One in seven new cars sold in California in 2025 must be zero-emission or plug-in hybrid, according to new regulations recently approved by the California Air Resources Board. The agency estimates that the regulations will create 21,000 jobs in California and, in 2025, will save the average driver $6,000 in fuel over the life...
In The News
CA Sets Ambitious Clean Car Standards for 2025
February 2, 2012
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California Air Resources Board
Extreme Summer Temperatures Becoming More Frequent
February 2, 2012
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Climatic Change
Previously rare extreme summer temperatures are occurring more frequently in some regions of the U.S.—especially in the Southwest, the upper tier of the Midwest, and the Atlantic coast—due to climate change, according to a new study in Climatic Change. The authors also find that the prevalence of extreme...
EPA Tool Provides Watershed Water Pollution Info
February 2, 2012
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U.S. EPA
A new tool released by the U.S. EPA allows anyone to easily search for and map information about water pollutants that are released into waterways from local industry and facilities. The Discharge Monitoring Report...
Human Activity Confirmed as the Dominant Driver of Global Warming
February 2, 2012
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Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Scientists have produced additional evidence confirming that greenhouse gas emissions by humans are the primary force driving global warming. A new study published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics provides unequivocal evidence that the sun is not the dominant driver of global warming, according...
Typical La Niña Pattern Developing in the SW
January 26, 2012
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CLIMAS/NASA
Over the past 30 days, most of Arizona has experienced temperatures at least 3 degrees F above average, according to the January Climate Outlook from CLIMAS. Temperatures in New Mexico have been more varied, with most of the northern half experiencing slightly above-average temperatures and most of the southern and...
Feds Develop Climate Change Adaptation Strategies
January 26, 2012
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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/U.S. Forest Service
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA recently announced the release of the first national strategy to help decision makers and resource managers prepare for the impacts of climate change on species and ecosystems. The National Fish, Wildlife and...
Climate Change to Decrease Carbon Storage, Forage
January 26, 2012
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Climatic Change
Climate change will reduce the production of natural forage for livestock in California, as well as reduce the ability of forests to store carbon dioxide, according to a new study in Climatic Change. These predicted changes would decrease economic output for the state and are some of the hidden costs of...
Recycled Wastewater Is As Good As Drinking Water
January 19, 2012
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National Research Council
With increasing strain on water resources in the Southwest from population growth and climate change, water managers are continuously looking for new ways to conserve water. A new report by the National Research Council finds no difference in the risk between current drinking water and highly treated recycled wastewater. The authors...
New Jet to Improve Winter Storm Forecasts
January 19, 2012
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NOAA
A high-altitude, high-speed NOAA jet, the Gulfstream IV-SP, will fly over the North Pacific Ocean during the next two months, collecting data on temperature, humidity, pressure, and wind speed and direction in the upper atmosphere. The data will be supplemented by other data at lower altitudes collected by another...
Reduced Snowpack Linked to Fewer Trees, Birds
January 19, 2012
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Nature Climate Change
Abundances of deciduous trees, and songbirds that live in the trees, have declined over the past 22 years in montane Arizona due to decreasing snowpack. The authors of the study proposed the hypothesis that declining snowfall increases the amount of exposed plants in winter for elk to forage, thus decreasing the amount of deciduous trees...