Geography
Featured Science Archive
Community Vulnerability to Tsunamis —Recent research suggests that a Cascadia subduction zone earthquake could create tsunami waves that impact over 1,000-km of coastline in the U.S. and Canada. To understand local community vulnerability posed by these hazards, USGS researchers are assessing variations in land-cover patterns, demographic characteristics, and business and employment patterns.
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Alaska Cultural and Historical Sites Lost as rate of Erosion Doubles —Along Alaska's Beaufort Sea coastline, erosion rates have climbed from historical levels of about 20 feet per year between the mid-1950s and late-1970s, to 28 feet per year between the late-1970s and early 2000s, to 45 feet per year between 2002 and 2007. The scientists propose that the shifts in the rate and pattern of land loss along this segment of coastline are likely the result of changing Arctic conditions, including declining sea-ice extent, increasing summertime sea-surface temperature, rising sea level, and increases in storm power and corresponding wave action. Article
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Tracking Nature's Cycles —Phenology is the study of recurring biological cycles such as plant budding and animal migrations. The earliest known phenological records were compiled by the Chinese approximately 1000 BC. Today, USGS Remote Sensing Phenology scientists use satellites to track seasonal changes in vegetation on regional, continental, and global scales. Remotely sensed phenological data are useful for assessing crop conditions, drought severity, and wildfire risk as well as tracking invasive species, infectious diseases, and insect pests. Because phenological events are sensitive to climate variation, these data also represent a powerful tool for documenting phenological trends over time and detecting the impacts of climate change on ecosystems at multiple scales. Learn More
Landsat 7 helps track Antarctica's emperor penguins—Landsat 7 satellite imagery is used to track Antarctica's emperor penguins. This true-color image, acquired by the Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus on the Landsat 7 satellite, 12-4-2002, captures brown stains of penquin guano. Researchers at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), discovered that looking for guano stains is more reliable than looking for actual penguins since the birds' tuxedo colors blend in with the shadows on the ice. By locating penguin droppings, the BAS team identified 38 emperor penguin colonies along the Antarctic coast. 
Cyclone Nargis — Landsat satellite imagery, acquired shortly before and after Cyclone Nargis hit the coastal region of Myanamr on May 3, 2008, illustrate the flooding and destruction caused by the cyclone. The delta region, which is home to one fourth of Myanmar’s 57 million people, is a major agricultural area and its lowlands make it especially susceptible to flooding. The cyclone created a 3.6 meter storm surge which devastated the area. At least 22,000 deaths have been reported, with 41,000 listed as missing. Over 1 million are homeless. Learn More
A Fiery Legacy: USGS Assesses 26 Years of Wildland Fires — The USGS-USDA Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity project is mapping and analyzing the destructive impact of major U.S.wildfires from 1984 to 2010. The project is part of a Wildland Fire Leadership Council strategy to monitor the effectiveness of the National Fire Plan and the Healthy Forests Initiative. 
Visualizing the Beyond—Roadless Space Takes on New Dimensions—A new method for evaluating the land that lies between and beyond roads shows roadless space in three dimensions. USGS scientists have calculated the remoteness (distance from road) of millions of points across the lower 48 States. After that huge quantity of data is converted into simulated altitudes the resulting map shows mathematical peaks and plains of remoteness. This visualization technique will help inform land management, wilderness preservation, and urban planning. Learn More
Dust In the Wind — Is African Dust Affecting Our Health and the Environment? Our earth is indeed a “small world after all.” Each land has the ability to affect another — for better or for worse. For example, in Africa, hundreds of millions of tons aerosolized desert soils (referred to as 'dust') are transported each year to the Caribbean and the United States. This dust is thought to be responsible for an increased occurrence of asthma in humans, the decline of coral reefs and other environmental hazards. The dust comes from the expanding Sahara/Sahel desert region and carries a wide variety of bacteria and fungi. Learn More
Famine Early Warning System Network in Africa: Learn how the USGS is working to prevent the future occurrence of drought-induced famine that has devastated Africa in the past. For more information on the Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS), a network designed to distribute information that enables timely measures to be taken to prevent food-insecure conditions in 22 countries, visit Early Warning and Monitoring Program and FEWS NET.
Response to the latest hurricanes: 
The Landsat 5 satellite, launched on March 1, 1984 has completed 22 years of record-setting Earth observations. In an era of "overnight success" and disposable products, there is no better example of dependability, economy, and achievement than the Landsat 5 Earth-observing satellite. Because of the sophisticated equipment on board, engineers anticipated a life of a mere two years, with a goal of three years of collecting data over the landmass of the planet. Instead, Landsat 5 has become the longest continuously serving observation system in the U.S. civilian fleet. The track record for this satellite is nothing short of phenomenal. Learn More
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Page Last Modified: September 2009
