Earthquakes have long been known to trigger more earthquakes, as well as volcanic eruptions and landslides. In this web focus, we present opinion pieces and primary research articles that document and discuss a range of additional, less obvious links between earthquakes and other geological spectacles — such as volcaNo. sinking, seafloor gas-hydrate escape and a mud eruption — that have only now come into focus.

Long after the planets of the Solar System formed, catastrophic collisions continued, with a climax about 4 billion years ago during an interval called the Late Heavy Bombardment. The scars of this geologic violence are evident today in the ancient cratered terrains of planetary surfaces. The interval of bombardment is thought to have shaped the terrestrial planets and moons, their atmospheres and possibly even the onset of life. In this web focus, we present research papers, overview articles and opinion pieces that discuss how large impacts influenced the evolution of the early Solar System.

The Wenchuan earthquake that occurred in southwest China on 12 May 2008 killed more than 80,000 people and displaced millions. Five years on, many of the affected communities have made a good recovery – at least until the most recent quake in April 2013 wreaked further havoc in the region. The devastating 2008 event has helped invigorate research into earthquake hazards. A collection of opinion pieces, published in Nature Geoscienceto mark the fifth anniversary of the 2008 event, discusses the mechanisms for the Wenchuan quake itself and the implications for our understanding of the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, the ongoing risk from quake-induced landslides, and the societal impacts of the earthquake.

Nature Geoscienceis now five years old. To celebrate, we look back on some numbers regarding the publication process in our editorial. We have asked nine scientists to look back on events and insights of the past five years. Finally, we present a selection of ten of our favourite articles in the journal, across disciplines and across our opinion, review and primary research sections.

Water is the basis for life as we know it, in a biological as well as a societal sense. Under the combined influences of human development and a warming climate, supply and demand of water for consumption and irrigation, mineral exploration and energy production will change. In this joint web focus, Nature GeoscienceandNature Climate Changepresent overview articles, original research and opinion pieces that analyse the availability and governance of fresh water in a changing world.

Water is the basis for life as we know it, in a biological as well as a societal sense. Under the combined influences of human development and a warming climate, supply and demand of water for consumption and irrigation, mineral exploration and energy production will change. In this joint web focus, Nature GeoscienceandNature Climate Changepresent overview articles, original research and opinion pieces that analyse the availability and governance of fresh water in a changing world.

Rivers connect the highest mountains with the ocean's depth, carving up the land as they flow. En route, they transport and transform large quantities of terrestrial material, and exchange elements with the atmosphere, land and sea. In this web focus we present opinion pieces and research articles that examine the topographic, biogeochemical and cultural significance of rivers.

During the glacial–interglacial cycles of the past half million years, it took well over 50,000 years for continental ice sheets to grow to their maximum extent. In contrast, the transitions from glacial maximum to interglacial conditions generally occurred over about 10,000 years. In this web focus, we present a collection of overview, primary research and opinion pieces that explore the links between solar radiation, ice-sheet melting, ocean circulation and climate that govern the transition from glacial maximum to interglacial warmth.

Most volcanism on Earth occurs beneath the oceans, but submarine volcanoes are difficult to study. Advances in seafloor monitoring have opened up an unprecedented view of eruptions on the seabed. In this web focus we present opinion pieces and research articles that document the cycle of inflation and deflation, lava flows, and growth and collapse of two volcanoes beneath the Pacific Ocean during eruptions in 2011.

Where continents rift apart, new crust is formed from upwelling magma. Eventually, a new ocean basin forms. In this web focus we present opinion pieces, along with research and overview articles that explore the dynamic processes that occur during plate rifting. Case studies include both rifting on land, in east Africa and Iceland, and at the mid-ocean ridges that divide the oceanic crust.

Vegetation has been a key part of the Earth's surface for only about 450 million years. With the progression of the terrestrial landscape from bare surfaces to widespread coverage by plants - ground vegetation initially, then trees and finally flowering plants - the Earth's surface and its biogeochemical processes have also changed. In this issue, we present a collection of articles that explore how the evolution of terrestrial plants and the Earth's surface have affected each other.

Volcanic eruptions in the middle of tectonic plates, far from any volcanically-active plate boundaries, have created many of the thousands of ocean islands and seamounts that cover Earth's ocean floors. The geochemistry of their lavas may provide a window into processes occurring deep inside our planet. In this issue we collect research articles and opinion pieces that explore some possible mechanisms for the creation of ocean islands and seamounts, and highlight their connections to the deep and upper mantle.