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 U.S. Department of Agriculture periodically updates its plant hardiness map, which divides the country into zones defined by their average coldest winter temperatures. Home gardeners and large-scale agricultural operations alike use the map to determine which plant species will survive in their area.

Two UW Environment researchers featured on Highly Cited Researchers 2023 list

Spencer Wood, left, and Gregory Bratman, right

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.

Study shows UW Farm practices restore soil health

The soil beneath our feet may not often catch our attention, but keeping it healthy can have major impacts on climate change and the overall sustainability of our food production system. A new study of agricultural practices at the UW Farm, led by recent College of the Environment graduate Julia Macray and Professor of Earth and Space Sciences David Montgomery, demonstrated that even relatively small changes to the ways we farm can help restore soil health and sequester carbon from the atmosphere.

5th National Climate Assessment authors include UW climate experts

A tribal fire crew member in Oregon monitors a prescribed burn, a key tool for preventing large wildfires that are likely to become more common under climate change.

Three University of Washington experts are among the authors of the newly released Fifth National Climate Assessment, an overview of climate trends, impacts and efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change across the nation. The assessment is produced roughly every four years, led by the U.S. Global Change Research Program and mandated by Congress. The fifth edition, released Nov. 14, assesses current and future risks posed by climate change in 10 regions.

In the Field: Tracking seismic clues in one of the driest places on Earth

UW doctoral student collects rock samples on dry, brown hills in Chile’s Atacama Desert.

Unlike the Pacific Northwest, the Atacama Desert in Chile experiences very little rain. But the two regions are both seismically active. Faults in the Atacama Desert are slowly sliding past each other in a way similar to the Seattle Fault in Puget Sound and the San Andreas Fault in California. The Atacama Desert’s lack of rain makes it easier to see how those gradual movements shape the landscape over time.