EOS

Magazine Overview

Title: EOS
Issue: vol. 60, no. 6
Date: February 6, 1979
Publisher: American Geophysical Union
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of EOS features several articles on scientific research and new programs. It includes discussions on oceanographic standards, geophysical research initiatives, and a speculative explanation for some UFO sightings.

Salinity and Oceanography

The lead article discusses the development and implications of the Practical Salinity Scale (1978). It highlights the incompatibility of existing data sets derived from different salinity definitions and experimental methods. The authors argue for a single, definitive equation for salinity based on conductivity ratio, which responds to all ions, unlike chlorinity. This new scale aims to provide a more accurate and consistent method for density calculations, especially in waters with varying ionic content. The article invites comments from interested individuals and agencies, with a deadline of July 31, 1979, for submissions to E. L. Lewis or N. P. Fofonoff.

References are provided for further reading, including works on salinity-conductivity relations and UNESCO reports on oceanographic tables and standards.

NSF New Geophysical and Environmental Program

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has established a new program for applied research in geophysical sciences, encompassing earth, oceanographic, and atmospheric studies. This program, housed within the Applied Research Division of the Directorate for Applied Science and Research Applications (ASRA), aims to enhance scientific understanding of technical, social, economic, and policy issues. It seeks to accelerate technological innovation by leveraging scientific discoveries. The program will support research focused on improving methods for exploring and extracting terrestrial or seabed resources. Proposals can be discussed with the program manager, A. Inderbitzen, or submitted in the format described in NSF Publication 78-46. The deadline for proposal submission for fall funding review is April 1, 1979. T. Mukherjee handles proposals related to extraction or processing technology.

UFO's: An Insect Connection?

This section presents a novel hypothesis linking nocturnal UFO sightings with insect infestations, specifically spruce budworm moths. Researchers Philip S. Callahan and R. W. Mankin from the USDA Research Laboratory in Gainesville, Florida, reported in Applied Optics that insects placed in an electric field can produce an electrical discharge accompanied by visible light. This phenomenon, likened to St. Elmo's fire, could be mistaken for a UFO. The article notes that UFO sightings in Utah between 1965 and 1968 coincided with spruce budworm moth infestations. The researchers suggest that large swarms of night-flying insects, under specific weather conditions with strong electric fields, could generate a corona discharge predominantly blue (due to nitrogen excitation) that might be visible from a distance. They propose that a significant number of the over 30,000 reported UFO sightings could be explained by such nocturnal light phenomena related to insect activity.

New Publications: The Study of Travelling Interplanetary Phenomena

This section reviews the book "The Study of Travelling Interplanetary Phenomena" (STIP), vol. 71, edited by M. A. Shea, D. F. Smart, and S. T. Wu. The book contains proceedings from a memorial symposium honoring L. D. de Feiter, a Dutch space scientist. STIP is an international effort to study the interplanetary medium, focusing on phenomena like shock waves and turbulence. The reviewer, J. R. Jokipii, notes that while the book covers six major subdivisions of interplanetary physics, it primarily consists of summaries of authors' current research rather than comprehensive reviews. He points out that the book emphasizes solar physics, radio observations, solar wind theory, cometary topics, solar cosmic ray propagation, and specific STIP time intervals, but omits discussions on the interaction of the solar wind with planets. Despite these limitations, the reviewer commends the high caliber of the individual articles and recommends the book as a valuable source for current views in interplanetary research.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the advancement of scientific understanding and methodology in oceanography, geophysics, and space physics. There is a clear emphasis on the importance of standardized definitions and accurate measurements, as seen in the discussion of the Practical Salinity Scale. The NSF program highlights a commitment to fostering applied research and technological innovation. The speculative article on UFOs, while not presented as definitive fact, reflects an editorial stance open to exploring unconventional explanations for phenomena, grounded in scientific principles. The review of the STIP book underscores the ongoing, specialized nature of research in interplanetary physics and the value of synthesizing current findings.