New data from Lago Argentino, Patagonia reveal that glacial erosion occurs in discrete pulses, which challenges previous ideas that erosion rates have increased over time due to climate change.
landscape & topography
Posted inFeatures
How to Build the World’s Highest Mountain
The rocks of Mount Everest’s peak made an epic journey from seafloor to summit.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
How Rock Type Shapes River Networks and Influences Landscape Evolution
A new study in Chile shows how small differences in rock type can drive large differences in erosion, vegetation, and river networks, illuminating the role of mineralogy in shaping landscapes.
Posted inNews
Arctic Ice Is Getting Smoother and Moving Faster
A decrease in pressure ridges over the past 3 decades is making the ice more uniform, with unclear consequences.
Posted inNews
Mantle Motion Matters for Mapping Modern (and Ancient) Ice
Mantle motions have major effects on topography and the distribution of ice sheets. The motions are key for researchers trying to properly parse past mantle movement.
Posted inNews
New Rules for Catastrophic River Avulsion
Scientists thought two factors influencing river avulsion were unrelated, but new research suggests they may be working in tandem. The findings could help predict new river pathways and improve disaster preparedness.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Improvements to Measuring the Ups and Downs of the Landscape
If you are a jazz fan, you may be familiar with Ella Fitzgerald singing ‘How deep is the ocean, how high is the sky’. Using data from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission we now know how high the land really is.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
How Does Subsurface Lithology Speak to Hillslope Morphology?
Subsurface flow hydrology connects soils and bedrock lithology to long-term catchment evolution in humid landscapes.
Posted inNews
Many of the World’s Cities Have Gotten Wetter
Dense populations, aerosols, and cities’ tendency to raise temperatures contribute to higher levels of precipitation in urban areas than surrounding rural areas.
Posted inScience Updates
Simulating Arctic Carbon Emissions in a Warming World
Not all climate models include carbon from thawing permafrost, and those that do often disagree. Scientists are working to better inform models and assess how these crucial materials are simulated.