High-resolution satellite maps of the contiguous USA spanning 35 years reveal a fundamental shift in land disturbances: the area affected by human-directed disturbances is decreasing, whereas land damaged by ‘wild’ disturbances (like fire, vegetation stress, wind, and geohazards) is surging. This work also uncovers evolving patterns in the frequency, size, and severity of disturbances.
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References
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This is a summary of: Qiu, S. et al. A shift from human-directed to undirected wild land disturbances in the USA. Nat. Geosci. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-025-01792-3 (2025).
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Natural land disturbances are worsening but humans are not off the hook. Nat. Geosci. 18, 947–948 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-025-01793-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-025-01793-2
