The vegetation line in places like Nepal and Bhutan is shifting upward by meters per year, with implications for how water moves through the planet’s “Third Pole.”
plants
Want to Predict Wildfire Severity? Look to the State of Vegetation
A new study connects satellite data on vegetation condition, topography, and weather conditions to examine the predicted versus actual burn severity of the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires.
Earth’s “Green Wave” Is on the Move
Researchers analyzed 40 years of satellite data and found that Earth’s seasonal wave of greenness is shifting northeast.
Geostationary Satellite Applications Expand into Land Monitoring
Known for their weather-observing prowess, these satellites can also track land surface processes and disturbances over broad areas in near-real time.
As Some Soils Warm, Microbes Stockpile Essential Nutrients
A study in Iceland found that microbes are hoarding more nitrogen for themselves, altering nutrient cycling and leaving less for plants.
Los microplásticos tienen efectos muy variados en el suelo
Un nuevo estudio revela que una concentración de microplásticos de tan solo el 0,4 % altera el drenaje del suelo, lo que podría afectar al crecimiento de los cultivos y otras plantas.
Rethinking How to Measure Roots
Researchers present a new method for determining depth-dependent patterns of the root-soil interactions that drive ecosystem functions in the critical zone.
Climate Change Could Drive Butterflies and Plants Apart
Insects and the plants they depend on are migrating in response to climate change, but not always in the same way.
An Ecosystem Never Forgets
A new study in southwestern China shows how ecosystems may exhibit “hydrological memory,” which affects how they react to extreme climate events such as heat and drought.
How Ancient Indigenous Societies Made Today’s Amazon More Resilient
Portions of the forest managed by pre-Columbian populations hold higher biomass and are more able to withstand climate change.
