A research collaboration found that Haiti has lost over 99% of its primary forests, triggering an ongoing mass extinction of reptiles, amphibians, and other species. The country is expected to lose all remaining primary forest cover in less than two decades, resulting in the disappearance of most endemic species.
SourceTemple University College of Science and Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 29, 2018
A University of Oklahoma meteorologist predicts severe droughts and intense rainfall events will become more frequent and long-lasting worldwide. The study, published in Geophysical Research Letters, uses standardized rainfall indices to compare event characteristics between regions and seasons.
SourceUniversity of Oklahoma·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateOct 25, 2018
Super Typhoon Yutu made landfall as the strongest storm to hit any part of the US this year, with peak rain rates of up to 269 mm/hr. The GPM satellite revealed an almost perfect ring of heavy to intense rain, indicative of an extremely powerful storm.
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.
A new study published in Nature found that sustainable forest management can only provide modest, local benefits rather than a significant impact on the global climate. Forests themselves will need to be adapted to climate change to sustain their ecological and social services.
A new study found that primary tropical forests contain more biodiversity and carbon than even mature regenerating forests. Secondary forests, on the other hand, can still play a vital role in biodiversity conservation and carbon storage, with some areas recovering to over 80% of levels found in undisturbed primary forests.
SourceLancaster University·JournalGlobal Change Biology·DateOct 4, 2018
A recent study found that secondary forests in southern Costa Rica last an average of 20 years before being converted to another land use, preventing them from providing habitat for many forest species and absorbing large amounts of carbon.
SourceMissouri Botanical Garden·JournalConservation Letters·DateOct 2, 2018
Tropical Storm Kirk brought intense rain to the Leeward Islands on September 28, with the heaviest downpours recorded near its center. The Global Precipitation Measurement mission detected hourly rainfall rates of up to 4 inches per hour, posing a risk of life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.
Research by University of Utah biologist William Anderegg and colleagues found that diverse forests are more resilient to droughts due to a variety of hydraulic traits in tree species. Forests with multiple types of trees and diverse water use patterns showed less impact from droughts, with satellite data confirming the findings.
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.
A 10-year study found that bird diversity in Honduras cloud forests is moving higher in elevation, driven by globally rising temperatures and land protection limitations.
SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalBiotropica·DateSep 6, 2018
Warm-water kelps alter ecosystem functioning, with faster food production and processing, but may reduce biodiversity. Kelp forests are expected to survive, unlike in other regions where they are disappearing.
SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalJournal of Ecology·DateAug 24, 2018
Hurricane Lane is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 10 to 20 inches, with localized amounts up to 40 inches possible over Hawaiian Islands. The slow movement of the storm increases the threat for prolonged heavy rainfall and extreme rainfall totals.
A Montana State University-led team discovered that low humidity, high winds, and extreme temperatures contribute to Chile's massive fires. The researchers found that Chile replaced native forests with more flammable tree plantations, which facilitated the spread of fires.
SourceMontana State University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 22, 2018
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.
A new study by the University of Leeds found that forests emit volatile gases, forming particles in the atmosphere that increase diffuse light. This enhanced diffuse sunlight boosts photosynthesis by up to 10% globally, mirroring 10% of global fossil fuel emissions.
SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalNature Geoscience·DateAug 20, 2018
A new study found that seed rain, canopy gaps, and soil disturbances contribute to the establishment of invasive plants. Proximity to seed sources was a significant predictor for wine raspberry, Japanese barberry, and Japanese stiltgrass.
SourceCambridge University Press·JournalInvasive Plant Science and Management·DateAug 17, 2018
A global study reveals that children living near forests have better nutrition due to increased dietary diversity from forest products and reduced micronutrient deficiencies. Forests promote health through multiple pathways, including access to a range of foods and income for food purchases.
SourceUniversity of Vermont·JournalScience Advances·DateAug 15, 2018
A new study found that frequent fires in eastern US forests make droughts harder for young trees to survive, even in wet areas. The research shows that fire can promote warmer, drier conditions and reduce nitrogen availability, leading to increased drought stress.
SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalFunctional Ecology·DateAug 15, 2018
A University of Arizona study resolves controversy over rain's relationship to soil moisture, revealing morning soil moisture can impact afternoon rainfall in the region. Drier soils enhance rain on days with limited wind-borne moisture, while wetter soils increase rain when winds bring more moisture.
SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateAug 9, 2018
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.
A recent study by the University of Exeter suggests that replacing forests with crops for bioenergy power stations could increase CO2 in the atmosphere, while protecting and regenerating forests may be a more sensible option. The research highlights the importance of land use changes in mitigating climate change.
SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 7, 2018
Climate change is projected to double rain-on-snow flood risk in the Sierra Nevada, Colorado River headwaters, and Canadian Rocky Mountains by the end of this century. This could lead to a 200% increase in localized flood risk and strain existing infrastructure.
SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalNature Climate Change·DateAug 6, 2018
A new study reveals that animal and fungal species have a significant impact on forest performance, including carbon storage and climate regulation. The research, conducted over ten years in subtropical forests, found that biodiversity must be considered as a whole to maintain forest health.
SourceGerman Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 1, 2018
A landmark study by Newcastle University researchers finds that heavy, short rain storms are intensifying rapidly in Australia, leading to increased flash flood and urban flooding risks. The study, published in Nature Climate Change, shows that these extreme events are substantially larger than expected under climate change.
SourceNewcastle University·JournalNature Climate Change·DateJul 30, 2018
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.
Researchers found tropical forests' gross primary productivity increases with warming temperatures but slows down at optimal range of 28-29 degrees Celsius, before declining at high temperatures.
SourceFlorida State University·JournalEcosphere·DateJul 26, 2018
Current tropical forests' capacity to absorb carbon dioxide is being compromised by deforestation and climate change, threatening global temperature rise goals. Researchers estimate that forests are currently absorbing as much CO2 as they generate through deforestation and degradation.
SourceUniversity of Edinburgh·JournalNature·DateJul 25, 2018
A study found that protecting tropical forest carbon stocks is ineffective for biodiversity in ecologically valuable forests. In fact, up to 77% of species protected through carbon conservation were not saved in these areas. The researchers suggest focusing on both carbon and biodiversity conservation efforts to safeguard unique wildlife.
SourceLancaster University·JournalNature Climate Change·DateJul 16, 2018
Researchers have calculated the capacity of North American forests to sequester carbon, finding that they have reached 78% of their potential and will only gain 22% more in the next 60 years. This is a critical finding with implications for forest management, climate scientists, and policymakers.
SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 13, 2018
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.
The Global Precipitation Measurement mission gathered important rainfall data on Hurricane Beryl's remnants as it passed through the Windward Islands and Puerto Rico. Strong convective storms were dropping rain at rates of over 75 mm per hour, with intense storms measured in a small area along Puerto Rico's southeastern coast.
A University of California, Davis study found that grasslands are more resilient carbon sinks than forests in 21st century California, especially when considering the impacts of droughts and wildfires. Grasslands store most of their carbon underground, making them a viable option for carbon offset efforts.
SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateJul 9, 2018
A study published in BMC Evolutionary Biology found that Bale monkeys living in different habitats have distinct mitochondrial DNA profiles. The researchers discovered that populations from fragmented forests were more closely related to vervet and grivet monkeys than those from continuous forests, suggesting hybridization had occurred.
SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBMC Evolutionary Biology·DateJul 9, 2018
The new journal publishes cutting-edge research on forest science disciplines, including ecophysiology, atmosphere, fire, and growth, to inform sustainable forest management. It aims to place forests at the forefront of global attention and provide a centralized source of high-quality research.
SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Forests and Global Change·DateJul 2, 2018
Researchers found that over 80% of natural vegetation began growing in response to pre-rain green-up signals, with woodlands leading the way. The study challenges traditional assumptions about rainfall's role in African plant growth and highlights the need for further research into environmental cues driving this phenomenon.
SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalGlobal Change Biology·DateJul 2, 2018
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.
A tropical disturbance brought extremely heavy rainfall to southern Texas, resulting in record-breaking flood levels. Over 15 inches of rain fell in Hidalgo County, with IMERG estimates indicating 21 inches fell in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico.
NASA's Terra satellite captured an infrared image of Tropical Depression 08W revealing concentrated areas of strong storms near Taiwan. The storm is forecast to move northeast and exit Taiwan on June 15, affecting several regions with heavy rain and strong winds.
A £374,000 UK Government grant will support Ethiopian communities in developing sustainable natural resource management systems, resulting in reduced deforestation rates. The project aims to market valuable forest products, such as cardamom and wild chillies, to improve villagers' livelihoods.
Tropical Storm Aletta was found to have intense rain bands with rainfall rates over 187 mm, and storm top heights of over 12 km. The Global Precipitation Measurement mission revealed these findings using GPM precipitation measurements.
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.
New research by the USDA Forest Service suggests that reduced acid rain and warmer temperatures are behind the resurgence of red spruce. The study found that over 75% of red spruce trees exhibited increasing growth since 2001, indicating a positive response to recent climate shifts.
SourceUSDA Forest Service - Northern Research Station·JournalThe Science of The Total Environment·DateJun 5, 2018
A global study found that Leguminosae trees are twice as common in dry compared with wet secondary forests during the first three decades of natural forest regeneration. These trees have high drought tolerance and can fix nitrogen from the atmosphere, making them essential for tropical forest regrowth in dry regions.
SourceUniversity of Stirling·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateMay 29, 2018
New research reveals tall Amazonian forests are more resilient to drought, with older trees having deeper root systems that access deeper soil moisture. This finding has implications for the future ability of rainforests to store carbon and withstand climate change.
SourceColumbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalNature Geoscience·DateMay 28, 2018
A new study has mapped over 3.4 million acres of Europe's last wild forests, revealing that primary forests are widely distributed throughout the continent. The study highlights the importance of preserving these remaining fragments of primary forest, which provide exceptional ecological values and habitat for biodiversity.
SourceUniversity of Vermont·JournalDiversity and Distributions·DateMay 25, 2018
Meta Quest 3 512GB
Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.
A new study reveals that the asteroid impact that wiped out dinosaurs also caused a mass extinction of forests, leading to the demise of tree-dwelling birds. The research team analyzed fossil records and pollen evidence to conclude that the temporary loss of forests after the impact made it impossible for arboreal birds to survive.
A new study reveals that ancient communities in South America, particularly the Southern Jê people, played a significant role in expanding the critically endangered Araucaria forests between 1,410 and 900 years ago. The forests, which date back to the time of dinosaurs, were initially established on grasslands and expanded into highlan...
SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalScientific Reports·DateMay 17, 2018
A meta-analysis of 126 case studies from five continents reveals mixed-species forest stands are more ecologically valuable and resilient. These forests also exhibit greater productivity, particularly in areas with favorable water supplies.
SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalBiology Letters·DateMay 9, 2018
The largest 1% of trees in mature forests worldwide comprise 50% of forest biomass, according to a global study. The size of the largest trees is crucial for forest structure and carbon storage, with big trees providing unique habitat and strongly influencing their surroundings.
SourceS.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources, Utah State University·JournalGlobal Ecology and Biogeography·DateMay 8, 2018
The Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation - GEDI is a first-of-its-kind laser instrument designed to map the world's forests in high resolution and three dimensions. It will gather height information about everything in its path, but is specifically designed to measure forests.
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.
A study found that China's reforestation programs failed to protect native forests, with overall tree cover growing mainly from monoculture plantations. Researchers advocate for stronger incentives to prioritize native forest restoration.
SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalBiological Conservation·DateMay 2, 2018
A new analysis of the 2013 Douglas Complex fire reveals that young plantation forests experienced higher severity fires than nearby public forests. Daily weather was the most significant driver, but ownership, forest age, and topography also played critical roles.
SourceOregon State University·JournalEcological Applications·DateApr 30, 2018
A recent study by University of Guam researcher Ann Marie Gawel suggests that feral pigs might be an unlikely forest ally in regenerating native plant species on the island. Pigs were found to have a positive impact on seed dispersal in limestone karst forests, whereas deer had negative effects.
SourceUniversity of Guam·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·DateApr 29, 2018
New research finds that thinning forests due to wildfires can reduce water stress and save up to 17 billion gallons of water annually. This approach may help offset the costs of forest restoration, which could increase water flow from Sierra Nevada watersheds by as much as 10 percent.
SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·JournalEcohydrology·DateApr 24, 2018
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.
A new study finds that maintaining a forest's natural shape is crucial in preventing its collapse. The research uses high-resolution satellite data to show that the shape of forests follows a predictable mathematical relationship between perimeter and area, which can help predict stability.
SourceUniversity of Vermont·JournalEcology Letters·DateMar 30, 2018
The use of wood pellets for clean energy is limited by the loss of carbon sequestration in forests and the impact on biodiversity. The process also requires fossil fuels during manufacturing and overseas shipping, negating any potential carbon neutrality.
SourceCary Institute of Ecosystem Studies·JournalScience·DateMar 22, 2018
Climate change is altering eastern US forests, leading to shifts in tree species composition and reduced biomass, which affects carbon storage. Drought-tolerant trees are slower-growing, making forests more responsive to drying or wetting, amplifying the effects of climate change.
Researchers are monitoring kelp forests in the Gulf of Maine to establish a baseline for future change. They believe a lack of sea urchin predators has contributed to their return, particularly in Midcoast and Down East regions.
SourceBigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences·DateMar 20, 2018
A new map by University of Colorado Boulder researchers shows wide variability in how and why different areas receive snow or rain. Coastal areas have a cooler threshold for rain, while inland and mountainous areas are more likely to see flurries even above freezing temperatures.
SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 20, 2018
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.
A recent study found that soil fungi can impact the ability of forests to adapt to climate change. Soil carbon-to-nitrogen ratios increase with ECM dominance and are more associated with low soil nitrogen levels. This suggests that mycorrhizal guilds may be emerging functional traits that define species in terms of their ecological roles.
SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalJournal of Ecology·DateMar 16, 2018
A USDA Forest Service study projects that urban land will more than double between 2010 and 2060, affecting forest and agricultural lands. Urban forests are expected to provide billions of dollars in benefits through improved air quality, climate change mitigation, and reduced energy use.
SourceUSDA Forest Service - Northern Research Station·JournalJournal of Forestry·DateMar 14, 2018
A Duke University study found that reduced forest elephant populations will lead to significant changes in tree species composition and structure, as well as understory density and nutrient availability. Without intervention, up to 96% of Central Africa's forests may undergo major transformations.
SourceDuke University·JournalConservation Biology·DateMar 12, 2018
Tropical Cyclone Dumazile brought extremely heavy rainfall to Madagascar, with over 210 mm of precipitation reported along the northeastern coast. The GPM satellite detected intense bands of rain and storms dropping rain at rates of up to 160 mm/hour, causing widespread flooding.
GoPro HERO13 Black
GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.
Research found that older tropical forests can access deeper soil layers during droughts, while younger forests struggle to survive due to shallower root systems. This study has implications for reforestation efforts and understanding forest responses to climate change.
SourceUniversity of Wyoming·JournalNew Phytologist·DateMar 5, 2018
A University of East Anglia study finds that current payment schemes for forest carbon credits are insufficient to compete with the financial benefits of logging and converting forests to rubber plantations. To effectively protect tropical forests, payment amounts must be significantly increased.
SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 2, 2018
The Global Precipitation Measurement mission captured intense rainfall rates exceeding 5.1 inches per hour in southwestern Arkansas. Life-threatening flood conditions resulted from over 10 inches of rain, with storm tops reaching heights above 5.6 miles.
A study using landscape genetics identified a decline in the endangered maple Acer miyabei's population due to habitat loss and fragmentation. The research highlights the importance of preserving forests along rivers and surrounding them to maintain gene flow, ensuring the long-term survival of this unique species.
SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalBiological Conservation·DateFeb 27, 2018