Basic Earth Science and Society - Basic Research Opportunities in Earth Science - page 21

densities of solids and fluids to be changed by as much as an order of magnitude
in the laboratory, revealing unforeseen properties while also producing new types
of materials and supplying novel insights into condensed-matter physics
( Figure 1.3 ). 16
The chemical and isotopic composition of volcanic rocks on the Earth's
surface and of accidental inclusions of mantle rocks (xenoliths) in such lavas
carries vast amounts of information on magma formation processes and the
history responsible for the Earth's chemically layered structure. The petrological
and geochemical signatures of some xenoliths indicate that they have come from
the midmantle transition zone and even the lower mantle, providing samples of
the deep interior that can be studied directly in the laboratory. Advances in
geochemical techniques and interpretation continue to expand and refine the
understanding of chemical phenomena occurring within the mantle and core, both
at the present time and in the distant geological past. Of particular interest is the
increasing convergence between geochemical and geophysical approaches and
the brightening prospects for a unified model of deep-Earth dynamics.
Measurement systems are now providing data on active Earth processes that
are of unprecedented quality and quantity. To take full advantage of these rich
sources of information, geoscientists will have to harness the power of advancing
information technologies to collect and assemble raw data, to process and archive
data products, and to make these products widely available to researchers and
other users. A number of challenges can be identified: how to collect data in real
time at modest cost from expanding global networks of sensors, many in remote
locations; how to reconfigure networks for robust operation when components
fail, emergencies arise, or demands peak; how to ensure prompt delivery of data
to users with time-critical needs (e.g., rapid response to natural disasters) while
maintaining quality control and accessibility by lower-priority users; how to
process heterogeneous data streams quickly enough that the data volume does not
overwhelm managers and users; how to archive data in a way that enhances
research capabilities rather than leading to overfull data warehouses. This type of
information management will require innovations in Internet connectivity,
multimedia information processing, digital libraries, and visualization
techniques. Geoscientists are in an excellent position to exploit and contribute to
the research being done in all of these areas by the information technology
communities.

16

R.J. Hemley and N.W. Ashcroft, The revealing role of pressure in the condensed matter
sciences, Physics Today, v. 51, p. 26-32, 1998.