By way of agriculture and industry, humans have major influences on the critical zone. Our past and present effects on the landscape, soil, and water will echo for a long time to come.
agriculture
Posted inNews
Minireservorios Podrían Salvar a Agricultores con Suelos Arenosos
Una tecnología de retención de agua subterránea recientemente reactivada podría conservar el agua y aumentar drásticamente el rendimiento de los cultivos en paisajes áridos con suelos arenosos como el África Subsahariana.
Posted inEditors' Vox
Exploring the Widespread Impacts of Ongoing Nitrogen Pollution
The release of reactive nitrogen into the environment is having severe and ongoing ecosystem, economic, and human health impacts. How can we reduce our nitrogen footprint?
Posted inNews
Ethiopia’s Coffee-Growing Areas May Be Headed for the Hills
New research suggests climate change may radically redefine the regions best suited to grow one of Ethiopia’s most valuable crops.
Posted inNews
Mathematical Insights into the West African Monsoon
A tool from dynamic systems theory is helping atmospheric scientists identify how dust and moisture mix over West Africa.
Posted inNews
Some Farm Animals Might Have a Sense About Impending Earthquakes
Stabled animals seem to grow fidgety in the hours before an earthquake, whereas their free-range counterparts show no discernible difference in behavior.
Posted inNews
India’s Food Bowl Heads Toward Desertification
Water-guzzling rice consumes more water than Punjab can recharge. If current irrigation rates continue, the state will empty its groundwater reserves within 20 years.
Posted inNews
Record Locust Swarms Hint at What’s to Come with Climate Change
Warming oceans that feed cyclones have also bred record-breaking swarms of desert locusts. Such plagues could grow bigger and more widespread with climate change.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Toward Forecasting Crop Productivity and Carbon Flux Anomalies
Quantifying reductions in U.S. Midwest crop productivity and carbon uptake due to 2019 flooding using combined satellite observations of solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence and atmospheric CO2.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Mapping Nutrient Inputs in the Great Lakes Basin
A new tool links nitrogen and phosphorus applications to land use classifications to better understand where and how much of the nutrients enter watersheds in the U.S. Great Lakes Basin.