Glacial lakes outburst floods (GLOFs) pose a serious threat to people and economic activities in the Third Pole, but most studies have used inconsistent methods to gather data and assess risks. Overcoming this limitation, researchers from China conducted an in-depth analysis of thousands of glacial lakes, estimating the risk of GLOF-related disasters and their destructive potential. Their efforts can help countries implement more effective preventive measures against such disasters in the future.

The explosive growth of big Earth data is not only driving the transformation of Earth system science towards a data-intensive paradigm but also laying the foundation for deciphering and understanding complex Earth systems. It is necessary to develop more effective solutions for extracting the required information and knowledge from massive, multisource, heterogeneous, and ubiquitous big Earth data for the seamless transformation of Earth system science.

Key point: Tree species diversity could enhance drought resistance in nearly half of global forests, according to an analysis of more than 700,000 forest plots published in Nature Geoscience. The finding has significant implications for current restoration and afforestation policies.