Articles
Geography Facts about the World’s Continents
How many continents are there? Explore the four to seven continent models and compare the world's continents by size, population, and geography.
X is Longitude, Y is Latitude
Why is X longitude and Y latitude in GIS? Understand how geographic coordinates work and discover simple ways to remember the difference.
Unique Geography Facts About Every U.S. State
From Alaska's Arctic coastline to Delaware's colonial hundreds, discover the geographic features and characteristics that make every U.S. state unique.
Highest Point in Every U.S. State
Every U.S. state's highest point, from Denali to Britton Hill, with elevations, maps, and geographic facts.
States in Order of Admission to the United States of America
From Delaware to Hawaii, discover when each state entered the Union and the geographic features that make every state unique.
How to Create a Radial Flow Map Using QGIS
Learn how to create a radial flow map in QGIS using U.S. Census migration data with this step-by-step GIS tutorial.
Why Do Squirrels Lie Flat?
Splooting helps squirrels lie flat to regulate body temperature, avoid predators, sunbathe, and rest. Explore the science behind this behavior.
United States of Syllables
From Maine to California, see how all 50 U.S. states are grouped by the number of syllables in their names and discover which syllable count is most common.
Greatest Concentration of Breeding Bald Eagles in the Contiguous United States
The San Juan Islands support one of the highest densities of breeding bald eagles in the contiguous United States. Here's why.
How Remote Sensing Helps NOAA Monitor El Niño
Learn how satellites measure ocean temperatures, sea surface height, and other indicators used to monitor El Niño.
Tracing Medieval Rewilding Through Italy’s Ancient Oaks
A study of ancient oak trees reveals how changes in human land use allowed forests to expand across parts of Italy during the medieval period.
Midpen Open Space and the Harm of Repeat Disturbance
At Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve, repeated nesting season projects by Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District are altering habitat used by migratory birds.
Timing Matters: Spring Mowing, Nesting Birds, and Native Wildflowers at Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve
Midpen says timing matters in grassland management. At Bear Creek Redwoods, spring mowing conflicts with ground nesting birds and blooming wildflowers.
What are Those Clumps in Trees?
Discover why squirrels build dreys, the leafy nests hidden high in trees, and why they become easier to spot after autumn leaves fall.
Crown Shyness: When Trees Need Personal Space
Why don't tree branches touch? Crown shyness is the natural phenomenon that creates the gaps between neighboring tree canopies.
Introduction to GIS
GIS is a technological field that incorporates geographical features with tabular data in order to map, analyze, and assess real-world problems.
Florida’s Primary Reef-Building Corals are ‘Functionally Extinct’
A 2023 heatwave killed nearly all of Florida’s main reef-building corals, leaving the reef functionally extinct.
Using Landsat and NDVI to Map Vegetation Change
Landsat imagery and NDVI are used to monitor vegetation change, from invasive grass spread in rangelands to early stress detection in coastal marshes.
GIS Data: Shallow Sea Mud Volcanoes
Explore the global inventory of 700 shallow sea mud volcanoes and access GIS data for these underwater geologic features.
How the FAO’s City-Region Explorer Maps Urban Connections
Explore the FAO's City-Region Explorer to see how GIS maps connections between cities and surrounding communities.
Mapping Short-term Sea Level Changes Over 540 Million Years
Researchers mapped 540 million years of sea level change, showing major short-term shifts during ice ages driven by Earth's orbital cycles.
Water Can Take Years to Seep out of Mountains
Groundwater stored over many years is a significant contributor to streamflow in Western United States mountains according to a published study.
Study Models How the Behavior of Waves Affects Blue Carbon Storage
Bubbles created by the movement of waves can influence how much carbon dioxide is absorbed by the ocean.
High Resolution Ecosystem Map of the Contiguous United States and Adjacent Areas
NatureServe has developed an updated 30-meter hexagon map of regional ecosystems in the contiguous United States and adjacent areas.
Lake Chapala: A Tectonic Lake Formed Where Three Grabens Meet
The geology of Lake Chapala reveals how faulting and volcanic activity shaped Mexico's largest freshwater lake.
Rivers that Flow Backwards
Read about how the Amazon once flowed east to west and how the strength of Hurricane Isaac once change the course of the Mississippi river.