2016 Themes

From forecasting extreme events and natural disasters to assessing or projecting ecosystem impacts, Earth observations can help to solve many of the social and economic challenges across the globe.

This theme aims to highlight examples of how Earth observations are used to directly benefit society.

The ocean ecosystem covers more than 70 percent of our planet. Our understanding of the oceans has huge implications to not only to the future of our species, but to the continued biodiversity of Earth.

This theme will include articles about how Earth observations are being utilized to protect the oceans, their denizens, and their resources. Some story ideas for this theme include an article about the Global Ocean Commission and its efforts to see the ocean given status as a represented U.N. nation; ocean oil seeps; and ocean acidification’s effects on jellyfish.

Recent years have seen an increased emphasis on promoting diversity in careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.Earthzine has selected Women in STEM as its 3rd Quarterly theme to acknowledge the critical roles women play in the advancement of earth observation. We seek articles featuring women and their career path and mentoring programs to foster girls and young women in pursuing STEM related careers, associated with all aspects of Earth information.

Coastal environments are complex regions of the Earth were the land, oceans and atmosphere interact. Seventy-five percent of cities with populations greater than 10 million are located near the coast; roughly 40% of the world’s population live within 100 km of the coast. Coastal regions are vital to transportation, global industries, food and energy production, and recreation. The interaction of human activity and environmental change is strongest in coastal environments. This theme seeks articles describing contemporary issues behind the science and monitoring of coastal environments including their interaction with human activity.

This theme looks at the year ahead to what we can expect from advances in Earth observations and the application of Earth information.

This mini-theme includes how groundwater mapping and monitoring can be used to inform policy, water law, and decision-making.

The March mini-theme looks with an eye to massive storm events that appear to be increasingly common in occurrence and have growing social impacts. Scope of this theme includes: how weather (and super storms) are modeled and projected; how forecast technologies help individuals, towns, or regions prepare for super storms and prevent damage or loss of life; and how super storms are tracked and monitored.

In honor of the planet that makes all of our lives possible, Earthzine has chosen April to highlight the celebration of Earth Day. Story topics may include announcements of Earth Day events or celebrations of achievements in using Earth observations for conservation or to expose environmental concerns.

Articles are sought that highlight recent advances in understanding the carbon processes in the ocean and approaches to measuring and modeling carbon flux.

This mini-theme will highlight the links between water environments and human health. Articles that can offer analysis or descriptions of results from current projects are especially welcome.

Some research indicates that climate change may lead to an increased frequency of “mega-fires,” placing ecosystems and human developments alike at risk. This mini-theme focuses on what comes before and after such fires. Potential topics include: using satellite data to improve fire risk-analysis, economic impacts of fires, and tracking ecosystem resilience to fire disturbance.

This mini-theme will focus on the Oceanic Engineering Society’s conference in Monterey, California. Earthzine staff will offer coverage of the conference and contributions from conference presenters are also welcome.

This mini-theme will focus on the Oceanic Engineering Society’s conference in Anchorage, Alaska, Sept. 18-22. Earthzine staff will offer coverage of the conference and contributions from conference presenters are also welcome. Click here to browse past coverage of OES Oceans.

For the October mini-theme, Earthzine will highlight work being conducted by the international Group on Earth Observations. Conducting societally relevant work is important to the GEO/GEOSS community, and this mini-theme will focus on use-case scenarios that demonstrate GEO/GEOSS-associated projects in action. Articles for this theme must have a clear association with GEO or Blue Planet developments.

This theme will focus on how Earth observations are being used to attempt to make food insecurity a thing of the past. Example topics include: ocean productivity, monitoring drought, activities for the Year of the Pulses, and developments that support food security.

December’s mini-theme features op-ed articles that are retrospective and forward-looking on how we can use Earth information to better our planet and ourselves. From technological advances to community movements, what gives you hope for a better future?