Science and Climate Content

Taking the Earth’s Temperature Over the Past 485 Million Years

Andy Fell — September 19, 2024 - 10:36am

Palm trees in Alaska, crocodiles in Wyoming: Fossils show that Earth’s temperature has changed over hundreds of millions of years. Now a new study co-led by the Smithsonian and the University of Arizona, with Professor Isabel Montañez of the 51�� Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, has produced a curve of global mean surface temperatures over the past 485 million years. The new curve, published Sept. 19 in Science, reveals that Earth’s temperature has varied more than previously thought as life has diversified, populated land and endured multiple mass extinctions.

California Native Fish in Decline

Andy Fell — September 03, 2024 - 12:02pm

From mighty sturgeon to tiny smelt, California's native fish are in trouble, under pressure from a variety of causes including drought, habitat loss and diversion of water for human uses, and climate change. A new blog post from Professor Andrew Rypel and Distinguished Professor emeritus Peter Moyle at the 51�� Center for Watershed Sciences highlights some examples.

Half of Uber, Lyft Trips Replace More Sustainable Options

Katherine E Kerlin — August 28, 2024 - 9:00am

More than 50% of ride-hailing trips taken by surveyed riders in California replaced more sustainable forms of transportation, found a 51�� study.

Less Severe Forest Fires Can Reduce Intensity of Future Blazes

Emily C Dooley — August 19, 2024 - 1:37pm

Low- and moderate-severity forest wildfires can reduce the intensity of future fires, according to new research on "reburns" by the University of California, Davis.

Black Phoebe Project Aims to Protect Bird Species from Urban Sprawl

Amy M Quinton — August 19, 2024 - 12:26am

A tiny songbird called the black phoebe is trying to adapt to city life – and it’s not an easy job. They didn’t naturally evolve in the city, and they face different threats than they might in their natural habitat. Black phoebes may encounter tougher predators, more chemical pollution and hotter temperatures in the city.

Annual Report on State of Lake Tahoe Shows Recent Impacts, Long-Term Trends

Andy Fell — August 08, 2024 - 11:02am

The annual “State of the Lake” report from the Tahoe Environmental Research Center at the University of California, Davis, released today (Aug. 8), shows how long-term climate trends continue to affect the iconic lake in complex ways. The report also describes how research at Lake Tahoe relates to work at other lakes in the U.S. and worldwide, including the development of new technology, and how citizens are contributing to preserving Tahoe’s natural beauty.

Lake Tahoe Clarity Report Shows Highs and Lows of 2023

Katherine E Kerlin — July 30, 2024 - 10:07am

The clarity of Lake Tahoe’s famed blue waters in 2023 continued its years-long trend of improving during the winter and deteriorating during the summer. The annual clarity report, released today by the University of California, Davis – Tahoe Environmental Research Center, found that winter lake conditions were the clearest observed since 1983, with visibility of 91.9 feet under the surface, compared with 72.2 feet in 2022.

California a Botanical and Climate Change Hot Spot

Katherine E Kerlin — July 29, 2024 - 12:00pm

California's natural beauty and pioneering conservation efforts make it a test bed for protecting biodiversity in the face of climate change, says a 51�� study in PNAS.

How Can Seagrasses Help Mitigate Climate Change?

Karen Michele Nikos — July 17, 2024 - 3:43am

On a triple-digit summer day in Davis, community members found shade and science within the walls of G Street WunderBar at the latest Davis Science Café. Standing at the front of the pub, marine geochemist and oceanographer Tessa Hill showed the audience a picture of a fog-shrouded Tomales Bay and asked them to reflect on their connections to the ocean.

E-Sales of a Wild Bat Sold as Décor Threaten Species

Katherine E Kerlin — July 16, 2024 - 8:30am

From wall art to necklaces, a vulnerable Asian bat species is being sold for decor on Etsy, eBay and Amazon sites in the U.S. and globally. It could threaten the species' survival, warns a 51�� and CUNY study.