Nine Climate Tipping Points Now ‘Active,’ Scientists Warn; Ice Sheets, Rain Forests, Corals
November 27th, 2019
More than half of the climate tipping points identified a decade ago are now "active", a group of leading scientists have warned.
Oregon State Scientists Lead Effort Declaring Climate Emergency, 6 Immediate Steps To Slow Global Warming
November 7th, 2019
A global coalition of scientists led by William J. Ripple and Christopher Wolf of Oregon State University says “untold human suffering” is unavoidable without deep and lasting shifts in human activities that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and other factors related to climate change.
EPA Releases Draft Columbia River Cold Water Refuge Plan; 12 Tributaries Tagged For Protection; Scientists’ Letter Says Lower Snake Dam Breaching Needed To Reduce Temps For Fish
October 24th, 2019
Summer water temperatures in the Columbia River can rise high enough (above 20 degrees Centigrade, 68 degrees Fahrenheit) to have adverse impacts on salmon and steelhead migrating upstream. Such temperatures cause disease, stress, and lower spawning success and can kill the fish.
Washington State Climatologist Talks Marine Heat Waves, Water Resources, Climate Change; 2014-15 A Dress Rehearsal For Future
October 17th, 2019
The newest marine heat wave off the West Coast that emerged this summer and resembles what became known as “the Blob” of 2014 and 2015 is not as warm and it already is diminishing in strength, according to Nick Bond, Washington State Climatologist.
NOAA Study: Heat Waves Could Increase Substantially In Size By Mid-Century, Pressure On Peak Electrical Loads, Grid
October 10th, 2019
The planet baked under the sun this summer as temperatures reached the hottest ever recorded and heat waves spread across the globe. While the climate continues to warm, scientists expect the frequency and intensity of heat waves to increase. However, a commonly overlooked aspect is the spatial size of heat waves, despite its important implications.
Study Of Past California Wildfires Suggests Climate Change Will Be Main Driver Of Increased Fire Activity
October 10th, 2019
In the wake of recent wildfires that have ravaged northern and central California, a new study finds that the severity of fire activity in the Sierra Nevada region has been sensitive to changes in climate over the past 1,400 years. The findings suggest that future climate change is likely to drive increased fire activity in the Sierras.
Study Looks At How ‘Climate Reshuffling’ Since 1980s Has Impacted Salmon Productivity In Alaska, B.C., Washington
October 3rd, 2019
Traditionally it was thought that warm coastal water temperatures in Alaska were considered beneficial for salmon productivity, while the opposite was true off the coasts of British Columbia and Washington State where warmer temperatures were not as good for salmon.
Study: Multifactor Models, Not Just Temperature, Reveal Worse Picture Of Climate Change Impact On Marine Life
October 3rd, 2019
Rising ocean temperatures have long been linked to negative impacts for marine life, but a Florida State University team has found that the long-term outlook for many marine species is much more complex -- and possibly bleaker -- than scientists previously believed.
Oregon Ocean Acidification And Hypoxia Plan Offers Roadmap In Dealing With Climate Impacts On Ocean Ecosystem
September 26th, 2019
Oregon has a new roadmap for addressing rising ocean acidification and hypoxia – two climate change-induced conditions that could have widespread consequences for the state’s ocean ecosystem and the economy.