Astrobiology: Life in the Universe

Astrobiology Science and Technology for Exploring Planets (ASTEP)


  1. Seminar Detail

    New and Emerging Perspectives on Late Precambrian 'Snowball Earth' Glaciation

    New and Emerging Perspectives on Late Precambrian 'Snowball Earth' Glaciation

    Presenter: Tim Raub

    February 26, 2007 11:00 AM Pacific

    Geological and geophysical evidence for a dramatically severe planetary glacial response during Earth's Precambrian Eon (the "Snowball Earth") continues to grow. Recent geochemical measurements and modeling suggest that each late Precambrian glaciation might have boosted levels of atmospheric oxygen, ultimately changing patterns of carbon cycling in the ocean and permitting bodyplan complexity in early animals. The Snowball deglacial timescale appears long with respect to Plio-Pleistocene deglacial records and ice dynamic expectations.

    Alternatively, a nonuniformitarian configuration of Earth's geomagnetic field could permit rapid deglaciation but introduce new ambiguities for climate forcing feedbacks. This talk enumerates multiple working hypotheses sustained by astrobiologists attacking this aspect of the fundamentally unusual, Precambrian Earth system.

    Participation Instructions

    With a Polycom....RSVP to Marco Boldt (Marco.Boldt@nasa.gov) and connect to WebEx as instructed below. If you need Polycom help during the live event, call the videoconferencing help-desk at (650) 604-6412

    The slides from the seminar can be accessed real-time using WebEx at:

    https://nasa.webex.com

    Enter the meeting number: 921 906 643 Hit the "join now" button.

    Enter your name or site name (this is not an assigned log-in name, please use your institution name or your first and last name), email and the password: raub123* (case sensitive)

    If you've never joined a WebEx meeting before, please allow an extra 5-10 minutes to install the plug-in.

    Without a Polycom...There are two ways to participate:

    1) You can listen to the seminar on the telephone while viewing the slides in WebEx (see WebEx instructions above). The NASA conference phone number will be displayed when joining the WebEx meeting.

    2) You can watch the Realplayer webcast at: http://vanseg-1.arc.nasa.gov/2007/AB070226-01.ram and view the slides in WebEx (see WebEx instructions above) There is a 30 second delay for the webcast, so you will need to control the slides manually using the arrow buttons in WebEx. Questions for the speaker can be posted in the WebEx chat area to be answered at the end of the talk. Do not try to watch the Realplayer webcast at the same time as the Polycom or the phone. Due to the delay in the webcast, it will sound awful, unless you like dissonance.


    Click here to view Podcast

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