Barometric pressure, in addition to factors such as lithology and the depth of the water table, can influence patterns of natural gas that escapes to subsurface soils.
Hazards & Disasters
Posted inNews
Podcast: A Nuclear Legacy Buried in Ice
The radioactive remains of nuclear testing during the Cold War and from nuclear disasters like Chernobyl are still with us and can be found in some of the remotest glaciers on Earth.
Posted inNews
Climate Change Will Make Us Sicker and Lose Work Hours
Experts have given the United States a warning: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions, or suffer the consequences of lower productivity and a sicker population for generations to come.
Posted inNews
Sparks May Reveal the Nature of Ash Plumes
In lab experiments and models, researchers uncover how ash can affect the standing shock waves of erupting volcanoes. Their findings may lead to new predictions of volcanic ash hazards.
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Modeling How Groundwater Pumping Will Affect Aquatic Ecosystems
Regions with dry climates and heavy agricultural industries may be the most hard-hit.
Posted inScience Updates
Making Sense of Local Climate Projections
Hands-on training, collaboration with scientists, and practice using real-world challenges give planners and decision-makers confidence to work with climate model information.
Posted inNews
Keystone Pipeline Spills 9,120 Barrels of Oil in Dakota Wetlands
The leak took place along a preexisting section of the Keystone Pipeline. This is the pipeline’s fourth spill in 9 years.
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Manure Happens: The Environmental Toll of Livestock Antibiotics
New findings suggest antibiotics in cow manure can alter soil microbial activity, with implications for soil fertility and carbon emissions.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Where Does the Carbon Go When Permafrost Coasts Erode?
Arctic coastlines have not been considered carefully in carbon cycles for long, but new research suggests that eroding permafrost may emit more greenhouse gases than previously thought.
Posted inNews
Road Dust: A Health Hazard Hidden in Plain Sight
Legacy heavy metals from past industrial activity combine with traffic paint; asphalt; and bits of tires, brakes, and car parts to create toxic dust on our roadways.