The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is generally considered a seasonal mode of variability, developing and decaying within a single year. During 2021–2022, however, negative IOD conditions persisted for approximately 19 months (Figure 1, top left), making this event the longest—and among the strongest—observed since reliable records began. This unusual persistence highlights important aspects of ocean–a ...[Read More]
Although often daunting and discouraging, every academic must navigate the inevitable process of peer review. In this week’s post, Jean-Baptiste Koehl, postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oslo (Norway), reflects on what the future of peer review might be. Author disclaimer: The reflections presented here reflect my perspective grounded in my own experience. While peer review is a key mech ...[Read More]
This blog post is part of our series: “Highlights” for which we’re accepting contributions! Please contact Emma Lodes (GM blog editor, elodes@asu.edu), if you’d like to contribute on this topic or others. by Florian Betz, Principal Investigator at the Earth Observation Research Cluster at University of Würzburg. Email: florian.betz@uni-wuerzburg.de What is biogeomorphology and why is it important ...[Read More]
Intense rainfall lasting only a few hours is often enough to trigger natural hazards such as flash floods and landslides, leading to severe damage to infrastructure. These short-lived events are among the most dangerous natural hazards in the Mediterranean region, yet they are also among the hardest to study. Their small spatial scale and brief duration mean that they are often missed or underesti ...[Read More]
Introduction The solar wind, a continuous outflow of charged particles from the solar corona, plays a fundamental role in shaping the heliosphere and driving space weather. Its interaction with planetary magnetospheres and atmospheres regulates magnetospheric dynamics, influences atmospheric escape, and governs space weather hazards that can affect both space- and ground-based technologies. Despit ...[Read More]
Cryosphere scientists know it well; the Arctic doesn’t give up its secrets easily. This is especially true when it comes to exploring permafrost -– frozen soils that store centuries of history underground. Keeping an eye on the state of permafrost is more important than ever, as widespread permafrost thaw is a direct result of rising global temperatures. However, monitoring the vast Arctic is not ...[Read More]
Doing a PhD is a challenge in itself. Doing it in another country, away from family and friends, is even harder. Handling the requirements of academia while adjusting to a new culture, language, and way of life can be overwhelming at times. But, doing a PhD abroad is not defined by challenges alone. A new academic and social environment can lead to new friendships, fresh perspectives, and personal ...[Read More]
Demonstrating independence is a critical step when you pursue a career in academia: not only being excellent at executing research, but also showing you can shape ideas into a coherent project, choose the right environment, and lead work that matters. EU funding can be a strong catalyst for that transition, especially in the postdoc phase, because it is designed to reward clear scientific vision p ...[Read More]
1. Congratulations on your OSPP Award 2024! What was your initial reaction to winning, and how has it helped your career as an early-career scientist? I was very delighted and also proud that my work is recognized in this way. I also understood in hindsight why I had little time to breathe during my poster presentation slot; some of the people asking a lot of the questions will have been the judge ...[Read More]
Snowy days are here! Between two slides and snow ball (kind and consented) fights with colleagues, let’s see what’s in my mailbox… Well, this one is pretty topical, let’s go! Dear Sassy scientist, I think I lost all motivation for research but I need to work! What do I do? Please help me! My sweet cute pie, Let me ask you a quick question, when was the last time you took va ...[Read More]
