Apr 14, 2014

Puget Sound’s rich waters supplied by deep, turbulent canyon

The headwaters for Puget Sound’s famously rich waters lie far below the surface, in a submarine canyon that draws nutrient-rich water up from the deep ocean. New measurements may explain how the Pacific Northwest’s inland waters are able to support so many shellfish, salmon runs and even the occasional pod of whales.University of Washington oceanographers made the first detailed measurements at the headwater’s source, a submarine canyon offshore from the strait that separates the U.S.

Mar 24, 2014

David Montgomery talks to KUOW about the Oso landslide

On Saturday March 22, a powerful landslide occurred above the Stillaguamish River near the town of Oso in western Washington. David Montgomery, professor of Earth and space sciences, talks to Ashley Ahearn at KUOW about what causes such slides to occur. Listen to the story on KUOW. Since this report, Montgomery has shared his expertise through numerous other media outlets, including: Seattle Times Op-Ed: Map the runout risk for landslides like Oso New York Times: In a State Known for Landslides, a Deadly Mix of Loose Sediments and Heavy Rain KUOW: Geological Circumstances Behind Washington Mudslide PBS NewsHour: Washington state mudslide conditions present ‘nightmare scenario’ for rescue team, says geologist

Mar 14, 2014

Tethered robots tested for Internet-connected ocean observatory

The University of Washington this fall will complete installation of a massive digital ocean observatory. Dozens of instruments will connect to power and Internet cables on the seafloor, but the observatory also includes a new generation of ocean explorers: robots that will zoom up and down through almost two miles of ocean to monitor the water conditions and marine life above.

Jan 2, 2014

El Nino tied to melting of Antarctica’s Pine Island Glacier

Many glaciers flowing from the land to the coast eventually float over the ocean and melt. The speed at which that melting occurs can depend on many factors, including the warmth of the water beneath it. In Antarctica the Pine Island Glacier drives large amounts of ice into the ocean, and for decades the glacier’s tip has been thinning. College of the Environment scientists and their partners have connected the dots behind the complex drivers that explain why we are seeing this phenomenon occur.

Jun 11, 2013

Geophysical Sciences

Student Spotlight: Karl Lang

Karl Lang speaks as if being a geologist was his destiny. “I’ve always been interested in geology,” says Lang, who as a child was fascinated by rocks and fossils. He went on to study Geology and Economics at the College of William and Mary in Virginia and is now a PhD student in the Department of Earth and Space Sciences at the UW College of the Environment.