Ctenophores, carbon dioxide in the Yellow River, and more: This week’s published research

Each week we share the latest peer-reviewed publications coming from the College of the Environment. Over the past week, four new articles co-authored by members of the College of the Environment were added to the Web of Science database, including studies on marine managed areas and predictions of ecosystem dynamics.

A year later, UW geologist reflects on Oso and the need for better application of landslide science

Earth and Space Sciences’ David Montgomery is one of many University of Washington researchers who have been working to develop and analyze critical data in the aftermath of last year’s landslide in Oso. March 22, 2015 marked one year since the largest recorded landslide in U.S. history decimated a western Washington community and killed 43 people. In the wake of that disaster, Montgomery has some thoughts about how to make landslides less deadly.

Read David's New York Times op-ed »

Mar 17, 2015

UW scientist leads multinational study on the future of Arctic marine mammals

Aquatic and Fishery Sciences’ Kristin Laidre and a team from across the globe just published their findings on what the future looks like for Arctic marine mammals, whose fragile habitats are shifting as a result of sea ice loss and warming temperatures. Their recent study, published in Conservation Biology, found that reductions in sea ice cover are “profound” and that the Arctic’s traditionally short, cool summers are growing longer in most regions by five to 10 weeks.

Antarctic response to ozone depletion, atmospheric rivers in the PNW, mechanics of mussels and more: This week's published research

Each week we share the latest peer-reviewed publications coming from the College of the Environment. Over the past week, nine new articles co-authored by members of the College of the Environment were added to the Web of Science database, including studies of the economic valuation of your backyard birds, how nitrogen is processed in marine sediments, and more. Read on!

Kill two birds with one dead tree? Beetle-killed pines could fuel machines instead of fires

Across western North America you can see them: hills blanketed with swaths of red and gray trees. These dead and dying stands of pine, aspen, and fir, totaling around 42 million acres—roughly the size of the state of Washington—are victims of bark beetles. And the dry, decaying trees that the beetles leave in their wake are not just eyesores; they also fuel hotter and larger wildfires.