Land & water
From forests and farms to glaciers, coastal waters, and oceans, the science and future of land use and water on our changing planet.
Food Agriculture Aquatic ecosystems Fluid mechanics Forests Freshwater resources Ice Land use Coastal ecosystems Fisheries and aquaculture Ocean chemistry Oceanography
Site news
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A sustainability expert explores the potential of seaweed as a solution to the world’s greenhouse gas problem.
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Between 1997 and 2024, endangered North Pacific loggerhead sea turtles shifted their foraging northward at a rate six times faster than the average for most marine species. The turtles face risks as they adapt to ocean warming caused by climate change.
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Expanding Indigenous stewardship of public lands and understanding how one of the American West’s most drought-resilient forests will respond to climate change are among the goals of a collaborative project involving university researchers, tribal nations, and government agencies.
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New research shows small-scale fisheries contribute 40% of the global catch and contribute to the livelihoods of nearly 500 million people worldwide. Experts discuss how small-scale fisheries connect to environmental and human health, gender equity, and more.
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Stanford scientists discuss the social and environmental costs of mining sand from the ocean and sand’s role in climate adaptation.
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Our list includes a mix of favorites, high-impact stories, and some of our most-read research coverage from the past year.
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Stanford scientists have discovered multiple forms of a ubiquitous enzyme in microbes that thrive in low-oxygen zones off the coasts of Central and South America. The results may open new possibilities for growing crops with fewer resources and understanding ocean carbon storage.
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Rainy days are becoming less frequent but more intense across much of the planet because of climate change. Even in years with similar rainfall totals, plants fare differently when rain falls in fewer, bigger bursts, a new study shows.
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A new prototype device demonstrates an innovative approach to producing ammonia – a key component of fertilizer – that could transform an industry responsible for about one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions.
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A new study from Stanford researchers shows central California’s vast San Joaquin Valley has sunk at a record pace since 2006. Strategic recharging of aquifers could help slow or stop the sinking.
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Water scarcity threatens the viability of hydropower and agriculture. A new study in the Andes shows sustainable irrigation and reforestation are the best responses.
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In rural Africa, where livelihoods are often tied directly to the land, environmental degradation poses a critical threat to both ecosystems and people’s well-being. New research reveals ways to tackle the dual challenges of land degradation and poverty.
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Assistant Professor of chemical engineering and of civil and environmental engineering William Tarpeh brings his love of problem-solving to his research.
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Stanford researchers have created an open-source tool so other scientists can make ice-penetrating radar systems at a fraction of the cost of current methods. Ice-penetrating radar is a core tool used by glaciologists monitoring how ice sheets contribute to rising sea levels.
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The possibility of detecting a pocket of habitable water under the surface of Europa is just one of the reasons to be excited about NASA's mission, says Dustin Schroeder, an expert in using radar to assess glaciers and a member of Clipper's science team.
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Fewer than 400 companies own the refrigerated cargo ships that act as mobile ports for fishing boats around the world by offloading fish, fuel, and people. Understanding who owns and operates these vessels could help combat seafood fraud and illegal harvests.
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Kabir Peay wants to leverage the relationship between plants and the beneficial fungi that colonize their roots to help ecosystems weather climate change.
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New guidelines share opportunities for governments to leverage fisheries and aquaculture for climate action – and how some countries are already doing so.
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As power grids rely more on renewable energy sources like wind and solar, balancing energy supply and demand becomes more challenging. A new analysis shows how water systems, such as desalination plants and wastewater treatment facilities, could help enhance grid stability and create new revenue streams.
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Stanford experts discuss the new PBS docuseries Hope in the Water and how the seafood industry can adapt to climate change and meet growing demand for food.
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Soaring human demand for krill in the Southern Ocean poses a challenge to the recovery of whale species once hunted nearly to extinction. Stanford researchers identify the growing food conflict and offer solutions.
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"I remember daycare trips to coastal parks, and for most of my childhood I fell asleep at night to a sound machine playing the sound of breaking waves. My parents are geologists who really enjoy nature, so we spent a lot of time outdoors. Most families have family portraits hanging on the walls, but we had vials of sand samples clustered along ours."
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Oceans advanced lecturer Robin Elahi and civil and environmental engineering Assistant Professor Christine Baker share tips for bringing a scientist’s perspective to your next trip to the coast.
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Soaring water utility bills force many households to ration water use for essential needs while still falling behind on payments. Stanford scientists offer a new approach to measuring water affordability that could help utilities and government agencies identify and aid those most at risk.
