Power outages across the Plains: 4 questions answered about weather-driven blackouts

Heat waves, droughts and deep freezes can all strain the electric grid, leading utilities to impose rolling blackouts. Climate change is likely to make these events more common.

Michael E. Webber, Josey Centennial Professor of Energy Resources, University of Texas at Austin • conversation
Feb. 16, 2021 • ~9 min

Where’s the sea ice? 3 reasons the Arctic freeze is unseasonably late and why it matters

The pattern of autumn sea ice growth has been completely disrupted, but are we really headed for a tipping point?

Mark Serreze, Research Professor of Geography and Director, National Snow and Ice Data Center, University of Colorado Boulder • conversation
Oct. 28, 2020 • ~6 min

Wildfires force thousands to evacuate near Los Angeles: Here's how the 2020 Western fire season got so extreme

The 2020 wildfire season has shattered records across the West. It's a trend that's headed in a dangerous direction.

Mohammad Reza Alizadeh, Ph.D. Student, McGill University • conversation
Oct. 27, 2020 • ~8 min

Extreme wildfires can create their own dangerous weather, including fire tornadoes – here's how

Persistent heat waves and dry lightning are part of the problem. For firefighters, the erratic behavior gets dangerous quickly.

Leila Carvalho, Professor of Meteorology and Climatology, University of California, Santa Barbara • conversation
Aug. 25, 2020 • ~6 min

Western wildfires are spinning off tornadoes – here’s how fires create their own freakish weather

Persistent heat waves and dry lightning are part of the problem. For firefighters, the erratic behavior gets dangerous quickly.

Leila Carvalho, Professor of Meteorology and Climatology, University of California, Santa Barbara • conversation
Aug. 25, 2020 • ~6 min

What's in wildfire smoke, and why is it so bad for your lungs?

Wildfires blanketing several Western cities are creating hazardous health conditions. Don't count on cloth masks to protect your lungs.

Luke Montrose, Assistant Professor of Community and Environmental Health, Boise State University • conversation
Aug. 20, 2020 • ~7 min

What's in that wildfire smoke, and why is it so bad for your lungs?

Wildfires blanketing several Western cities are creating hazardous health conditions. Don't count on cloth masks to protect your lungs.

Luke Montrose, Assistant Professor of Community and Environmental Health, Boise State University • conversation
Aug. 20, 2020 • ~7 min

How dangerous heat waves can kill

Heat waves can kill via dehydration caused by heavy sweating. Breathing or heartbeat may suddenly stop. Prolonged overheating can also create widespread inflammation.

William H. Calvin, Professor Emeritus, University of Washington • conversation
Aug. 18, 2020 • ~8 min

Heatwaves often end with spectacular thunderstorms and lethal floods – but where and when they'll strike is hard to predict

Volatile, unstable air means that it is very tricky to work out exactly where each thunderstorm will be.

Hannah Cloke, Professor of Hydrology, University of Reading • conversation
Aug. 13, 2020 • ~6 min

Heatwaves can kill – research uncovers the homes most vulnerable to overheating

Poverty and inequality affect the likelihood of your home overheating during heatwaves.

Stefan Bouzarovski, Professor of Human Geography, University of Manchester • conversation
June 1, 2020 • ~8 min

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