Earth System Science Vocabularies Part VI:
Hot Topics In Science, In the News

This domain is intended to be organic and dynamic-growing in response to community interest. The first registry is of "hot topics in science" those areas where really exciting advances are being made across all aspects of the Earth (and planetary) systems. The second registry is "hot topics in the news" those items that are expected to capture the imagination and interest of the general public. The following is a sampling of the type of special topics that might be identified for special classification in the DLESE cataloging system.

EMERGING "HOT TOPICS" IN SCIENCE

• Cause and variation of the Earth's magnetic field
• Tomographic imaging of the deep Earth
• Structure and origin of the continental lithosphere
• Mineral physics as an emerging field of study
• Geomicrobiology and Life in Extreme Environments
• Marine hydrothermal systems and vent communities
• Neotectonics
• Ultra-high pressure metamorphism and geodynamics
• Coupled bio-geochemical cycling
• Source and process of large igneous provinces
• "Snowball Earth"
• Plate Reconstructions
• Nature of and evidence for great extinctions
• Global Warming/Climate Change

EMERGING "HOT TOPICS" IN THE NEWS

Natural Hazards (with links to current events)

• earthquakes (location, magnitude, human impacts)
• volcanic eruptions
• mass wasting floods
• wildfire
• tsunami
• drought
• natural contaminants (e.g. radon, selenium,?)
• sinkhole

Human Impacts and Hazards

• desertification
• deforestation
• engineering projects
  dams
  channelization
• urban issues
• environmental justice
• groundwater pollution
• land subsidence
• land use/zoning
• public health/epidemiology
• seawater intrusion
• environmental impacts of war
• nuclear waste disposal
• asbestos
• land fills
• agricultural practice and policy
• biodiversity
• endangered species

Health and Disease

• human safety issues
• disease vectors

Natural Resources (discovery, development, uses, consequences)

• mineral resources
  metals
  non-metals
• energy resources
  nuclear
  fossil, oil, gas, coal
  geothermal
  hydroelectric
  alternative or renewable
  conservation (of energy)
• water resources
  ground water; aquifers
  surface water; river systems
  water quality
  water quantity
  water use practices
• Soil Resources

Related to Oceans

• El Nino, La Nina, ENSO
• Fisheries-are the oceans dying?

Related to Atmosphere

• Extreme Weather Events
  Hurricanes, tornadoes, snowstorms...
• Global Warming/Climate Change
• Acid Rain
• Ozone Depletion

Related to the Biosphere

• Endangered species, extinction

Planetary/Near Space

• Space weather
• solar flares
• sun spots
• aurora