Precipitation Extremes in a Bipolar California
How can one state simultaneously experience more than two months of soaking storms and floods AND desiccating drought and wildfires? Here’s a story about stubborn weather patterns that divided...
Water Resources
Zion vs Yosemite: the Science behind the Splendor
Spectacular Sierra Nevada canyons, such as Yosemite and Kings, and the magnificent high desert canyons sliced found found in Zion national Park motivate and challenge us to learn more about the natural history of our dynamic planet.
Hilary Makes Weather History in Southern California
Here is a different story about the tropical storm that made national news and will live long in California history. Hurricane Hilary was exceptional only for the path it...
Chasing the Desert Superbloom, 2023
Our last two stories illustrated how the storms of 2023 left lasting imprints across our Golden State. Here, we compare and contrast landscapes around Anza Borrego and the Antelope...
Tracking Historic Weather Whiplash in the Winter of 2023
Welcome to California’s latest wild swings in peculiar and occasionally cataclysmic weather patterns, brought to you by the winter of 2023. This story is part of our continuing expansion...
Finding STEAM in our Summer Skies
Nature conducted another round of spectacular scientific exhibitions and experiments in the atmosphere above California last summer. When such aesthetic skies are on display, we are given opportunities to...
Unprecedented Drought, Heat, and Fire Repeat in the West, 2021
It has become an unfortunate and disturbing annual Golden State dance during the last several years. Severe drought plagues the majority of the state, followed by extended record heat...
Natural History of a Grain of Sand
While strolling along a California beach, stream, or riverbed, or plodding over a sand dune, you may not realize that there is a captivating world of natural history at...
Adventures of a Water Drop, California Style
Forward: An Autobiographical Synopsis Let me introduce myself. I am a California water drop. I condensed from billions of water vapor molecules in the air above the North Pacific...
Climate Change in California: Questions and Answers
The COVID-19 pandemic reminded us of the disturbing problems that have developed in our relationships with nature within and beyond our state. We are also reminded how our responses...
