in any Geology events or utilized new Geology tools recently? Share your experiences or insights with usâweâre featuring selected community voices in next weekâs edition.