Earth Science Matters - Volume 16, Spring 2023
USGS looks back 2,000 years to study the relationship between hurricanes and climate
In recognition of National Hurricane Preparedness Week, which is April 30 to May 6 this year, learn how scientists are looking back thousands of years to gain a better understanding of hurricane patterns and how climate change could impact future storm activity. Knowing what has happened in the past gives insight on potential storm intensity and occurrence in the future.
Climate Warming is Likely to Cause Large Increases in Wetland Methane Emissions
A new USGS study has big implications for climate change mitigation plans to reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
How sea ice, ocean currents, and climate change may have affected early human migration to North America
Based on paleoclimate records and climate models, researchers have identified the most feasible time periods for early human migrations along the coastal route between Beringia and North America during the end of the last ice age.
The Value of Tree Rings: A Natural History of a Whitebark (Pinus albicaulis) Pine Cross Section
The tree rings in this whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) cross-section provide a view back in time. Scientists study the patterns of tree ring growth, scars, and wood coloration to determine how long the tree lived, record changes in climate, and even track past fires, insect attacks, and earthquakes!
Marmots do not drink coffee: Human urine contributions to the nitrogen budget of a popular national park destination
Nitrogen pollution in Rocky Mountain National Park has been monitored and tracked by USGS scientists for decades. Recently, stakeholders in the area asked USGS scientists to investigate local sources of the pollution to supplement our understanding of more distant regional sources.
New 2,000-year record of ocean and climate variability in the Beaufort Sea documents recent rapid changes in water mass properties
Continuous high-resolution marine sediment records that preserve environmental conditions during the late Holocene (the last 3000 years) are unusual in dynamic environments of the Arctic continental shelf. This study utilizes several proxies of ocean conditions in a unique sediment record, which provides valuable insight into late Holocene oceanographic changes on the Mackenzie Shelf, Beaufort Sea
R/V Pelican Research Cruise with Dr. Julie Richey and Caitlin Reynolds from the Ecosystems Land Change Science Program
Dive into what it is like aboard a scientific research vessel in the Gulf of Mexico with Dr. Ariana Sutton-Grier. A very special thank you to Dr. Julie Richey and Caitlin Reynolds for their invitation to join their research trip and their assistance with this story.
Research to Inform Planning and Implementation of Nature-based Solutions
A brief overview of some of the research by the program that helps support nature-based solutions to climate change.
From Saguaros to Submarines: 10 incredible stories about Earth’s ecosystems you might have missed in 2022
As 2022 wraps up, we’re looking back on the amazing work of USGS scientists, in an attempt to create a Top 10 list. But with so much exciting science at the USGS, it became apparent right away that picking the top ten “best” stories of the year would be impossible. For every project we’ve already highlighted, so many more haven’t gotten attention. There’s simply so much science and so little time!