Wildfires in mountainous areas change the timing of snowpack melt, a new Water Resources Research study finds. Credit: Wyatt Reis
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Featured Research
Wildfires change how snow melts in Colorado
Snowpack in Colorado’s Front Range reaches peak water content earlier and melts faster on burned areas than on unburned areas, new research finds. The results suggest wildfires should be considered in water resources planning, as wildfires could change streamflow timing. [Water Resources Research study] [Colorado State University press release]
Incarcerated populations may face extreme outdoor air temperatures
People incarcerated in prisons have less control over their environments, and therefore over their indoor air temperatures. Prisons can also have uneven or faulty cooling systems. A new study found that prisons in the southwestern United States have the most extreme outdoor air temperatures, while those in the Pacific Northwest, Midwest and parts of the Northeast have experienced the largest increases in temperature over the last 30 years. [GeoHealth study] [MIT press release]
Green algae in Antarctica’s waters slow ice melt
Antarctica’s Amundsen Sea is dotted with sea ice and patches of open water that host microscopic algae. Green algae blooms trap the Sun’s energy at the water’s surface and quickly release it back into the air, thereby cooling deeper waters and slowing ice shelf melt by 7%, according to new research. [JGR Oceans study]
Southern California warehouses disproportionately pollute disadvantaged communities
Truck traffic to and from large warehouses decreases air quality around the warehouses. New research examined 20 years of data from neighborhoods around large warehouses in California. Decreased air quality from trucks most affected neighborhoods populated by racial and ethnic minorities, lower-income earners and those with lower education levels. [GeoHealth study]
Arctic warming is driving Siberian wildfires
Increased temperatures and drought are leading to more wildfires. And wildfire smoke aerosols can suppress precipitation, drying out soils and further increasing fire risk. [Eos research spotlight] [AGU Advances study]
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