Wildfires in Texas have the potential to impact not only the areas of origin but also the entire state. Smoke plumes from wildfires travel across the state with trajectories that are greatly influenced by meteorological conditions. The plumes transport pollutants, which include those present in...

Flash drought conditions emerge in a matter of weeks following persistent weather anomalies, such as high temperatures or large vapor pressure deficits, that drive increased evaporative demand. Vegetation response rapidly depletes soil moisture, threatening surface water supplies, triggering significant crop...

Coal mines in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming account for approximately 41 percent of coal production in the United States, causing significant land disturbances. Without proper reclamation practices, orphan mines create barren, unstable lands unlikely to recover. Where mines have been successfully...

Vector-borne diseases, caused by pathogens and parasites, are transmitted through living organism carriers known as vectors. Mosquitoes, the most common disease vectors, transmit illnesses such as Zika, West Nile, chikungunya, malaria, dengue, and yellow fever, which affect millions of people across the world and kill...

Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) is a species of concern across the western United States as it has the potential to outcompete native plant species, reduce biodiversity, and diminish nutrient availability for ungulates. Furthermore, because cheatgrass can quickly dominate disturbed...

Good air quality is critical for the Intermountain Region of the National Park Service (NPS) to uphold legal mandates, such as the Clean Air Act, to protect park visitor health, the ecological health of the park flora and fauna, and the preservation of the vistas...

Due to increasingly frequent and severe drought conditions in the southwestern US, land managers and livestock producers need to monitor stock ponds with increasing regularity. The ability to assess stock pond water levels with Earth observing satellite systems would enhance...

Saline systems, consisting of salt flats, ponds, and marshes, provide vital water resources to northern Chile’s Atacama Desert, one of the driest regions in the world. Mining is extensive in the Atacama, which contains 30% of the world’s lithium reserves and...

West Maui is at risk of losing ecosystem services provided by coral reefs due to land-based sources of pollution (LBSP). In 2011, The US Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) identified Wahikuli, Honokōwai, Kahana, Honokahua, and Honolua as priority watersheds in...

Invasive grass species, specifically B. tectorum (cheatgrass), B. japonicus (japanese brome), and Melilotus (sweet clover), have expanded out of the Great Basin and into the western Great Plains of the United States. Increased development and land use in western South Dakota have provided a gateway...