OBJECTIVE Exposure to radon is associated with approximately 10% of U.S. lung cancer cases. Geologic rock units have varying concentrations of uranium, producing fluctuating amounts of radon. This exploratory study examined the spatial and statistical associations between radon values and geological formations to illustrate potential population-level lung cancer risk from radon exposure. METH...

Geologic maps are complex scientific documents that provide considerably more than cartographic representations of geologic information. Modeling these documents in sufficient detail that they can be recorded and manipulated in computer database form, not simply as raster graphics, is essential to continued progress in geologic science. This paper discusses the principal challenges in geologic ...

A geologic map is a 2-dimensional representation of an interpretation of 3-D phenomena. The work of a geologist consists mainly in (i) inferring subsurface structures from observed surface phenomena and (ii) building abductive models of events and processes that shaped them during the geologic past. In order to do this, chains of explanations are used to reconstruct the Earth history step-by-st...

Coordinated research efforts are underway on three continents (North America, Europe, Australia) to study naturally occurring carbon dioxide deposits, in order to address fundamental questions and concerns about the long-term storage of CO2 in geologic formations. Natural accumulations of carbon dioxide exist in many geologic basins. Some deposits are stored in secure and impermeable traps, whe...

In this paper we describe CO2-PENS, a comprehensive system-level computational model for performance assessment of geologic sequestration of CO2. CO2-PENS is designed to perform probabilistic simulations of CO2 capture, transport and injection in different geologic reservoirs. Additionally, the long-term fate of CO2 injected in geologic formations, including

Sonic velocities of geologic fluids, such as volcanic magmas and geothermal fluids, can be as low as 1 m/s. Critical velocities in large rivers can be of the order of 1-10 m/s. Because velocities of fluids moving in these settings can exceed these characteristic velocities, sonic and supersonic gas flow and critical and supercritical shallow-water flow can occur. The importance of the low chara...

As coastal regions around the world continue to grow and develop, the threat to these communities from tropical cyclones also increases. The predicted sea level rise over the next decades will certainly add to these risks. Developed low-lying coastal regions are already of major concern to emergency management professionals. While hurricane forecasting is available, improved predictions of stor...

The reemerging field of Medical Geology is concerned with the impacts of geologic materials and geologic processes on animal and human health. Most medical geology research has been focused on health problems caused by excess or deficiency of trace elements, exposure to ambient dust, and on other geologically related health problems or health problems for which geoscience tools, techniques, or ...