CoEnv Currents

Open Access: stakeholder perceptions; Open Access: NOx emissions – This week’s CoEnv published research

Jen Davison — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:40:27 +0000

Each week we share the latest publications coming from the College of the Environment. Over the holiday weeks, four new articles co-authored by members of the College of the Environment were added to the Web of Science or published online.

1. Title: Diatom microfossils from cretaceous and eocene sediments contain native silica precipitating long-chain polyamines

Continue reading Open Access: stakeholder perceptions; Open Access: NOx emissions – This week’s CoEnv published research

Friday Harbor Labs’ open house: Reelin’ in the deep

jjmeyer — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:23:15 +0000

The University of Washington’s Friday Harbor Labs, one of the most interesting places on San Juan Island, throws open its doors on Saturday, May 18, to young and old alike. Scientists and their students will be on hand to talk about research in the marine sciences and show off the facilities from from 11 a.m.

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Lionfish: If you can’t beat ‘em, eat ‘em

jjmeyer — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:46:15 +0000

The invasive species is threatening coral reefs, and eradication won’t work. But there’s a simple solution. Read about what that is in an op-ed written by graduate student Chelsea Kahn in The LA Times.

New era of fisheries policy needed to secure nutrition for millions

jjmeyer — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:28:30 +0000

A new study, co-authored by Ray Hilborn, says better fisheries policies are needed to secure the sustainability of world fish stocks and vital nutrition for millions in the developing world. Read more on Benzinga.com.

Top American weather model to receive huge upgrade

jjmeyer — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:22:14 +0000

For the first time in decades, the top U.S. weather model should finally have “greater capacity” than the gold-standard European model. Read more in USA Today, where Professor Cliff Mass is quoted.

Tropical air circulation drives fall warming on Antarctic Peninsula

jjmeyer — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:54:01 +0000

The eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula, a finger of the southern polar continent that juts toward South America, has experienced summer warming of perhaps a half-degree per decade – a greater rate than possibly anywhere else on Earth – in the last 50 years, and that warming is largely attributed to human causes. Read

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Why UW scientists are speeding up ocean acidification

jjmeyer — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:11:25 +0000

A team of scientists in Friday Harbor are providing a window into the future of the ocean. Read more at Crosscut or listen on Green Acre Radio.

New report released on health impacts of Duwamish River cleanup

jjmeyer — Mon, 13 May 2013 22:36:42 +0000

A new report released today, May 13, examines the potential health impacts of the Duwamish River cleanup on Native American tribes and other people who use the river or live or work nearby. The Health Impact Assessment report was produced by researchers at the UW School of Public Health in collaboration with community health researchers

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Using earthquake sensors to track endangered whales

jjmeyer — Mon, 13 May 2013 17:28:22 +0000

The fin whale is the second-largest animal ever to live on Earth. It is also, paradoxically, one of the least understood. The animal’s huge size and global range make its movements and behavior hard to study. Read about how UW researchers are learning more about these animals using seafloor seismometers to measure their movement in

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Wonders of science to be celebrated at Seattle event

jjmeyer — Mon, 13 May 2013 16:15:08 +0000

The second annual Seattle Science Festival next month will feature noted scientists and events for a wide range of audiences. Read more in the Seattle Times.

Atmospheric chemist’s crowdfunding appeal breaks record

Jen Davison — Sat, 11 May 2013 00:07:19 +0000

Dan Jaffe, atmospheric science professor with UW-Bothell and adjunct professor in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences, started a crowdfunding campaign to raise money so that he could research whether coal dust may be harmful to our health. Seattle Times wrote a story about it, and within a day the project was funded — to the

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Atmospheric Sciences faculty member wins Rosenstiel Award

Jen Davison — Fri, 10 May 2013 23:54:45 +0000

Cecilia Bitz, a UW associate professor of atmospheric sciences, was awarded the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel Award. The $10,000 award honors early- to mid-career ocean scientists who have made significant and growing impacts during the previous decade. Read more about Bitz’s work in this UW News story; congratulations professor Bitz!

Survival of the weakest, rhizome diversity, mercury deposition – This week’s CoEnv published research

Jen Davison — Fri, 10 May 2013 20:12:36 +0000

1. Title: Survival of the weakest: increased frond mechanical strength in a wave-swept kelp inhibits

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Local students design and build underwater robots to help take the ocean’s “pulse”

jjmeyer — Thu, 09 May 2013 23:01:15 +0000

On Saturday, May 11th, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, the MATE Pacific Northwest Regional ROV Challenge will see teams of middle school, high school, and college students, compete using underwater robots known as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) they designed and built. The event will be held at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in

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King County proposes to buy forest on Squak Mountain

jjmeyer — Thu, 09 May 2013 19:59:16 +0000

King County, with The Trust for Public Land as an intermediary, has tentatively agreed to buy 216 acres next to the Cougar Mountain/Squak Mountain Corridor. Read more in the Seattle Times.

Video: Elwha River recovery

jjmeyer — Thu, 09 May 2013 19:16:56 +0000

The largest dam removal in U.S. history has changed the face of Washington’s Elwha River as millions of cubic yards of sediment flow down from above the sites of the two dams. How is all that sediment affecting fish? Listen and watch Ashley Ahearn’s video on EarthFix.

Weed warriors vanquishing Scotch broom on local prairie

jjmeyer — Thu, 09 May 2013 16:22:14 +0000

Capable of throwing its seed as far as 20 feet with a single pop, Scotch broom is a tough invader. Read more about what make this species a successful transplants, and what some Thurston County residents are doing to remove it from native landscapes, in the Seattle Times.

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Do whales have culture? Humpbacks pass on behavior

jjmeyer — Thu, 09 May 2013 16:10:16 +0000

Whales communicate with other humpbacks via social learning, study shows. Read more in National Geographic.

UW lands top spot in Recyclemania results

jjmeyer — Wed, 08 May 2013 23:25:51 +0000

In the grand champion category comparing paper, glass and can recycling with the amount of garbage thrown away, the UW outcompeted all the PAC-12 schools entered in this year’s Recyclmania, an eight-week contest when universities and colleges are ranked on how much recycling, food waste and trash they collect. Read more in UW Today.

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Coal trains fire up UW chemist

jjmeyer — Wed, 08 May 2013 16:51:21 +0000

Read about UW professor Dan Jaffe’s efforts to raise funds to study the effects of coal trains in the Seattle Times.