As climate change warms the planet, weather patterns are likely to shift. Even the consistency of snow — how fluffy it is, for example — could change. Researchers also want to know how these changing conditions will affect how predators hunt prey.
Read more at UW News »Beluga whales’ calls may get drowned out by shipping noise in Alaska’s Cook Inlet
New research from the University of Washington and collaborators is the first to document the complex vocal repertoire of the Cook Inlet beluga whale population. It is also the first to quantify how ship noise may be masking specific beluga calls in this region.
Read more at UW News »Year in review: College of the Environment story highlights from 2023
From new discoveries in our solar system to insights about how predators and prey interact with humans, 2023 was another impressive year of research in the College of the Environment. Our students tackled new challenges, and we celebrated anniversaries, new honors, new leadership positions and more.
Read more »Plant hardiness zones are getting warmer across the country — UW plant expert explains why it matters
The official map that helps gardeners and farmers decide what to plant has undergone a dramatic shift, thanks in large part to climate change. The 2023 update, released in mid-November, shows that about half of the country has moved into a warmer hardiness zone. Overall, the map is about 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the previous map from 2012.
Read more »Two UW Environment researchers featured on Highly Cited Researchers 2023 list
Spencer Wood, left, and Gregory Bratman are both named in the annual Highly Cited Researchers 2023 list from Clarivate. They join more than 40 UW researchers who received the honor this year.
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