Articles tagged with Geography
Research from UBC Okanagan suggests that wineries can revive lagging tourism by focusing on multi-sensory experiences, such as participation in agricultural activities and workshops. This approach helps create memorable and authentic experiences for visitors, setting wine destinations apart from one another.
A study published in JAMA Health Forum found that out-of-state telemedicine visits among Medicare patients surged during the pandemic, with 422,000 out-of-state visits recorded in 2021. These visits were most common among patients living near state borders and those seeking primary care and mental health treatment.
A recent study analyzing COVID-19 vaccination rates in New York City schools reveals significant disparities based on race and ethnicity. The research also highlights geographical variations in vaccination rates across the city.
Researchers at the University of Zurich found that compound concurrent hot day and night extremes are projected to increase by up to 7.8-fold in frequency and 5.3-fold in duration in all cities in Switzerland by the end of the century. Lugano and Geneva will be most affected.
A new study of coastal geography and a medieval map proposes that two islands in Cardigan Bay, Wales, which are no longer exist, could have come into existence and disappeared due to erosion. The research, published in Atlantic Geosciences, suggests the islands may be remnants of a low-lying landscape underlain by soft glacial deposits.
A team of researchers from ETH Zurich and WSL reconstructed the topography of all Swiss glaciers in 1931 using stereophotogrammetry. They found that the glacier volume halved between 1931 and 2016, with some glaciers losing mass at varying rates depending on factors like altitude, snout shape, and debris coverage.
Researchers found the Tonga tsunami reached 90 meters in height, outperforming previous tsunamis like 2011 Japan tsunami. The event emphasized the need for improved detection systems, as volcano-based tsunamis are currently 30 years behind earthquake-based event monitoring tools.
A national survey of 1000 adults in Greenland found that 3 out of 4 support extracting and exporting sand from the melting ice sheet, with most preferring local involvement. The study highlights a rare example of an Arctic Indigenous population wanting to be involved in decision-making about adapting to accelerated Arctic changes.
New research from the University of Georgia found at least 479 people were injured and 28 died worldwide in more than 130 bounce house accidents due to weather events. Basic precautions such as securing bounce houses could have prevented many accidents.
A team of scientists developed a computational model that explains Italy's town distribution using only a small set of mathematical equations and a map of the landscape. The model simulates how population and road networks interact, demonstrating that landscape alone is insufficient to explain population distribution.
Research found significant geographic disparities in opioid overdose death rates between US counties, with rural areas experiencing much higher rates. Between 1999 and 2020, rural overdose deaths increased by 4.5-fold, while urban rates rose by only 2.3 times.
A new study by Northwestern University predicts a worsening wave of opioid overdoses globally, with no geographic distinction between rural and urban areas. The lethal combination of synthetic opioids and stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamines will be particularly deadly.
Researchers created a machine-learning algorithm to predict neighborhood racial segregation, showing 86% accuracy in one test. The map analyzed census data and showed less segregated areas becoming more mixed by 2030.
Researchers assessed total medical and out-of-pocket costs for genital gender-affirming surgery, finding that costs differed between procedures conducted in- and outside the patient's state of residence. The study aimed to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the financial burden of this type of surgery.
A new study reveals that population declines have been greatest among species that migrate to areas with more human infrastructure, habitat degradation, and climate change. The research identified 16 human-induced threats to migratory birds, including infrastructure associated with bird disturbance and collisions.
A UK-based research project aims to investigate the specific threats posed to female garment workers in supply chains globally. The four-year study will examine garment manufacturing in the midlands, UK, and in Cambodia, Ethiopia, and Jordan.
Researchers found that certain characteristics of refugia led to more tree regeneration, with taller trees and mountain hemlock species showing higher seed dispersal. The study suggests that natural regeneration is possible in some areas, making replanting efforts unnecessary and potentially harmful.
Research by UMBC finds that tree plantations in the tropics are degrading biodiversity hotspots, damaging ecosystems like grasslands, and encroaching on protected areas. The study reveals that up to 92% of new tree plantations were in biodiversity hotspots.
A global dataset of river avulsions confirms the existence of three distinct regimes: fan avulsions that occur when a river transitions to flatter topography, backwater-scaled delta avulsions found in low-sloping deltas along major waterways, and extreme sediment load delta avulsions triggered by intense flooding and sediment transport.
A recent study reveals that climate change has driven shifts in European grain production, with Eastern Europe taking on a greater role. The shift is attributed to technological advancements and global climate change, which have increased crop yields in the region.
A new online tool, HazardAware, provides disaster readiness reports for 13.3 million addresses in 196 counties along the Gulf of Mexico, including all of Florida. The tool assesses a property's resilience to hazards such as hurricanes and flooding, and offers customized mitigation information to reduce future hazard loss.
A flying intervention team deployment was significantly associated with shorter time to endovascular thrombectomy, supporting consideration for some stroke systems of care. The findings may need further research to confirm long-term clinical outcomes and applicability in other geographic settings.
New PSU research predicts the disappearance of Olympic Peninsula glaciers by 2070, with some remaining as tiny shells. The study highlights the impact of global warming on glacier mass and ecology in the region.
A new study has developed a tool to evaluate and change names that may be rooted in white supremacy. Researchers analyzed over 2,000 place names in 16 US national parks, finding patterns of settler colonial mythologies including racism and genocide.
Researchers analyze over 2,000 national park names, revealing 52 places commemorating violence against Indigenous peoples and 10 using racial slurs. The study supports renaming efforts to address erasure of indigenous sovereignty.
A new study reveals highly variable year-to-year changes in surface meltwater lakes around the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. Warmer seasons lead to deeper and larger lakes, potentially vulnerable ice shelves are at risk of break-up due to climate change.
Researchers propose new dynamic model suggesting thermal energy causes continental plates to drift, but the main driving force is supplied by a gravitational slip of the continental crust and hot mantle upwelling. This model explains why the opening of the Atlantic Ocean is wider in the south than in the middle.
Urbanization in China has led to an increase in biomass and carbon stocks, both in rural areas and recently developed cities. The country's afforestation strategy and green policy initiatives have contributed to this positive effect on its climate balance.
A new study found that rural counties had 2.4 times more infections per 100,000 people than urban areas during the third wave of COVID-19 in summer 2021, driven primarily by the delta variant. Low-vaccination areas experienced a more intense surge of new cases.
Researchers found that the Central Tibetan Valley was at a relatively low elevation of 1,700 m between 50–38 mya and rose rapidly to over 4,000 m between 38–29 mya. This rise led to significant climate change, transforming the region from a subtropical ecosystem to an alpine one.
A new study found that rural patients rely on primary care physicians and nurses more often, leading to higher copays and out-of-pocket costs for mental health care. The usage gap narrowed over time, but quality and cost of care remained inequitable.
A new study published in PNAS reveals that border walls damage a country's international image, with real implications for soft power. The study found that participants had negative perceptions of countries with border walls, regardless of their political views or distance from the border.
Researchers developed a new avalanche forecasting method using computer simulations of snow cover, which can detect weak layers and identify hazard in a different way. The approach showed consistent results with observed frequencies over 16 years, offering potential to support forecasting in the future.
A study by sociologist Dr. Ansgar Hudde found that city dwellers with high education levels cycle significantly more than those living in rural areas, with a strong correlation between education level and bicycle mobility. This trend is attributed to the perceived status and health benefits associated with cycling.
A Dartmouth team compiled a global-scale dataset to show how uncertainties over determining snow depth can actually improve predictions of water availability. The approach leverages observational and definitional uncertainties to make better assessments of snow droughts and their impacts.
A new study reveals the high human costs of COVID travel restrictions, affecting migrants, families, and international students with prolonged separation across geographical distances. The research highlights intensified experiences of foreignness, non-belonging, and precariousness, as well as threats to livelihoods and wellbeing.
A new analysis found that low-income households in New Orleans lost nearly 35% of their income after Hurricane Katrina, while high-income households in NYC lost only 5.8%. The study highlights the need for diversified income sources to mitigate economic harm from extreme weather events.
A large earthquake off the coast of south-central Chile in 1737 may have caused a substantial tsunami that was absent from historical records. Researchers analyzed sediments and found evidence of widespread sandy layers, dating to the same time as the earthquake, similar to deposits made by tsunami waves in other areas.
Researchers found that intense volcanic activity led to a surge in phosphorus levels, driving ocean oxygen levels down and triggering a severe mass extinction. The study suggests that natural weathering of volcanic material may have been responsible for the sudden cooling events.
Researchers have developed a comprehensive Lyme disease dashboard to define hotspots and map the disease across the US and Canada. The dashboard provides valuable insights for public health awareness and research collaboration.
Researchers found that illegal human settlements have surged to over 50,000 in the Babile Elephant Sanctuary, posing a significant threat to the remaining 250 elephants. The team believes that addressing environmental, poverty, and security challenges jointly is crucial to restoring the sanctuary's integrity.
Researchers are using X-ray CT to analyze magnetic minerals in speleothems, which can reveal past climate conditions. The team hopes to uncover evidence of extreme weather events and improve understanding of New Zealand's climate history.
A University of Utah team analyzed woodrat gut bacteria and found that evolutionary history plays the greatest role in shaping microbiome structure. Diet and geography also influenced microbiome composition, but host relatedness was the strongest predictor in both wild and captive populations.
Researchers identified bacteria and yeast on photovoltaic panels in Brazil, similar to those found in Spain, the US, Arctic, and Antarctic. The microorganisms have adapted to sunlight, temperature fluctuations, and water scarcity, making them suitable for biotech applications.
Staffordshire University researchers investigate the impact of melting snow and ice on ski tourism. Despite environmental changes, tourists prioritize mountains, scenery, and hiking opportunities, highlighting the need for adaptation and diversification in the industry.
Researchers led by NUS found that climate change is increasing fluvial sediment loads in the high mountains of Asia, with implications for hydropower, food, and environmental security. The study reveals that sediment fluxes could more than double by 2050 under an extreme climate change scenario.
Ancestral puebloans in Chaco Canyon thrived for over a millennium through indigenous agriculture and water irrigation, but their activities led to environmental degradation. The researchers found significant changes in the local woodlands beginning around 600 B.C., contributing to severe erosion and cropland deterioration.
The University of Leeds research highlights the need for industry to adopt new technologies that can manufacture materials using renewable electricity. This is crucial to achieving net zero emissions targets by 2050, as current steel and aluminium manufacturing capacities pose a significant barrier to this goal.
Researchers found three phases of landscape development over 800 years, influenced by wars, politics and climate. Wars led to devastation and 'renaturalization', while agriculture and settlements had a lasting impact.
A research team from VUB has been monitoring glaciers in the Alps for 20 years, using drones to track glacier melting and find that the Morteratsch and Pers glaciers have lost mass again. The study found that climate change is causing glaciers to lose mass faster, with one cooler summer not changing the overall trend.
New research from the University of Leicester shows that macroplastics travel much slower through river systems than previously believed, remaining in place for significant periods. The study suggests existing estimates of riverine plastic flux to the ocean may have been overestimated, highlighting the need for further research.
Researchers found that dough mixing vats and millstones from Roman-era ruins were made from specific rock types that improved each tool's function. The stones were sourced locally, challenging a theory that some millstones were imported from Italy.
A new study by Portland State University assesses strategies for the Hood River watershed to adapt to climate change. The researchers found that a combination of water banking, infrastructure improvements, and reflexive feedback mechanisms can achieve overall resilience.
Researchers used glacial isostatic adjustment modeling to reconstruct the Antarctic Ice Sheet before the Last Glacial Maximum, revealing a thickened ice sheet that depressed the continent and generated high sea levels. The study aims to improve understanding of ice-sheet response to climate changes.
Scientists discovered that volcanic arcs, including chains like the Andes and Cascades, played a crucial role in regulating atmospheric CO2 levels over the past 400 million years. This natural feedback mechanism helped maintain a stable climate, but recent human-driven emissions have disrupted this balance.
A new study reveals that deforestation and population growth have greatly increased landslide risk in the Kivu Rift, leading to thousands of fatalities each year. The research, conducted over six decades, shows that smallholder agriculture and mining activities also contribute to landslides.
A recent study found that greenhouse gases from human activity and warmer North Atlantic Ocean temperatures contributed to the Northeast's increased extreme precipitation since 1996. The research used global climate model simulations and statistical methods to isolate the causes of the increase.
Researchers found a 40-meter fall in sea level increases eruption likelihood at Santorini and possibly other volcanoes worldwide. Climate change impacts volcanic activity, particularly as ice sheets retreat and global sea levels rise.
A new study suggests that COVID-19 made unequal access to food worse, especially for low-income people of color. Despite the pandemic, dollar stores and small local grocers saw only a small decline in customer levels compared to large grocery stores.
A team of PSU faculty will examine data and stories of STEM faculty to identify systemic inequalities and develop a strategic equity plan. The project aims to understand the impact of policies, practices, power structures, places, and people on retention and attrition among marginalized faculty.