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.
runoff
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The Deleterious Dust of the Salton Sea
Coarse particulate matter deriving from California’s largest lake is linked to an increased risk of respiratory-related hospitalizations.
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.
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Rainstorm Intensity Drives Desert Landscape Evolution
New mathematical models show that the persistence of near-vertical cliffs in arid landscapes is maintained by infrequent, but high-intensity rain storms.
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Even Treated Sewage Harms Freshwater Ecosystems
In a controlled experiment, researchers diverted wastewater from an advanced treatment facility into a healthy stream and monitored the unfolding ecological effects.
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Millions Likely Live in Areas Contaminated by Mining Runoff
Heavy metal contaminants from mining can live in ecosystems for centuries. A new global database shows where the problem is worst.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Desert Landscape Evolution Controlled by Storm Intensity
A new study in the Negev Desert finds that long-term erosion of a desert escarpment occurs in drier areas where intense storms are most frequent.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Meteorological Uncertainty Shapes Global Hydrological Modeling
A new study examines the effects of spatiotemporal precipitation uncertainty on key hydrologic processes, including runoff and soil moisture, in a comprehensive sample of 289 cryosphere regions.
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How Much Terrestrial Precipitation is Used by Vegetation?
Precipitation is partly used by vegetation and partly transformed into river flow. Quantifying the amount of water that is directly used by vegetation is essential to decipher climate change’s impact.
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Satellite Data Reveal Uptick in Cover Cropping on Farms
Over the course of a decade, farmers growing corn and soybeans in the U.S. Midwest increased their adoption of cover cropping—a tenet of so-called conservation agriculture—by fourfold.