Denver Museum of Nature & Science Community

The Good, the Bad, and the Studly

Marc Levine — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:40:00 GMT

This blog provides an informal introduction to Genghis Khan, the subject of a new temporary exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

Unless you’re Mongolian, the name “Genghis Khan” may conjure thoughts of a maniacal barbarian, killer, or "destroyer of civilizations.” More nuanced portraits of the Khan, however, have recently emerged that reveal his role as a nation builder, statesman, peacemaker, and patriarch.

The Good…

Genghis Khan’s unification of Mongolia ended years of intertribal warfare and violence, bringing peace and order to his homeland.
The Khan also secured trade routes between East and West—allowing for an unprecedented amount of intercontinental exchange in goods, knowledge, and even people.
Religious tolerance was a hallmark of Genghis Khan’s rule. By decree, all religions were respected and none given precedence.

The Bad…

In a chilling act of fratricide, he murdered his own half-brother while only a “tween.”
To his rivals he was merciless, warning that “he who does not submit will, together with women, children, and relatives be destroyed.” This was not a hollow threat but a promise he carried out repeatedly—and with zeal.
Cruelty, at least by today’s standards, seemed to come naturally to the Khan. He supposedly boasted that “man’s greatest fortune is to chase and defeat his enemy, seize his total possessions, leave his married women weeping and wailing, ride his gelding, use the bodies of his women as a nightshirt and support, gazing upon and kissing their rosy breasts…” The "Gobernator" paraphrased the Great Khan in his role as Conan the Barbarian (see film clip here).

& the Studly

Go easy on the Khan, after all, he might be family! A recent study of DNA across the globe, published in the American Journal of Human Genetics, argues that 0.5% of the world’s population could be descendants of Genghis Khan. Yup, “studly” just about sums it up.

If you don’t believe the hype, confront the Khan for yourself. The Genghis Khan exhibit will be at the DMNS until February 7th, 2010.

What do Genghis Khan and The Godfather’s Don Corleone have in Common?

Marc Levine — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:54:00 GMT

This blog provides an informal introduction to Genghis Khan, the subject of a new temporary exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science

If you’re skeptical of the similarities between Genghis Khan and Don Vito Corleone, bear with me. It requires a mash-up of world history and a leap across a vast cultural divide, but just think about it…

One was the “Don” and the other was the “khan.”

Both were respected leaders, but the Great Khan makes Don Vito look like a cub scout. Genghis Khan, variously translated as Firm, Strong, or Oceanic Ruler, established what became the largest contiguous land empire in world history. By the mid 13th century, Mongols called the shots from China to the Mediterranean—an estimated 12 million square miles.

Both made their opponents “offers they could not refuse.”

These men used extreme intimidation and violence to dissuade potential rivals. As a teenager, Genghis Khan killed his older brother who refused to share the spoils of their hunting trip. Genghis Khan routinely made the following “offer” to his enemies: give up everything and survive, or resist and risk the destruction of your city and the death of everyone you know.

Both valued loyalty above everything—except power.

The Godfather demanded loyalty from his family and associates but dispensed of these loyalties if he himself was threatened. Likewise, Genghis Khan expected his men to serve only him. The Great Khan fostered loyalty through generosity, but also blackmail. His generals were required to deliver a son to him and the boys were effectively held as hostages to insure the loyalty of their fathers. When several of his closest confidants, including his blood-brother Jamuka, challenged his authority, they paid with their lives.

Each man placed a high value on family.

Don Corleone said “a man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man.” Similarly, Genghis Khan showed great kindness to his children and grandchildren. He recognized the strengths of his four primary sons: Jochi, the skilled hunter; Chaghatai, the most learned ; Ogodei, known for his generosity; and Tolui, who possessed the tools, ambition and aptitude of a conqueror.

While the Godfather has captured the imagination of millions through the novels of Mario Puzo and films of Frances Ford Coppola, the life and conquests of Genghis Khan provide the grist for a dozen or more feature films and for the upcoming exhibition at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Stop into the Museum and learn more about the world’s greatest conqueror—Genghis Khan!

Where were you when Apollo 11 landed on the moon?

Tara — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:27:00 GMT

In 1961, U.S. President John F. Kennedy had a challenge for NASA – and the nation. The challenge was to land a man on the moon before the end of the decade. The race to meet his goal would require the greatest technological achievements the world has ever seen. The first Apollo missions were spent getting ready for the moon landing. Apollo 8 and Apollo 10 even flew all the way to the moon, around it, and back to Earth. Finally, everything was ready. On July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

On July 20 at 4:18 p.m. EDT, the Lunar Module Eagle touched down on the Moon at Tranquility Base. Astronaut Neil Armstrong reported "The Eagle Has Landed." And at 10:56 p.m. EDT, Armstrong, descending from Eagle's ladder and touching one foot to the Moon's surface, uttered these famous words:

"That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind."

Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing, with “The Apollo Legacy: The Moon and Beyond” on Monday, July 20 at 11:30 a.m. MDT in Ricketson Auditorium.

Do you remember where you were when Apollo 11 landed? Leave us your story below!

Mr A. J. Rappaport... For Posterity

Mr. A. J. Rappaport — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:52:00 GMT

First of all, allow me to introduce myself. My name is A.J. Rappaport. Now, how I came to have that name is a story in its self. You see my Daddy’s name is Joshua, and his Daddy’s name is Joshua, so, they called me A.J. - just ‘another Joshua.’ I am in the News Paper game. I was first sent to this fine Establishment on July the first in the Year of our Lord 1908. I came here to write a report for the Herald Democrat. Only one of the most respected periodicals in Leadville, Colorado, if I do say so myself. You see, I’m a freelance writer whose interests include science and nature, so it would seem a most natural fit, which indeed it is. However, at this moment I find myself in another Time, and this place has changed quite a bit. A reporter’s paradise, to be sure.

On my initial visit in 1908, the Exhibits were not as realistic –not as close to nature, perhaps you might say - as they seem to be in your more modern time. One could examine a Particular Species by looking at it perched on a stand and reading a plaque. Now as I gaze upon the fauna and flora in the dioramas it is more like being at a very particular spot in our great State, a true depiction of nature. The visitors are treated to a sight one can only see if one is able to sit quietly, and for longer than I am capable, for certain. And how the art of Taxidermy has advanced! In my day the animals looked much starker, impressive, no doubt, but perhaps a little… dry. But today, it is as if they stand ready to pounce or to retreat, as the case may be for the individual.

I have enjoyed many conversations with the people of Modern Day Denver, as well as other parts of this Wonderful Country of ours. What a World you live in! I am forever amazed at the Technology of the modern time. I understand that the flying contraption of the Wright brothers is a common form of transportation - will wonders never cease? It also has been brought to my attention that most families have at least one horseless carriage with the rather swift name of “cars.” Want is more, I understand the people of today are able to talk on the telephone while they drive in that very same car, my my! Cars and airplanes, and even ships to space! I learn something new most every day, and jot it down, for posterity, you understand.

I look forward to using this most unique and heretofore unknown form of communication as a means to report to all of you about my continued education in matters of Scientific Advancement, as well as some of my more interesting conversations with the visitors of your time. If there is one thing that has not changed over the century, it is this: folk are as strange and curious as ever. So until the next time, I shall bid you all a fond farewell.

A.J.

Miss Florence Epp......explorer, storyteller

Miss Florence Epp — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:05:00 GMT

Habari!

Miss Florence Epp is my name, and though just 28 and a woman, I have seen much of the world on the soles of my worn out boots (which currently do need new laces). My father was a great doctor of the 1890’s, you see, and his gifts and talents were far reaching to others: helping colonize parts of western Africa and serving as a doctor and storyteller for many.

His greatest gift, to me that is, I believe stems from his great love and fascination for the people of Africa. Observing and absorbing everything he could, he and I became like sponges to this culture and its magnificent backdrop. No doubt out of place we were, me with no mother, and hair as blond as can be; it was a strange and yet wonderfully unorthodox way of growing up as a girl. When I was six my father said to me “Were going to live on the other side of the world, what do you think about that?” And to him I replied in the only way I knew how, “Will we have to walk upside down?”

Indeed, his answer should have been “yes,” for it was as if we were learning how to “walk” all over again; moving from our English comforts to scorching hot weather, a multitude of different languages, others’ lack of clothing, and peculiar food. However on that note my father used to say I would eat anything, and try anything, and well, I guess I still do. He loved to tell the story of how when we first arrived to Johannesburg, I was handed a plate of fried grasshoppers and before his hand could reach the plate, I had devoured them. He said, “Do you even know what you ate, my dear?” and without a moment passing, I licked my fingers and said, “They tasted like crunchy bugs!” I laugh as I write this but I really think it was at that moment he felt confident in his decision to move us to a different continent. He knew I was ready to try anything, fear nothing, and take whatever challenge came my way. And I did.

This place, this strange new magical world I discovered when I was just six, twenty-two years later I do call Makazi (home), and the people, I grew to know them as Nuzuri Rafiki ( good friends). Now my boots in their travels have found their way here to 2009, and I must admit, finding myself here seems as though I am walking upside down all over again. There are such advances in science and a delight of wonderful inventions, and well… truly unusual fashions. Perhaps if our paths cross you can share your stories with me, and I with you, as I am in need not only of new laces, but of some Nuzuri Rafiki’s, too.

Miss Margaret Winters... an Introduction

Miss Margaret Winters — Tue, 05 May 2009 18:32:00 GMT

My name is Margaret Winters, and I recall how thrilled we all were that the Museum of Natural History would be opening that summer of 1908. The Women’s Club of Denver had a Department of Literature and Science and we felt that this museum would be a wonderful place for those of us interested in the natural sciences to study and learn, perhaps even contribute. Academic and scientific education for women was gaining acceptance – just look how far women have come. Colorado gave its women the right to vote in 1893. Every year women were making inroads into society, politics and education, and that has clearly continued. What advancements this museum has brought in all regards!

I remember those first displays, specimens in glass cases, all labeled by taxonomy and looking quite sterile compared to the stunning dioramas of 2009. We were quite proud of our science in 1908 and to see how far science has come in showing visitors what it knows is quite remarkable.

I do not begin to understand all the technology at the disposal of science in 2009, though I can observe the results of it. At the heart of it, though, remains the quest to understand the natural world, whether with binoculars and microscopes, or with the new fangled instruments of the modern age. Understanding the natural world is essential if it is to be preserved.

Standing in front of the diorama of the passenger pigeon, how saddened I was to read that the last one died in 1914. We knew, of course, that these birds were doomed in 1908. There were just a handful left, and nothing could be done to inspire them to reproduce. We realized too late one does not have to kill the last of a species in order for it to go extinct. We just did not understand quickly enough how to prevent the demise of this beautiful bird.

Today, I came upon two brothers drawing in front of the alpine tundra diorama. What a treat to join them in drawing and observing the picas and marmots, and talking about the notes we naturalists need to make about what we were seeing, labeling every detail so that later the notes might actually be used by science to learn about nature. Some things do not change – I understand that with all the advancements in photography today, what the eye can observe and the hand can draw are still important components for recording nature, that photographs have not supplanted the human eye for scientific accuracy. How I would love to have more visitors join me in the halls for some observing and drawing.

Another conversation brought a smile, and I found it to be quite accurate for 1908 – perhaps it still is. A young visitor, about 7 years old, and I were discussing the relationship between prey animals and those that feed upon them. We stood in front of the diorama with the wild turkeys and talked about how these birds can be observed at dusk, taking a drink of water from a stream before walking up a ravine to their favorite tree and flying up to roost for the night. “Why would that be good for the turkey to roost high in a tree for the night?” I asked. “Well,” he replied, ”That way the creditors don’t find him and eat him.” Indeed.

WildLife and Times: The World of 1908 Returns to the Museum with Historical Enactors

Jennifer Moss Logan — Tue, 05 May 2009 18:13:00 GMT

How times have changed! When the Museum first opened its doors to the public in 1908, William Taft was elected president, the world’s first major commercial oil field was discovered in Iran, and for the first time ever the ball dropped in Time Square to herald the New Year. Ford Motor Company produced the first Model T, the Chicago Cubs won the World Series, and “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” was America’s favorite song. In Tunguska, Russia, 80 million trees over 830 square miles were flattened when a meteoroid hit the atmosphere, the largest impact event in recent Earth history. Denver was host to the Democratic National Convention, where women participated as delegates for the first time and Mayor Speer built an elaborate fountain, complete with lights, in City Park. At the same time, ranchers drove their cattle to market along the dirt road called Colorado Boulevard.

This was the Denver, and indeed the world, to which the Colorado Museum of Natural History opened its brand new doors. Inspired by Edwin Carter, naturalist and pioneer, and his extensive Rocky Mountain bird and mammal collection, the building was opened to the public on July 1, 1908. “As Denver is destined to be among the great Cities of the Continent, so will a museum here founded… grow up to be one of the great entertaining and educational institutions of the country.” Visitors – ladies in butterfly jackets and feathered hats and gentlemen in high collars and bowlers – arrived at the Museum to enjoy the sights of Edwin Carter’s animals, art collections donated by prominent Colorado citizens including Margaret “Molly” Brown, and, shortly thereafter, John T. Mason’s butterflies and John F. Campion’s crystalline gold.

What would it be like to speak with those early visitors? What would they say about the Museum, indeed the world, of today? How has technology changed, and what has history shown to be enduring? We decided to bring these ideas to life. Now, as you round the corner of diorama halls, you may just see our 1908 “visitors” standing in wonderment at suddenly finding themselves in the modern world, and pondering, in conversation with visitors, how everything from taxidermy methods and conservation techniques to scientific advances and politics have changed over time. Perhaps as you enter Botswana Hall, you’ll see the silhouetted outline of “Miss Florence Epp”, whose large pack is filled with the trappings of her travels through Africa – a horsehair fly whisk, a Masai blanket, an African doll. Will you learn to play Achi with her? Perhaps the marmots and coyotes of Explore Colorado are more your style If so, you may see “Miss Margaret Winters,” a naturalist of 1908 whose demure style and turn-of-the-century dress belie a forward-thinking woman of her time, pressing for women’s votes and eagerly studying the natural world like so many of those early conservation-minded “club women.” Or maybe you’ll overhear the leisurely Old West accent of Leadville newspaper reporter “Mr. A. J. Rappaport”, who feels that the new Museum is a “fine institution,” and is hoping to track down the founding curators to get a quote, “for posterity.” A. J. is particularly delightful to those who remember visiting the Museum as a child and love to muse over how it has changed – he carries photos of the original Museum and can point out the hidden secrets left over from the original architecture.

These 1908 “visitors” are quite at ease in the Museum 100 years beyond their time; perhaps it is no great surprise, therefore, that they would explore the world of the internet blog. A new adventure, Miss Epp? Another voice for women in science, Miss Winters? The ultimate reporter’s scoop, Mr. Rappaport? Read on…

Double-Whammy – Living Through a Chicago Flood and an English Storm in 1987

Jennifer Moss Logan — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:48:00 GMT

In 1987 we began the process of moving from Chicago to England. First step: pack our furniture and everything we owned into shipping containers, and send it by boat across the Atlantic to the Old World. However, just as we were preparing for The Great Pack-Up, Chicago experienced an incredible downpour, and our house was flooded. Water came up through the drains and under glass doors to flood our wood-floored, antique-filled living room. What is more, those glass doors led in from the pool room, so before entering the living room the water had first overflowed the pool and mixed with pool water, adding chlorine to the situation, while the water entering through the drains had originated in outdoor storm gutters – altogether, quite a concoction. I remember wading around in it and my mother saying to us, “Humor me, and get out of the water when it hits the level of the electrical outlets,” which it did shortly thereafter. No big sparks occurred, though - a disappointment to my 12-year-old self, but likely a relief to my parents.

Once the water finally drained away, we spent the short weeks before packing up trying to dry out the lovely furniture; every fan we had, and those of our neighbors, were blowing full blast on couches, lounge chairs, and all the “stuff” of daily life. Even so, some beloved pieces never dried out, and we couldn’t pack them for fear of them molding during the 6 weeks they would be sealed in containers on the boat.

We arrived in England at the end of September 1987. Two weeks later on October 16^th, we were hit again when England experienced the worst storm in 300 years; 90-plus mile-an-hour winds knocked down trees in all directions, chimneys collapsed through roofs, cars were crushed, and later the newspapers were filled with stories of parents who had gotten up to check their children, and come back to bed only to find half the roof piled where they had lain just short time before.

My grandparents were visiting at the time, and it took my parents several hours to pick their way across the short mile or two to their hotel. They certainly weren’t expecting this during their visit. I was in boarding school, and that night I remember shooting up in the bed of my top bunk (8 girls to a room), yelling, “the windows are breaking, the windows are breaking!” Gravel from the formal gardens was hitting the 8-foot tall, single-pane windows which, despite my proclamations, held strong. I finally made it home a few days later – school was closed for a week – and helped my parents with the slow, steady cleanup of over 100 trees on our farm. Ultimately, many of those old fallen oaks were made into hefty rustic benches and bridges, like tributes to the storm. Many roads in England are 10-20 feet below the field on either side, due to having been worn down over centuries, and so trees that collapsed onto them could not be “simply” pushed aside, nor could one just drive around them; rather, over the coming weeks and months they had to be sawn down and removed piece by piece. Power was out for several weeks at our house, and phone lines for even more. Wood fires and a lamp rigged up to a tractor battery provided light in the evenings. We still had a coal-stoked Aga, the traditional English oven used to cook food, warm the house, and heat water, and so we were quite fortunate to still have the luxury of warm baths.

My parents told me later that they had actually gone out and walked around in the midst of the storm. It had happened on my father’s 50^th birthday; my dad says he’s never had such a memorable birthday in his life.

Chicago’s downpour: http://blogs.trb.com/news/weather/weblog/wgnweather/2008/08/chicago_flood_of_august_1987.html

England’s storm:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/october/16/newsid_2533000/2533219.stm

Diorama leprechauns

Kristine Haglund — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:05:00 GMT

Larry Sessions asked about the elves or leprechauns in the dioramas. Always a popular subject. Attached is a file that will tell you how to find them.

Always learning something new

Kristine Haglund — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:27:00 GMT

The past is past, as they say, but it’s never dead. The Archives is constantly acquiring, learning, and preserving new pieces of information about the way things used to be here at the Museum. Sometimes we go looking for things and sometimes they come to us.

Recently we’ve been focusing on the Museum’s dioramas. Over the decades, dioramas have proven to be popular with visitors and the Museum continues to use the diorama technique in its permanent exhibits. There are currently about 100 dioramas in the Museum, depending on how you count. The earliest of the Museum’s existing dioramas were opened in 1938, when five new habitat groups were opened in the Mead Hall, a.k.a. Explore Colorado. Some of the more recent dioramas appear in Prehistoric Journey and in Space Odyssey (the Mars diorama). To see specific information about the dioramas go to www.dmns.org/librarycatalog and search for the word “diorama.” A list of catalog records will appear and you’ll be able to click on items in the list to see more information. You can also search for specific animals in the dioramas. Try searching on “diorama bear,” for example, and see what comes up.

The dioramas are made up of numerous elements: the diorama case itself (including metal, plaster and wood), the background paintings, the foreground (including vegetation, rocks, dirt, snow, and the occasional fake excrement), and the critters (both real specimens and modeled). The talented staff of the Museum made our dioramas some of the best in the world and we are trying to more fully document these people and their work.

Numerous people worked on the dioramas and we know little about many of them. But, as I said, sometimes things just come to us. Recently relatives of former employees have sought information from us. We have been able to provide them with some and they have given us even more in return. The children of one of the Museum’s background painters, Sharon Wolverton, sent us biographical information and photographs of their mother. And the grandson of one of the Museum’s foreground workers Emma Ball Butler called me from the Museum’s information desk asking if I knew anything about Emma. I did and, now, thanks to him, I know a whole lot more.

We also go looking for information. We are doing a series of recorded oral history interviews with former Museum staff to flesh out our knowledge of the dioramas and the people who worked on them. Know anyone you’d like to recommend for an interview?

Kris Haglund

Uncertainty, Doubt and Mt. Redoubt – No Doubt Now – Thar She Blows!

David Grinspoon — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:46:00 GMT

3/24/09

After months of warning signs, including seismic signals, heat pulses, gas releases, and melting glacial ice, which led to several upgrades and downgrades in alert status from the Alaska Volcano Observatory, Alaska’s Mount Redoubt Volcano – 10,200 feet high and 100 miles southwest of Anchorage, exhibited a day of greatly enhanced earthquake activity and then started erupting furiously Sunday night (3/22), sending an ash plume up to 60,000 feet into the sky, and depositing fine gray dust on several towns north of Anchorage (including Wasilla…)

Although these eruptions occurred at night, the ash plumes, spreading to the Northeast, were captured in thermal infrared imagery by NASA’s Terra and Aqua Satellites.

The successful prediction of an eruption was made possible by careful analysis of the pattern of activity that preceded the last major eruption 20 years ago. This demonstrates the great importance of government support for volcano monitoring. The cumulative advance in this field not only illuminates the way our world works – it saves lives and livelihoods.

The volcanic ash from Redoubt is composed of sharp tiny, jagged rock fragments that are actually used as industrial abrasives. It can be dangerous to people, injuring skin, eyes and lungs. It can also destroy electronic equipment, etch glass and shut down airplane engines. When redoubt erupted in 1989 it caused an aviation near-disaster. To avoid a repeat, numerous Air Alaska and other flights have now been canceled in the vicinity of the spreading ash cloud. Twenty years ago a four month period of eruptive activity caused widespread mudfalls or "lahars", which destroyed property along some of the nearby streams.At least one lahar has already been seen developing during the current eruptions.

Testing, testing, testing

Tara — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:57:00 GMT

It's been an exciting week for Expedition Health. We officially started testing all the cool interactive exhibit components. Today was a staff/volunteer walk-through where we got to try everything out and simulate for the research team what a real day would be like inside the hall. I was so excited to actually get to use the Peak Pass that I'd only read and heard about for so long. Check-in was really easy... I just put my Peak Pass (which is like a credit card) into the sign-in station, entered my name, age and birthday and then picked my Expedition Buddy. I chose Danielle :)

After that, I entered the hall and was instantly overwhelmed with how awesome everything looked. The graphics were so colorful and the interactives were extremely unique and fun to play. My favorite was Food is Fuel. The goal of the game is to try and pick out a balanced meal for your buddy so they can make it to the top of Mt. Evans. The first time I tried, I chose too many proteins. Poor Danielle tumbled right down the mountain!

Another really cool exhibit was the Full Body Viewer. It let you see straight through your skin to what your bones, muscles, and nerves look like. It even mimicked the movements I made. When I waved, my skeleton waved right back at me. So cool.

The Summit Science Stage was also up and running with a heart dissection. I get a little queasy when it comes to blood and guts, but I didn't have to get too close because the details of the dissection were projected up on a large screen. Other people just dove right in, getting right up next to the staff member conducting the dissection, and asking tons of really great questions.

A few staff members brought their kids, and they were instantly hooked on Tykes Peak. The giant pin-screen was especially popular. One mom made an impression of her face, and her little 2 1/2 year old son took one look at it from the other side and said "I smash!" That game probably went on for a good 10 minutes. He also couldn't get enough of the slide and the pair of binoculars he packed in his expedition backpack.

Overall the exhibit experience was excellent. Once I made it through, I printed out my Peak Pass Personal Profile. I've got it on the wall in my office now. Next time I'm hoping to get my heart rate down -- I guess I was just excited to see this all finally coming together!

A Tale of Three Volcanoes

David Grinspoon — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:31:00 GMT

2/2/09

We exist on a thin crust of solid rock which overlies the churning cauldron of Earth's interior. When molten rock extrudes onto the surface, we call it a volcano, and these can take a huge variety of forms. Today I will focus on three volcanoes which have shown recent signs of life: one which may be about to blow, one which is probably not going to go off any time soon but could cause a global disaster when it does, and one which has been recently and intermittently active, causing an entire town to make the painful decision to relocate.

The Redoubt Volcano is showing alarming signs of activity, and volcanolgists are warning that there could be a large eruption any day now! This volcano is only 100 miles southwest of Anchorage. When it erupted 20 years ago it shot a plume of ash 40,000 feet into the air. A passenger jet approaching Anchorage sucked in enough ash to shut the engines down. The cloud of ash also etched the windshield glass so severly that the pilots could barely see. Some skillful flying averted disaster. Now the volcano is rumbling to life again and people in Anchorage are stocking up on emergency supplies. Seismic activity has been far above normal background levels, and small vapor plumes have been observed, but as of this writing (6 PM Mountain 2/2/09) there has been no eruption.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory site is a good place to stay abreast of seismic measurements, maps, webcams and warnings.

A much more devestating, and fortunately much more unlikely event would be the eruption of the Yellowstone supervolcano. Yellowstone park in Wyoming is not only a beautiful wonderland of geysers and hot springs. It lies above an ancient hot spot in the Earth where molten mantle rock rises near the surface, forming one of the largest supervolcanos in the world. Several times in the past fantastically violent eruptions have buried the western part of North America in ash. The last full scale eruption was 640,000 years ago. You wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere in Wyoming or any of the neighboring states when this occurred. It blasted about 240 cubic miles of rock and ash into the air! If this happened today it would not only devastate thousands of square miles in the Western U.S. but it could also cause a climate disaster as the ash and dust traveled around the globe on the winds, blocking sunlight and cooling the surface for a few years - long enough to seriously disrupt several growing seasons. Although such an eruption is unlikely any time soon, knowing what I know about what has happened there in the past and probably will again someday, it did get my attention when I saw, this last December, that a new swarm of hundreds of small Earthquakes was being reported. As magma rises in a chamber below the ground, it often causes such earthquake swarms. This kind of activity at Yellowstone is not that unusual, but the swarm in December and early January was unusually large, consisting of over 800 earthquakes. This was the second largest of these swarms ever observed. It strikes me that when "the big one" does come to Yellowstone, the early signs may be similar to what occurred there late last year!

The United States Geological Survey maintains a map of current earthquake activity at Yellowstone here. When I saw the swarm in December I did e-mail a friend who lives in those parts and say "Dude, I hope you have your supervolcano insurance paid up!". But things have quieted down and chances are he is safe for another several hundred thousand years. And of course all that ash ultimately adds nutrients to the soil, so after it wipes out forests and agriculture for hundreds of miles in every direction, it will eventually help new things to grow. Apreciating geology does require a certain level of detachment, or at least taking a very long view of things that can seem a little nihlistic...

And meanwhile in Chile, the Chaiten Volcano, which erupted in May, 2008 after staying dormant for 9000 years, continues to spew steam and ash. Check out these fantastic satellite images on the NASA Earth Observatory site. Recently the Chilean government announced that they would relocate the entire town of Chaiten, which was largely buried by the eruption last year. Life in a subduction zone, where one of Earth's tectonic plates dives beneath another causing frequent volcanic eruptions, as along the West Coast of South America, is often not easy.

Some related news links:

Redoubt Volcano:

http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=life-on-the-ring-of-fire-earthquake-2009-01-30

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/01/30/alaska.volcano/

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hcWJaxwgurm_TV9AVcObQBWbS25QD961D1MO0

Yellowstone earthquake swarm:

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_11610449

Chaitén Volcano:

http://www.patagoniatimes.cl/index.php/20090129736/News/Health-Sience/CHILES-CHAITEN-TO-BE-RELOCATED.html

Hello and Welcome to Planet Waves

David Grinspoon — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:05:00 GMT

Greetings people of Earth (and a hearty welcome to those from elsewhere...).

Since everybody and their uncle now has a blog, why shouldn't I have one? And just in case anybody should actually want to *read* a blog, as opposed to writing their own, I will attempt to make this one interesting and fun. The focus will be on "local" planetary events that illustrate something that is happening on a larger scale. An Earthquake shakes the ground, spills your coffee and might even wreck your house. But it is also a message from a deeper realm, an indicator of forces, movements and patterns within the Earth that are usually hidden from us.

And so it goes.

I'll post about developments on this planet and others that are worthy of our attention for the ways in which they reveal these connections.

I am starting this blog in conjunction with Nature Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters, an exhibit which I am curating that will be here at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science from 2/13/09 to 5/3/09. The exhibit was developed at the Field Museum in Chicago, and we have been putting together a large amount of added content focusing more specifically on the natural and cultural history of natural disasters in Colorado. It's a very cool exhibit so be sure and check it out.

If this proves to be interesting and/or entertaining for you the reader and me the blogger then I hope to keep it going beyond the tenure of Nature Unleashed here in Denver.

And, so I don't have to repeat it with every post, let me just state here at the beginning that:

The postings on the blog are my own and don't necessarily represent the positions, strategies or opinions of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.