Articles tagged with Geography
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.
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.
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.
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.
A new study published in Nature Climate Change suggests that balancing carbon dioxide emissions with removals could lead to different climate outcomes. Researchers found that a larger amount of CO2 removal is required to compensate for a given amount of CO2 emissions to maintain unchanged atmospheric CO2 concentration.
A team of researchers has developed a method to detect deep fakes in geography, including satellite images and maps. The technique uses Cycle-Consistent Adversarial Networks (CycleGAN) to identify fake images, distinguishing them from real ones with 80% accuracy.
Assistant Professor Aaron Maxwell uses big data analytics and deep learning to map West Virginia's surface over the last 60 years. The research aims to understand natural landscapes and predict future changes such as landslides and river erosion.
A study by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) found that personal opinions on purchasing security, environmental protection, and work conditions play a significant role in deciding whether to shop online or locally. The study used microeconometric models to analyze the shopping habits of 1,400 consumers in the Middle Upper-Rhine R...
Researchers warn that AI-manipulated satellite images can be a severe national security threat. A study by the University of Washington identified new ways to detect fake satellite photos and called for geographic fact-checking.
A research team from the University of Göttingen found significant inequality in travel permit costs globally. People from poorer countries often pay significantly more for tourist visas, with North Africans and South Asians paying an average of $60 compared to Western Europeans at $18.
Multi-ethnic neighborhoods in England have grown from 0.5% to over 4% of all neighborhoods between 1991 and 2011, while retaining high diversity and stability rates. This contrasts with racially diverse neighborhoods in the U.S., which are often transitional.
Researchers introduce metacoupling, an integrated approach that considers local and global scales to tackle environmental crises. The framework allows scientists to view the world as it truly is, with human actions influencing nature across space and time.
A study mapping forced migrant deaths reveals 12 spatial-temporal clusters, often near national borders or conflict zones. Deaths at sea top the list, accounting for over 5,800 fatalities, while U.S.-Mexico border crossings are also deadly, with over 1,400 deaths.
Researchers have identified a 47,800-year-old inland peatland in Indonesia that contains an archive of environmental changes and a large carbon stock. The study provides new insights into the climate of equatorial rainforests during the last ice age, suggesting that these areas remained wet and warm enough to support peat growth.
The article reports on a research paper comparing onsite server setups and virtualized cloud setups for teaching GIS courses online. The authors share user feedback and discuss resource metrics needed to support student computing needs, highlighting the growing need for fast computers.
A recent study published in Papers in Applied Geography found that just a few negative online reviews can determine early on how many reviews a restaurant receives long-term. The study also discovered that restaurants with a smaller number of reviews had a higher likelihood of low ratings, while those with more reviews were more likely...
The 2017 Women's March drew little negative commentary on Twitter, with most tweets about the event being positive and supportive. Despite some controversy, the march was met with widespread enthusiasm, with over 40,000 users tweeting about the event on its day.
Studies found that migratory bird species shifted their breeding ranges northward, while resident species expanded their ranges in response to climate change. This suggests that some species may be resilient to future changes, but others may face greater vulnerability.
The Journal of European Landscapes is an openly accessible peer-reviewed outlet bridging heritage and future-proof landscapes through scientific papers, project descriptions, interviews, and book reviews. It aims to document and promote landscape discourse across geographies.
Nathan Burtch is creating an open laboratory manual for quantitative methods courses in geography, addressing a long-standing need for resources. The manual will utilize statistics to solve real-world geographical problems and be available to instructors across Virginia and beyond.
Researchers found that white men between 30 and 39 are most at risk of fatal overdoses, followed by black men ages 30 to 39. The study identified 12 clusters or hot zones across Ohio where opiate-related mortalities are highest.
Around 1 in 20 NHS 111 calls lead to unnecessary emergency care visits, with factors like female sex and young age increasing the risk. The study analyzed 16 million calls and found that 83% of those advised against emergency care still visited within 24 hours.
Researchers use blue light intensity methods to analyze tree rings, recreating summer air temperature in the Eastern United States over 300-500 years. The project aims to understand longer-term climate trends and contribute to developing better general circulation models.
Researchers studied over 2,500 languages, finding that emotions like grief, fear, joy, and sadness are conceptualized differently globally. Emotions are primarily distinguished as pleasant or unpleasant, with similar levels of arousal.
Tyler Fricker's study analyzed nationwide tornado casualty data to identify high-risk regions and community-level factors influencing casualties. The results suggest that regional susceptibility to high-casualty events is more complex than previously thought, with factors beyond mobile home ownership and low income contributing to high...
Researchers at Stockholm University developed a method to predict impacts of climate change on tularemia outbreaks. The study shows that relatively small changes in climate and water conditions can sharply increase incidence of tularemia in humans.
The ArchaeoGLOBE project provides the first global assessment of land use changes since the last ice age, driven by humans over the past 10,000 years. This study reveals profound implications for understanding contemporary global changes in land use, climate, and biodiversity.
A study of over 52,000 men from eight countries found erectile dysfunction (ED) to be associated with increased absenteeism and reduced work productivity. Men with ED reported higher rates of staying home from work and working while sick compared to those without ED.
A study by Cornell University found that Chicago tops the list of most dangerous cities for migrating birds due to its unique combination of light pollution and geography. The research also revealed that four eastern cities in the US make the autumn list, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts to reduce bird mortality.
A new Portland State University study found that East Portland's low-income neighborhoods are disproportionately exposed to floods and urban heat islands. The research team mapped winter flood and summer heat hazard potential, testing it against sociodemographic and physical variables at a neighborhood scale.
A study analyzing over 50,000 living rooms across six continents found that people tend to follow cultural trends when decorating their interiors. Americans, regardless of income level, also showed similar efforts in interior decoration.
A NUS study found that mangroves can capture more carbon than tropical rainforests, making them a key solution to reduce fossil fuel emissions. Coastal ecosystems like mangroves can store organic carbon in water-saturated soil, effectively mitigating climate change.
Researchers analyzed genetic data from 15 Ural-speaking populations and found a small genetic component in common among most populations, suggesting a shared history of origins in Western Siberia. The study also revealed that geography plays a significant role in shaping the gene pool of Ural-speaking populations.
Bryan Gervais' study examines the impact of elite incivility on partisanship, revealing that counter-attitudinal incivility induces anger, leading to more partisan attitudes. The research also highlights the role of social media in amplifying incivility and polarization.
The Household Water Insecurity Research Coordination Network (RCN) aims to develop a geospatial perspective on water insecurity, which affects vulnerable households worldwide. The team will create a water security metric and engage with stakeholders in the international water sector.
A new project uses talking trees to investigate how forest ecosystems react to climate dynamics. Researchers track the trees' growth patterns and water transport, linking this data to social sciences research on education and climate modeling.
Research by Penn State's Clio Andris found that universities attract athletes from afar, increasing diversity on campuses. The study analyzed data from over 160,000 student-athletes and found that Ivy League schools and less centrally located schools have strong pull rankings.
Researchers from the University of Helsinki and University of Oulu have developed a new model to forecast Arctic ground temperatures, revealing significant changes in permafrost occurrence. The study predicts that areas favourable to permafrost will shrink by over one-third by 2050 under worst-case climate change scenarios.
A recent study published in Environmental Research Letters found that limiting global warming to 1.5°C would reduce flood hazards globally by 21%, whereas a 2°C limit would increase flood risks by an average of 11% across 21% of the world's land area.
A Montreal bike path network expansion has left children without equal access despite increased growth between 1991 and 2016. Researchers warn that targeting cycling infrastructure for children is crucial for understanding the benefits of bicycling once they become adults.
A team of researchers is working to better understand how riverbank erosion affects citizens in Bangladesh and develop early-warning measures. They will use satellite images and precipitation data to plot spatiotemporal patterns of erosion and generate location-specific annual rates.
Research found that human-perceived temperature (AP) increased 0.04oC per decade faster than actual air temperature (AT), with projected increases of up to 0.17oC per decade in low-latitude areas. AP is expected to continue rising, posing bigger threats to cities and communities, especially in tropical and sub-tropical regions.
Researchers used social media data to study visitor patterns and emerging activities in 56 national parks in Finland and South Africa. They found that Instagram provided the most accurate information, with visitor rates closely matching official statistics.
A study models historic annual fire activity across the US continental region, finding that human influence diminishes climate's role in fire activity. Climate factors vary by geography, with some regions experiencing reduced climate importance due to human presence.