Canals, dammed reservoirs, irrigation ditches, and pollution are changing species diversity, microbial communities, and nutrient levels in aquatic zones across the planet.
Wetlands
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Restored Wetlands Could Lower Local Surface Temperatures
A 3-year study of wetlands and cropland in a major California delta highlights the need to consider the physical effects of vegetation when planning land use changes.
Posted inScience Updates
How Much Land Surface Is Under Water at Any Given Time?
NASA Workshop on Remote Sensing of Inundation Extent; Boulder, Colorado, 21–22 May 2018
Posted inEditors' Vox
Seeing Surface Water From Space
Satellite-based optical sensors can detect, measure and monitor changes in lakes, reservoirs, rivers and wetlands, providing useful data with multiple applications for science and society.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Invasive Freshwater Mussels Drive Changes in Estuary Sediments
The golden mussel has spread quickly in the 30 years since its arrival in South America and is transforming aquatic ecosystems in waterways across the continent.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Upper Estuaries Found to Be Significant Blue Carbon Sink
Inland from the seagrass and salt marsh ecosystems that border the ocean, upper estuaries store more carbon than previously realized and could play an important role in mitigating climate change.
Posted inFeatures
Rethinking the River
The Mississippi River and its delta and plume provide insights into research-informed approaches to managing river-dominated coastal zones.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Depth Matters in Peat Bog Nutrient Cycling
Peatlands store around a third of Earth’s soil carbon, and a new study begins to reveal how the ecosystems’ organic matter changes with depth.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Drones Hunt for Impacts of Oil Exploration on Wetland Emissions
Seismic lines, constructed for petroleum resource exploration, disturb Canadian peatlands, but how can we detect their impact on greenhouse gas budgets?
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Prairies, Potholes, and Public Policy
Studying the Prairie-Pothole Region of North America could help improve water resource management across the continent.