Energy and Environment | KUNR

Energy and Environment

UNR Researcher Looks At Harmful Algae Blooms

By • Jul 20, 2021
A woman crouching down in the middle of a river and collecting samples.
Joanna Blaszczak / University of Nevada, Reno Freshwater Ecology & Biogeochemistry Department

The EPA has reported several dog and livestock deaths due to toxic algae blooms found in riverbeds. A researcher from UNR is examining what conditions cause these blooms.

Elko Setting New Records For Consecutive 100+ Degree Days

By • Jul 14, 2021
An image of a sunset in the wilderness near Elko
Courtesy / Bureau of Land Management

Elko could reach a new record if the area reaches 100 degrees again today.

Clair Ketchum is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Elko. He said after Tuesday's high of 100, the area saw eight consecutive days of 100 degrees or hotter.

See Pink Snow In The Mountains? Researchers Want A Sample

By • Jun 9, 2021
An image of a person holding up a tube filled with pink snow
Rachel Mallon / Living Snow Project

As summer quickly approaches, snow is melting on the mountaintops. This time of year, some of that snow won’t be the pristine white color you think of. It turns out that in the spring and summer, snow often turns pink or even red thanks to microalgae that have been adapted to live in it, partly as a response to climate change.

Illegal Dumping Increases In Nevada, Officials Say

By • May 12, 2021
A large pile of trash in the desert outside of North Las Vegas.
Nathaniel Holmes / BLM

It’s easy to throw away everyday household waste, but what happens when broken appliances, old furniture or even hazardous waste need to be removed?

Ordinary Species Could Have Extraordinary Implications

By & Madelyn Beck • Apr 22, 2021

We often hear about efforts to support and conserve rare species, like the spotted owl or Joshua trees. But new findings argue that some very ordinary plants and animals deserve our attention, too.

Drought, Fires And Heat: A Look At Nevada's Climate On Earth Day 2021

By • Apr 22, 2021
An image of Lake Mead dried up.
James Marvin Phelps / CC BY-NC 2.0

The entire state of Nevada is under some level of drought. Wildfire season is already underway and the Sierra just experienced the second consecutive dry winter.

In honor of Earth Day, Nevada Climatologist Steph McAfee shares the state of Nevada’s climate and where things are headed in this interview with KUNR's Morning Edition Host Noah Glick.

2020 Brought Us A Fire Tornado. What Will The 2021 Fire Season Look Like?

By • Apr 7, 2021
A tornado swirling inside of a wildfire.
Courtesy of Tasha Farrell

Last year, wildfires destroyed hundreds of thousands of acres, displaced hundreds of people and caused millions of dollars’ worth of damage. So, what can we expect this year?

Heat Waves Could Bring Hundreds Of Billions In Agricultural Losses

By • Apr 5, 2021
A close up of a wheat plant in a field of crops.
Scott Butner / Flickr Creative Commons

Heat waves induced by climate change will threaten future agricultural crops at a faster rate than gradual global warming, according to a new study published in the Journal of the European Economic Association. Steve Miller, a UC Boulder assistant professor of environmental studies, was a lead researcher in the study.

Pinyon-Juniper Removal Reduces Fire Risk But Could Harm Forest Ecosystems

By • Mar 27, 2021
A grove of pinyon-juniper trees with a mountain range in the background.
Wikimedia Commons

Pinyon-juniper woodlands stretch across much of the high desert in the American West. While quiet on the outside, this forest is at the heart of contentious debate between environmentalists, tribes and the federal government.

While these woodlands cover millions of desert acres, they are still among the least studied forest types in North America, according to the National Park Service.

Despite Drought Conditions, Officials Say Water Supply Will Be Enough

By • Mar 24, 2021
Dry and cracked soil covering a large span of sparingly bushed landscape.
Famartin

Nevada had its driest year on record in 2020, according to the National Center for Environmental Information, and recent trends point to it continuing to get drier. Currently, all of Nevada is in drought, with over 72% of the state’s land experiencing “extreme drought conditions,” according to Drought.gov. Desert Research Institute Assistant Research Professor and Climatologist Dan McEvoy says our conditions in the summer months are dependent on the precipitation our area gets in the winter.

Report Shows Wildfire Risks For Every State, County And Community

By • Mar 13, 2021

A new report could help you analyze wildfire risks to homes in your state, county or community.

Fed's New Climate Change Committee Could Help Western Communities Gauge Risk

By • Jan 31, 2021

The U.S. Federal Reserve has created its first committee to research the financial risks posed by climate change.


Tribal Nations Exempt From Biden's Suspension Of New Federal Oil And Gas Leases

By • Jan 30, 2021

 

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden ordered a temporary suspension of new leasing and permitting for oil and gas development on public lands. But the order will not apply to tribal lands.

Nevada's Vast Stores Of Lithium Could Fuel The Energy Transition. But At What Cost?

By • Dec 23, 2020
A landscape with mountain peaks made of volcanic rock and dirt in the foreground. Snowcapped mountains line the background.
Noah Glick

The Sony Handycam, of all things, foretold what may soon be a massive mine on public lands in Nevada.

In the early 1990s, the camcorder became the first product to use lithium-ion batteries commercially. Since then, the technology has been used to power our laptops, smartphones, and now electric vehicles and homes.

As The Pandemic Tanks Oil And Gas, Solar Shines

By • Dec 17, 2020
Three men installing solar panels.
Unsplash

It's been a tough year for gas and oil prices, but solar power has seen steady growth during this pandemic year. 

Northern Spotted Owls, Monarch Butterflies Denied Federal Protections

By • Dec 17, 2020

This week, the northern spotted owl and the monarch butterfly were denied protections under the Endangered Species Act, even though both animals qualify.

If Healthy, Mountain Meadows Can Be Big Carbon Sinks, Study Shows

By • Nov 13, 2020
An image of a big meadow with forests surrounding it.
Cody Reed

Researchers have found that it’s not just forests on the landscape that can help mitigate climate change. Meadows also provide an efficient way to keep carbon out of the atmosphere.

States, Utilities Step Up As U.S. Leaves Paris Climate Accord

By • Nov 12, 2020
Solar panels in Nevada desert
andreiorlov / Adobe Stock

The U.S. is now officially out of the Paris climate accord. 

Climate policy is mixed around the Mountain West, but many states are seeing action and a transition to renewable energy regardless of federal leadership. 

The Future’s Fires Are Raging Today, Torching Scientists’ Earlier Predictions

By • Oct 30, 2020
Bulldozer helps with firing operation
Inciweb

Scientists say the size and intensity of wildfires that we’re seeing today is alarming because it’s what they were predicting would happen 30 years down the road – not right now. 

Mountain West In Climate Crosshairs As 2020 Heats Up

By • Oct 21, 2020
An ominous smoke cloud fills the sky in Wyoming
Greg Sanders / InciWeb

Drought, wildfire and record-breaking heat are all part of the current climate landscape in the Mountain West. 

It’s a triple whammy that’s expected to continue into the coming months. 

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