September 26, 2019
Brian Harvey
Brian Harvey’s research focuses on understanding forest disturbances — like wildfires and insect outbreaks — and how forest structure and function are shaped by disturbances, interactions among disturbances, and climate. His work emphasizes field studies that are integrated with large spatial datasets and analyses, drawing on insights from landscape and community ecology. Over a decade,…
August 23, 2019
Video: Wildfires west of the Cascades: Rare, but large and severe
More than 99 percent of wildfires in the last 40 years have been east of the Cascade Crest. But evidence that suggests Western Washington also has a history of large wildfires, each burning hundreds of thousands of acres. We might not be familiar with them, because most happened centuries ago.
August 21, 2019
3 UW graduate students earn NASA fellowships, continue legacy of success
Three University of Washington graduate students are among this year’s recipients of a prestigious NASA fellowship that funds student research projects in the fields of Earth and planetary sciences and astrophysics.
March 29, 2019
North Dakota site shows wreckage from same object that killed the dinosaurs
A new excavation site in North Dakota shows evidence from the day a giant meteor struck Earth, marking the beginning of the end for the dinosaurs and 75 percent of animal life.
February 11, 2019
Many Arctic lakes give off less carbon than expected
New research by the University of Washington and U.S. Geological Survey suggests many lakes pose little threat to global carbon levels, at least for now.
November 29, 2018
Forests, human health, Northwest outlook: UW researchers involved in Fourth National Climate Assessment
University of Washington researchers contributed to the Fourth National Climate Assessment that considers impacts, risks and adaptation across the United States.
November 14, 2018
New resources support tribes in preparing for climate change
The University of Washington Climate Impacts Group and regional tribal partners have developed a collection of resources that may be useful to tribes at any stage in the process of evaluating their vulnerability to climate change. The project is a partnership among tribes, tribal associations, universities and the federal government.
November 2, 2018
Racial, ethnic minorities face greater vulnerability to wildfires
Massive wildfires, which may be getting more intense due to climate change and a long history of fire-suppression policies, have strikingly unequal effects on minority communities, a new study shows.
August 13, 2018
UW forest biologist on wildfires in the Pacific Northwest, California
Forest biologist and University of Washington professor David Peterson explains which natural materials burn hotter and faster during a wildfire, what homeowners can do to protect their properties and how climate change is impacting the fire season.
October 4, 2017
Study points to win-win for spotted owls and forest management
A new study has found that cover in tall trees is the key habitat requirement for the spotted owl, not total canopy cover. It indicated that spotted owls largely avoid cover created by stands of shorter trees.
August 31, 2017
Q&A: How Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and Yellowstone National Park are confronting climate change
A new book focuses on climate change risks in the Northern Rocky Mountains, and how managers of public lands can prepare.
May 17, 2017
Earth’s atmosphere more chemically reactive in cold climates
A study of a Greenland ice core shows that during large climate swings, chemically reactive oxidants shift in a different direction than expected, which means we need to rethink what controls these molecules in our air.
October 11, 2016
Morel mushrooms pop up, cluster together after wildfires
A new study finds that morel mushrooms cluster in groups across burned areas in the forest after a wildfire. It’s one of the only scientific studies to actually quantify morels’ abundance after a fire.
March 14, 2016
NOAA funds Washington Sea Grant to help communities protect their coasts
Washington Sea Grant was recently awarded nearly $900,000 to help coastal communities protect against marine hazards, including tsunamis, winter storms and sea-level rise.
March 9, 2016
Darkening of Greenland ice sheet due mainly to older, melting snow
A study by the UW and others finds that the darkening of the Greenland ice sheet is not due to an increase in wildfires, but is a side effect of a warming climate.
September 30, 2015
UW scientists talk earthquakes, landslides in NSF series on natural hazards
Two University of Washington scientists are featured in a new series — created by the National Science Foundation, NBC Learn and The Weather Channel — that focuses on natural hazards. Each of the short videos features an NSF-supported scientist who studies one of ten types of natural disasters. Two of them are from the UW’s…
UW scientists talk earthquakes, landslides in NSF series on natural hazards
Two University of Washington scientists are featured in a new series — created by the National Science Foundation, NBC Learn and The Weather Channel — that focuses on natural hazards. Each of the short videos features an NSF-supported scientist who studies one of ten types of natural disasters. Two of them are from the UW’s…
September 17, 2015
Scientists: Let wildfires burn when prudent
In a commentary published Sept. 17 in Science, a team of scientists, including University of Washington researchers Jerry Franklin and James Agee, describe unique opportunities and provide suggestions to reform forest fire management to reduce the impacts of inevitable wildfires in future years.
September 4, 2015
Climate change could leave Pacific Northwest amphibians high and dry
A new model for snow-fed mountain wetlands projects that the extremely dry conditions seen this year could be commonplace by the 2070s, affecting mountain species.
July 8, 2015
UW experts on wildfires, smoke impacts
This list includes experts who can talk about wildfire behavior and trends, responding to wildfires during the COVID-19 pandemic, effects of wildfire smoke on human health, and rebuilding after fires. Also see a list of climate scientists and weather experts. Jump to: Wildfire behavior, risks, causes and trends Wildfire response during COVID-19 pandemic Smoke, air quality and…
October 29, 2014
Fires and floods: North Cascades federal lands prepare for climate change
UW scientists worked with managers of federal parks and forests to come up with a strategy to address warmer temperatures, increased wildfires and more flooding in the North Cascades region.
May 6, 2014
UW scientist a lead author on third National Climate Assessment
University of Washington climate scientist Amy Snover is one of two lead authors for the Northwest chapter of the newly published National Climate Assessment.
April 11, 2014
Greenland ice cores show industrial record of acid rain, success of U.S. Clean Air Act
Detailed ice core measurements show smog-related ratios leveling off in 1970, and suggests these deposits are sensitive to the same chemicals that cause acid rain.
November 8, 2013
Forest fires and fireside chats: UW students learn about management challenges
An intensive two week field course helped 20 University of Washington students learn firsthand about the challenges of managing dry, fire-prone forests of the Pacific Northwest.
November 4, 2013
More wildfires, earlier snowmelt, coastal threats top Northwest climate risks
A new comprehensive report co-authored by the UW’s Climate Impacts Group looks at what climate change will mean for Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
April 3, 2013
UW group part of national report, meeting on adaptation to climate change
The UW’s Climate Impacts Group is part of a national report and first-ever national meeting on adapting to the effects of a changing climate.
July 23, 2012
Experts at the University of Washington
We’re always looking to expand our experts lists. UW researchers who want to be added to our directory for the news media can contact the public information officer for their area of expertise. CLIMATE & WEATHER | ENVIRONMENT | MEDICINE | PUBLIC HEALTH | PUBLIC POLICY & POLITICS | SOCIAL ISSUES | SPACE & AERONAUTICS |…
May 27, 2010
UW, tribal partnership to develop Pacific Northwest bioenergy
Biofuels are increasingly popular, but also controversial.
May 3, 2010
Experts list: Lessons from Mount St. Helens being applied today
May 18 marks the 30th anniversary of the eruption of Mount St.
April 15, 2010
Traumatized trees: Bug them enough, they get fired up
Whether forests are dying back, or just drying out, projections for warming show the Pacific Northwest is becoming primed for more wildfires.
April 9, 2010
Traumatized trees: Bug them enough, they get fired up
Whether forests are dying back, or just drying out, projections for warming show the Pacific Northwest is primed for more wildfires.
March 4, 2010
Forest change topic of first-ever College of the Environment dean’s lecture
From wildfires to wild flowers — Pacific Northwest forests appear to be changing.
February 18, 2010
‘Conservation Colloquium’ planned March 3
UW students using marginal urban land to grow vegetables, a class helping re-prioritize conservation sites on the Columbia River Plateau and a project drawing on indigenous people’s knowledge to manage the threat of wildfires are among the topics during a “Conservation Colloquium” March 3.
October 8, 2009
Stimulus money funds studies of ocean surface waves, fire prevention and more
The last full week of September brought the UW the largest number of economic stimulus awards in a single week: 40 of them, adding up to almost $14 million.
August 20, 2009
Washington forests may be solution to state’s green-energy quest
Wood is a popular fuel for heating homes in the Northwest but few people might see it as an important source of liquid fuels for motor vehicles.
Washington forests may be solution to state’s green-energy quest
Woody biomass could be Washington’s best opportunity for biofuels and to reduce green house gas emissions and dependency upon imported oil.
January 22, 2009
Tree death rate in Pacific Northwest doubled in 17 years
Trees are dying twice as fast as they did three decades ago in older forests of the western United States and scientists suspect warming temperatures are a contributing factor.
Tree death rate in Pacific Northwest doubled in 17 years
Trees are dying twice as fast as they did three decades ago in older forests of the western United States and scientists suspect warming temperatures are a contributing factor. In the Pacific Northwest and southern British Columbia, the rate of tree death in older coniferous forests doubled in 17 years.
May 29, 2008
Fire’s aftermath: Students to return to Greece to report on media coverage of government
Last August, Taso Lagos was terrified he, his program assistant and his 13 undergraduates would be caught in wildfires raging across central and southern Greece.
November 8, 2007
100 years and counting: Forest Resources celebrates centennial with research showcase, gala
Tuition early on was $10 a semester and courses ranged from wood technology — including learning how to recognize the commercial timbers of the United States and know their properties — to forest protection, which mainly concerned how to thwart fungi, insect pests and forest fires on timberlands.
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