Urban heat islands – why is it warmer in the city?

Summer in the city can be especially hot and sticky, because urban heat islands exacerbate the warm weather. Researchers at Berkeley Lab are testing materials that battle that effect, making pavements cooler and safer. Causes The properties of urban roofs and pavements, as well as human activity, contribute to the formation of summer urban heat … Read more

Restoring oysters along the California coast

In response to global climate change, Jill Bible at the UC Davis Bodega Marine Lab shows us how her research with the Olympia Oyster is aimed at restoring this species along the west coast. “My research will help us determine what populations of oysters are particularly vulnerable or particularly robust to future changes and will … Read more

Studying the seasons: how climate change affects natural communities

UC Santa Barbara researchers have launched the California Phenology Project. Scientists, docents, staff, teachers and citizen researchers will track the life stages of selected plant species at eight UC natural reserves. Nowadays, observing nature’s seasonal events is a serious science. Called phenology, the study of recurring biological changes and their responses to the environment can answer a … Read more