The Towering Inferno: Mount Erebus’ Dramatic Emergence From the Antarctic Clouds
The fiery and icy upper reaches of the Antarctic volcano pierced through a canopy of clouds. On a late spring day in 2023, the summit…
Geography News
Riot of Color: The Fiery Hues of Alaska’s Malaspina Glacier
An unexpected color palette reveals the features of an iconic glacial landscape in southeastern Alaska. To human eyes, glacial ice typically looks white tinged with…
Melting Majesty: Quelccaya’s Ice Cap Shrinks in Climate’s Grip
Ice cores and satellite images are helping preserve the history of a disappearing ice cap in the Peruvian Andes. The Quelccaya Ice Cap rests on…
Salt and Spectacle: Satellite Reveals East Africa’s Pink Lakes
The European Space Agency’s Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission captures the colorful waters of two salty lakes in East Africa: Lake Natron in northern Tanzania and Lake…
The Great Green Wall: China’s Fight Against Desertification
Flanked by mountain ranges on three sides, the basin in northwestern China sees frequent dust storms. The Taklamakan desert, located in China’s Tarim Basin, is…
Snowpocalypse Now: Anchorage Smashes Snowfall Records
The Alaskan city of Anchorage received record snowfall in November 2023. Winter weather arrived in force in Southcentral Alaska in 2023. Anchorage logged its snowiest…
From Fields to Feasts: Illinois’ Mastery in Pumpkin Production
Much of the canned pumpkin that ends up in Thanksgiving pies and soups came from Central Illinois. Pumpkins, a type of winter squash native to…
Radar Revealed: The North Channel’s Colorful Secrets From Space
The Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission’s radar image of the North Channel vividly displays land and water features, including Glasgow, Lough Neagh, and the Isle of Man….
Emerald Intruder: The Mysterious Green Iceberg of East Antarctica
A scientist spotted a jade hue in the sea ice fastened to the coast of East Antarctica. Jan Lieser has analyzed countless satellite images of…
Rising Against the Odds: Remarkable Resurgence of America’s Second Largest Reservoir Amid Persistent Drought
A wet winter in western states provided a short-term reprieve to the decades-long drought in the reservoir. After falling to record lows in early 2023,…
Mount Etna’s Fiery Fury: Lava and Ash Eruption Towers Over Sicily
One of the world’s most active volcanoes, Mount Etna, erupted on Sunday – spewing lava and clouds of ash high over the Mediterranean island of…
Autumn Splendor From Space: Japan’s Majestic Landscape
This image, from the Copernicus Sentinel-3 mission on November 1, 2023, captures the colors of autumn over the Japanese archipelago. Japan is made up of…
Eerie Beauty of Kawah Ijen’s Menacing Waters: World’s Largest Acidic Cauldron Unveiled
The Kawah Ijen Crater Lake in Indonesia, with its vibrant but toxic waters, is the world’s largest acidic lake. It’s known for its strikingly blue…
Trou Au Natron: The Ghostly Volcanic Face From Space
Past volcanic eruptions and salt deposits from present-day hot springs left this distinctive “face” in northern Chad. From above, the 1,000-meter (3,300-foot) deep volcanic pit…
Antarctica’s Majestic Elephant Island Captured From Space
This rare, almost cloud-free view of the remote Elephant Island in Antarctica was captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission in February 2023. Lying in the…
From Space, a Vivid Glimpse Into Panama Canal’s Role and Challenges
The Panama Canal, captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite, showcases its maritime significance. However, severe drought conditions in Panama threaten its operations, leading to a…
Russia’s Restless Giants: The Volcanoes of Kamchatka in Action
Eruptions on Russia’s active Kamchatka Peninsula made for a dramatic display of steam, snow, and shadows. Neighboring volcanoes on Russia’s ever-fiery Kamchatka Peninsula puffed away…
5 Largest Islands of the U.S. – From Volcanoes to Rainforests
The vast expanse of the United States is replete with captivating landscapes and features. Islands, especially, hold a unique allure. From the tropical ambiance of…