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Diffuse reflectance records from Fern Drift in the North Atlantic faithfully record sediment percent carbonate. A high-resolu- tion, reflectance-based age model for these sediments derived from an orbitally tuned age model for western equatorial Atlantic, Ceara Rise sediments was generated by spectral frequency mapping. Power spectra of the Fern Drift record indicate statistically significant sub- Milankovitch cyclicity at 7.6-8.4 and 4.8-6.1 kyr. We infer that these -8 and -5 kyr cycles document a linkage between North and equa- torial Atlantic climate given our ability to correlate these records. These climate cycles influence Atlantic basin carbonate prior to the intensification of Northern Hemisphere glaciation and thus must arise from some portion of the climate system other than the dynamics of large ice sheets. The presence of these peaks, which could be related to equatorial clipped precession, implies a possible non-linear response to Milankovitch forcing. Abstract. Diffuse reflectance records from Feni Drift in the North Atlantic faithfully record sediment percent carbonate. A high-resolu- tion, reflectance-based age model for these sediments derived from an orbitally tuned age model for western equatorial Atlantic, Ceara Rise sediments was generated by spectral frequency mapping. Power spectra of the Feni Drift record indicate statistically significant sub- Milankovitch cyclicity at 7.6-8.4 and 4.8-6.1 kyr. We infer that these -8 and-5 kyr cycles document a linkage between North and equa- torial Atlantic climate given our ability to correlate these records. These climate cycles influence Atlantic basin carbonate prior to the intensification of Northern Hemisphere glaciation and thus must arise from some portion of the climate system other than the dynamics of large ice sheets. The presence of these peaks, which could be related to equatorial clipped precession, implies a possible non-linear response to Milankovitch forcing.

There are many ways to acknowledge scholarly achievement. One of the most prestigious is through professional society awards. Such awards recognize the achievements of society members and are important for career success. Any AGU member, even student members, can nominate someone to be a Fellow or awardee. In fact, some award, medal, and prize nominations are even open to the public.

Seventeen women geoscientists from New England, New York, and New Jersey assembled for a writing retreat at Boston College's Connors Family Retreat and Conference Center, set on 80 pastoral acres on the outskirts of Boston. Funded through the National Science Foundation ADVANCE program, the retreat had two objectives: to facilitate writing and to develop a supportive community. It succeeded on both accounts. Although new to science, retreats of this sort have long been a highly sought after experience for writers in other disciplines. The potential benefits for scientists, in particular, women scientists, are great. Writing is a cornerstone of our work, yet we struggle to find time for it, juggling the demands of students, teaching, family, domestic chores, and research.

We appreciate John C. Steinmetz's comments and would like to add that we reported numbers of women at different types of institutions, but offered no explanations for the numbers. We still lack critical data that would enable geoscientists to explain the numbers, but we do hope that the numbers generate discussion, self-examination, and more (and appropriate) data collection on this issue. Missing data that might help explain the numbers include, “How many women are in the applicant pool for a given academic/survey/industry/government position?” If an applicant pool does reflect the degree recipient pool appropriate to the position, but hiring rates are lower, then the kink in the pipeline is occurring at hiring. Is this due to low numbers of offers being made to women, or to women turning offers down? Each institution can collect and examine this data to find its unique answers and appropriate solutions.

Nearly 50 geo- and social scientists recently gathered in Washington, D.C., for a workshop on women in the geosciences. The two-fold purpose was to compile data on the status of women in the geosciences and to arrive at a consensus on strategies to increase the proportion of women and their diversity in the field. Participants spanned 4 decades of experience, including both genders, and represented many types of academic institutions, from high school to private, bachelors degree-granting colleges to public and private Research I institutions. Two social scientists who specialize in women-in-science issues also participated.