Articles tagged with Geography
A study found that COVID-19 'test to treat' sites are less accessible to many marginalized communities, including American Indian and Alaskan Native people, who live over 60 minutes from the nearest site. The research highlights major disparities in geographical access to these treatment centers.
A new study by the University of Arizona found that tropical cyclones often follow extreme heat, which can be a major hazard after a storm. The research team analyzed 53 tropical cyclones and found that cities' heat index values were always warmer than average after the storm.
A £1m project aims to develop a biodiversity credit standard to measure and value biodiversity for market trading and investment. The research team will test a potential methodology and assess industry uptake of new innovation.
A significant increase in COVID-19 pandemic-related demand for adolescent eating disorder (ED) care was observed, outstripping available resources. The study emphasizes the need for enhanced ED prevention strategies and improved workforce and program capacity to address this growing concern.
New research by Lancaster University and Bocconi University finds that Kenyan parents with access to mass media believe the risk of dying in a terrorist attack is 12 times larger than actual rates. This leads to children being kept out of schools, affecting their education and future earnings.
A new study suggests that CPR education programs tailored to public housing communities can significantly improve cardiac arrest survival rates. The research found that more than half of all out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Vienna and Copenhagen occurred in these communities, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to train ...
The study of Bronze Age Politiko-Troullia in Cyprus reveals farming practices for sheep and cattle. Analysis of animal isotopes indicates communal feasting on wild game like deer and pigs during special occasions.
A new study by Syracuse University researchers found that more conservative state policies were associated with higher mortality rates among US workers. The study suggests that liberalizing policies on gun safety, labor, and tobacco taxes could lower mortality rates.
A new ancient whale genus has been discovered in Morocco, dating back to around 40 million years ago. The species likely employed manatee-like swimming and feeding habits.
A new study by Concordia researchers finds that greenbelts are effective at slowing urban sprawl, particularly in larger cities. 90% of cities with greenbelts experienced decreases in sprawl, while just over a third without them did.
A new paper published in Global Strategy Journal argues that understanding locational strategy can give businesses an edge over competition. Locational decisions affect branding, human resources, and research and development. The study authors refine their approach to the topic by merging corporate strategy with economic geography.
Researchers developed an AI-based model that combines artificial intelligence and weather forecast models to predict extreme wildfire danger with high accuracy. The new method can produce forecasts of extreme fire danger out to one week at finer scales (4km x 4km resolution), increasing its utility for fire suppression and management.
A new study from the University of Kansas finds that parents from marginalized backgrounds and lower educational attainment make more compromises on school features, resulting in lower satisfaction. The research suggests that these parents are not lacking in understanding what would be best for their children, but rather face constrain...
A team of WVU researchers is studying how people bounce back after disastrous flooding, using lessons learned from the 2016 West Virginia flood. The project aims to create a more effective framework for flood response and community recovery in West Virginia, with a focus on identifying gaps in organizational capacity and improving floo...
A new study led by PSU researchers finds that climate models can accurately simulate large-scale weather patterns over the Pacific Northwest. The study uses data from the state-of-the-art CMIP6 model and machine learning techniques to compare model outputs with historical observed data, finding a strong match between the two.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara found that intense pumping of aquifers pushes young, recently replenished groundwater to greater depths, possibly carrying pollutants. This phenomenon, known as 'pumping-induced downwelling,' suggests that groundwater is less safe from surface contaminants than previously thought.
A new study reveals that 60% of northern Fennoscandia's grazing land is exposed to multiple pressures, including forestry, tourism, and climate change. This reduces the size and quality of summer grazing areas, with only 4% remaining undisturbed.
A recent study found that among US patients with cancer during the first 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, 16,561 deaths were attributed to cancer or COVID-19 complications. The majority of these deaths occurred in older adults and minority groups, highlighting a concerning disparity in healthcare outcomes.
A UTHealth Houston study found regional disparities in cancer screening rates tied to social vulnerability, with lower rates in more vulnerable counties. The study analyzed 3,141 US counties and discovered significant differences in breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screenings.
Climate variability in eastern Africa influenced hominin evolution, leading to anatomically distinct groups and modern human separation. Researchers analyzed lake sediment cores, revealing stable humid conditions, abrupt arid pulses, and extreme environmental shifts.
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.
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.
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.
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.