Category: Science & Research

Scientists improve estimates of climate-warming methane from wetlands in Northern Europe

Scientists improve estimates of climate-warming methane from wetlands in Northern Europe
~ Toni Klemm ~ Leave a comment

By Toni Klemm 2024 was the hottest year on record for planet Earth, with most of the warming coming from human activities that release climate-warming greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide (CO2) or methane (CH4), into the air. Nature around us โ€“ for example, trees and soils โ€“ can absorb these gases and act as a … Continue reading Scientists improve estimates of climate-warming methane from wetlands in Northern Europe

Behind the Flames: Understanding Californiaโ€™s Wildfire Crisis

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byย Paulina ฤ†wik Californiaโ€™s identity is increasingly tied to wildfires - catastrophic events that claim lives, destroy property, and upend ecosystems annually. While fire has always been a natural part of the stateโ€™s ecology, the unprecedented scale and intensity of recent events highlight the growing crisis. At the heart of Californiaโ€™s wildfire problem are the powerful … Continue reading Behind the Flames: Understanding Californiaโ€™s Wildfire Crisis

Climate Communication Insights from Cooperative Extension Professionals

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by Scott Hershberger In addition to research and education, U.S. land-grant universities have a third mission: bringing the institutionโ€™s research and resources into its stateโ€™s communities. The Cooperative Extension Service fulfills this mission, with a presence in nearly all of the countryโ€™s 3,000 counties. Extension professionals provide their local communities with timely, geographically specific scientific … Continue reading Climate Communication Insights from Cooperative Extension Professionals

Rising Tides: The Growing Challenge of Overwash in the Pacific Islands

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by Paulina ฤ†wik In a nutshell: Overwash is a newly-intensifying phenomenon impacting the Pacific Islands. Produced by a combination of storm swell and wave dynamics with coral reefs, overwash waves flood low-lying islands, compromising freshwater supplies. Research is underway to improve forecasting and bolster resilience to these events as they become more frequent due to climate … Continue reading Rising Tides: The Growing Challenge of Overwash in the Pacific Islands

Balancing Act: Navigating Environmental Considerations For Renewable Energy Development

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by Claire Burch Balancing Act: Navigating Environmental Considerations For Renewable Energy Development Nestled in central Kansas is Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area, a key stopover point for migratory shorebirds and waterfowl in the United States. It is one of only 41 "Wetlands of International Importance" in the United States, which is a designation that protects rare, … Continue reading Balancing Act: Navigating Environmental Considerations For Renewable Energy Development

Unveiling Patterns: A Different Look at May Tornado Outbreaks in the United States

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byย Paulina ฤ†wik As the chill of winter recedes, giving way to spring's warmth, the United States enters a critical season for severe weather, notably marked by the increased likelihood of tornado outbreaks. While tornadoes can occur year-round, it's in the spring that conditions become particularly ripe for the most intense and widespread occurrences. Southern states … Continue reading Unveiling Patterns: A Different Look at May Tornado Outbreaks in the United States

The Ogallala Data Directory: A Data Resource for the Ogallala Aquifer Region

~ Cait Rottler ~ Leave a comment

By Caitlin Rottler The Ogallala Aquifer is a critically important aquifer in the central United States, underlying approximately 111 million acres, including 1.9 million acres of Tribal land and 2.9 million acres of federal land. The land over the aquifer is the ancestral homeland of a number of tribes, including the Sioux, Arapaho, Cheyenne, Ponca, … Continue reading The Ogallala Data Directory: A Data Resource for the Ogallala Aquifer Region