Environment
Ecology, climate and conservation
Articles in this category are re-verified roughly every 60 days.
Environment
Aghanashini Estuary
The Aghanashini Estuary in Karnataka, India, forms where the Aghanashini River meets the Arabian Sea. Designated a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention in 2023, this tidal estuary supports mangroves, mudflats, waterbirds and productive brackish-water fisheries. Its natural resources also sustain coastal livelihoods, including fishing, farming, shellfish gathering and salt production.
Updated 8 Nov 2026
Environment
Air pollution
Air pollution is contamination of indoor or outdoor air by particles, gases or other agents that change the atmosphere’s natural characteristics. It comes from varied sources, including fuel combustion, transport, industry, agriculture and fires, and some pollutants form in the atmosphere after emissions react. Exposure can damage human health and ecosystems; monitoring, standards and reductions at major sources are central to improving air quality.
Updated 18 Oct 2026
Environment
Amami rabbit
The Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi), also called the Ryukyu rabbit, is a nocturnal rabbit endemic to Japan’s Amami-Ōshima and Tokunoshima islands. Its restricted island range and dependence on subtropical forest make habitat conservation central to its protection. Research has examined its diet, habitat, and ecological interactions, including seed dispersal.
Updated 10 Nov 2026
Environment
Amazon rainforest
The Amazon rainforest is a vast tropical forest in northern South America, associated with the Amazon River basin and its many tributaries. Its warm, humid climate supports exceptional biological diversity, and its forests help shape regional water and carbon cycles. The Amazon is also a lived-in landscape with long human histories; today, land clearing and climate change pose serious challenges to its ecosystems and communities.
Updated 12 Oct 2026
Environment
Atmospheric rivers
Atmospheric rivers are long, narrow corridors of concentrated water-vapour transport in the lower atmosphere. They move moisture from tropical and subtropical regions toward higher latitudes, forming within larger weather systems. When they reach land, the moisture can fall as rain or snow: weaker events can help replenish water supplies and snowpack, while intense or slow-moving events can produce floods and landslides. Satellite, aircraft and ground observations help scientists track them and improve forecasts.
Updated 23 Oct 2026
Environment
Biodiversity
Biodiversity, or biological diversity, is the variability of life across genes, species and ecosystems, including the interactions that connect organisms with one another and their surroundings. It underpins ecological processes and many contributions people rely on, from food and pollination to climate regulation. Biodiversity changes naturally over time, but human pressures have accelerated losses in many places; conservation therefore involves protecting and restoring habitats and using biological resources sustainably.
Updated 13 Oct 2026
Environment
Biodiversity hotspot
A biodiversity hotspot is a terrestrial region with exceptional numbers of endemic plant species that has also lost most of its original natural vegetation. Under the criteria used by Conservation International and the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, a region must have at least 1,500 endemic vascular plant species and have lost at least 70 percent of its primary native vegetation. The framework helps conservation organizations prioritize places where globally unique life and severe habitat loss overlap; it does not mean that nature outside hotspots is unimportant.
Updated 22 Oct 2026
Environment
Blue carbon
Blue carbon is carbon captured and stored in the ocean and, especially in climate-policy discussions, in coastal ecosystems. Coastal blue-carbon ecosystems—mangroves, salt marshes and seagrass meadows—draw carbon dioxide into plant matter and can preserve organic carbon in waterlogged sediments for long periods. Their storage is vulnerable: degrading or draining these habitats can release some stored carbon, while also reducing other benefits such as habitat and coastal protection.
Updated 25 Oct 2026
Environment
Chilika Lake
Chilika Lake, also called Chilika Lagoon, is a large brackish-water lagoon on the coast of Odisha, eastern India. Linked to the Bay of Bengal and supplied by freshwater rivers, it contains changing marine, brackish and freshwater habitats that support migratory waterbirds, fisheries and threatened wildlife, including Irrawaddy dolphins. Its ecological character and local livelihoods are closely connected to the lagoon’s water exchange with the sea. A major restoration programme around the turn of the twenty-first century addressed changes in the inlet and hydrology through engineering, scientific monitoring and community participation; ongoing management remains essential.
Updated 27 Oct 2026
Environment
Chipko Movement
The Chipko movement, also called Chipko Andolan, was a decentralized, nonviolent environmental movement that emerged in the Himalayan region of India in the 1970s. Villagers, notably women, embraced trees to resist commercial logging and defend forest resources important to local livelihoods and ecological well-being. It became an influential example of community-led environmental action, though it was not a single centralized organization or solely a tree-hugging protest.
Updated 1 Nov 2026
Environment
Climate change
Climate change is a long-term shift in temperatures and weather patterns. Earth’s climate varies naturally, but human emissions of heat-trapping gases have caused the rapid global warming observed since the mid-20th century, bringing widespread effects and making both emissions reduction and adaptation central public challenges.
Updated 12 Oct 2026
Environment
Coastal upwelling
Coastal upwelling is the rise of deeper water toward the ocean surface near a coast, commonly after winds drive surface water offshore. The replacement water is often colder and nutrient-rich, supporting high rates of phytoplankton growth and productive marine food webs. Its effects are not uniformly beneficial: offshore transport can carry drifting larvae away from nearshore habitat, and climate-driven changes remain uncertain across regions.
Updated 25 Oct 2026
Environment
Composting
Composting is the managed biological decomposition of organic materials into a stable soil amendment. In aerobic composting, microorganisms break down organic matter in the presence of oxygen; controlling the mixture, moisture, airflow and temperature helps support the process. Compost can return organic matter and nutrients to soils, where it may improve soil structure and water retention. Composting systems range from household piles and worm bins to municipal facilities.
Updated 28 Oct 2026
Environment
Convention on Biological Diversity
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is a multilateral environmental treaty adopted in 1992 and in force since 1993. It sets three linked objectives: conserving biological diversity, using its components sustainably, and sharing fairly the benefits derived from genetic resources. Rather than prescribing one uniform conservation policy, it asks Parties to plan and implement measures in light of national conditions, while providing a framework for international cooperation, review, scientific advice, and related protocols.
Updated 25 Oct 2026
Environment
Coral reef
A coral reef is a marine ecosystem built largely from the calcium-carbonate skeletons of reef-forming corals. Its complex structure provides habitat for diverse organisms, while living corals depend on environmental conditions and, in many shallow tropical reefs, a partnership with microscopic algae. Reefs support coastal communities and are vulnerable to warming seas, ocean acidification, pollution and other pressures.
Updated 21 Oct 2026
Environment
Coral reefs
Coral reefs are complex marine ecosystems built over time by reef-forming corals, colonial animals whose polyps deposit hard calcium carbonate skeletons. In many shallow tropical reefs, corals live with microscopic photosynthetic algae that help supply food and give them color. Reefs provide habitat for diverse marine life and support human communities through fisheries, tourism and coastal protection, but warming seas, ocean acidification, pollution and damaging fishing practices threaten their health.
Updated 12 Oct 2026
Environment
Deforestation
Deforestation is the conversion of forest to another land use, such as agriculture, mining or infrastructure. It is distinct from forest degradation and from broader measures of tree-cover loss, which can include temporary or natural disturbances. Agricultural expansion is a major driver: a FAO remote-sensing survey attributed almost 90 percent of global deforestation in 2000–2018 to agriculture. Forest conversion affects habitats, biodiversity, carbon storage, regional climate and communities that rely on forests. FAO's 2025 assessment reported a slowing rate but estimated that deforestation still removes about 10.9 million hectares of forest each year.
Updated 19 Oct 2026
Environment
Desertification
Desertification is the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid regions through interacting climatic and human influences. It is not simply the outward spread of a sandy desert, nor is every drought or seasonal drop in vegetation evidence of lasting degradation. Where soil and vegetation lose productivity over time, consequences can include poorer harvests, habitat loss, and greater pressure on livelihoods; locally adapted land management can help prevent or reverse some damage.
Updated 16 Oct 2026
Environment
El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
The El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a recurring interaction between the ocean and atmosphere over the tropical Pacific. It shifts irregularly among El Niño, La Niña and neutral conditions as sea temperatures, trade winds and atmospheric circulation change together. These shifts alter seasonal patterns of temperature and rainfall in many regions, but their effects differ by place and event and do not determine local weather on their own.
Updated 15 Oct 2026
Environment
Eutrophication
Eutrophication is the enrichment of a water body with nutrients—especially nitrogen and phosphorus—that can increase the growth of algae and aquatic plants. It occurs naturally, but human inputs from agriculture, wastewater, and other sources can accelerate it, sometimes producing harmful blooms and oxygen-poor waters that damage aquatic life.
Updated 18 Oct 2026
Environment
Fog collection
Fog collection is a passive method of capturing liquid water droplets carried by fog, usually with mesh screens exposed to wind. Droplets gather on the mesh and drain into a gutter and storage system. It can supplement water supplies in selected fog-prone locations, but yield depends strongly on local weather and terrain, and collected water requires appropriate quality management.
Updated 7 Nov 2026
Environment
Glacial lake outburst floods
A glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) is a sudden release of water from a glacier-fed lake. Failure or overtopping of an ice, moraine or other natural dam can send destructive floodwaters and debris downstream, making monitoring, risk assessment and community preparedness important in mountain regions.
Updated 7 Nov 2026
Environment
Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt
The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt (GASB) is a recurring aggregation of floating brown macroalgae in the tropical Atlantic, often stretching from waters off West Africa toward the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Satellite observations documented the belt beginning in 2011. Its extent varies substantially between years, shaped by ocean circulation, winds, nutrient availability and other interacting conditions. Offshore Sargassum mats support marine life, while large strandings can create serious coastal challenges.
Updated 26 Oct 2026
Environment
Great auk
The great auk (Pinguinus impennis) was a large, flightless seabird of the North Atlantic and the only modern species in its genus. Agile underwater but awkward on land, it bred in colonies on remote islands. Intensive human hunting for meat, eggs, feathers and oil drove its numbers down; the last known breeding pair was killed in 1844. Museum records and genetic research show how a once widespread seabird could be lost through sustained exploitation.
Updated 22 Oct 2026
Environment
Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is an extensive coral-reef ecosystem off Queensland in north-eastern Australia. It consists of thousands of reefs, islands, cays and other marine habitats, and is home to diverse marine life. Its World Heritage property and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park have related but distinct boundaries; the region is also Sea Country for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Traditional Owners and is managed for conservation alongside human uses.
Updated 19 Oct 2026
Environment
Greenhouse effect
The greenhouse effect is the warming of Earth's surface and lower atmosphere that occurs because certain atmospheric gases absorb and emit infrared radiation. It is a natural part of Earth's climate system; increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases from human activities enhance this effect and alter the planet's energy balance.
Updated 25 Oct 2026
Environment
Invasive species
An invasive species is an organism introduced beyond its natural range whose establishment or spread causes harm, especially to biodiversity and ecosystems; some definitions also include effects on human health and economies. Human activity moves species intentionally and accidentally, but not every non-native organism becomes invasive. Prevention, early detection and management of established populations are central responses.
Updated 14 Oct 2026
Environment
Kākāpō
The kākāpō (Strigops habroptilus) is a large, nocturnal, flightless parrot endemic to New Zealand. Its moss-green plumage, owl-like face and ground-dwelling habits distinguish it from other parrots. It is also notable for its lek-based mating displays and slow, irregular breeding. Hunting, habitat change and introduced mammalian predators brought the species close to extinction; today its survival depends on intensive management in protected, predator-free sanctuaries.
Updated 19 Oct 2026
Environment
Kelp forest
A kelp forest is a dense underwater habitat formed by large brown algae attached to rocky seafloors. Found mainly in cool coastal waters where light and nutrients are available, kelp forests create layered habitat for marine species and support productive food webs. Their condition responds to ocean temperature, water quality, grazing and predator populations, making them important ecosystems for research and conservation.
Updated 23 Oct 2026
Environment
Kolleru Lake
Kolleru Lake is a large, shallow freshwater lake and wetland in Andhra Pradesh, India, between the Krishna and Godavari river basins. Its area and water levels vary seasonally: monsoon inflows can expand the lake, while water recedes in the dry season. The wetland provides habitat for resident and migratory birds, helps balance floods between the river deltas, and supports fishing, agriculture and other local livelihoods. It is internationally recognized under the Ramsar Convention, while land-use change and competing demands on the wetland have made conservation and monitoring important management issues.
Updated 27 Oct 2026
Environment
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is an international climate treaty adopted in 1997 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It established legally binding greenhouse-gas targets for developed countries and economies in transition, with different commitments for each listed party. Its first target period ran from 2008 to 2012; a Doha Amendment set a second period from 2013 to 2020. The treaty also created emissions-trading and project mechanisms and a system for monitoring and reviewing compliance. Its limited coverage of binding targets contrasted with the broader all-party framework later established under the Paris Agreement.
Updated 17 Oct 2026
Environment
Lake-effect snow
Lake-effect snow is localized snowfall produced when cold air moves over relatively warmer, unfrozen lake water and gains heat and moisture. The warmed, moist air rises, forms clouds and deposits snow downwind, often in narrow bands. In the Great Lakes region, wind direction and lake conditions determine which communities receive heavy snow, sometimes over short distances.
Updated 23 Oct 2026
Environment
Laki eruption of 1783–1784
The Laki eruption was a prolonged fissure eruption in Iceland that began in June 1783 and continued intermittently into early 1784. Its extensive lava flows and large emissions of sulfur dioxide and other gases produced severe local environmental effects and a widespread atmospheric haze. Studies of its short-term climate effects distinguish the cooling associated with volcanic aerosols from unusual European seasonal conditions that models attribute partly to natural atmospheric variability.
Updated 24 Oct 2026
Environment
Loktak Lake
Loktak Lake in Manipur, northeastern India, is a major freshwater wetland distinguished by floating mats of vegetation, soil and organic matter called phumdi. The lake supports local livelihoods and wildlife, and its southern wetlands include Keibul Lamjao National Park, habitat of the endangered Sangai deer.
Updated 26 Oct 2026
Environment
Mangrove forests
Mangrove forests are coastal ecosystems formed by salt-tolerant trees and shrubs in tropical and subtropical intertidal zones. Their adapted roots and other traits let them grow in saline, waterlogged settings, where they provide habitat, support fisheries, and help protect shorelines. Mangrove soils and vegetation also store carbon. These ecosystems face pressures including land conversion, development, pollution and climate change, while mapping, restoration and conservation efforts aim to protect them.
Updated 22 Oct 2026
Environment
Microplastics
Microplastics are small plastic particles, commonly defined as less than five millimetres, that are either made small or produced as larger plastics fragment and wear. They have been reported in marine and fresh waters, soils and air, with sources including plastic pellets, fragmented litter, synthetic textiles and vehicle tyres. Their ecological and human-health significance is an active research area: exposures are documented, but methods, risks and effects remain incompletely understood.
Updated 20 Oct 2026
Environment
Montreal Protocol
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is an international environmental treaty that controls the production and consumption of chemicals that damage the stratospheric ozone layer. Adopted in 1987 and in force since 1989, it sets phased, binding commitments for countries and has been amended as science and technology have developed. Its Kigali Amendment also phases down hydrofluorocarbons, greenhouse gases used as replacements for some ozone-depleting substances.
Updated 21 Oct 2026
Environment
Ocean acidification
Ocean acidification is the long-term decline in seawater pH caused chiefly by the ocean taking up carbon dioxide from human activities. Dissolved CO₂ alters seawater carbonate chemistry, reducing the availability of carbonate ions used by corals, shellfish and other organisms to form calcium-carbonate structures. Its biological effects differ among species and settings, and can combine with other pressures such as ocean warming.
Updated 16 Oct 2026
Environment
Ocean biological carbon pump
The ocean biological carbon pump is the collection of biological processes that move carbon fixed by marine life from sunlit surface waters into deeper ocean layers. Phytoplankton take up dissolved carbon during photosynthesis; sinking particles, migrating animals and ocean circulation then transport some of it downward. Much carbon is recycled near the surface, while a portion remains at depth for decades to millennia, influencing atmospheric carbon dioxide and climate. The pump is not a single mechanism, and its strength and long-term storage vary across ocean regions.
Updated 28 Oct 2026
Environment
Ocean deoxygenation
Ocean deoxygenation is the decline of dissolved oxygen in coastal and open-ocean waters. Warming, stronger layering of ocean water and excess nutrient inputs can reduce oxygen supply or increase its consumption, affecting habitats, marine life and ecosystems.
Updated 7 Nov 2026
Environment
Ocean garbage patches
Ocean garbage patches are broad regions where currents concentrate floating marine debris. The name is misleading: they are not solid islands of rubbish, but shifting areas containing debris of many sizes, from abandoned fishing gear to tiny microplastics.
Updated 7 Nov 2026
Environment
Ocean heat content
Ocean heat content is the thermal energy stored in seawater, commonly estimated by combining temperature measurements through specified depth ranges. Because the ocean absorbs and redistributes much of the excess energy accumulating in Earth's climate system, long-term changes in ocean heat content are a major indicator of planetary warming and influence sea level, ocean circulation and marine ecosystems.
Updated 25 Oct 2026
Environment
Oceanic anoxic events
Oceanic anoxic events (OAEs) are intervals in the geological record when oxygen depletion expanded across substantial parts of the ocean, often alongside major changes in climate, marine chemistry and the carbon cycle. Organic-rich black shales are a common record of these episodes, but local sediment conditions mean that a black-shale layer alone does not prove a globally synchronous event. Research links many well-studied Mesozoic OAEs with greenhouse warming, carbon release, nutrient cycling, elevated marine productivity and oxygen consumption, while the relative roles and timing of these processes remain subjects of study.
Updated 26 Oct 2026
Environment
Ozone layer
The ozone layer is the region of the stratosphere where most atmospheric ozone is concentrated. It absorbs much of the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation, but certain human-made chemicals have caused substantial depletion, most dramatically the seasonal Antarctic ozone hole. International controls on ozone-depleting substances have led to a decline in their atmospheric abundance, and scientific assessments project a gradual recovery if current policies continue.
Updated 13 Oct 2026
Environment
Paris Agreement
The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international climate treaty adopted in 2015 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It sets a long-term temperature goal, calls on every Party to submit and strengthen national climate plans, and establishes frameworks for adaptation, support, transparency and periodic collective assessment.
Updated 1 Nov 2026
Environment
Permafrost
Permafrost is ground—soil, sediment or rock—that remains at or below 0°C for at least two consecutive years. Found mainly in high-latitude and mountainous regions, it commonly has a surface layer that thaws seasonally. When permafrost warms and thaws, it can destabilize land and infrastructure, alter water systems, and expose stored organic matter to decomposition that releases greenhouse gases.
Updated 17 Oct 2026
Environment
Polar stratospheric clouds
Polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) are high-altitude clouds that form in the cold winter and early-spring stratosphere over the polar regions. Their particle surfaces enable chemical reactions that convert relatively stable chlorine compounds into reactive forms; when sunlight returns, these forms accelerate ozone loss. PSCs are an important part of the seasonal polar ozone-depletion process, especially over Antarctica.
Updated 25 Oct 2026
Environment
Pyrocumulonimbus
A pyrocumulonimbus, often abbreviated pyroCb, is a thunderstorm generated by the intense heat and convection of a large fire. It can loft smoke and fire-produced aerosols high into the atmosphere, sometimes reaching the lower stratosphere, and may generate hazards such as lightning and erratic winds. These events are difficult to observe and forecast; their atmospheric effects can persist, but available event records do not by themselves establish a long-term global trend.
Updated 24 Oct 2026
Environment
Rain garden
A rain garden is a shallow, planted depression designed to collect runoff from roofs and other hard surfaces and let it soak into the ground. By slowing and filtering stormwater, a well-sited rain garden can help reduce runoff pollution and provide habitat, but its design must suit local soils, drainage and climate.
Updated 7 Nov 2026
Environment
Rainwater harvesting
Rainwater harvesting is the collection and storage of rainfall for later use or for managed recharge to groundwater. Systems commonly collect runoff from roofs or other catchment surfaces, convey it through gutters and drains, remove debris or an initial runoff fraction where appropriate, and direct it to a tank, cistern, or recharge structure. Their suitability depends on local rainfall, catchment and soil conditions, intended use, water quality, storage capacity, and ongoing maintenance.
Updated 1 Nov 2026
Environment
Ramsar Convention
The Ramsar Convention, formally the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, is an intergovernmental treaty for wetland conservation and wise use. Adopted in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, it provides for countries to designate internationally important wetlands, plan for their conservation and promote wise use of wetlands within their territories.
Updated 1 Nov 2026
Environment
Recycling
Recycling is the collection and reprocessing of materials that would otherwise be discarded, so that they can be used to make products or materials again. Systems commonly handle paper and cardboard, glass, metals and selected plastics, but what is accepted depends on local facilities and markets. Recycling can conserve resources and reduce disposal, yet it works best alongside waste prevention and reuse, and only when collected materials can be processed and find suitable end uses.
Updated 14 Oct 2026
Environment
Sangai (Manipur brow-antlered deer)
The Sangai (Rucervus eldii eldii), also called the Manipur brow-antlered deer, is an endangered subspecies of Eld’s deer native to Manipur, India. Its remaining natural population is associated with Keibul Lamjao National Park, where floating wetland meadows called phumdi shape its habitat. Conservation efforts combine habitat and population monitoring, research, community engagement and plans to establish an additional wild population.
Updated 7 Nov 2026
Environment
Sea-level rise
Sea-level rise is the long-term increase in the average height of the ocean. Since the late nineteenth century, global mean sea level has risen as the ocean warmed and expanded and as melting glaciers and ice sheets added water. Measurements combine coastal tide gauges with satellite altimeters. The global average does not describe every shoreline: local land movement, currents and other regional processes can make relative sea level rise faster or slower in particular places.
Updated 23 Oct 2026
Environment
Steam fog
Steam fog, also called sea smoke or evaporation fog, forms when relatively warm water supplies moisture to much colder air immediately above it. The moisture condenses into visible droplets, producing shallow wisps that often resemble smoke rising from a lake or sea. It differs from sea fog, which generally forms when warm, moist air moves over colder water.
Updated 28 Oct 2026
Environment
Storm surge
Storm surge is a storm-driven rise in coastal water above the level expected from the astronomical tide. It is produced primarily by winds that push seawater toward shore, while its height and inland reach depend on the storm, coastal shape and water depth. Combined with the tide, it forms storm tide; waves can add further water and damage. Storm surge can inundate low-lying coasts and travel inland through bays, rivers and canals.
Updated 26 Oct 2026
Environment
Svalbard Global Seed Vault
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is a secure, long-term backup facility for duplicate seed samples held by gene banks around the world. Opened by Norway in 2008 in the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, it preserves crop genetic diversity against the loss of individual collections. Depositors retain ownership and control of their seeds, while low-temperature storage, permafrost and rock provide multiple layers of protection.
Updated 19 Oct 2026
Environment
Tasmanian Devil
The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is a carnivorous marsupial native to the Australian island of Tasmania and the largest surviving member of its kind. It is mainly a scavenger but also hunts small animals. Devil facial tumour disease has caused serious population impacts, and the species is protected and listed as endangered under Australian and Tasmanian laws.
Updated 21 Oct 2026
Environment
Thermohaline circulation
Thermohaline circulation describes deep-ocean flows driven in part by seawater density differences associated with temperature and salinity. Cooling and changes in salinity can make surface water dense enough to sink, helping form deep currents; mixing and upwelling return deep water toward the surface. These flows interact with wind-driven currents and redistribute heat and other materials through the ocean. The popular global conveyor-belt image is a simplification of a complex circulation system.
Updated 23 Oct 2026
Environment
Thermokarst
Thermokarst is a set of landforms and landscape changes produced when ice-rich permafrost or massive ground ice thaws, causing soil to consolidate, deform and often subside. The resulting depressions, ponds, lakes and uneven terrain can alter drainage, habitats, infrastructure stability and the cycling of stored soil carbon. Thermokarst is a thaw-related process, distinct from thermal erosion, though the processes can occur together.
Updated 23 Oct 2026
Environment
Urban heat island
An urban heat island (UHI) is a local temperature pattern in which built-up areas are warmer than less-developed surroundings or cooler places within the same city. Heat-storing surfaces, reduced shade and evapotranspiration, urban form and waste heat contribute to it. Researchers distinguish surface temperatures from near-surface air temperatures, so the measured difference depends on method, location and time. UHIs can intensify heat exposure and cooling demand; vegetation, shade and reflective surfaces are among the measures used to reduce them.
Updated 17 Oct 2026
Environment
Urban trees
Urban trees are trees growing in cities and other built environments, including street trees, park trees and trees on private land. They can cool local surroundings, intercept rainfall, support wildlife and improve quality of life, while their benefits and risks depend on species, location and long-term care.
Updated 7 Nov 2026
Environment
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, also known as the Sahyadri, are a mountain chain running along the western side of peninsular India. Their montane forests shape regional monsoon patterns and support exceptional biodiversity, including many endemic species. A 39-part serial property in the range was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2012; conservation assessments note continuing pressures on habitats and wildlife connectivity.
Updated 1 Nov 2026
Environment
Wetlands
Wetlands are ecosystems where water covers or saturates the soil for all or part of the year, shaping local soils, plants and wildlife. They range from marshes and swamps to peatlands, mangroves and tidal flats, and vary with water depth, timing, chemistry and landscape position. Wetlands support food webs and human communities through services that can include habitat, floodwater storage and water-quality functions. Their condition is strongly affected by changes in water flow and land use, making conservation and restoration important parts of environmental management.
Updated 15 Oct 2026
Environment
Wildfire
A wildfire is an uncontrolled fire in vegetation such as forest, grassland or shrubland. Lightning and human activities can ignite fires; once burning, their spread and intensity depend on fuel, weather and terrain. Fire is a natural ecological process in some landscapes, but fires outside an ecosystem's usual pattern can damage habitats, harm health and threaten communities. Wildfire management therefore combines risk reduction, preparedness, response and recovery with attention to local ecology.
Updated 17 Oct 2026