This paper describes network analyses capabilities within GIS to describe and quantify shear zone networks. Meanwhile, structural analysis of rockslide avalanches reveals fault structures as fingerprints for motion and emplacement styles.
A recent study found that past climate changes and sea level fluctuations may have contributed to the formation of new species in the Amazon. The research, published in PLOS ONE, used leafcutter ants as a model organism to investigate how geography and climate affect species diversity.
A study led by Dr. Scott Solomon found that ice age climate change and ancient flooding contributed to the evolution of new insect species in the Amazon region. The researchers tested three hypotheses, concluding that riverine barriers cannot explain the region's high biodiversity.
Projected California warming promises a cycle of more heat waves and increased electricity demand for the state, raising the risk of power shortages during extreme heat events. The study predicts that widespread climate warming could strain the electricity grid, making brownouts or rolling blackouts more frequent.
Researchers discovered a three percent higher incidence of visits for asthma attacks on days following thunderstorms in the metro Atlanta area. The study, published in Thorax, could lead to improved intervention strategies and emergency services planning.
A decade-long study published in Science reveals that most diversification occurred early on, with local ecological communities changing relatively little over time. The researchers used a fundamentally new analysis to conclude that the increase in species diversity was less dramatic than previously believed.
A study by Harvard Medical School found significant racial disparities in diabetes care across individual physicians, with black patients experiencing less ideal outcomes. Adjusting for patient characteristics did not eliminate the disparities, highlighting the need for system-wide solutions to address these issues.
A global map shows 'fire scars' on Earth's surface every year since the turn of the Millennium, revealing annual burns of 3.5-4.5 million km2 of vegetation. The data is vital for scientists monitoring global warming and managing forests.
A researcher at the University of Western Ontario is studying the relationship between global warming, nutrient enrichment, and lake systems to understand the complex dynamics of climate change. The study aims to identify how human activities impact regional temperature, hydroclimates, and aquatic ecosystems.
The premier issue of Environmental Justice explores adverse environmental burdens on marginalized populations, legal challenges, and activism. The journal aims to provide a balanced assessment of environmental inequalities locally, nationally, and globally.
Scientists compared Antarctic temperatures and snowfall to climate models, finding a poor match for the entire last century. The discrepancy suggests that current computer models may not work well for remote regions.
Climate change is predicted to increase flooding in the UK, with periods of high rainfall and river flow patterns lasting several decades. The current perception of flood risk has been lower than in previous centuries, making it difficult to prepare for the increased frequency and intensity of floods.
NC State University is leading a $236,000 nationwide effort to recruit and mentor young researchers to study disasters such as Hurricane Katrina. The project aims to train well-equipped experts to analyze disaster impacts, building on earlier projects led by Texas A&M University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Researchers found that up to one-third of genes are differentially expressed due to environment, with respiratory genes upregulated in urban populations. The study suggests that environmental factors play a large role in modulating gene expression, and that the same gene can be expressed differently depending on the environment.
Research published in International Journal of Health Geographics found that supermarkets are building in newer suburbs, leaving smaller shops and food deserts in their wake. Residents living in food deserts face poor access to supermarkets, leading to higher prices for basic supplies and devastating health effects.
Researchers warn that modern agriculture can lead to major disruptions of the world's water flows, particularly in the world's poorest regions. Ecosystem flips can have significant and sometimes devastating effects on human well-being, as global populations suddenly lose resources they are dependent on.
A University of British Columbia evolutionary biologist shows that adaptation to the environment speeds up speciation. By displacing eco-types from their host plants and protecting others, Nosil found color pattern alone can initiate speciation, while additional traits like detoxifying chemicals are needed for completion.
The city's transformation provides insight into the shifting dynamics of belonging and identity in small- to medium-sized U.S. cities. Woodburn's farmworker housing struggle reflects a deep resistance to Mexican immigrants, yet today there are visible changes in multicultural identity.
A UBC study warns that US corn-based ethanol production will increase nitrogen levels in the Mississippi River, harming the Gulf of Mexico's 'Dead Zone'. The researchers estimate a 10-19% increase in nitrogen loading, exceeding recommended limits and overwhelming mitigation options.
Thompson and Mosley-Thompson's work on ice cores provides comprehensive records of climate change over centuries, vital for forecasting future changes. Their efforts have garnered over 200 academic publications and led more than 60 expeditions to remote sites across five continents.
A new Stanford University study reveals that human cultural traits are subject to natural selection, with functional traits evolving at a slower rate than decorative ones. The research compares Polynesian canoe designs and finds that faster or slower evolution rates indicate the presence of natural selection.
A new digital mapping approach is being used to visualize and analyze vulnerable marine habitats, helping authorities make management decisions that balance competing interests. The method, developed by Dr. Suzana Dragicevic, uses mathematical optimization to find common ground between commercial fisheries and conservation communities.
Recent research finds that blacks are nearly twice as likely to develop severe sepsis as whites, with a significantly higher mortality rate. After controlling for poverty and geography, black race remained independently associated with higher severe sepsis incidence.
A University of Colorado at Boulder study finds that meltwater clogging and speeding of Kennicott Glacier may help explain the acceleration of glaciers in Greenland. The excess water causes water pressure to increase, causing the glacier to slide more rapidly down its bedrock valley.
A recent study by the University of Sheffield reveals that Greenland's ice sheet has experienced its most extreme melting in 50 years, primarily triggered by regional climate changes. The research highlights a striking correlation between Greenland's ice melt and global temperature variations.
A study by Dr Alan Grainger found no convincing evidence for a decline in tropical forests over the past 40 years. Despite local evidence of deforestation, long-term data is plagued by errors and inconsistencies that raise questions about predictions of species extinctions and global climate change.
The study uses fMRI to show that different regions of the brain are activated when people believe, disbelieve or are uncertain about statements. The ventromedial prefrontal cortex is involved in belief processing, while the limbic system's cingulate areas are engaged in disbelief.
A genetic study suggests that gorilla populations' geographic variation may be tied to Ice Age climate change and river barriers. Regional differences in gorillas were shaped by 'refugia' that harbored suitable habitat remnants.
Researchers found that smaller tropical storms and depressions contribute significantly to cumulative rainfall, with over half of the seasonal rainfall attributed to these weaker systems. In contrast, major hurricanes produce heavy rainfall on any given day but are not the primary storm type relieving drought in the region.
Researchers found that Greenland's glaciers responded similarly to the 1920s warming event, with the Kangerdlugssuaq Glacier losing nearly a mile of ice in 1932. This parallels recent changes, increasing alarm about the island's ice fields and sea level rise.
A new study published in the International Journal of Climatology found that urban snow conditions significantly impact skier activity in New England. Researchers discovered that attendees are more likely to visit ski areas based on Boston weather patterns rather than local conditions.
Citizens can generate accurate geographic information using Web 2.0 technologies, offering valuable insights into local activities and unreported events. Volunteered geographic information has the potential to revolutionize geographic information systems.
Researchers propose an entirely new model of human-centered biomes, acknowledging that humans have a significant impact on the global environment. The current system of classifying ecosystems may be misleading, and it's time to study ecosystem functioning in backyards and urban areas.
A study by Johns Hopkins researchers found that only 40% of heart attack patients received recommended aspirin therapy, and 69% of pneumonia patients got recommended antibiotics, highlighting racial, geographic, and financial disparities in access to care.
Elsevier has partnered with IRTCES and WASER to enhance the International Journal of Sediment Research's global presence through ScienceDirect, providing a platform for sedimentation engineering and water management research. The journal will offer certification and wider dissemination to a global audience.
American educators have partnered with Bangladeshi experts to develop U.S. geography standards on coping with natural disasters in the country. The project aims to increase cultural awareness and promote disaster resilience among students.
Researchers at Ohio State University found that summer nighttime low temperatures in Ohio have risen by about 1.7 degrees Celsius (about 3 degrees Fahrenheit) since the 1960s, mainly due to increased humidity and cloud cover. This warming trend is expected to affect the state's climate, with a typical summer night being 20 degrees Fahr...
The study found that plants without the linamarase enzyme lack the Li gene, while those with it produce cyanogenic glucosides. Researchers are testing hypotheses on why acyanogenic plants occur in cold climates, including the possibility of plant suicide due to frequent frosts.
A recent Arctic heat wave has led to a significant revision of climate change forecasts and research findings. The extreme temperatures on Melville Island have caused widespread erosion, changed sediment loads, and impacted water quality, highlighting the urgent need for improved models predicting future climate change in the High Arctic.
A Brandeis study found that fewer than one in five patients receive cardiac rehabilitation services after a heart attack or coronary bypass surgery, despite its proven benefits. The use of cardiac rehab varies significantly by age, gender, and geography.
Graduate students at Johns Hopkins University gather data on ragweed pollen behavior using high-tech and low-tech tools. Their findings could lead to better ways to track pollen travel and control its spread, benefiting 15 million people with ragweed allergies in the US and Canada.
Research by McMaster University suggests peat and vegetation can slow permafrost melting, preserving northern regions. However, local disturbances like fires can accelerate thaw.
The study reveals a novel function for COUP-TF1 in balancing the sizes of functional areas in the brain, ensuring proper partitioning into 'frontal' areas controlling emotions and movements versus sensory areas interpreting the environment. This discovery may explain individual differences in behavior and skills.
Researchers found a strong correlation between median home prices and local obesity rates, with 2% drop for every $100,000 increase. The study also revealed six-fold disparities in obesity rates across the Seattle metropolitan area, with disadvantaged areas affected the most.
The new software application uses Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to select the most efficient BMPs for a particular location based on site-specific criteria. This approach is expected to drastically reduce the BMP selection time and eliminate human error.
A recent PNAS study found that the current Earth system has improved heat regulation compared to 60 million years ago when small tectonic plates existed. The research suggests that plate size and number significantly affect heat loss, with smaller plates leading to greater heat escape from the mantle.
VictorTango, a Virginia Tech engineering and geography student team, is among semi-finalists competing in DARPA's Urban Challenge for $2 million. Their custom-designed drive-by-wire control system and navigation software enable the vehicle to make driving decisions almost human-like.
A University of Leicester study found that climate change contributes to forest fires in Central Siberia, with temperatures rising by almost two degrees Celsius. The changing climate has led to an earlier onset of spring, affecting the timing of plant growth and carbon uptake.
A recent study by Kent State University found that nearly 90% of senior residents in four cities were aware of heat warnings, but only half took action. The study highlights the importance of effective heat warning systems to prevent heat-related deaths.
Researchers developed a new way to predict when vegetation dries to its most vulnerable state to large-scale fires in the Santa Monica Mountains near Los Angeles. The study found that global warming has not caused any apparent long-term trend toward early fire seasons in the area.
Kent State University meteorologist Dr. Thomas Schmidlin studied parking garage safety as a 'refuge of last resort' during hurricanes. At what wind speeds are emergency vehicles safe to respond to emergencies?
Researchers Shepherd and Knutson discuss the ongoing debate over global warming's influence on hurricanes, citing a need for a balanced perspective. The authors argue that significantly more research is needed to determine if a global warming influence is detectable in observed hurricane records.
Researchers can now predict where tropical storms and hurricanes will dump the most rain — even days after — and hundreds of miles away from landfall. The new tools, developed by Corene Matyas, use geographical information systems (GIS) to model rainfall patterns based on storm intensity, distance inland, and landscape topography.
A new book from a University of Missouri-Columbia education professor offers technology-based social studies lesson plans for grades kindergarten to 12, preparing students for the digital age. The book covers various tools and simulations, including podcasting, digital movies, and Google Earth, to enhance learning experiences.
Lonnie Thompson, a renowned glaciologist, will receive the National Medal of Science for his groundbreaking research on global climate change. His team has provided irrefutable evidence that the last half-century was the warmest period in recorded history.
Researchers propose a comet impacted the Laurentide Ice Sheet, causing a 1,000-year-long cold spell and fragmenting human populations. The theory suggests that this event led to the extinction of numerous animal genera and ecological shifts.
A UVM study found ski resort development increases water volume, chloride, and sediment levels in watersheds. Researchers analyzed data from two side-by-side watersheds on Mount Mansfield, showing greater hydrologic effects from resort development than traditional resource extraction.
Researchers found no evidence of drug-resistant bacteria Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii complex on the skin of uninjured US soldiers in Iraq. The study suggests that nosocomial transmission is the likely cause of infections, refuting prior assumptions about the source of the outbreak.
McGill researchers found that societies with more unequal distributions of income experience greater losses of biodiversity. The study suggests a synergy between equitable wealth distribution and conservation of biological diversity.
A recent study on chimpanzee genetics reveals three distinct groups with considerable genetic variation, which has important implications for conservation efforts. The research team found that the traditional geography-based sorting of chimps into western, central, and eastern populations is supported by significant genetic differences.