Sunset hits Seattle at 4:18 p.m. through Dec. 17 — the earliest time of the year — though the shortest day of the year isn’t until several days later. Dale Durran, professor of atmospheric sciences, is quoted. 

UW philosophy professor Steve Gardiner likens climate change to a perfect storm — a convergence of three difficult problems that so far we’ve found ourselves unable to face, much less solve. Climate change is global. What one nation does affects every other nation. Climate change is intergenerational. What we do today will affect people yet to be born. We have no adequate theory with which to tackle climate change. 

Biologist Jennifer Ruesink considers UW oyster research and work with the shellfish industry in face of today’s environmental challenges, including ocean acidification. The UW 360 segment also includes Emma Timmins-Schiffman, aquatic and fishery sciences graduate student, and Taylor Shellfish Farms‘ Joth Davis, who is a UW affiliate faculty member.  View the video here. 

Washington’s forests are deteriorating so quickly the state commissioner of public lands says he’ll appoint an emergency panel to seek ways to stabilize the situation or reverse the decline. Jerry Franklin, professor of forest resources, is quoted.