Dear GLIMS colleagues:
I have noted the inquiries and requests for remedies regarding some errors in GLIMS data viewer/access. Unfortunately, I am definitely not one to be able to fix the problem, though I do retain an interest in the well being of GLIMS. And given the chaos in the U.S. and global chaos, please make sure that GLIMS data and the source images, and U.S. publications are safely, redundantly stored in multiple other countries (and not just cities—sorry to bring that up) to the fullest extent possible. Even think about Norway's Arctic seed vault; we need a satellite data vault to handle every bad conceivable scenario.
On happier notes, I offer my deepest gratitudes while world conditions remain where I can say so. GLIMS has been around since its concept development now for 31 years, and about 25 years as an operational organization. I remember Hugh's and my visit to Ohio State University for an IGS meeting where we had a lunch brown bag talk and presented the GLIMS concept. The initial workhorse of GLIMS—ASTER--is hanging on to a slender lifeline, but it long ago stopped being the primary source of data, except in the important area of DEM time series generation and access. We have seen such an immense and wonderful proliferation of observing platforms and sensors and the data handling facilities and methodologies. How amazing! Certainly GLIMS has been a highlight of my career. I am thankful to Hugh Kieffer for having had the boldness (maybe equal parts a much-needed naïete!), which was essential for making ASTER and other observing systems contribute so powerfully to scientific understanding of the changing cryosphere and to the public's recognition of climate change effects. Unless something amazing and unexpected happens at NASA (a proposal held in Limbo since reviews were completed early last year), I am in my life's twilight weeks of funding for glacier-related work.
I will resist my usual willingness to speak frankly and too openly about national and world issues, but by now you all know where I stand. Be strong, get stronger, stand for what is good and right, stand for science, stand for truth and keep helping the public to understand the planet, remember the spirit of GLIMS and expand on that and do better than I; and maintain unity to the greatest extent possible—that will invite "The Force" to keep you, your scientific colleagues, your families, and your countries safe, I hope. Pray for sanity in the wider world, for peace among nations, harmony among people, and for a survivable and thriving planet.
As for me, I will persevere and stay in tune and help the world a person and a little research paper at a time, contribute in my own quiet little way, sell coffee, host a science center at the coffee shop, and life with my Thai wife (Prem) in Thailand, and try to keep my sanity about a really crazy world. But you all are not crazy. You all—from U.S. to India to China and Russia, Norway and Switzerland, Chile, Mexico, Nepal, U.K., Canada, Japan, Italy, and all the other countries—you all are amazing and wonderful. If there is hope in this world (AND THERE IS), the hope rests with you and people like you. I want to stay on the GLIMS mailing list just to monitor what's going on. Feel free to write a science message or just a personal message, send my family pictures, conference photos, whatever; and send me PDFs of your papers, for as long as the world isn't blowing itself up.
If you happen to visit Thailand, please consider visiting me. I will be living in either Pak Chong or Khao Yai (currently the former; hopefully the latter if we can afford to go into business there)—right next to the amazing Khao Yai National park. My wife grew up inside the park, in the jungle (parents worked for the park), had a wild elephant as a childhood friend, lived with tigers until they went extinct in her park. So, for me, it's kind of like a non-alcoholic "Margaritaville" life (but with coconut juice instead of margaritas) merged with planetary science and glacier science; I hope to see wild elephants with me own eyes--not yet, but there's lots of elephant shit on the jungle trails. My Mom taught me: "When life hands you lemons, just make lemonaide!" And so I am, nicely so.
"Who couldathunk it?" Life has its twists and turns.
"May the Force Be With You" (and Us All). We are all going to need it.
--Jeff Kargel
Planetary Science Institute
Tucson, AZ 85742
