Researchers are investigating the processes that shape river systems and influence their health and resilience. The 'Riverscapes in Transition' theme brings together science at the intersection of water, climate, landscape, and society, examining these connections across different environments and spatial scales.
The critical zone, a thin layer of soil, groundwater, bedrock, and vegetation, supports nearly all life on the planet and is degrading due to human activities and climate change. A career geologist, Paul Doss, advocates for a bigger role in understanding ecosystems.
Researchers found that magma fragmentation occurs across different depths, temperatures, and stages of an eruption, revealing a protracted process that covers time and space. This discovery could refine assumptions used in computer models of eruptions and improve predictions of volcanic activity.
GSA Connects 2026 is a premier event for geoscientists, featuring new research, discussions on emerging challenges, and exploration of developments across the geosciences. Media representatives can register for credentials and connect with researchers, covering the science presented at the meeting.
The GSA opposes the significant reductions to Bears Ears and Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monuments, which preserve exceptional records of Earth history and support ongoing scientific discoveries. The organization calls for the restoration of boundaries and long-term stewardship of these irreplaceable landscapes.
Researchers discovered the world's highest late Middle Pleistocene marine deposits on the southern margin of the Central Anatolian Plateau, with deposits reaching 1177m above sea level. The findings provide a rare high-resolution temporal benchmark linking marine deposition to deep-seated geodynamic processes.
Ester Sztein, GSA's Director of International Programs, receives the AGI Award for her work in expanding access to geoscience education and fostering international collaboration. The award recognizes Sztein's commitment to increasing public awareness of the critical role geoscientists play in addressing societal challenges.
New research proposes a new model for understanding mud volcano behavior, revealing that large flows grow progressively through repeated small events. A hidden layer beneath the surface acts as a lubricant, allowing overlying mud to slide slowly, reshaping the landscape in ways not immediately visible.
Glenn Thackray takes the helm as GSA President, focusing on advancing geoscience research, education, and public service. With a strong background in leadership experience and passion for mentoring the next generation of scientists, Thackray aims to strengthen the Society's impact.
The Geological Society of America (GSA) is hosting GSA Connects 2026, a premier international gathering in the geoscience community. Abstracts are welcomed across various topics and disciplines, with a focus on cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary dialogue.
A new study in Geology has discovered evidence of a major impact event about 3.5 billion years ago on the Moon, matching the ages of known impacts on Earth and in the asteroid belt. The discovery provides a key link to the history of the inner solar system and sheds light on catastrophic events that may have affected early life on Earth.
Joshua Martin will serve as a GSA-sponsored Congressional Science Fellow, bringing geoscience expertise to Capitol Hill. The announcement marks the 40th anniversary of the GSA-USGS Congressional Science Fellowship, which aims to integrate actionable Earth science into federal decision-making.
The study shows a significant 5°C warming of intermediate waters at 800m depth in the equatorial Atlantic over the last 11,000 years. This warming is not mirrored by changes in tropical sea surface temperatures, indicating an extratropical origin.
Stephanie Plaza-Torres, a geoscientist with a background in paleontology and geochemistry, has been named the 2026-2027 GSA-USGS Congressional Science Fellow. She will support legislative work on issues where science informs public decisions.
Researchers developed a new method to predict debris flows in post-fire landscapes, incorporating vegetation recovery, which reduces unnecessary warnings and improves accuracy. The updated method reflects changes in soil absorption and plant water uptake after wildfires, providing more accurate hazard maps and rainfall threshold guidance.
Researchers found that a dense piece of lithospheric mantle beneath the Hangay Mountains broke off and sank into the deeper mantle about 125-114 million years ago. This 'foundering' event triggered melting of the mantle, generated magma, and caused the overlying crust to dome upward.
A study published in Geology found that up to 75.7% of landslides occur during low or no rainfall periods, with early-stage rainfall reaching the sliding surface through three runoff supply modes and two migration stages. The team recommends mass monitoring, public education, and engineering mitigation measures to prevent such disasters.
A team of scientists using Curiosity rover images discovered ancient Martian ripple marks, indicating intense sandstorms swept through Gale crater around 3 billion years ago. The findings provide insight into the planet's atmosphere at that time, suggesting conditions were higher and closer to Earth's than they are currently.
A new study reveals that climate change is accelerating the rate of sublimation, causing less ice to melt into water that feeds reservoirs and rivers. The research found evidence of increasing sublimation rates from 6,000 to 600 years ago, with implications for future snow droughts.
Researchers have uncovered a new, exceptionally preserved fossil site in Newfoundland, Canada, dating back to 551 Ma. This find dramatically alters our understanding of the 'Kotlin Crisis,' the first extinction event in animal history, which is now estimated to have resulted in an astonishing 80% loss of biodiversity.
Researchers reveal that seafloor weathering may be responsible for the discrepancy in Snowball Earth event durations, with faster rates linked to longer glaciations. This finding has significant implications for predicting future climate change.
Research on Mars' volcanic systems shows that they were shaped by long-lasting and evolving magma beneath the planet's surface. The study found that these volcanoes experienced multiple eruptive phases, transitioning from early fissure-fed lava emplacement to later point-source activity.
A new study investigates the dynamics of a complex fault zone under Seattle, revealing that secondary faults rupture more frequently than previously thought. Researchers hope to refine their understanding of these faults and determine how much hazard they pose to Seattle's four million residents.
A new study in Geology suggests that massive undersea volcanism triggered at least four Triassic extinctions. Marine large igneous provinces were found to be a key driver of these events, accounting for half of the extinctions with an identifiable geological trigger.
A recent study published in Geology found that new single-celled marine species evolved rapidly, occurring in some places in under two thousand years. This rapid evolution helps scientists understand how ocean ecosystems respond to environmental changes and could provide insights into future mass extinctions.
The Geological Society of America (GSA) has increased the award amount of the J. David Lowell Field Camp Scholarship from $2,000 to $3,000 per recipient starting with the 2026 summer field season. This increase is in honor of Dr. Paul E. Potter and aims to support students pursuing geoscience education and training.
Researchers discovered chemosynthetic microbial communities formed wrinkle structures in ancient turbidites, which should not have existed in the deep-water setting. The team analyzed geologic evidence and determined that the sediment layers were indeed turbidites with biotic textures.
Scientists discovered that authigenic clays played a crucial role in preserving the Ediacara Biota fossils. The unusual chemistry of the Ediacaran seawater helped to form these clays, which acted as cement, holding together sand particles and replicating the organisms' soft-bodied forms.
The latest edition of Geysers: What They Are and How They Work offers fresh insights into the shifting activity and personalities of Yellowstone's iconic geysers. Readers will discover why some erupt with clockwork regularity while others slumber for decades before roaring back to life.
The Willcox Basin in Arizona is experiencing rapid subsidence due to excessive groundwater pumping for irrigation, with some areas sinking at rates of up to six inches per year. State management efforts, such as declaring an Active Management Area, may help slow subsidence and improve water levels.
Research by Dr. Dorothy Vesper and her team found that abandoned coal mines can transport CO2 from bedrock to the atmosphere through unremediated discharge. The mine waters, loaded with sulfuric acid, break down carbonate rocks releasing ancient CO2 that then converts to CO2 or other forms of carbon in the water.
Climate change is projected to decimate mollusk populations in the Western Atlantic, with over 60% of their range expected to be lost. This would have significant impacts on marine ecosystems, as mollusks play critical roles in maintaining water quality and providing habitats for other species.
Research by Dr. Dini Adyasari found that Hurricane Helene caused a pulse of oxygenation in shallow coastal aquifers, leading to the production of nutrients like nitrate. This increase in nutrients could have disruptive impacts on connected surface waters and deeper groundwater reservoirs.
The book explores the state's stunning landscapes, from the Guadalupe Mountains to the Gulf Coast, highlighting over 50 roads and natural areas. With its comprehensive guide and detailed geologic maps, Roadside Geology of Texas, Third Edition is a must-have for geology enthusiasts and travelers.
Researchers have made a major breakthrough in understanding how diamond-bearing kimberlites erupt from deep within the Earth's mantle to the surface. By modeling the influence of volatile compounds on magma ascent, they found that diamonds can reach the surface due to rapid ascent preventing them from reverting to graphite.
The Geological Society of America (GSA) and its foundation have approved a record level of support to address funding shortfalls in the geosciences. This joint commitment will provide increased resources for research grants, travel awards, professional honors, and memberships, as well as expand support for GSA's policy initiatives.
The Geological Society of America (GSA) is hosting GSA Connects 2025, a premier international gathering for sharing cutting-edge research and fostering interdisciplinary dialogue. The meeting will focus on three key themes shaping the future of geoscience.
Emily Orzechowski joins the Geological Society of America with extensive experience in legislative relations, science policy, and geoscience research. She will lead GSA's advocacy efforts to support the geoscience community and its contributions to society.
The Geological Society of America has acquired the award-winning geology book series from Mountain Press Publishing Company, expanding its publications and broadening engagement with the public. The acquisition includes copyrights and licensing agreements for select titles, which will continue to be distributed by Mountain Press.
Non-traditional field trip locations, such as urban settings and Disney Resorts, offer accessible outdoor educational opportunities. These locations showcase cross sections of corals and reef debris, ancient Ordovician fossils, and outcrop analogs that provide valuable insights into modern reef systems and broader earth history.
The Geological Society of America is calling for abstract submissions across nearly 200 distinct technical sessions, each focusing on specialized areas of geoscience exploration and application. Contributors can submit to one of five prestigious Pardee Keynote Symposia or a geological discipline.
A recent study using synchrotron experiments found that elastic differential stress can develop mineral fabrics in rocks, even before irreversible strain accumulates. This challenges conventional knowledge that only differential stress is needed for fabric development. The research has implications for understanding the role of stress ...
A new study published in Geosphere explores the impact of improved data visualizations on user perception of climate change evidence. The researchers found that familiar figure formats, intentional use of color-coding, and minimal explanatory text are key to making climate change science accessible to the general public.
The Svalbox Digital Model Database provides a unique resource for geoscientists working in the Arctic archipelago, offering digital outcrop models and 3D drone footage. The database is accessible via FAIR principles, making data from 114 km² of remote area freely available.
A new study published in Geology evaluates the potential for domestic cobalt extraction from the Idaho Cobalt Belt, which hosts the second largest known domestic resource of critical mineral cobalt. The researchers conclude that the ore from Idaho should be divided and processed for copper and cobalt separately to meet growing demand.
A new study published in Geology concludes that an extinct volcano off the shore of Portugal could store as much as 1.2-8.6 gigatons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to ~24-125 years of the country's industrial emissions.
Recent GSA Bulletin articles investigate the formation of N-S trending mountain ranges in Tibet and the geochemical signature of a deeply subducted slab. The studies reveal insights into surface uplift and E-W extension, challenging common views on their initiation.
Researchers investigated life and death of a West Antarctica subglacial lake and found evidence for Caribbean plate subduction in southern Costa Rica. Additionally, studies examined oxygenation in Earth's oceans and explored the control of Cambrian paleotopography by Precambrian crustal-scale features.
Two new studies examine the Late Triassic tectonic stress field of the southwestern Ordos Basin and its implications for regional geology. The research also explores a new Cambrian stratigraphic unit in the Grand Canyon, USA, and the progressive unroofing of the Big Maria and Riverside Mountains in southeastern California.
The Geological Society of America's joint meeting explores key issues in eastern US geology, including sea-level rise and climate change. The event also features field trips and short courses on topics like stormwater management and luminescence dating.