The Aletsch Glacier in Switzerland is the largest valley glacier in the Alps and it has been losing mass since the mid-19th century. A new study using data from two NASA satellites found that glaciers like this one lost an average of 571 trillion pounds of ice per year from 2003 to 2009, which contributed to about 30 percent of the total observed global sea level rise during the same period. Credit: Frank Paul, University of Zurich.

The new research found glaciers outside of the Greenland and Antarctic
ice sheets, repositories of 1 percent of all land ice, lost an
average of 571 trillion pounds (259 trillion kilograms) of mass every
year during the six-year study period, making the oceans rise 0.03
inches (0.7 mm) per year. This is equal to about 30 percent of the
total observed global sea level rise during the same period and
matches the combined contribution to sea level from the Greenland and
Antarctica ice sheets.

The study compares traditional ground measurements to satellite data
from NASA’s Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) and
Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) missions to estimate
ice loss for glaciers in all regions of the planet. The study period
spans 2003 to 2009, the years when the two missions overlapped.

“For the first time, we have been able to very precisely constrain how
much these glaciers as a whole are contributing to sea level rise,”
said Alex Gardner, Earth scientist at Clark University in Worcester,
Mass., and lead author of the study. “These smaller ice bodies are
currently losing about as much mass as the ice sheets.”

The study was published Thursday in the journal Science.

ICESat, which stopped operating in 2009, measured glacier change
through laser altimetry, which bounces lasers pulses off the ice
surface to inform the satellite of changes in the height of the ice
cover. ICESat’s successor, ICESat-2, is scheduled to launch in 2016.
GRACE, still operational, detects variations in Earth’s gravity field
resulting from changes in the planet’s mass distribution, including
ice displacements.

The new research found all glacial regions lost mass from 2003 to
2009, with the biggest ice losses occurring in Arctic Canada, Alaska,
coastal Greenland, the southern Andes and the Himalayas. In contrast,
Antarctica’s peripheral glaciers — small ice bodies not connected to
the main ice sheet — contributed little to sea level rise during
that period. The study builds on a 2012 study using only GRACE data
that also found glacier ice loss was less than estimates derived from
ground-based measurements.

Current estimates predict all the glaciers in the world contain enough
water to raise sea level by as much as 24 inches (about 60
centimeters). In comparison, the entire Greenland ice sheet has the
potential to contribute about 20 feet (about 6 meters) to sea level
rise and the Antarctic ice sheet just less than 200 feet (about 60
meters).

“Because the global glacier ice mass is relatively small in comparison
with the huge ice sheets covering Greenland and Antarctica, people
tend to not worry about it,” said study co-author Tad Pfeffer, a
glaciologist at the University of Colorado in Boulder. “But it’s like
a little bucket with a huge hole in the bottom: it may not last for
very long, just a century or two, but while there’s ice in those
glaciers, it’s a major contributor to sea level rise.”

To make ground-based estimates of glacier mass changes, glaciologists
perform on-site measurements along a line from a glacier’s summit to
its edge. Scientists extrapolate these measurements to the entire
glacier area and carry them out for several years to estimate the
glacier’s overall mass change over time. While this type of
measurement does well for small, individual glaciers, it tends to
overestimate ice loss when the findings are extrapolated to larger
regions, such as entire mountain ranges.

“Ground observations often can only be collected for the more
accessible glaciers, where it turns out thinning is occurring more
rapidly than the regional averages,” Gardner said. “That means when
those measurements are used to estimate the mass change of the entire
region, you end up with regional losses that are too great.”

GRACE does not have fine enough resolution and ICESat does not have
sufficient sampling density to study small glaciers, but the two
satellites’ estimates of mass change for large glaciered regions
agree well, the study concluded.

“We now have a lot more data for the glacier-covered regions because
of GRACE and ICESat,” said Gardner. “Without having these independent
observations, there was no way to tell that the ground observations
were biased.”

The research involved 16 researchers from 10 countries, with major
contributions from Clark University, the University of Michigan,
Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego, Trent University in
Ontario, the University of Colorado at Boulder and the University of
Alaska Fairbanks.

Source: NASA.

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NASA’s first mission to sample an asteroid is moving ahead into development and testing in preparation for its launch in 2016. Image Credit NASA.

The Origins-Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security
Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) passed a confirmation review Wednesday
called Key Decision Point (KDP)-C. NASA officials reviewed a series
of detailed project assessments and authorized the spacecraft’s
continuation into the development phase.

OSIRIS-REx will rendezvous with the asteroid Bennu in 2018 and return
a sample of it to Earth in 2023.

“Successfully passing KDP-C is a major milestone for the project,”
said Mike Donnelly, OSIRIS-REx project manager at NASA’s Goddard
Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. “This means NASA believes we
have an executable plan to return a sample from Bennu. It now falls
on the project and its development team members to execute that
plan.”

Bennu could hold clues to the origin of the solar system. OSIRIS-REx
will map the asteroid’s global properties, measure non-gravitational
forces and provide observations that can be compared with data
obtained by telescope observations from Earth. OSIRIS-REx will
collect a minimum of 2 ounces (60 grams) of surface material.

“The entire OSIRIS-REx team has worked very hard to get to this
point,” said Dante Lauretta, OSIRIS-REx principal investigator at the
University of Arizona in Tucson. “We have a long way to go before we
arrive at Bennu , but I have every confidence when we do, we will
have built a supremely capable system to return a sample of this
primitive asteroid.”

The mission will be a vital part of NASA’s plans to find, study,
capture and relocate an asteroid for exploration by astronauts. NASA
recently announced an asteroid initiative proposing a strategy to
leverage human and robotic activities for the first human mission to
an asteroid while also accelerating efforts to improve detection and
characterization of asteroids.

NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. will provide
overall mission management, systems engineering and safety and
mission assurance. The University of Arizona in Tucson is the
principal investigator institution. Lockheed Martin Space Systems of
Denver will build the spacecraft. OSIRIS-REx is the third mission in
NASA’s New Frontiers Program. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in
Huntsville, Ala., manages New Frontiers for NASA’s Science Mission
Directorate in Washington.

Source: NASA.

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Brian Snyder, New Santa Fe, NM City Manager.

“Brian Snyder is an intelligent leader with a solid management background,” said Mayor David Coss. “His skills will serve him well and I know he will work to conscientiously to meet the needs of our city; he’ll make an excellent city manager.”

Snyder has worked for the City of Santa Fe since 2004, with various positions including Water Division Engineer and Water Division Engineer Supervisor. He was promoted to Water Division Director in 2009 and promoted to Public Utilities Department and Water Division Director in 2010. He has 16 years of experience working in both the public sector and private sector as a Civil Engineer focusing on water and wastewater issues. Snyder is a registered professional engineer and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. .

Snyder lives in Santa Fe with his wife and two daughters.

Source: City of Santa Fe.

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Mayor David Coss recently proclaimed National Kids to Parks day in Santa Fe and encourages locals to participate by exploring Frenchy’s Park, John Griego Park, Alto Park and the trails along the Santa Fe River.

“Santa Fe is committed to healthy living and our wonderful parks and recreation areas like Alto Park provide excellent spaces for outdoor play. I invite all Santa Fe residents to join me outdoors on May 18, for National Kids to Parks Day,” said Mayor David Coss.

At a time when an obesity epidemic touches nearly 1 in 3 children who are either overweight or obese, communities are witnessing sky-rocketing rates of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and elevated cholesterol levels in children. Like Santa Fe, other cities across the nation are committing to a simple motto: “active kids are healthy kids” and encouraging their residents to use National Kids to Parks Day as the first of many days spent outdoors, at local parks and recreation sites, to develop more active, healthy lifestyles.

NPT is working with numerous cities and towns included those affiliated with First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Cities and Towns program, which is designed to encourage mayors and elected officials to adopt policies and programs that create systemic changes, reducing childhood obesity. Mayor David Coss joins mayors across the country, from El Paso, to Santa Fe, to Reading and to Orlando, Florida, who have signed official proclamations declaring May, 18th National Kids to Parks Day in their city or town. This growing list of mayors has committed to urge their citizens to make time on May 18 to take the children and grandchildren in their lives to a neighborhood, state or national park.

The City of Santa Fe website now encourages residents to visit www.kidstoparks.org and sign up so that local families can be counted in the national tally. Then, on May 18, families are encouraged to visit a park or recreation area and submit photos of their adventures to Buddy@BuddyBison.org for possible inclusion in NPT’s national map commemorating the day.

National Kids to Parks Day has been endorsed by Department of Interior’s Youth in the Great Outdoors, America’s State Parks, American Academy of Pediatrics, National Education Association, Children’s National Medical Center, Boy Scouts of America, US Army Corps of Engineers, Children & Nature Network, National Environmental Education Foundation and officially in support of the First Lady’s Let Move Outside! initiative to get more youth and families to be active and live healthier.

A special commemorative National Kids to Parks Day is being planned for 9:00 a.m. at Frenchy’s Park, and all are invited to start their day of play there and adventure out to Veteran’s Park and then end at Alto Park throughout the day.

Source: City of Santa Fe.

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“I implore all city residents to abide by these fire restrictions,” said Reynaldo Gonzales, Fire Marshal for the City of Santa Fe. “It only takes a spark to ignite a fire in these dry conditions. These restrictions are in place to protect people, property and our city.”

In order to preserve lives and property during these emergency conditions, the City of Santa Fe Fire Department shall prohibit the following activities until further notice:

Open Burning – All open burning, including camp fires, bonfires, pit barbecues, and the burning of weeds, trash, or other vegetation is prohibited.

All burn permit requests are being rejected until weather conditions improve and the fire danger has been reduced significantly.

Smoking – No smoking in public parks, recreation areas, or on any public trail.

Motorized ATV’s or Motorcycles –The use of any motorized ATV’s or motorcycles on City owned open space, parks, trails, or other recreational areas is prohibited.

Barbecue Grills – The use of charcoal barbecue grills in public parks and recreation areas is prohibited.

Charcoal barbecuing at home will be permitted providing the fire is closely monitored and fire-extinguishing equipment, such as a garden hose or fire extinguisher, is readily available.

All fireworks that fall in the dangerous firework category are prohibited:

Dangerous fireworks means any firecracker, roman candle, skyrocket, torpedo, bomb, blank cartridge, cone-shape fountain, bottle rocket and flyer or any other type or form of explosive; any item that is self-propelling or the effect of which extends above fifteen feet (15′) in height from the ground; or any article which produces a report by combustion, explosion or detonation.

Fireworks that fall in the safe and sane fireworks firework category are permitted for sale and use.

Safe and sane fireworks means all fireworks that have no report, that are not self-propelling and the effect of which does not extend above fifteen feet (15′) in height from the ground, including the following:

Snakes, total pyrotechnic composition not to exceed twenty (20) grams each in weight;

Smoke devices and spray balls, total pyrotechnic composition not to exceed twenty-five (25) grams each in weight;

Wheels, total pyrotechnic composition not to exceed sixty (60) grams in weight per driver unit, but any number of drivers may be on any one wheel. The inside bore of driver tubes shall not be over one-half inch (1/2″);

Illuminating torches and colored fire in any form, total pyrotechnic composition of illuminating torches not to exceed one hundred (100) grams each in weight;

Sparklers and dipped sticks, total pyrotechnic composition not to exceed one hundred (100) gains in weight. Pyrotechnic composition containing any chlorate or perchlorate shall not exceed five (5) grams;

Cylindrical fountains, total pyrotechnic composition not to exceed seventy-five (75) grams each in weight. ‘Me inside tube diameter shall not exceed three-fourths inch (3/4″);

Railway fuses, fuses, truck flares, hardship distress signals, smoke candles, smoke signals and smoke pots; and

All other fireworks similar to the above provided they are tested and approved by the chief of the fire department.

The City of Santa Fe Fire Department has the authority to impose additional fire restrictions as per the International Fire Code® as adopted by § 12-2.1 of the Santa Fe City Code (SFCC). Penalties for violating these restrictions may include fines up to $500 and/or up to 90 days in jail as specified in SFCC 1-3.1(A).

Source: City of Santa Fe.

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David Welch. Primavera

“Viva Flora! is a great opportunity for the Community Gallery to partner with a dynamic local organization while providing exposure for the fine work of participating artists,” says Rod Lambert, Community Gallery Manager. “As a function of our mission, the Community Gallery welcomes opportunities that engage the community in new and exciting ways. Working with Santa Fe Botanical Garden, this exhibit appeals to art lovers, plant lovers and the entire community. Viva Flora! has something for everyone.”

“I can’t wait to see the artistic expressions that each of the artists created for this show,” said Managing Director of Santa Fe Botanical Garden, Linda Milbourn.

Participating artists include: Laura Brink, Fionna Buck, Joy Campbell, Lisa Coddington, Jan Denton, Derusha, Pamela DiMauro, Carol Farmer, Anne Farrell, Judy Felsen, Christina Hall-Strauss, Sarah Hartshorne, Diane Inman, Basia Irland, Lauren Johnson, Vasili Katakis, Paul Murray, Donna Nova, Janet O’Neal, Deborah Paisner, Mary Parkes, Patricia Pearce, Flo Perkins, Raymond Petersen, Bettina Raphael, Adrianna Reyes Newell, Romi Sloboda, Vanita Smithey, Jacklyn St. Aubyn, Lisa de St. Croix, Suzanne Stern, JoAnne Tucker, George Vogel, David Welch, S.K. Yeatts and Bette Yozell.

The Community Gallery is located inside the Santa Fe Community Convention Center, 201 West Marcy Street, at the intersection of Sheridan Street. The Community Gallery is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call 505-955-6705.

Santa Fe Botanical Garden celebrates, cultivates and conserves the rich botanical heritage and biodiversity of our region. In partnership with nature, they demonstrate their commitment through education, community service and the sustainable management of two nature preserves and the future public garden on Museum Hill. More information at www.santafebotanicalgarden.org

The Community Gallery supports local artists, promotes artistic excellence, and strengthens the local arts economy through diverse exhibits, educational and professional development opportunities for local artists, and engaging activities for the public. Through thoughtful and creative programming, the Community Gallery is a hub for viewing quality New Mexico art and the presentation of dynamic educational opportunities, bringing art to the community as well as the community to art. For more information, call 505-955-9705.

Source: City of Santa Fe.

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Residents should bring:

Any letters or court documents from your bank
2012 tax return
Last two pay stubs or proof of other income
Two most recent bank statements
Current utility bill
Most recent mortgage bill
Brief “hardship letter,” which describes why you are behind.

What: The Help for New Mexico Homeowners foreclosure prevention weekend May 17-18 (Friday and Saturday) offers help for homeowners who are having difficulty making their mortgage payments or who face foreclosure.

When: May 17-18, from 9 am to 6 pm each day.

Where: Benildus Hall, Santa Fe University of Art and Design, 1600 St. Michael’s Drive, Santa Fe, NM 87505. For more information about the campus and to find a campus map, go to www.santafeuniversity.edu/About/VisitUs

Directions: From the south: Take I-25 North to St. Francis, west on St. Michael’s Drive. From the north: Take US-84/US-285 south to Cerrillos Road, go right on Cerrillos, and left on St. Michael’s Drive

For more information: www.keepyourhomenewmexico.org or 1-855-664-6630.

Source: City of Santa Fe.

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The Syrian Civil War. Image Credit HRW.

The problem is that regardless of the pretext, Israel’s attacks are an overt act of war against the state of Syria; as odious and cruel as Syria under Assad is. And in that context, not only are Israel’s actions an overt act of war, the tiny client state of the United States attacked from a third country: Lebanon. There’s been no real word yet how Russia feels about it’s client state of Syria being attacked in this way.

Except that apparently there is feverish overt and behind the scenes machinations working to prevent Russia from providing “game changing” S-300 anti-aircraft capabilities to Syria because of course that would seriously hamper any effort by either Israel to attack further or the possible imposition of a no-fly zone over Syria possibly through a combination NATO/Turkey/US coalition.

This is all done against a back-drop of the fact that Israel illegally holds and has “annexed” the Golan Heights, and a whole host of groups and Assad’s Syria have now come out and said they are ready to wage war against Israel, for the Golan, and they are ramping up for a fight on the southern front.

It remains to be seen what the Obama administration knows or has engineered behind the scenes. But using the Golan as a pretext, the United States may well be content in letting Israel “protect itself” or exercise “self-defense”, of land that it does not legally own and never will own, and it would surely be convenient to let Israel carry the water.

It would relieve the Obama administration of yet another headache what with its full plate of made up “scandals” fomented by a thoroughly unhappy and frustrated ‘bagger led GOP and it would give them and Faux News a pretty ‘shiny object’ to focus on for at least a little while.

And Israel needs a pretext to give the smack down to those pesky ICC seeking, Palestinian State wanting, Nakba mourning Palestinians. It’s a tailor made excuse all the way around.

And what’s a few more dead bodies for either side, either the US or Israel? It’s just Syria after all. There’s not even a thought of Lebanese state sovereignty; and Syria’s civil war is getting so devastatingly brutal who would care if Assad is removed by a country that wants to hold onto illegally gotten booty? And the Palestinians they always get screwed anyway.

However, with both China and Russia playing roles this time, there is no sure outcome as there was say during Cast Lead in Gaza. Or Israel staging attacks on Syria using Lebanon’s airspace and attacking from Lebanon’s airspace.

This time geopolitics in the region and beyond could be so seriously destabilized in ways that could be so fraught with negative blowback that it is impossible to game out the consequences. Regardless, the United States will be blamed for the actions of Israel.

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New bus shelter graphic for Santa Fe Trails.

“Federal stimulus money made it possible for Transit to invest in passenger amenities and provide a better public transportation experience for Santa Fe,” said Jon Bulthuis, Transportation Department Director for the City of Santa Fe.

Autotroph Inc., a local company, designed the new line of bus shelters and street furniture for bus stops. Autotroph integrated practical features and functions such as ventilation, wind blockage, seating, and lighting (on some models), with the artistic inspiration from the traditional punched tinwork and native basketry of the region.

“The Arts Commission’s Art in Public Places program has enjoyed many fruitful partnerships with Santa Fe Trails,” stated, Debra Garcia y Griego, Director of the Arts Commission. “The roll out of the new transit shelters represents the largest collaboration yet. Artist Kimberly Pollis and Autotroph Designs have worked closely to develop truly beautiful shelter designs that will be unique to the community of Santa Fe.”

Construction will begin mid-May 2013 and will be substantially completed on all 40 shelters by August 19, 2013. The shelters are located at:

Location:
Sandoval St. @ Water St.
Zafarano @ Target
Zafarano Ops Target
SFCC
Cordova @ Montoya Building
Plaza del Sol West @ Airport Rd.
Cerrillos & Lujan
Cerrillos & Lujan
Cerrillos Rd. @ DOT
St. Francis Dr. & Cordova Rd
St. Francis Dr. @ Cordova Rd.
Guadalupe St. @ Garfield
Cerrillos Rd. @ Monterey Dr.
Agua Fria @ Osage Ave.
Agua Fria @ Osage Ave.
St. Vincent Hospital
Sabino @ Paseo de Peralta
Sabino @ Paseo de Peralta
Agua Fria @ Siler Rd.
Agua Fria @ Siler Rd.
Airport Rd. @ Zepol Rd.
Airport Rd. @ Zepol Rd.
Airport Rd. @ Jemez Rd.
Airport Rd.@ S. Meadows Rd.
Cerrillos Rd. @ Paseo de Peralta
Pacheco St.@ St. Michael’s Dr.
Rodeo @ GCCC
Camino Carlos Rey @ Calle Serena
Zia Rd. @ Dakota Canyon Apts.
Camino Lejo @ Museums
Agua Fria Rd. @ Frenchy’s Park
Jaguar @ Paseo del Sol
Jaguar @ Avenida Contenta
599 Rail runner Station
St. Michaels @ SFUAD
St. Michaels Opp. SFUAD
Hospital Drive OPS Santa Fe Imaging
South Capitol Station
Rodeo Rd. & Legacy Ct.
Country Club & Valentine Way

Source: City of Santa Fe.

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Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC) Space Systems’ Dream Chaser engineering test article is prepared for shipment at the company’s facility in Louisville, Colo. Image credit: SNC

The tests are part of pre-negotiated, paid-for-performance milestones
with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program (CCP), which is facilitating
U.S.-led companies’ development of spacecraft and rockets that can
launch from American soil. The overall goal of CCP is to achieve
safe, reliable and cost-effective U.S. human access to and from the
International Space Station and low-Earth orbit.

Tests at Dryden will include tow, captive-carry and free-flight tests
of the Dream Chaser. A truck will tow the craft down a runway to
validate performance of the nose strut, brakes and tires. The
captive-carry flights will further examine the loads it will
encounter during flight as it is carried by an Erickson Skycrane
helicopter. The free flight later this year will test Dream Chaser’s
aerodynamics through landing.

Meanwhile, on the east coast, several NASA astronauts will be at the
agency’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., this week to fly
simulations of a Dream Chaser approach and landing to help evaluate
the spacecraft’s subsonic handling. The test will measure how well
the spacecraft would handle in a number of different atmospheric
conditions and assess its guidance and navigation performance.

“Unique public-private partnerships like the one between NASA and
Sierra Nevada Corporation are creating an industry capable of
building the next generation of rockets and spacecraft that will
carry U.S. astronauts to the scientific proving ground of low-Earth
orbit,” said William Gerstenmaier, NASA’s associate administrator for
human exploration and operations in Washington. “NASA centers around
the country paved the way for 50 years of American human spaceflight,
and they’re actively working with our partners to test innovative
commercial space systems that will continue to ensure American
leadership in exploration and discovery.”

The Dream Chaser Space System is based on Langley’s Horizontal Lander
HL-20 lifting body design concept. The design builds on years of
analysis and wind tunnel testing by Langley engineers during the
1980s and 1990s. Langley and SNC joined forces six years ago to
update the HL-20 design in the Dream Chaser orbital crew vehicle. In
those years SNC has worked with to refine the spacecraft design. SNC
will continue to test models in Langley wind tunnels. Langley
researchers also helped develop a cockpit simulator at SNC’s facility
in Louisville, Colo., and the flight simulations being assessed at
the center.

NASA is partnered with SNC, Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX)
and The Boeing Company to meet CCP milestones for integrated crew
transportation systems under the Commercial Crew Integrated
Capability (CCiCap) initiative. Advances made by these companies
under their funded Space Act Agreements ultimately are intended to
lead to the availability of commercial human spaceflight services for
government and commercial companies.

While NASA works with U.S. industry partners to develop commercial
spaceflight capabilities, the agency also is developing the Orion
spacecraft and the Space Launch System (SLS), a crew capsule and
heavy-lift rocket to provide an entirely new capability for human
exploration. Designed to be flexible for launching spacecraft for
crew and cargo missions, SLS and Orion will expand human presence
beyond low-Earth orbit and enable new missions of exploration in the
solar system.

Source: NASA.

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