Dust Storm Sweeps Over Mali
As summer winds down in West Africa, so does much of the region’s dust activity. Dust storms can…
A Bright Spot at Mount Michael
Winter near the Antarctic Circle brings months of frozen darkness, when sea ice chokes ocean waters and many…
Ice Island Survives Run-In With Joe Island
Summer is prime iceberg season in Greenland’s glacier-fed fjords, and 2026 was no exception. Especially notable was the…
A Changing World for Emperor Penguins
With their charming waddles, heat-conserving huddles, and tuxedo-like plumage, emperor penguins are among the world’s most recognizable animals.…
An Uncommon Drifter in the Denmark Strait
Greenland’s jagged coastline is lined with fjords, many of them cradling marine-terminating glaciers that routinely calve icebergs into…
Cascade Volcanoes Shrouded in Smoke
In a contrast of fire and ice, smoke from wildland fires mingled with several of the Cascade Range’s…
El Niño Alters Marine Life in the Pacific
As of June 2026, El Niño has officially arrived. This naturally recurring phenomenon is characterized by warmer-than-normal water temperatures…
Sensing the Poles’ Hidden Heat
At the top and bottom of the planet, the seasons arrive on a schedule all their own. Satellite…
How the Tide Turns at the Mouth of the Elbe
One of the major rivers of Europe, the Elbe flows more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) across the…
The Paradox of Lençóis Maranhenses National Park
The coastal dune system in Lençóis Maranhenses National Park in northeastern Brazil is among the most surreal landscapes…
Smoke Streams Across Eastern Washington
The start of August 2026 saw ongoing and new wildland fires burning in eastern Washington. West of Chelan,…
A Bare Summer for Barnes Ice Cap
Image of the Day for August 3, 2026 The expanse of glacial ice on Canada’s Baffin Island lost…