Environment
Environment
Research From Northwest Scientists Shows Negative Climate Change Effects On Old Growth Forests
Deforestation, climate change and the disturbances it can exacerbate – like wildfires, extreme droughts and insect outbreaks – are decimating old growth forests across the globe. That means forests worldwide are filling in with younger and shorter trees, according to a new study.
Federal Rollback Of Environmental Rules Continue Despite Pandemic. Opponents Cry Foul
The Trump administration is rushing to finalize some of its biggest environmental rollbacks ahead of November’s election. Some affected groups say they’re too distracted by the pandemic to engage.
Herd Of Fuzzy Green ‘Glacier Mice’ Baffles Northwest Scientists Studying Them
Moss balls seem to roll around glaciers in a coordinated way, and researchers can’t explain why the whole group moves at about the same speed and in the same direction.
Our Pandemic Habits Cut Carbon Emissions, But It’s Not Clear They’ll Last
Energy demand plummeted because of the pandemic shutdown. A big question is whether new habits like telecommuting and flying less will endure, and mean lower oil consumption in the future.
Pandemic Gives Pacific Northwest Whales A Respite From Din Of Underwater Noise
American and Canadian marine scientists — and one talented dog — are seizing an unexpected opportunity presented by the coronavirus pandemic. They are trying to establish whether Pacifc Northwest whales benefit from the current drop in boat traffic and underwater noise.
Federal Environmental Policies During Pandemic Raise Concerns Across Northwest
State agencies and advocates have been alarmed by federal environmental policy rollbacks that continue unabated by the global coronavirus pandemic.
Washington State Steps In To Regulate Water Temps Behind Federal Dams To Help Salmon
Water temperatures are expected to increase as the climate warms. Rivers saw a glimpse of what the future could hold five summers ago, when low water flows and hot temperatures killed thousands of salmon.
Big Study Finds Small Territory Usage For Washington’s Medium-Sized Wild Lynx
In a study recently published in the Journal of Wildlife Management, WSU scientists found that lynx only occupy about 20% of potential habitat in Washington.
Pandemic Shutdown Is Speeding Up The Collapse Of Coal
Coal use has plummeted in part because it’s more expensive than natural gas or renewable energy. Mines are shutting down, and some power plants may run out of places to stockpile coal.
Fire Camp Germ Spread Is Dicey In Normal Times. COVID-19 Could Rip Through Crews This Season
This year, fire camp could be as dangerous as the wildfires, and top Western managers are deep in planning how to make fire camps COVID-19 ready for fire crews. Hilary Franz is Washington’s commissioner of public lands. She says state, federal, tribal and local officials are trying to make fighting wildfires safe during a pandemic.
10 Years After BP Deepwater Horizon Spill: Oil Drilled Deeper; Rules Relaxed
Ten years after an oil rig explosion killed 11 workers and unleashed an environmental nightmare in the Gulf of Mexico, companies are drilling in deeper and deeper waters, where payoffs can be huge but risks are greater than ever.
Water, Water (Most) Everywhere, As Northwest Snowpack Is Good. But Some Areas Are Low
For much of the Northwest, snowpack is above normal. That’s a good sign this time of year, when snowpack usually reaches its peak. Having enough snowpack is critical for spring and summer runoff that will supply water for irrigation and salmon runs. But that doesn’t mean everywhere has that much snow.
