Earth Sciences Blog

My name is Mafalda Moura, a Portuguese Geographer pursuing a master’s degree in Hazards, Cities, and Spatial Planning. As a European Climate Pact, Esri Young Professionals, Smart Waste Young Professionals and Climate Cardinals Ambassador, I help bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and public understanding of climate change, a mission that also inspires my academic research.

In this study, I explore how Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can support urban climate resilience, focusing on Velasquez, Porto — a dense urban area where vegetation, temperature, and human comfort intersect.

Watch the webinar recording to learn how ArcGIS StoryMaps and the no-cost National Geographic MapMaker can revitalize instruction, engaging students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Getting ready for Geological Society of America (GSA) Connects this year? Here are some tips on how to get the most out of the conference!

The recovery region with coffee in Guatemala's eastern dry corridor also shows a probable low temperature and high soil moisture compared to the desertification around the area.
Urban and rural overheating will pose a significant public health issue worldwide in the coming years. A group of scientists at Indiana University discovered that, 50 years ago, reforestation in the Southeastern United States created a cool island in the region. Utilizing the Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation,FAPAR, and Land Surface Temperature data from the Copernicus Earth Observation program, I conducted research in Florida, USA, to investigate any relationship between higher levels of vegetation activity and temperature. I applied the same methodology in a coffee recovery area located in the eastern dry corridor of Guatemala. The results from Florida indicate that Northern Florida maintains a higher level of FAPAR compared to neighboring Central Florida. However, the temperature results are inconclusive. The Everglades are a protected area at risk of desertification. The FAPAR levels in the coffee recovery region of Guatemala suggest a steady increase in photosynthesis and successful reforestation. Furthermore, temperature levels here are noticeably lower compared to the surrounding desert region that shares similar topography, altitude, and geographic characteristics.

My name is Karla Nunez, Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Maryland, and in this blog post I share how I became a planetary scientist through taking an internship where I used GIS in geology.

My interest in becoming a planetary scientist began in my second year at Middlebury College. During that time, my academic advisor mentioned applying to research internships. Knowing how competitive these programs were, I applied to anything that remotely mentioned space and hoped for the best.

My name is Mafalda Moura, a Portuguese Geographer pursuing a master’s degree in Hazards, Cities and Spatial Planning. I am eager to develop research and knowledge in the area of Earth Sciences. This blog post is about measuring coastal erosion and understanding community perspectives.

The American Geophysical Union (AGU) Annual Meeting is the largest gathering of Earth and space scientists with over 25,000 attendees, both international and domestic. The purpose of gathering at AGU is to share the latest in research and connect with friends and colleagues. Take this opportunity to meet with people who are passionate about the same causes and research as you are!

My name is Lisa Tanh, National Government Health & Sciences Solution Engineer at Esri, and this blog introduces tips and tricks to navigate your way through AGU to get the most out of the event.