Snapchat, the multimedia messaging app, offers a range of features that make it an unexpectedly useful tool for geoscientists on the go.
cool tools
Ionospheric Fireworks Illuminate Auroral Science
A sounding rocket experiment set off a spectacular nighttime light show over Scandinavia as it produced new insights into ionospheric behavior near an aurora.
Ecosystem Observations from Every Angle
Proximal remote sensing provides a bridge between ecosystem flux data at Earth’s surface and optical data from satellite sensors, improving our grasp of feedbacks between terrestrial ecosystems and climate.
Affordable Robots Measure Soil Respiration
Measuring soil carbon flux, also known as soil respiration, can be expensive or time-consuming. A set of affordable robots that gather these data autonomously could especially benefit the Global South.
Ham Radios Crowdsourced Ionospheric Science During Eclipse
Amateur radio operators who study space physics and the upper atmosphere probed the ionosphere’s response to the 2023 annular solar eclipse using shortwave transmissions.
Biodegradable Sensors Could Explore the Seas More Sustainably
Researchers are developing environmentally friendly instruments to monitor the oceans.
Machine Learning Provides a Clearer Window into Ocean Motion
A new method could translate satellite information about sea surface heights into insights on current, heat flow, and—ultimately—climate change.
James Webb Space Telescope Captures Saturn’s Changing Seasons
Unprecedented images reveal how Saturn’s atmosphere is evolving as summertime winds down in its northern hemisphere.
Low-Tech, Energy-Free Tool Collects and Cleans Fog Water
A new fog harvester could benefit communities that lack access to clean freshwater.