Today: September 21, 2024
Today: September 21, 2024

Environment

Environment

Hurricane Hilary triggers Southern California's first tropical storm warning ever, with heavy rain and flash flooding forecast

Hurricane Hilary was a powerful Category 4 storm as it headed for Baja California on Aug. 18, 2023. NOAA NESDIS Hurricane Hilary headed for Mexico’s Baja peninsula as a powerful Category 4 storm on Aug. 18, 2023, and was forecast to speed into Southern California at or near tropical storm strength as early as Aug. 20. For the first time ever, the National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm warning for large parts of Southern California. Hurricane scientist Nick Grondin explains how Hurricane Hilary, with help from El Niño and a heat dome over much of the country, could bring

August 18, 2023
Hurricane Hilary triggers Southern California's first tropical storm warning ever, with heavy rain and flash flooding forecast
Environment

Tropical Storm Hilary pounds Southern California with heavy rain, flash flooding

Hurricane Hilary was a powerful Category 4 storm as it headed for Baja California on Aug. 18, 2023. NOAA NESDIS Tropical Storm Hilary made landfall on Mexico’s Baja peninsula and moved into Southern California with damaging wind and heavy rainfall on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023. Forecasters warned of a “potentially historic amount of rainfall” and dangerous flooding. California’s governor declared a state of emergency on Saturday, and officials had urged people on Catalina Island and in other high-risk areas to evacuate. Nevada’s governor declared a state of emergency on Sunday. Hurricane scientist Nick Grondin explained ahead of landfall how the

August 18, 2023
Tropical Storm Hilary pounds Southern California with heavy rain, flash flooding
Environment

Want to help Maui's animals after the wildfires? Send cash, not kibble

Thousands of Maui’s cats, dogs and other companion animals went missing or were injured. Maui Humane Society, CC BY-ND An estimated 3,000 pets were still missing more than a week after deadly wildfires ripped through Maui in August 2023 and left thousands of people – many of whom had companion animals – homeless. The Conversation asked Sarah DeYoung, who has conducted research in Hawaii and studies what happens to pets after disasters, to explain why rescuing companion animals is a high priority following wildfires and how donors can help animals and pet owners recover from this disaster. What happens to

August 21, 2023
Want to help Maui's animals after the wildfires? Send cash, not kibble
Environment

Want to help Maui's animals after the wildfires? Send cash, not kibble

Thousands of Maui’s cats, dogs and other companion animals went missing or were injured. Maui Humane Society, CC BY-ND An estimated 3,000 pets were still missing more than a week after deadly wildfires ripped through Maui in August 2023 and left thousands of people – many of whom had companion animals – homeless. The Conversation asked Sarah DeYoung, who has conducted research in Hawaii and studies what happens to pets after disasters, to explain why rescuing companion animals is a high priority following wildfires and how donors can help animals and pet owners recover from this disaster. What happens to

August 21, 2023
Want to help Maui's animals after the wildfires? Send cash, not kibble
Environment

Geoengineering sounds like a quick climate fix, but without more research and guardrails, it's a costly gamble − with potentially harmful results

Geoengineering includes techniques to reflect solar energy. Elvis Tam/500px via Getty Images When soaring temperatures, extreme weather and catastrophic wildfires hit the headlines, people start asking for quick fixes to climate change. The U.S. government just announced the first awards from a US$3.5 billion fund for projects that promise to pull carbon dioxide out of the air. Policymakers are also exploring more invasive types of geoengineering − the deliberate, large-scale manipulation of Earth’s natural systems. The underlying problem has been known for decades: Fossil-fuel vehicles and power plants, deforestation and unsustainable agricultural practices have been putting more carbon dioxide into

August 21, 2023
Geoengineering sounds like a quick climate fix, but without more research and guardrails, it's a costly gamble − with potentially harmful results
Environment

Geoengineering sounds like a quick climate fix, but without more research and guardrails, it's a costly gamble − with potentially harmful results

Geoengineering includes techniques to reflect solar energy. Elvis Tam/500px via Getty Images When soaring temperatures, extreme weather and catastrophic wildfires hit the headlines, people start asking for quick fixes to climate change. The U.S. government just announced the first awards from a US$3.5 billion fund for projects that promise to pull carbon dioxide out of the air. Policymakers are also exploring more invasive types of geoengineering − the deliberate, large-scale manipulation of Earth’s natural systems. The underlying problem has been known for decades: Fossil-fuel vehicles and power plants, deforestation and unsustainable agricultural practices have been putting more carbon dioxide into

August 21, 2023
Geoengineering sounds like a quick climate fix, but without more research and guardrails, it's a costly gamble − with potentially harmful results
Environment

Living with wildfire: How to protect more homes as fire risk rises in a warming climate

Homeowners and local governments can take steps to help protect homes from fires. AP Photo/Keith D. Cullom Humans have learned to fear wildfire. It can destroy communities, torch pristine forests and choke even faraway cities with toxic smoke. Wildfire is scary for good reason, and over a century of fire suppression efforts has conditioned people to expect wildland firefighters to snuff it out. But as journalist Nick Mott and I explore our new book, “This Is Wildfire: How to Protect Your Home, Yourself, and Your Community in the Age of Heat,” and in our podcast “Fireline,” this expectation and the

August 22, 2023
Living with wildfire: How to protect more homes as fire risk rises in a warming climate
Environment

Looking for a US 'climate haven' away from disaster risks? Good luck finding one

Burlington, Vt., is often named as a ‘climate haven,’ but surrounding areas flooded during extreme storms in July 2023. Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Southeast Michigan seemed like the perfect “climate haven.” “My family has owned my home since the ‘60s. … Even when my dad was a kid and lived there, no floods, no floods, no floods, no floods. Until [2021],” one southeast Michigan resident told us. That June, a storm dumped more than 6 inches of rain on the region, overloading stormwater systems and flooding homes. That sense of living through unexpected and unprecedented disasters resonates

August 23, 2023
Looking for a US 'climate haven' away from disaster risks? Good luck finding one
Environment

Looking for a US 'climate haven' away from heat and disaster risks? Good luck finding one

Burlington, Vt., is often named as a ‘climate haven,’ but surrounding areas flooded during extreme storms in July 2023. Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Southeast Michigan seemed like the perfect “climate haven.” “My family has owned my home since the ‘60s. … Even when my dad was a kid and lived there, no floods, no floods, no floods, no floods. Until [2021],” one southeast Michigan resident told us. That June, a storm dumped more than 6 inches of rain on the region, overloading stormwater systems and flooding homes. That sense of living through unexpected and unprecedented disasters resonates

August 23, 2023
Looking for a US 'climate haven' away from heat and disaster risks? Good luck finding one
Environment

Secrets of an octopus's garden: Moms nest at thermal springs to give their young the best chance for survival

Two miles below the ocean surface off Monterey, California, warm water percolates from the seafloor at the base of an underwater mountain. It’s a magical place, especially if you’re an octopus. In 2018, one of us, Amanda Kahn, was aboard the research vessel E/V Nautilus when scientists discovered the “Octopus Garden.” Thousands of pearl octopuses (Muusoctopus robustus) were curled up into individual balls in lines and clumps. As Nautilus Live streamed the expedition online, the world got to share the excitement of the discovery. We now know why these amazing creatures gather at this and other underwater warm springs. Scientists

August 23, 2023
Secrets of an octopus's garden: Moms nest at thermal springs to give their young the best chance for survival
Environment

Secrets of the Octopus Garden: Moms nest at thermal springs to give their young the best chance for survival

Female pearl octopus nest at the Octopus Garden off California. Credit: © 2019 MBARI Two miles below the ocean surface off Monterey, California, warm water percolates from the seafloor at the base of an underwater mountain. It’s a magical place, especially if you’re an octopus. In 2018, one of us, Amanda Kahn, was aboard the research vessel E/V Nautilus when scientists discovered the “Octopus Garden.” Thousands of pearl octopuses (Muusoctopus robustus) were curled up into individual balls in lines and clumps. As Nautilus Live streamed the expedition online, the world got to share the excitement of the discovery. We now

August 23, 2023
Secrets of the Octopus Garden: Moms nest at thermal springs to give their young the best chance for survival
Environment

What social change movements can learn from fly fishing: The value of a care-focused message

Fly-fishing in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest. Joseph/Flickr, CC BY-SA Summer and fall are prime times for getting outdoors across the U.S. According to an annual survey produced by the outdoor industry, 55% of Americans age 6 and up participated in some kind of outdoor recreation in 2022, and that number is on the rise. However, the activities they choose are shifting. Over the past century, participation has declined in some activities, such as hunting, and increased in others, like bird-watching. These shifts reflect many factors, including demographic trends and urbanization. But outdoor activities also have their own cultures, which can

August 28, 2023
What social change movements can learn from fly fishing: The value of a care-focused message
Environment

Shutting off power to reduce wildfire risk on windy days isn’t a simple decision – an energy expert explains the trade-offs electric utilities face

Power lines spark a large number of U.S. wildfires. AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli Maui County is suing Hawaiian Electric, claiming the utility was negligent for not shutting off power as strong winds hit the island in the hours before the city of Lahaina burned. While the cause of the devastating Aug. 8, 2023, wildfire is still under investigation, forecasters had warned that powerful winds were expected, and West Maui had exceptionally dry conditions that put it at high risk for wildfires. In many cases, however, deciding to shut off power isn’t as simple is as it might sound. We asked Tim

August 28, 2023
Shutting off power to reduce wildfire risk on windy days isn’t a simple decision – an energy expert explains the trade-offs electric utilities face
Environment

Hurricane Idalia intensifies over extremely warm Gulf waters, on track for Florida landfall as a dangerous major hurricane

A hurricane scientist explains the conflict between 2023’s abnormally high ocean heat and the storm-disrupting wind shear accompanying El Niño.

August 28, 2023
Hurricane Idalia intensifies over extremely warm Gulf waters, on track for Florida landfall as a dangerous major hurricane
Environment

Tropical Storm Idalia is forecast to intensify over extremely warm Gulf waters, on track for Florida landfall as a powerful hurricane

Forecasters were closely watching Tropical Storm Idalia as it passed Cuba and headed toward exceptionally warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico. The storm was on track to intensify rapidly before making landfall on the Florida Panhandle, possibly as a major hurricane, on Wednesday, Aug. 30. Hurricane scientist Haiyan Jiang of Florida International University explained the conflicting forces of unusually high ocean heat and wind shear, which typically accompanies El Niño climate patterns, that have made the 2023 hurricane season and even individual storms difficult to forecast. What role is ocean temperature playing in Idalia’s forecast? Forecasters are watching several

August 28, 2023
Tropical Storm Idalia is forecast to intensify over extremely warm Gulf waters, on track for Florida landfall as a powerful hurricane
Environment

Hurricane Idalia forecast to intensify over extremely warm Gulf waters, on track for Florida landfall as a dangerous storm

Forecasters expected Hurricane Idalia to rapidly intensify into a major hurricane as it headed over exceptionally warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico, on track for landfall in Florida on Wednesday, Aug. 30. Hurricane warnings were posted along a wide stretch of Florida’s Gulf coast, from near Sarasota to the Panhandle, including Tampa Bay. Hurricane scientist Haiyan Jiang of Florida International University explains how two conflicting forces – record-high ocean heat and wind shear, the latter influenced by El Niño – were determining Idalia’s future, and how they have made the 2023 hurricane season overall difficult to forecast. What role

August 28, 2023
Hurricane Idalia forecast to intensify over extremely warm Gulf waters, on track for Florida landfall as a dangerous storm
Environment

Hurricane Idalia intensifies over extremely warm Gulf waters, on track for Florida landfall as a dangerous major hurricane

Forecasters expected Hurricane Idalia to intensify into a major hurricane as it headed over exceptionally warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico, on track for landfall in Florida on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. Hurricane warnings were posted along a wide stretch of Florida’s Gulf coast, from near Sarasota to the Panhandle, including Tampa Bay. Hurricane scientist Haiyan Jiang of Florida International University explains how two conflicting forces – record-high ocean heat and wind shear, the latter influenced by El Niño – were determining Idalia’s future, and how they have made the 2023 hurricane season overall difficult to forecast. What role

August 28, 2023
Hurricane Idalia intensifies over extremely warm Gulf waters, on track for Florida landfall as a dangerous major hurricane
Environment

Machines can't always take the heat − two engineers explain the physics behind how heat waves threaten everything from cars to computers

Extreme heat can affect how well machines function, and the fact that many machines give off their own heat doesn’t help. AP Photo/Abdeljalil Bounhar Not only people need to stay cool, especially in a summer of record-breaking heat waves. Many machines, including cellphones, data centers, cars and airplanes, become less efficient and degrade more quickly in extreme heat. Machines generate their own heat, too, which can make hot temperatures around them even hotter. We are engineering researchers who study how machines manage heat and ways to effectively recover and reuse heat that is otherwise wasted. There are several ways extreme

August 29, 2023
Machines can't always take the heat − two engineers explain the physics behind how heat waves threaten everything from cars to computers
Environment

Giraffes range across diverse African habitats − we’re using GPS, satellites and statistics to track and protect them

An average giraffe has a home range almost as large as Philadelphia. Michael Brown, CC BY-NC Nearly 6,000 years ago, our ancestors climbed arid rocky outcrops in what is now the Nigerian Sahara and carved spectacularly intricate, larger-than-life renditions of giraffes into the exposed sandstone. The remarkably detailed Dabous giraffe rock art petroglyphs are among many ancient petroglyphs featuring giraffes across Africa – a testament to early humans’ fascination with these unique creatures. We are still captivated by giraffes today, but many of these animals are at risk, largely due to habitat loss and illegal hunting. Some are critically endangered.

August 30, 2023
Giraffes range across diverse African habitats − we’re using GPS, satellites and statistics to track and protect them
Environment

50 years after the Bunker Hill mine fire caused one of the largest lead-poisoning cases in US history, Idaho's Silver Valley is still at risk

Waterways and communities for miles around Idaho’s Bunker Hill mine were contaminated with lead after the 1973 fire. gjohnstonphoto/iStock/Getty Images Plus On Sept. 3, 1973, a fire swept through the baghouse of the Bunker Hill mine in Idaho’s Silver Valley. The building was designed to filter pollutants produced by smelting, the melting of rocks that separates metal from its ore. The gases produced in this process carried poisons, including lead. At the time, the prices of lead and silver were climbing toward all-time highs. Rather than wait for new filters and repairs, company officials kept the mine running. They increased

August 30, 2023
50 years after the Bunker Hill mine fire caused one of the largest lead-poisoning cases in US history, Idaho's Silver Valley is still at risk
Environment|WrittenByLAPost

How safe is the air? Here’s how to check and what the numbers mean

How can you check the air quality in your area and what do the numbers mean? The Environmental Protection Agency monitors the air around the country and compiles an air quality index, or AQI. Here’s what to know about the index and how to keep tabs on your area, especially in U.S. regions dealing with smoke from Canadian wildfires. WHAT DOES THE AIR QUALITY INDEX MEASURE? The index rates how clean or polluted the air is each day. The EPA uses this measure to keep tabs on five kinds of air pollutants. The main concern from the wildfire

August 31, 2023
How safe is the air? Here’s how to check and what the numbers mean
Economy|Environment|WrittenByLAPost

A Rice Shortage is Sending Prices Soaring Across the world, and Things Could Get Worse

BY ANIRUDDHA GHOSAL AND EVELYNE MUSAMBI Updated 10:29 AM PDT, August 22, 2023 Francis Ndege isn’t sure if his customers in Africa’s largest slum can afford to keep buying rice from him. Prices for rice grown in Kenya soared a while ago because of higher fertilizer prices and a yearslong drought in the Horn of Africa that has reduced production. Cheap rice imported from India had filled the gap, feeding many of the hundreds of thousands of residents in Nairobi’s Kibera slum who survive on less than $2 a day. But that is changing. The price of a 25-kilogram (55-pound) bag of rice has risen by about

August 31, 2023
A Rice Shortage is Sending Prices Soaring Across the world, and Things Could Get Worse
Environment

North America’s summer of wildfire smoke: 2023 was only the beginning

Canada’s seemingly endless wildfires in 2023 introduced millions of people across North America to the health hazards of wildfire smoke. While Western states have contended with smoky fire seasons for years, the air quality alerts across the U.S. Midwest and Northeast this summer reached levels never seen there before. The smoke left the air so unhealthy in Philadelphia on June 7, 2023, that the Phillies-Detroit Tigers Major League Baseball game was postponed. That same week, New York City residents hunkered down indoors for several days as a smoky haze hung over the city, turning the skies orange and exposing millions

September 01, 2023
North America’s summer of wildfire smoke: 2023 was only the beginning
Environment

California and Florida grew quickly on the promise of perfect climates in the 1900s – today, they lead the country in climate change risks

Iconic California from a 1920s orange box label. Covina Citrus Industry Photographs Images of orange groves and Spanish-themed hotels with palm tree gardens filled countless pamphlets and articles promoting Southern California and Florida in the late 19th century, promising escape from winter’s reach. This vision of an “American Italy” captured hearts and imaginations across the U.S. In it, Florida and California promised a place in the sun for industrious Americans to live the good life, with the perfect climate. But the very climates that made these semitropical playgrounds the American dream of the 20th century threaten to break their reputations

September 05, 2023
California and Florida grew quickly on the promise of perfect climates in the 1900s – today, they lead the country in climate change risks
Environment

The US broke global trade rules to try to fix climate change – to finish the job, it has to fix the trade system

U.S. President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act on Aug. 16, 2022, including electric vehicle subsidies with ‘buy American’ rules. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, President Joe Biden’s landmark climate law, is now expected to prompt a trillion dollars in government spending to fight climate change and trillions more in private investment. But the law and Biden’s broader “buy American” agenda include measures that discriminate against imports. One year in, these policies, such as the law’s electric vehicle subsidies, appear to be succeeding at growing domestic clean energy industries – consider the US$100 billion in

September 05, 2023
The US broke global trade rules to try to fix climate change – to finish the job, it has to fix the trade system

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