Articles
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.
Where Superblooms Occur in the United States
Discover where superblooms occur across the United States, from California's deserts to spectacular spring wildflower displays across the West.
Northernmost Point in the United States
Above the Arctic Circle, Point Barrow is the northernmost point in the United States.
Map and Chart of Cardinals and the 2025 Papal Conclave
The 2025 papal conclave is underway. Here's which countries the 135 voting cardinals eligible to elect the next pope come from.
World’s Biggest Iceberg
The largest iceberg in the world is A-23A, with an area of about 1,240 square miles.
Geography and GIS Glossary
This Geography and GIS glossary provides definitions for terms related to geographic information systems (GIS), cartography, remote sensing, and other ...
Satellite Imagery of Clouds
Listed here are different clouds formations as seen on satellite imagery.
Water on Earth
Earth holds trillions of tons of water, mostly in oceans. Only 2.5% is freshwater, primarily found in glaciers, groundwater, lakes, and rivers.
Where are GIS Professors Hired From?
Researchers analyzed GIS faculty hiring data to identify geographic patterns influencing job placement.
Agricultural Patterns Visible from Space
Satellite images reveal distinctive agricultural patterns shaped by history, geography, irrigation, and farming practices around the world.
How Much Forest Covers the Earth Depends on the Definition
Forest cover estimates vary because there is no universal definition of a forest. Learn how canopy cover, tree height, and area thresholds affect global forest maps.
Glacial Flour Makes Some Lakes Turquoise
Glacial flour, the fine dust created as glaciers move over land, turns lakes a turquoise color by reflecting blue and green light.
Geography Printables
GeographyFun features maps, crosswords, and word searches for educators, students, and geography enthusiasts who love exploring the world through words.
Deep Space Mapping of Saharan Dust Height
Learn how a deep-space satellite maps the height of Saharan dust, helping scientists improve weather forecasts and climate models.
Hydroclimate Whiplash: the Impact on California Wildfires
Rapid shifts between extremely dry and unusually wet conditions are reshaping California’s fire landscape by increasing vegetation growth, drying fuels, and contributing to more intense wildfires.
Tampa Bay: Florida’s Largest Open Water Estuary
Freshwater rivers and Gulf waters meet to create one of Florida's most productive coastal ecosystems, home to seagrass, mangroves, and diverse wildlife.
Cartopareidolia: Seeing People and Animals in Maps
Cartopareidolia is the tendency to see familiar shapes, animals, faces, and objects in coastlines, borders, and maps.
Shapefile Viewers
Explore viewers for visualizing GIS vector data in shapefile format, available for both desktop and web browsers.
Sado Island: An Example of Tripartite Geography
Two mountain ranges and a central plain make Sado Island a classic example of tripartite geography.
What Are Glacier Grounding Lines?
Grounding lines mark where glaciers begin floating, making them one of the most important indicators of ice sheet stability and sea-level rise.
Pan Sharpen Landsat Imagery in QGIS
This QGIS tutorial guides you through pan sharpening Landsat imagery by combining the 15-meter panchromatic band with lower-resolution multispectral bands.
Pan Sharpening in GIS
Enhance spatial detail in multispectral images with pan sharpening. Learn how this GIS technique combines data for sharper, more detailed satellite imagery.
Isostatic Rebound: How Earth’s Surface Rises after Glaciers Retreat
Isostatic rebound is the Earth's slow rise after glaciers melt, reshaping coastlines, revealing landforms, and altering sea levels globally.
Cavum: Hole-punch Clouds
Cavums are also known as hole-punch clouds or fallstreak holes.
Mapping Methane: the Launch of MethaneSAT and the Limitations of Satellite Data
While advances in remote sensing and satellite technology have improved methane mapping, ground measurements remain essential for accurate, localized data.
Increased Light Pollution in the Arctic
Satellite data reveals growing nighttime light levels across the Arctic, linked to expanding oil, gas, shipping, and infrastructure activity.