Climate Impacts Group

Wildfire smoke will worsen, new study shows, and protections are few

Climate change is amplifying wildfires, and more smoke means higher risk of heart and lung disease from inhaling tiny particles that can drift far and wide, researchers said. Crystal Raymond, climate adaptation specialist at the UW Climate Impacts Group, is quoted in this article from the New York Times.  

Have we been talking about climate change all wrong?

Greenhouse gasses are making the planet hotter, but some scientists argue focusing on temperature overlooks a more visible danger: rising sea levels. UW research is referenced, and Guillaume Mauger, research scientist at the UW Climate Impacts Group, is quoted in this article from National Geographic.  

Wildfires in Chile leave at least 122 dead and hundreds more missing

Wildfires are expected to be more common and more intense due to climate change. Crystal Raymond, climate adaptation specialist at the Climate Impacts Group, is quoted.  

WA’s mountain snow recharges our drinking water, powers our lives. Now it’s turning to rain.

Precipitation that once fell as snow is instead falling as rain, and the snow that does reach the ground is melting earlier in the year as our dry season trends longer and hotter. All told, Washington will see more water when it doesn’t need it and less water when it does. Guillaume Mauger and Matt Rogers, scientists at the Climate Impacts Group, are quoted, and the Shifting Snowlines and Shorelines report is referenced.  

Seattle just had the warmest week in January on record 

Seattle’s average temperature in the past week was 53.8 degrees. According to the National Weather Service, that was the warmest seven-day period between Jan. 1 and Feb. 1 on record since 1984. Resources from the Climate Impacts Group and the Office of the Washington State Climatologist are referenced. 

Apply Today! Science Justice Summer School

Update | February 22, 2024: The application deadline has been extended to Monday, March 11.

Update | February 15, 2024: This post has been updated to clarify that only graduate students and postdoctoral researchers from the University of Washington, Seattle University and Seattle Pacific University are eligible to apply for the Science Justice Summer School. We apologize for any confusion. 

Are you a grad student or postdoc at the University of Washington, Seattle University or Seattle Pacific University who is interested in applying climate and environmental justice frameworks in your work? Consider applying to the Northwest Climate Resilience Collaborative’s first-ever Science Justice Summer School! 

Now Hiring: Washington State Climatologist

The Office of the Washington State Climatologist and the Climate Impacts Group are hiring a State Climatologist to lead the activities of the Office of the Washington State Climatologist. 

APPLY NOW 

The Office of the Washington State Climatologist serves as a credible and expert source of climate and weather information for the state of Washington. They specialize in analyzing weather and climate trends within the broader context of climate change, and disseminating this information through presentations, media interviews, committee participation and more. The Office’s newly-released strategic plan outlines four strategic goals in support of their mission: 1) provide reputable climate data and interpretation, 2) broaden climate services through targeted engagement, 3) coproduce new applied climate research, and 4) acquire resources for the sustainability of the Office. 

Join an Upcoming Input Session to Learn About NW CASC’s New Faculty Fellowship Program & Provide Feedback

The Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center is preparing to launch a Faculty Fellows Program to expand the community of Northwest researchers equipped to effectively co-produce actionable adaptation science. To ensure the new program meets the needs of faculty in the NW CASC Consortium, we are hosting two informational sessions to share our vision for the program and to seek feedback that will inform a Request for Proposals later this spring. If you’re interested in decision-relevant science that helps advance climate resilience in the Northwest, please join us and share your thoughts! 

Washington State Climate Office releases new strategic plan

The Washington State Climate Office (formerly called the Office of the Washington State Climatologist) has released a new strategic plan to guide their future work. Among several key priorities, the strategic plan emphasizes engaging with decision makers and communities and co-producing applied research. 

Building off of their long history of providing climate data and information for local and state governments, communities, tribes and other organizations, the Washington State Climate Office will develop new long-term partnerships with priority stakeholders, help build capacity among key partners and cultivate applied and multi-disciplinary research collaborations. The Office will also explore new avenues of funding to help grow and sustain themselves over the long-term.  

Snowless in Seattle? What weather to expect this winter

In a Jan. 9 report by the Office of the Washington State Climatologist, December 2023 was the third warmest on record for the state. Guillaume Mauger is quoted in this story from the UW Daily.