An extensive review reveals that remote sensing is changing the way we manage water resources and suggests that the coming years will bring both exciting advancements and new challenges.

Aaron Sidder
Aaron Sidder is a freelance writer based out of Denver, Colo. He has a master’s degree in ecology from Colorado State University. Aaron was an AGU-sponsored AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellow at National Geographic in 2016, and he has been writing for Eos ever since. In addition to Eos and National Geographic, he has written for National Geographic Kids Magazine, Smithosonian Smart News, 5280 Magazine, and the Santa Fe Institute. In his free time, he cultivates an extensive—and growing—collection of field guides from around the country.
The Thermosphere Responds to a Weaker Than Normal Solar Cycle
Infrared emissions from nitric oxide and carbon dioxide in Earth’s upper atmosphere, which are closely tied to incoming solar radiation, are drastically lower than in the previous solar cycle.
Through Flood and Drought: Reconstructing the Yellow River
Tree ring chronologies fill in gaps in the historical record and offer insights into the natural flow of China’s Yellow River.
Aerosol Particle Size May Contribute to Varying Health Responses
Particulate matter in the atmosphere derives from industrial and environmental sources. The size of the particle determines how it deposits in the body and leads to different health challenges.
Rover and Lasers Unlock Clues to Early Martian Atmosphere
Sediments from the Curiosity rover and experiments using tanks of gas and laser beams helped reveal how water continued to flow on Mars after the planet lost its atmospheric carbon dioxide.
A Simplified Model of Water Vapor Exchange in the Amazon
Evapotranspiration is the exchange of water vapor between land and the atmosphere, and it is hard to measure and model. A new study shows promise for its estimation over large, vegetated landscapes.
Topography and Microclimate Shape Tree Ring Growth
Wizened bristlecone pines in California reveal past climate trends, and new research shows how slight variations in landscape position drive different growth patterns in trees’ annual rings.
Strategies to Improve Urban Hydrology
Cities can reduce surface runoff and increase groundwater recharge by encouraging their residents to implement simple, hydrologic modifications on individual buildings and single-family parcels.
Scientists, Explorers Keen to Locate Water-Bearing Asteroids
Hydrated minerals on near-Earth asteroids offer both scientific revelations and economic incentives for companies looking to refuel satellites with material from nearby space.
Magnetic Anomalies on the Pacific Plate Reveal True Polar Wander
A new study rebuffs the standard approach to paleomagnetism and offers an updated methodology and new locations of paleomagnetic poles.