Board on Earth Sciences and Resources and Its Activities

地球科学和资源委员会为国家研究理事会与地球科学有关的活动提供了一个协调中心。在委员会的支持下，特设委员会就广泛的地球科学问题向联邦政府提供独立建议，包括研究、环境、自然灾害、资源、数据和教育。它还为美国参与国际地球科学项目提供指导。理事会及其六个常设委员会（地球资源委员会、地理科学委员会、地质和岩土工程委员会、地球物理和环境数据委员会、地震学和地球动力学委员会、测绘科学委员会）每年大约举行两次会议。在这些会议上，讨论和发展潜在的研究。这些活动中有许多是为了响应联邦政府机构就具体技术或政策问题提出的咨询意见。其他活动由联邦政府授权，或由委员会根据其支持地球科学持续健康的努力发起。董事会的回应是设立一个特设委员会或小组来处理具体问题。委员会不断寻求提供准确和及时的信息，以支持政府、学术界和工业界的明智决策。目前，BESR正在监督8项特别研究，另有几项预计将于2008年开始。目前正在进行的研究有：地球表面过程的挑战和机遇；矿产对美国经济的重要影响；了解气候变化影响的深时地质记录联邦应急管理局洪水地图：准确性评估和成本效益改进；固体地球科学中的重大研究问题人类进化的地球系统背景国家精密大地测量基础设施要求《未来十年地理科学的战略方向》。

The Board on Earth Sciences and Resources (BESR) provides a focal point for National Research Council activities related to the earth sciences. Under the aegis of the Board, ad hoc committees provide independent advice to the federal government on a wide range of earth science issues, including research, the environment, natural hazards, resources, data, and education. It also provides guidance related to U.S. participation in international earth science programs.The Board and its six standing committees (Committee on Earth Resources; Geographical Sciences Committee; Committee on Geological and Geotechnical Engineering; Committee on Geophysical and Environmental Data; Committee on Seismology and Geodynamics; and Mapping Science Committee) hold approximately two meetings each per year. At these meetings, potential studies are discussed and developed. Many of these activities are in response to requests from agencies of the federal government for advice on specific technical or policy issues. Other activities are federally mandated, or initiated by the Board in accordance with its efforts to support the continued health of the earth sciences. The Board responds by establishing an ad hoc committee or panel to address the specific issue. The Board continually seeks to provide accurate and timely input to support wise decision-making in government, academia, and industry.Presently, BESR is overseeing eight ad hoc studies with the several more expected to begin in 2008. Studies presently under way are: Challenges and Opportunities in Earth Surface Processes; Critical Mineral Impacts on the U.S. Economy; Deep-Time Geologic Records for Understanding Climate-Change Impact; FEMA Flood Maps: Accuracy Assessment and Cost Effective Improvements; Grand Research Questions in the Solid-Earth Sciences; The Earth System Context for Hominid Evolution; National Requirements for Precision Geodetic Infrastructure; and Strategic Directions for the Geographical Sciences in the Next Decade.