Summer 2024
What was the environmental legacy of Expo ’74?
Come back soon for a podcast episode on the environmental themes at Expo ’74 in Spokane, and how those themes played out over the next 50 years.
Earth Sciences
Summer 2024
Exploring weather extremes
Scorching heat and record cold. Prolonged droughts and flooding from heavy precipitation. Lightning storms that ignite wildfires.
At the Climate Extremes Laboratory at Washington State University Vancouver, Deepti Singh and her students are working to deepen the understanding of extreme weather events—both in the Pacific Northwest and around the world.
“As the climate warms, the probability of experiencing these record-breaking weather events increases,” says Singh, assistant professor in the School of the Environment. “They affect our food security, air quality, water supplies, and energy production. And weather-related disasters influence human migration patterns.”
In her early adult years, … » More …
Summer 2024
The heat is on
The Pacific Northwest will face more heat in a region historically known for its mild climate. » More ...
Summer 2024
Feeling the heat
The planet hit new highs in 2023 with its warmest year on record. Evidence suggests that Earth might not have been this warm in 100,000 years.
Temperatures have been going up for years due to climate change, but last year reached unprecedented levels with additional factors such as El Niño, the cyclical climate pattern that is often linked with record-setting heat worldwide.
The Pacific Northwest really started feeling the extreme heat in 2021 when the “heat dome” broke records and buckled roads. Washington State University assistant professor Deepti Singh studies extreme weather events and, in this issue, she assesses the impacts of 2021 and … » More …
Summer 2024
The Pacific Northwest heats up
Rising temperatures, including the 2021 heat dome, lead to more extreme weather in the Pacific Northwest. » More ...
Summer 2024
Outdoor workers feeling the heat
WSU researchers seek ways to safeguard outdoor workers as the temperatures rise. » More ...
Summer 2024
Warming scenarios for Washington counties —interactive maps
Warming Scenarios for Washington State
The Pacific Northwest is hotter than it used to be, and the growth in hot days will continue. Global temperatures are projected to warm by 3.6°F (2°C) over pre-industrial levels by the 2040s to the 2060s, according to recent research. That means more days over 95°F in Washington.
Click on the map below to see how Washington counties will be affected by more days of extreme heat in that projection.
Spring 2024
Schooling on salmon
“Salmon docents” in Washington’s Kitsap Peninsula provide education about the signature fish of the state. » More ...
Spring 2024
Kitsap County Extension water stewardship programs
Helping people appreciate the beauty and ecological value of beaches, streams, and salmon runs is part of Washington State University’s Kitsap County Extension Program.
Each year, local residents train as beach naturalists, stream stewards, or salmon docents. Nearly 100 people completed one of the trainings in 2022. Volunteers donated more than 3,500 hours for education, stewardship, and community science in Kitsap County during the year, including time donated from past trainees who remain active volunteers.
The training empowers people to take action and become stewards of their local environment, says Anna McClelland, interim water stewardship coordinator for Kitsap Extension.
“It gives me … » More …
Fall 2023
Rooting for the prairie
Protecting our Palouse prairie home companions » More ...