Jul 2, 2024

S2 E6: Shannon O’Donnell and the UW Dawgcast

two students give the forecast on the day of commencement

In this episode of FieldSound, KOMO 4 Chief Meteorologist Shannon O’Donnell and University of Washington students speak about the formation of the UW Dawgcast, born out of ATM S 493: Media & Meteorology in the UW Department of Atmospheric Sciences. ATM S 493, which launched in 2020, is the first broadcast meteorology class offered on the West Coast. With it, the UW joins Pennsylvania State University and Mississippi State University as schools that offer broadcast meteorology instruction.

S2 E5: David Montgomery and Soil Health

big dirt graphic with a guitar spinning around a ball

David Montgomery is a geomorphologist who looks at the processes shaping Earth’s surface and how they affect ecological systems — and human societies. He has studied everything from the ways that landslides and glaciers influence the height of mountain ranges to the way that soils have shaped human civilizations, both now and in the past. He has worked in mountain ranges throughout the world, from the Cascades in the Pacific Northwest to the Andes in South America and Tibet, and the Himalaya in Central Asia.

Q&A: Finding varieties of corn that are adapted to future climates

Corn is one of the planet’s most important crops. It not only provides sweet kernels to flavor many dishes, but it’s also used in oils, as a sweetener syrup, and as a feed crop for livestock. Corn has been bred to maximize its yield on farms around the world. But what will happen under climate change? Research led by the University of Washington combined climate projections with plant models to determine what combination of traits might be best adapted to future climates.

Read the full Q&A on UW News »

Jun 6, 2024

UW Oceanography receives funding to study ocean animal gut microbiomes’ role in climate change

Five global science and technology projects were selected to join the Ocean Biogeochemistry Virtual Institute, part of Schmidt Sciences, to address gaps in ocean data and modeling by improving the breadth of research in the field and expanding capacity to understand ocean resources. Anitra Ingalls, professor in the School of Oceanography, is among the awardees and will lead one of the projects.

Read more on the Schmidt Sciences website »

May 31, 2024

Guillaume Mauger named Washington State Climatologist

Guillaume Mauger has been named the next director of the Office of the Washington State Climatologist. Mauger’s appointment began earlier this month. Mauger succeeds Nick Bond, who retired from the role in February after nearly 14 years. Karin Bumbaco, deputy state climatologist, served as interim state climatologist from February to May. Currently a research scientist at the Climate Impacts Group, Mauger has 15 years of experience working in climate change impacts and adaptation in the Pacific Northwest with a focus on flooding and water availability.