Katarina Samurović, Author at Geography Realm

Composite image of Europe at night, 2016. Credits: NASA Earth Observatory images by Joshua Stevens, using Suomi NPP VIIRS data from Miguel Román, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Germany Plans to Curb Light Pollution to Save Insects

September 11, 2020September 10, 2020 by Katarina Samurović

In the latest bid to reverse the dramatic insect decline, Germany is planning on dimming its lights.

Source: National Research and Development Institute for Soil, Agro-chemistry and Environmental Protection, Sectorial Programme of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2007 via Combating desertification in the EU: a growing threat in need of more action, European Court of Auditors, 2018.

Desertification in Romania

August 24, 2020August 24, 2020 by Katarina Samurović

In their Sixth National Communication on Climate Change and First Biennial Report from 2013, the Romanian authorities estimated that the area affected by desertification makes up for about 30% of the country’s total area.

An 1860 lithographic print by Eugene von Guerard entitled Crater of Mount Eccles (Victoria). Public domain via MediaWiki Commons.

Linking Geological Events to Aboriginal Oral Tradition and Stories

August 20, 2020August 20, 2020 by Katarina Samurović

Recent findings about the existence of human civilization dating back 50,000 years suggests major geological events have been described in Aboriginal oral tradition and stories.

A photograph showing a snow algae bloom dominated by green algae starting to melt out from beneath seasonal snow cover. Photo: Gray et al., 2020. CC BY 4.0.

Why Is Antarctica’s Snow Turning Green?

August 10, 2020August 6, 2020 by Katarina Samurović

The coasts of the northern Antarctic Peninsula are seasonally turning green, orange, and red – all thanks to microscopic algae.

Map showing mass ice loss from Antarctica (2003 to 2019). Source: Smith et al., 2020.

Coastal Ice Loss is Outpacing Mainland Ice Gains on Both Antarctica and Greenland

July 2, 2020July 2, 2020 by Katarina Samurović

A recent study has confirmed that the coastal ice loss is much greater than the mainland ice gain on both Antarctica and Greenland.

Projected geographical shift of the human temperature niche from current (A) to 2070 (B). Map C shows shaded areas of red where suitability has shifted the most from suitable to less suitable. Maps: Xu et al., 2020.

Study Estimates That 3 Billion People Will Be Living In Extreme Heat By 2070

September 26, 2020June 18, 2020 by Katarina Samurović

Researchers used data from UN population projections to map out how a three-degree warming scenario will translate into temperature changes for the world’s population.

2020 Earth Day Marks the 50th Anniversary

April 16, 2020April 16, 2020 by Katarina Samurović

On April 22, 2020, a big environmental jubilee is taking place – the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.

Australia’s Yarrabubba is the Oldest Impact Crater on Earth

March 7, 2020March 7, 2020 by Katarina Samurović

Recently published research indicates that the Yarrabubba impact structure in Australia may be the world’s oldest.

Map of ocean heat content in the upper ocean (from the sea surface to a depth of 700 meters, or 2,300 feet) for 2017 relative to the 1993–2017 baseline. Source: NASA.

Oceans Are Warming 40 Percent Faster Than Previously Estimated

April 18, 2020March 5, 2020 by Katarina Samurović

A review of available studies, published in Science in January 2019, has revealed that the rate of ocean warming is as much as 40% faster than that suggested by IPCC.