Examination of Planet Labs satellite imagery before the collapse of the slope suggests that there were surprisingly few signs of incipient failure. The catastrophic landslide – debris flow – flood that swept through Tibet and Nepal on 26 August originated with very large rock slope failure on the flanks of Langtang Lirung, a massif located […]
monitoring networks
Aboard the Lake Guardian, Scientists Search for Clues About the Great Lakes’ Health
One of the longest-running lake monitoring programs provides data critical for researchers and resource managers.
Precursory deformation for the 26 August 2026 Nepal landslide disaster
A new paper (Wang et al. 2026) suggests that the bedrock failure that initiated the Nepal landslide disaster may have displayed measurable precursory deformation. Inevitably, one of the key discussion points in the aftermath of the 26 August 2026 Nepal landslide disaster is whether the failure could have been anticipated. Opinions differ, but a key […]
Seeking Closure to Better Understand Earth’s Energy Balance and Water Resources
Accounting for the total energy budget of Earth’s ecosystems has real-world implications for water resource management, land use policy, and monitoring of crop conditions.
The Ozone Paradox: A Growing Cost of a Warmer Atmosphere
Mexico City’s air is getting cleaner, but ozone levels near the ground aren’t decreasing as fast as expected. Climate change is partly to blame.
California’s Drought Irreversibly Damaged Sacramento Valley Aquifers
Satellite data have revealed an abrupt drop in aquifers’ ability to recharge after the 2020–2022 drought. More real-time monitoring could spot the issue before it arises again.
A Hybrid Approach for Revealing Headwater Hydrology
Coordinated work to compile existing data and apply models pairing physical understanding with machine learning could substantially improve streamflow predictions for little-known headwater basins.
Students Enable Widespread Water Monitoring in India
High school students and other volunteers monitored water for pollutants just as well as professionals.
Changes in Funding Could Tank Quality of Ocean Heat Content Data
An uncertain funding landscape threatens the longevity of an ocean observation system critical to projecting tropical storms, sea level rise, and more.
