In the News (2009)
Catch shares may not lead to healthier fisheries, study says
Matthew Preusch/The Oregonian, posted December 21, 2009
A fisheries management tool embraced by the Obama administration may not increase the health of ocean fish stocks, a study concludes. But catch shares, which divide the total catch among fishermen, can make fisheries more predictable, according to the study by Aquatic and Fishery Sciences professor Timothy Essington.
Robot Records Deepest Erupting Undersea Volcano
Associated Press, posted December 18, 2009
Using a submersible robot, scientists have recorded the deepest erupting undersea volcano ever seen. Capturing for the first time video of molten lava bubbles exploding 4,000 feet beneath the Pacific Ocean, scientists hope the images, data, and samples obtained during the mission will shed new light on how the earth's crust was formed. The project's chief scientist, Joseph Resing, is a chemical oceanographer with the Joint Institute on the Study of Atmosphere and Ocean at UW.
Warming 'big threat' to Yosemite
Matt Walker/BBC News, posted December 17, 2009
New research in the International Journal of Wildland Fire says warmer temperatures pose a twin threat. As well as directly triggering fires, they could also melt the snow that covers the forest in winter. Dr. James Lutz of the School of Forest Resources is one of the study's authors.
Gigantic bird-killing algae bloom mystifies scientists
Les Blumenthal/The News Tribune, posted December 13, 2009
With a new theory surfacing that toxic algae rather than asteroids killed the dinosaurs, scientists are trying to unravel the mystery of what caused a massive algae bloom off the Northwest coast that left thousands of seabirds dead and might have sickened some surfers and kayakers. Julia Parrish, Director of the Program on the Environment, is quoted.
UW climate scientist warms to work on food supply
Sandi Doughton/ Seattle Times, Dec. 8, 2009
"University of Washington climate scientist David Battisti's research on the fundamental workings of ocean and atmosphere helped refine the understanding of global warming's regional impacts. But his interests have changed. He's now focusing some of his efforts on studying what a warming world could mean to agriculture."
Major Earthquake, Far Away - Lessons for NW?
Keith Seinfeld/ KPLU, posted on December 7, 2009
The earthquake that hit near Nisqually in 2001, knocking over chimneys and brick buildings in Seattle, could have been bigger. That's one lesson from an earthquake this fall in Indonesia. Engineers gather to discuss what can be learned.
Lightning 'listening' network nearly complete
Michael Reilly/ Discovery News, posted November 25, 2009
Every second around the world, about 63 lightning bolts flash through the sky.
With expansions completed next year, the World-Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) will soon include 60 monitoring stations for listening to the Earth’s electrical tumult, allowing scientists to better forecast hurricanes, detect far-flung volcanic eruptions, and unravel the mysteries of how and why our planet crackles with electricity."
Critical Mass
Mike Seely/ Seattle Weekly, posted on November 17, 2009
"A Carl Sagan protégé who bikes to work on the Burke is changing the way weather is forecasted in America."
A Murder of Crows
CBC documentary, debut October 11, 2009
"A Murder of Crows is a visually stunning one-hour documentary that offers a rare and intimate glimpse into the inner life of one of the most intelligent, playful and mischievous species on the planet - the common crow. It is also a film that explores a unique pairing of science and cinema as world-renowned scientists, including crow expert Professor John Marzluff, joins forces with an award-winning camera team to explore the secret world of crows."
The Crow Paradox
Robert Krulwich and NPR staff posted July 27, 2009
According to research done by Professor John Marzluff in the college's School of Forest Resources, wild crows can recognize individual people. Take the NPR quiz to see if you can tell them apart.
Read more about Dr. Marzluff and his research >
Mapping America's giant trees
Peter Bowes/BBC posted July 20, 2009
Dr. Jim Lutz, a research associate in the college's School of Forest Resources, and colleagues in the U.S. Geological Survey have determined that there are fewer large-diameter trees growing in Yosemite National Park than in years past, most likely because of climate change. Warmer temperatures and smaller snow packs are creating conditions where fewer Ponderosa and sugar pines and other heartier trees can flourish.
Read more about the research that Dr. Lutz is currently working on in the Yosemite Forest >
Schools of Sustainability, Colleges of the Environment
Elizabeth Redden/Inside Higher Ed posted July 23, 2009
In recent years, a steady stream of universities have established either a college, school or campus dedicated to the study of sustainability and the environment, and they're experimenting with a range of innovative organizing principles and structures to promote interdisciplinary (or transdisciplinary) teaching and research. The UW's College of the Environment is featured.
Dramatic Arctic sea ice shrinkage predicted
msnbc.com staff and news service reports updated April 2, 2009
The areas
of the Arctic covered in sea ice in summers will shrink by two-thirds within 30 years, researchers report,
attributing the shrinkage to natural conditions as well as manmade greenhouse gases.
Read more articles at JISAO, a program within the College of the Environment >
- Washington Climate Change Impacts Assessment report released
Published February 11, 2009
Lead report authors Ed Miles and Phil Mote are faculty members in the Climate Impacts Group, a program within the College of the Environment.
Seattle PI (front page) >
Seattle Times >
News Tribune (AP) >
Puget Sound Business Journal >
Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce >
Why Global Warming Portends a Food Crisis
Bryan Walsh/Time posted January 13, 2009
A study published in the Jan. 9 issue of Science shows that far from compensating for the damages associated with climate change (heavier and more frequent storms, increasing desertification, sea-level rise), hotter temperatures will seriously diminish the world's ability to feed itself. Professor David Battisti in the college's Department of Atmospheric Sciences, was one of the paper's authors.
