Waves breaking over sandy beaches are captured in countless tourist photos. But enormous waves breaking deep in the ocean are seldom seen, although they play a crucial role in long-term climate cycles. A University of Washington study for the first time recorded such a wave breaking in a key bottleneck for circulation in the world’s largest ocean. The study was published online this month in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.   

Welcome to the University of Washington’s College of the Environment new website.  Here you will find stories about the people and work that make the College stand out, and learn about the numerous opportunities available to students pursuing an education in the natural and social environmental sciences.  You will also find information on ways to stay engaged with the College, whether through special events and lectures or through on-the-ground volunteer opportunities…and much more. 

“It was one of the most extraordinary displays of lightning that I can remember,” said KPLU weather expert Cliff Mass. “There were tens of thousands, not thousands … of lightning strike yesterday over the region. Just startling.”  Read more about why this was so special on KPLU’s website. 

Washington’s governor and state legislators in the last session created a hub at the University of Washington to coordinate research and monitoring of ocean acidification and its effects on local sea life such as oysters, clams and fish. Based on what’s learned, the center will marshal efforts to improve the ability to forecast when and where corrosive waters might occur and suggest adaptive strategies to mitigate the effects.