THE CONVERSATION: Wildfires can contaminate drinking water systems with harmful chemicals − here’s what Los Angeles needs to know The Conversation Water qualityWildfires and watersheds January 11, 2025By Andrew J. Whelton, Purdue University The wildfires in the Los Angeles area have destroyed more than 10,000 structures, many...
THE CONVERSATION: Atmospheric river meets bomb cyclone: The result is like a fire hose flailing out of control The Conversation Current Conditions November 21, 2024By Chad Hecht, University of California, San Diego The West Coast’s rainy season has arrived in force, as an atmospheric...
THE CONVERSATION: Microplastic pollution is everywhere, even in the exhaled breath of dolphins – new research The Conversation Water quality October 17, 2024By Leslie Hart, College of Charleston and Miranda Dziobak, College of Charleston Bottlenose dolphins in Sarasota Bay in Florida and...
THE CONVERSATION: Atmospheric rivers are shifting poleward, reshaping global weather patterns The Conversation Climate changeHydrology October 11, 2024By Zhe Li, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research Atmospheric rivers – those long, narrow bands of water vapor in the...
THE CONVERSATION: Millions of people across the US use well water, but very few test it often enough to make sure it’s safe The Conversation Water quality October 11, 2024By Gabriel Lade, Macalester College About 23 million U.S. households depend on private wells as their primary drinking water source....
THE CONVERSATION: San Francisco is suing the EPA over how specific water pollution permits should be The Conversation Policy and regulationWater rights and water law October 11, 2024By Robin Kundis Craig, University of Kansas The U.S. Supreme Court will test how flexible the EPA and states can...
THE CONVERSATION: Urban wildfires disrupt streams and their tiny inhabitants − losing these insects is a warning of bigger water problems The Conversation Wildfires and watersheds August 26, 2024By Lauren Magliozzi, University of Colorado Boulder A tiny, vibrant world thrives along the rocky bottom of most streams. As...
THE CONVERSATION: Wildfires don’t just burn farmland − they can contaminate the water farmers use to irrigate crops and support livestock The Conversation Water qualityWildfires and watersheds August 13, 2024By Andrew J. Whelton, Purdue University The wildfires that burned across Maui, Hawaii, in August 2023 became the deadliest conflagration...
THE CONVERSATION: Extreme heat waves broiling the planet in 2024 aren’t normal: How climate change is heating up weather around the world The Conversation Climate change July 10, 2024By Mathew Barlow, UMass Lowell and Jeffrey Basara, UMass Lowell Less than a month into summer 2024, the vast majority...
THE CONVERSATION: Is hard water bad for you? Two water quality engineers explain the potential benefits and pitfalls that come with having hard water The Conversation Water quality May 22, 2024By: Sarah Blank, Iowa State University and Timothy Ellis, Iowa State University When you turn on your faucet to get...
THE CONVERSATION: As climate change amplifies urban flooding, here’s how communities can become ‘sponge cities’ The Conversation Climate changeWater supply augmentation May 8, 2024By Franco Montalto, Drexel University “When it rains, it pours” once was a metaphor for bad things happening in clusters....
THE CONVERSATION: Native American voices are finally factoring into energy projects – a hydropower ruling is a victory for environmental justice on tribal lands The Conversation Planning and managementPolicy and regulation April 17, 2024By Emily Benton Hite, Saint Louis University and Denielle Perry, Northern Arizona University The U.S. has a long record of...
THE CONVERSATION: Removing PFAS from public water will cost billions and take time – here are ways to filter out some harmful ‘forever chemicals’ at home The Conversation Water quality April 17, 2024Kyle Doudrick, University of Notre Dame, The Conversation Chemists invented PFAS in the 1930s to make life easier: Nonstick pans,...
THE CONVERSATION: El Niño is starting to lose strength after fueling a hot, stormy year, but it’s still powerful − an atmospheric scientist explains what’s ahead for 2024 The Conversation Hydrology February 8, 2024By Paul Roundy, University at Albany, State University of New York Wild weather has been roiling North America for the...
THE CONVERSATION: What is an atmospheric river? A hydrologist explains the good and bad of these flood-prone storms and how they’re changing The Conversation Hydrology January 30, 2024Qian Cao, University of California, San Diego A series of atmospheric rivers is bringing the threat of heavy downpours, flooding,...
