Categories: geography

Pictured back row l-r: Kayleigh Ransome, Julia Bourne and Chelsea Baxter, of New York Primary School; Alan Ramsay, of Roots and Wings; Joe Shimwell, of NUSTEM, with Dr Emma Hocking (front)

Climate change is ‘in our hands’

Pupils from a North East Primary School have collaborated with scientists to design a board game which allows young people to explore the issue of climate change and discuss the actions that can be taken in response to this global challenge.

AI can map giant icebergs from satellite images 10,000 times faster than humans

AI can map giant icebergs from satellite images 10,000 times faster than humans

Scientists have trained an artificial intelligence (AI) system to accurately map the surface area and outline of giant icebergs captured on satellite images in just one-hundredth of a second.

Study author Dr Andy Suggitt surveying habitat at Creag Meagaidh NNR, Scotland (Credit: NERC refugia project team).

EXPERT COMMENT: Our new map reveals the effects of 20th century land-use and climate change on Britain’s wild species

In an article written for The Conversation*, Andrew Suggitt, Assistant Professor in Geography and Environmental Sciences at Northumbria University, and Alistair Auffret, Senior Lecturer in Landscape Ecology at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, discuss how making a new map of land-use change for Great Britain helped their research into the extinction crisis.

The land use of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Gateshead as surveyed by the Land Use Survey of Britain between 1931 and 1935 (Copyright Giles Clark, CC-BY-NC-SA)

New map of 20th century land use in Britain helps researchers demystify biodiversity change

A collaboration led by Northumbria University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences has for the first time mapped how land use changed across Britain throughout the last century. The new map reveals how and where some 50 per cent of semi-natural grassland was lost, including 90 per cent of the country’s lowland meadows and pasture, as the country intensified its agriculture.

Meltwater drips from winter sea ice grounded as the tide drops. Photo from British Antarctic Survey

EXPERT COMMENT: Increasing melting of West Antarctic ice shelves may be unavoidable – new research

In an article written for the Conversation, Jan De Rydt, Associate Professor of Polar Glaciology and Oceanography at Northumbria University, along with Ocean-Ice Modeller Kaitlin Naughten and Ocean and Ice Scientist Paul Holland, both from the British Antarctic Survey, discuss their recent research findings on the warming of the West Antarctic ice sheet.

Life on Our Planet premieres on Netflix on Wednesday 25 October. Image courtesy of Silverback Films/Netflix

Researcher’s knowledge called upon for new Netflix series, Life on Our Planet

Insights from an expert in past climates at Northumbria University have been used to help inform the science and technology behind a much-anticipated new Netflix series which promises to bring the Earth’s oldest creatures back to life.

Sea ice reflections around Rothera Point, home to a research station and British Antarctic Survey (BAS) base on the Antarctic Peninsula. Photo by Steve Gibbs.

Increased West Antarctic ice sheet melting is ‘unavoidable’, say scientists

The West Antarctic ice sheet will continue to increase its rate of melting over the rest of the century, no matter how much we reduce fossil fuel use, according to British Antarctic Survey (BAS) research, supported by Northumbria University, and published in the journal Nature Climate Change.

Finding a solution to the housing crisis by building on the greenbelt

EXPERT COMMENT: Building on the greenbelt is central to solving the housing crisis – just look at how the edges of cities have changed

In an article written for The Conversation, Cameron McEwan, Associate Professor in Architecture at Northumbria University and Andreas Lechner, Associate Professor at Graz University of Technology, focus their research on the urban-nature divide, providing a solution of building on the greenbelt to solve the housing crisis.

Dr Mark Goddard believes the importance of gardens for protecting wildlife and connecting people to nature is too often overlooked. Photo by Ellen Moran, Getty Images.

Humanity for Habitat – saving nature at home

The important role of managing residential gardens and yards to promote biodiversity is the focus of a new study led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and co-authored by an academic from Northumbria University.

Northumbria Professors named Academy of Social Sciences Fellows

Northumbria Professors named Academy of Social Sciences Fellows

Two environmental experts from Northumbria University are among 47 leading social scientists to be elected to the Fellowship of the Academy of Social Sciences.

Medicane storms happen in this part of the world every few years, but Daniel has proved to be the deadliest.

EXPERT COMMENT: Was the freak ‘medicane’ storm that devastated Libya a glimpse of North Africa’s future?

Mike Rogerson, Professor of Geography and Environmental Sciences at Northumbria university, Dr Mahjoor Lone, Research Fellow in the department of Geography and Environmental Sciences at Northumbria University, and Belkasem Alkaryani, Lecturer in Geology at the University of Tobruk, discuss the environmental situation facing North Africa.

Monsoon rainfall in Malaysia

New research brings greater understanding of Asian winter monsoon

Scientists have discovered a new technique which will shed light on the phenomena of winter monsoons – the heavy autumn and winter rainfalls which can cause floods and landslides across southeast Asia.

Dr Sarah Hughes explains why approval of an asylum application is not an instant guarantee of a safe and secure life in the UK. Photo: Getty Images.

EXPERT COMMENT: 'When you get status the struggle doesn’t end': what it's like to be a new refugee in the UK

When someone applies for asylum in the UK today, they may be waiting months or even years for their application to be decided, thanks to the record-high backlog that the government is failing to tackle.

Parliamentary briefing highlights benefits of Green Blue Infrastructure

Parliamentary briefing highlights benefits of Green Blue Infrastructure

The social, health and economic benefits of properly planned and managed green spaces have been highlighted in a report to parliament, compiled by environmental scientists from Northumbria University.

A research team has assessed how past climate changes have affected how the composition of tree species in one area differs from the composition of neighbouring areas on six continents. Photo: Getty Images

Research shows the current diversity of tree species has been shaped by climate change over the last 21,000 years

A new global survey of 1,000 forest areas shows how past climate change has had a major impact on the diversity and distribution of the tree species we see today. The results can help to predict how ecosystems will react to future changes, helping to shape conservation management around the globe.

A garden tiger moth in long grass. Photo: Getty Images

More focus on water management could save moths threatened by climate change in Britain

New research from wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation and Northumbria University has shown that moths adapted to cooler conditions are being lost from parts of Britain as a result of climate change.

Peatlands on the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides - Dave Collins, Getty Images

EXPERT COMMENT: How art inspired by peatlands can help us confront the climate crisis

In an article originally written for The Conversation, Dr Rosie Everett, lecturer in Forensic Science at Northumbria in collaboration with Benjamin Gearey & Maureen O'Connor from University College Cork, discuss the roles that peatlands have played in our history and how they might be part of the key to our future.

Dig Tsho glacial lake in the Langmoche valley, Nepal. The natural moraine dam impounding this lake breached catastrophically in 1985, causing extensive damage downstream.

Glacial lake outburst floods could threaten millions

The lives of millions of people around the world could be in danger due to flooding from glacial lakes – according to new research by a team of academics including Northumbria University’s Dr Matt Westoby.

Professor Kathryn Cassidy’s research will analyse responses to the displacement of people from Ukraine in three countries - Poland, Romania and the UK. Photo: Getty Images

Professor chosen as one of 10 new Senior Fellows joining UK in a Changing Europe

New research focusing on responses to the displacement of people since the beginning of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine will be the focus of a prestigious fellowship awarded to a Northumbria University academic.

While the cold of winter is a threat to most wildlife, it can be endured. Image: Pixabay

EXPERT COMMENT: How wildlife in ponds has evolved to survive frozen water – and how you can help more animals stay alive

When filled with ice-skaters or a clumsy Bambi on a Christmas card, a frozen pond is a merry sight. But spare a thought for the living things trapped below. The aerial wizardry of dragonflies and summer sculling of pond skaters are long gone. As the cold grips and shadows lengthen over the pond, its inhabitants face a terrible enemy: ice.

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