Elizabeth Borneman
Looking at Centuries of California’s Climate to Understand Fire Risk
Researchers examined moisture patterns and atmospheric wind conditions in California using climate models and centuries of paleoclimate data (from 1571 to 2013).
South Atlantic Humpback Whale Population Rebounds from Near-Extinction
Recent research and updated methods of counting and tracking whale populations has shown an increase in humpback numbers located in the South Atlantic.
How Refugia Will Protect Some Animals and Plants from Climate Change
Scientists and conservationists are working to find refuge areas in order to further land management plans and climate change predictions.
How Goats in Samothraki are Increasing Landslides
Overgrazing by the island's large goat population has left Samothraki’s hills and valleys unprotected by vegetation, making them vulnerable to landslides and erosion from heavy rainfall and other weather.
Researchers Find Thriving Bee Populations in Power Line Corridors
Researchers have found that the bee populations located in the power line corridors were nearly ten times as high as the bee populations living in the more forested areas nearby.
How Much Carbon Dioxide are the Oceans Absorbing?
New research shows that the world's oceans, which cover 70% of the planet, absorb more carbon dioxide than previously thought.
More Frequent and Intense Tropical Storms Can Change the Geography and Ecology of Coastlines
UNC researchers studied North Carolina tropical cyclones over 120 years.
Using Satellites to Map Air Pollution from Wildfires
The Copernicus Sentinel-5P mission is designed to monitor pollutants entering the atmosphere because of major forest fires.
Artist Creates Tapestry of the World
An artist from Portugal named Vanessa Barragão has created a unique map tapestry of the world inspired by nature.
How Scientists Used Satellite Imagery to Find an Untouched Mountain Rainforest
Dr. Julian Bayliss, a Welsh researcher, used Google Earth satellite images to pinpoint a small rainforest at the summit of Mount Lico.
In The Last Three Years Antarctica Lost Ice the Size of Greenland
A recent report published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences analyzed satellite data that showed Antarctica’s rapid sea ice decline.
Studies Show Acid Rain May Make Trees Thirstier
The Forest Service created an artificial environment in a forest in West Virginia to study how acid rain could influence processes in that forest.
Africa’s First Vertical Urban Forest
Vertical forests are buildings that integrate natural resources like trees, shrubs, and food-producing plants into spaces that can also be used as housing or offices.
Maps that put a Twist on Global Population
Cartographers have created maps that showcase the diversity of the world’s population in unique ways.
New Map Shows How Fast Ice is Leaving Antarctica
Researchers used synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) data to look at how the ice is moving and shifting on Antarctica.
Increasing Tree Cover Linked to Improved Community Mental Health
Studies show that adults who live in a neighborhood that has 30% or more tree coverage have lower odds of experiencing psychological distress in their lifetime.
Tracking Lost Dogs with Their Nose Prints
A new Chinese Artificial Intelligence startup called Magvii is working on new technology that could help reunite lost pets and their owners.
Ice Circles
Ice circles are a rare occurrence in rivers, streams, and creeks worldwide.
Visit Almost Four Hundred Years of Mapping Inner Earth With this Virtual Map Exhibit
This virtual exhibit shows different theories and maps that have been created postulating what Earth’s interior looks like throughout history and showed evolution of our ideas of what lies beneath our feet.
GeoQuiz: Guess the Country
Take the following geography quiz to see if you can guess the country using just its outline.
LiDAR: Light Detection And Ranging
LiDAR systems are used to collect high resolution topographic and bathymetric data.
Developing Damage Proxy Maps from Satellite Data
Satellite data is being used to create Damage Proxy Maps to assess changes in an area as the result of natural disasters like Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, and the wildfires that have hit Northern and Southern California.
Mapping the 11 Lost Cities of the Bronze Age
New research methods have led to the narrowing of the search for 11 different Bronze Age cities that have been lost to the tides of time, thanks to new quantitative data analyses by some dedicated economists.
Scientists are Improving How They Track Hurricanes with New Satellites
The Atlantic hurricane season in 2017 has given researchers the opportunity to perfect some of their previous methods and put into practice new instruments used to track hurricanes.
How Deep are the Earth’s Tectonic Plates?
Researchers have been able to create a better picture of tectonic plates by using both earthquake vibrations and seismic waves.
Tropical Forest Degradation Means More Carbon Dioxide is Released into the Atmosphere Than is Absorbed
Satellite images targeting areas of tropical Asia, Africa, and the Americas have shown that some tropical forests are dispelling more carbon than they are taking in.