|
Photo of Craters of the Moon. (photo from NPS website) |
Announcing AWG GIP Positions for 2008
AWG has received funding from AWGF for three positions for 2008.
Please apply only for positions for which you are specifically qualified. Call or email the Park Contacts for each of the positions before applying.
Applications consist of:
- Cover letter addressing your interest and background as related to the position for which you are applying
- a CV or Resume detailing your expertise as related to the position for which you are applying
- a list of three professional references (and their full contact information) that can speak directly to your qualifications for the position
All application materials must be emailed to the AWG GIP Coordinator (M. A. Toscano) at awg-gip@awg.org. The stipend for these positions is $2,500.
For more information, please read "The AWG GIP Program - Why it is needed and how the Geoscience Community and NPS can work together."
The Craters of the Moon Lava Field is a composite field made up of about 60 lava flows and 25 cones. It is the largest and most complex of the Late Pleistocene and Holocene basaltic lava fields on the eastern Snake River Plain, and is the largest dominantly Holocene basaltic lava field in the lower 48 States. It has nearly every type of feature associated with basaltic volcanism. The Monument covers 1,100 square miles and has more than 400 miles of unpaved roads. Craters of the Moon National Monument is located 18 miles from Arco, a small town of 1,000 located in high desert (approx 6,000 ft). Idaho Falls and Twin Falls are both about 90 miles away; Yellowstone and Grand Teton parks are less than 4 hours away.
The participant will spend 50% of her time doing cave inventory and mapping in the expanded Monument in coordination with a Geological Society of America GeoCorps participant (for mutual safety in the field). The other 50% will be spent doing a 1/12,000 geologic mapping project of the Tree Molds Trail Area.
The Florissant Formation preserves an abundant flora and fauna of fossil plants and insects that were deposited in late Eocene (34 million-year-old) lake shales. The small town of Florissant is 2 miles from the monument. Colorado Springs airport is 47 miles from the monument and provides regular service by all major airlines.
The participant will coordinate two projects relating to the geologic and paleontologic resources of the Park. The primary project will be preparation of site maps and a manual to document the inventory of paleontological sites, and to monitor the condition of some of those sites. The secondary project will be to collect fossil leaves and insects by splitting blocks of paper shale that were removed during roadwork in the fall of 2007 and to produce a taxonomic census of this site; this will involve preparation and cataloging of fossil specimens, identification of some of the fossils, and entry into the cataloging database. Participants may also have the option of using a portion of their time for self-initiated research if they have a research plan defined beforehand.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, encompassing over 1.2 million acres, stretches for hundreds of miles from the Orange Cliffs of southern Utah to Lees Ferry in northernmost Arizona. Lake Powell comprises about 13% of the recreation area but the rest of GLCA exposes approximately 8,500 feet (2,590 m) of strata that spans more than 300 million years of the Earth’s history. The canyons, carved into the landscape over the past 5 million years, expose strata that record deposition in shallow seas, tidal flats, sabkhas, alluvial plains, and extensive sand dune-covered deserts. The offices are located in Page, Arizona a town of approximately 9,500 people. It is the hub of a collection of national parks and monuments, state parks, historical sites, prehistoric Indian ruins and awesome geological formations.
Field outings to inspect and GPS-locate areas of known rockfall and suspected areas that have shown signs of instability may include long day hikes and boat rides in less than ideal conditions (rain, heat, and high winds) with the possibility of backcountry overnights. In the office, the GIP will analyze old photos, ranger reports, and historical data. The GIP will prepare a write-up of geohazard sites and build coverages of sites utilizing NPS and park GIS standards. Developing written content for the web and other media is also a possibility.
|
