Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment
Improving our understanding of the global environment, and how it is affected by human activities

Mapping the Biosphere

Here you will find maps of environmental variables. If you use anything from the Atlas in a publication, please use the following citation: “Used by permission of The Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment, Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison.”

Explore the Maps

Human Impacts

Humans and the environment from a socio-economic perspective (e.g., population, life expectancy, literacy rates)

Land Use

How humans are using the land (e.g., croplands, pastures, urban lands)

Ecosystems

The natural ecosystems of the world (e.g., potential vegetation, temperature, soil texture)

Water Resources

Water in the biosphere (e.g., runoff, precipitation, lakes, and wetlands)