Wilkes Center News Forest Futures Forests absorb a significant amount of the carbon dioxide that’s emitted into the atmosphere—And this... Read More Lake of Dust Is Utah’s great lake turning to dust? Read More Allergy Season Climate change is making allergy season last longer. Read More How Trees Grow William Anderegg explores the relationship between photosynthesis and cell growth. Read More Interactive Forest Maps Threats impacting forests are increasing nationwide. Read More Air Tracker John Lin, of the Department of Atmospheric Sciences, adapted his research group’s atmospheric model to... Read More SRI Stories Kai Wilmot, of the Department of Atmospheric Sciences, reveals an increase in the height of... Read More Air Pollution Utah’s air quality issues have been with us for a long time. Read More The Wilkes Center Backed by $20 Million Gift, University of Utah Launches The Wilkes Center for Climate Science... Read More College Rankings College Rankings U.S. News & World Report has released their 2022-2022 National University Rankings. The... Read More At-Risk Forests Bill Anderegg quantifies the risk to forests from climate change along three dimensions. Read More Wilkes Scholars The Wilkes Scholars Program enables outstanding undergraduate students to explore pressing climate challenges facing our... Read More Toxic Dust Hot Spots Where is Great Salt Lake's toxic dust most likely to originate? Read More Construction Update Construction is about to begin on the University of Utah’s new Applied Sciences facility. Read More Wilkes Climate Prize This $1.5 million prize supporting innovative projects that help address the impact of climate change. Read More Bonneville Salt Flats Search for solutions drives race to save Bonneville Salt Flats. Read More King of the Playa On a crisp October morning, Kevin Perry pedaled his bike across the Great Salt Lake... Read More Storm Peak Laboratory One of only a handful of high elevation weather labs in the world. Read More Art & Air Quality Public art piece finds common ground in the fight for air quality. Read More Collaboration of the Cited Biology’s ‘highly cited’ researchers collaborate in forest science. Read More CAPE-K Studying the clouds in cleanest air on Earth. Read More Magnesium Pollution? Research helps explain Salt Lake City's persistent air quality problems. Read More Applied Science Building Construction has begun on the University of Utah’s new Applied Sciences facility. Read More Saving Great Salt Lake The Great Salt Lake can be saved. This is how we do it. Read More GSL Strike Team The Great Salt Lake can be saved. This is how we do it. Read More Groundbreaking Construction has begun on the University of Utah’s new Applied Sciences facility. Read More Luke Reuschel Nothing compares to when the pilot puts the jet into full throttle. Read More Jessica Haskins I don’t know how I would have afforded school for my first year at MIT... Read More Climate Hackathon “I woke up at 4:30 a.m. that second day, and it was like, we’ve gotta... Read More Downstream Without the lake, skiers and riders of the Wasatch have little hope of continuing to... Read More Air Currents 2023 Celebrating 75 Years, The Great Salt Lake, Alumni Profiles, and more. Read More 75 Years of ATMOS The history of the Department of Atmospheric Sciences. Read More Storm Peak Storm Peak is a lab and a classroom. Read More Stephen Nesbitt 2023 Distinguished Alumni of Atmospheric Sciences. Read More Utah's Air Quality History Utah's Air Quality History Read More ATMOS 75th Celebration Swoop goes atmospheric at ATMOS event Read More Coffee Klatch 2023 Distinguished Alumni of Atmospheric Sciences. Read More Fulbright Award Randall Irmis, New Fulbright Awardee Read More Outstanding Undergrad Research Awards 2023 The University of Utah is one of the top research academic institutions in the Intermountain... Read More William Anderegg Receives NSF Waterman Award W. Anderegg, Waterman Award Read More An Unexpected Climate Solution The Wilkes Center Student Innovation Prize Nicholas Witham is the first-place winner of the Wilkes... Read More 2023 Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentors Hallar and Rog, Outstanding Research Mentors Read More Tinker Toy Rises After months of earth-moving, the Applied Science Project gets some serious hardware. [caption id="attachment_47247" align="alignleft"... Read More Geologist Brenda Bowen, to chair Department of Atmospheric Sciences Brenda Bowen will take over as ATMOS chair Read More Dirtiest snow-year in the Wasatch accelerated snowmelt by 17 days As the shrinking Great Salt Lake exposes an ever-growing area of its lakebed, wind-blown dust... Read More Utah's Environmental Challenges “As bad as it is, I think there’s hope,” says John Lin, professor of atmospheric... Read More What happened to Co2 emissions during pandemic lockdown? Reduced traffic during the COVID-19 lockdown was likely the primary driver behind reduced CO2 emissions... Read More William Anderegg Receives Blavatnik Award William Anderegg RECEIVES Blavatnik Award On July 26, the Blavatnik Family Foundation and the New York... Read More Sister Cities Panel Wilkes Center hosts climate change panel between Sister City leaders Addressing climate change on the... Read More A Stark Message from Maui A Stark Message From Maui Earth’s rapidly changing climate is taking an increasingly heavy... Read More A widely used instrument for monitoring black carbon in real time. Black carbon sensor could fill massive monitoring gaps Black carbon is the most dangerous air... Read More Finalists vie for historic $1.5M Wilkes Climate Prize Finalists vie for historic $1.5M Wilkes Climate Prize A protein-rich bean that evades agricultural... Read More Climate-Resilient Western Grid Gird YOUR Grid The Western Interconnected Grid, commonly known as “the Western Interconnection,” is... Read More Wilkes Center Climate Prize Winner Winner of Wilkes Center Climate Prize Lumen Bioscience is the inaugural winner of the... Read More Safe Landings Weather-wise SAFE LANDINGS Weather-wise Aviation meteorologists like 2008 atmospheric science alumnus Warren Weston connect the... Read More Ring-of-fire eclipse: How to see it Ring of Fire Eclipse “It’s like when you make a circle with your fingers... Read More ‘Roving sentinels’ discover new air pollution sources ‘Roving sentinels’ In 2019, University of Utah atmospheric scientists, the Environmental Defense Fund and... Read More Do the Right Thing: Kevin Perry on the GSL Do the Right Thing Dr. Kevin Perry, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Utah,... Read More Cold Fog & Complex Terrain Cold fog & Complex Terrain You might not initially think of fog as a... Read More How Microbes Combat Climate Change How microbes can combat climate change Chemist Jessica Swanson works with bacteria that eat methane,... Read More CO2 changes over past 66 M years CO2 Atmospheric changes Carbon dioxide has not been as high as today's concentrations in 14... Read More Snowflakes Falling The science behind snowflakes In a study that could enhance weather forecasting, Utah researchers discover... Read More Holiday Greetings from Dean Trapa HOLIDAY GREETINGS FROM DEAN TRAPA Dear Friends and Colleagues, As the fall semester draws... Read More Humans of the U: Sadie Dunn “I am currently majoring in atmospheric sciences. I just love weather. I’ve loved it since... Read More Presidential Societal Impact—Kevin Perry Kevin Perry, Societal Impact Scholar University of Utah President Taylor Randall has named five... Read More Southwest Sustainability Innovation Engine Regional Innovations Engine University of Utah part of new NSF-funded initiative to ensure regional climate... Read More Central Wasatch’s extreme snowfall Where does the central Wasatch’s extreme snowfall Come From? Utah’s famous mountains can wring... Read More Utah's Warm Wet Winter A warm, wet winter in Utah but don’t blame El Niño February 22, 2024 For... Read More Measuring Black Carbon Black carbon sensor could fill massive monitoring gaps February 22, 2024 Black carbon is the... Read More 2024 Wilkes Climate Hackathon “I woke up at 4:30 a.m. that second day, and it was like, we’ve gotta... Read More Where the Wild Things Went During the Pandemic Where the Wild Things Went During the Pandemic March 18, 2024 A new study of... Read More Cataract Canyon Comes Back to Life Cataract Canyon Comes Back to Life February 18, 2024 | Rolling Stone Damming the Colorado... Read More Hunting an underground epidemic Hunting an underground epidemic April 3, 2024 Above: The research team outside Toquerville, UT. Left... Read More Jay Mace: Scientist of Clouds, Painter of Landscapes JAY MACE: SCIENTIST OF CLOUDS, PAINTER OF LANDSCAPES April 30, 2024 Above: In April 2023,... Read More Environmental refuges to escape the heat Environmental refuges to escape the heat May 1, 2024 On April 30, the Salt... Read More U Atmospheric Scientists Team Up for $4.8M Snowfall Research Project U atmospheric scientists team up for $4.8M snowfall research project May 6, 2024 Above: Atmospheric... Read More U of U Part of $6.6M National Weather Forecasting Initiative U of U Included in $6.6M National Weather Forecasting Initiative The partnership with NOAA, other... Read More Researchers Look to Origins of New Particle Formation RESEARCHERS LOOK TO ORIGINS OF NEW PARTICLE FORMATION May 24, 2024 Above: ARM’s ArcticShark soars... Read More L.S. Skaggs Applied Science Building Named at the U L.S. SKAGGS APPLIED SCIENCE BUILDING NAMED AT THE U May 28, 2024 Above: Rendering of... Read More Conscious of the Planet 'Conscious' of the Planet June 13, 2024 Above: Ishita Juluru, Frances Benfell and Hannah Rogers... Read More Utah's fir trees at risk from balsam woolly adelgid Utah's fir trees at risk from balsam woolly adelgid June 20, 2024 Above: A drone... Read More Restoring the GSL & Environmental Justice THe social & Ecological IMPACTS of GSL REstoration June 24, 2024 Above: Satellite image of... Read More Rethinking Carbon Offsets Rethinking the Carbon Offsets Market July 18, 2024 Around 1989 an energy company was... Read More Ants and Trees: A Tale of Evolutionary Déjà Vu in the Rainforest Ants and Trees: A Tale of Evolutionary Déjà Vu in the Rainforest July 19, 2024... Read More Scientists use AI to predict a wildfire's next move Scientists use AI to predict a wildfire's next move July 29, 2024 University of Utah... Read More Satellite measurements of carbon emissions Monitoring urban Carbon emissions at the global scale July 30, 2024 Above: A map of the... Read More Solving the Puzzle of Utah's Summer Ozone Solving the Puzzle of Utah's Summer Ozone July 29, 2024 Above: A view of Salt... Read More Urban ‘Cool Zones’ Urban 'Cool Zones' August 14, 2024 Above: A poster created by Salt Lake County to... Read More Ron Perla, 2024 Distinguished Alumnus Avalanche Escape Artist September 4, 2024 Above: Ron Perla in the 1960s at a creep... Read More Scientists awarded 1U4U Seed Grants scientists awarded 1U4U Seed Grants Published on: September 10, 2024 Above: Microbiolites at Bridger Bay on... Read More How Harmful is Great Salt Lake Dust? U Scientists Investigate How Harmful is Great Salt Lake Dust? U Scientists Investigate September 17, 2024 As Utah’s... Read More Fielding Norton Named College of Science Senior Fellow FIELDING NORTON NAMED COLLEGE OF SCIENCE SENIOR FELLOW September 24, 2024. Above: Fielding Norton. Credit:... Read More Biochar Robots win $500K Wilkes Climate Launch Prize Biochar Robots win $500K Wilkes Climate Launch Prize Sep 25, 2024 Above: Applied Carbon’s pyrolyzer.... Read More New models shed light on sea ice dynamics New models shed light on sea ice dynamics Oct 1, 2024 Above: An upside-down sea... Read More Utah FORGE Receives $80 million from DOE Utah FORGE ReceIves $80 million from DOE October 3, 2024 Above: Milford, UT. Through new... Read More A panel discussion on the future of Salt Lake City's trees A panel discussion on the future of Salt Lake City's trees October 7, 2024 The... Read More Bringing together minds and resources for a greener tomorrow Bringing together minds and resources for a greener tomorrow Oct 11, 2024 Above: Group picture... Read More The Universal Connection The Universal Connection October 10, 2024 Above: Sara Warix “One of the things I love... Read More Thomas Gurbach: The Great Power of Nature Thomas Gurbach: The great Power of Nature October 28, 2024 Above: Thomas Gurbach By Thomas... Read More AI: The Promise and Peril for the Planet AI: The Promise and Peril for the Planet Dec 04, 2024 Above: The AI image... Read More 2024 Clarivate's Most Cited Bill Anderegg, Highly Cited Researcher 2024 December 9, 2024 Above: William Anderegg at the One-U... Read More Why mobile farm technology won the 2024 Wilkes Climate Launch Prize How mobile farm technology won the 2024 Wilkes Prize January 7, 2025 Above: Applied Carbon’s... Read More How snowflakes get their intricate shape How snowflakes get their intricate shapes January 13, 2025 Above: University of Utah researchers test... Read More Technology for oxidizing atmospheric methane? tech for oxidizing atmospheric methane? January 21, 2025 Above: Atmospheric instrumentation on the roof of... Read More The U is a leader in science and technology education U a Leader in Science & Tech Education January 21, 2025 Above: Peter Trapa The... Read More Anderegg Receives White House Early-Career Award Anderegg Receives White House Early-Career Award January 23, 2025 Above: William Anderegg In his last... Read More Water resiliency and the Olympics Water resiliency challenges and the Olympics Students from the University of Utah and Université Côte... Read More GSL Strike Team Update making progress on Great Salt Lake January 22, 2025 Above: Taking fight at Great Salt... Read More Finding Climate-Water solutions Finding Climate-Water Solutions February 12, 2025 Above: Participants at the Wilkes Center Hackathon 2025 Earlier... Read More An emissions tale of two cities: SLC & LA An emissions tale of two cities: SLC vs. LA February 28, 2025 Above: John Lin,... Read More A Climate Moon Shot Beneath Our Feet a Climate Moon Shot Beneath Our Feet March 3, 2025 Above: The Utah Frontier Observatory... Read More Letters from Antarctica Hub Letters from Antarctica By Kelsey Barber The Department of Atmospheric Sciences' Kelsey Barber has embarked... Read More Letters from Antarctica #1 The Voyage Begins The Department of Atmospheric Sciences' Kelsey Barber has embarked on an Antarctic... Read More Letters from Antarctica #2 Breaking the Ice The Department of Atmospheric Sciences' Kelsey Barber has embarked on an Antarctic... Read More Dust in the Wind: How cities alter natural airborne particles Dust in the Wind: How cities alter natural airborne particles April 1, 2025 Above: Dust... Read More The West's latest air quality threats the West’s latest air quality threats April 14, 2025 Above: Dust cloud blowing into Salt... Read More Letters from Antarctica #3 Deck operations The Department of Atmospheric Sciences' Kelsey Barber has embarked on an Antarctic voyage... Read More Letters from Antarctica #4 Keeping Seal Taggers safe The Department of Atmospheric Sciences' Kelsey Barber has embarked on an... Read More Letters from Antarctica #5 Science with high honors The Department of Atmospheric Sciences' Kelsey Barber has embarked on an... Read More Opinion: Water Wasting? U Decide. Opinion: Water Wasting Landscapes? U Decide. April 21, 2025 Above: Water wise plants in a... Read More Utah's Energy Future Utah's Energy Future May 21, 2025 Above: Wilkes Center energy future panel discussion: from left,... Read More Unravelling Nature's Marine Cloud Brightening Unravelling Nature’s Marine Cloud Brightening May 21, 2025 Above: Antarctic ice sheet Excerpted from Scientia... Read More Urgency and hope at 2025 Wilkes Climate Summit Urgency and hope at 2025 Wilkes Climate Summit May 22, 2025 Above: Wilkes Scholar and... Read More Trailblazing with Earth & Environmental Science Trailblazing with Earth & Environmental Science June 4, 2025 Above: Ryker Ray (left) and Hunter... Read More Wilkes Center Leadership Transition June 19, 2025 Above: William "Bill" Anderegg at the opening session of the 2025 Wilkes... Read More Wilkes Center names leadership team for expanded climate mission Wilkes Center names leadership team for expanded climate mission June 19, 2025 Above: Fielding Norton,... Read More Great Salt Lake's mystery islands Great Salt Lake's mystery islands July 10, 2025 Above: Great Salt Lake U geologists... Read More Where inquiry meets impact Where inquiry Meets Impact July 22, 2025 Above: Ann Crocker, Gary Crocker and Mark Skaggs... Read More Carbon 'offsets' aren't working Fixing Nature-based Climate Solutions July 30, 2025 Carbon 'off-sets' are not working. U-led research results... Read More Wildfire smoke exacerbates ozone pollution Wildfire smoke exacerbates ozone pollution August 13, 2025 Above: The 2020 Loyalton Fire wildfire in Lassen, Plumas and Sierra counties in California and Washoe... Read More Kinetic art in the new L. S. Skaggs Building Kinetic Art Adorns L. S. Skaggs Building August 25, 2025 Above: Looking up under one... Read More Wilkes Center Announces Top Three Finalists for Climate Launch Prize Wilkes Center Announces Top Three Finalists for Climate Launch Prize September 15, 2025 Above: The... Read More Looming Emergency over dust storms, health risks and a dying lake Looming Emergency Over Dust Storms, Health Risks & a dying Great Salt Lake January 21,... Read More Build up Nepal wins $250K Wilkes Climate Launch Prize Build up Nepal wins $250K Wilkes Climate Launch Prize September 29, 2025 Above: Build up... Read More Hub For Earth System Sciences Amplifies Impact Atmospheric scientist Gannet Hallar elected to the UCAR board of trustees Read More The true cost of living with Great Salt Lake dust The shrinking Great Salt Lake could cost Utahns more than just their health — it... Read More Improving snowfall forecasts in the Mountain West The varied topography of the American West results in minutely localized weather Read More Mapping the Great Salt Lake's Dust Hotspots Reality check to agencies considering such proposals as a way to stave off climate change Read More When Disciplines Coalesce: Environmental Science Reimagined When Disciplines Coalesce: Environmental Science Reimagined December 5, 2025 Above: photo credits, Nathan Murthy ... Read More Lake levels remain low, yet salinity still close to healthy targets Annual Strike Team report outlines new dust-mitigation strategies, successes in controlling salinity and fresh projections... Read More What past global warming reveals about future rainfall "Proxies" in geologic record show rainfall was more intense, but less regular during the Paleogene Read More GSL's ancient store of fresh water U researchers begin to characterize the mountain-derived groundwater extending thousands of feet below the playa... Read More Wilkes Center unveils map tool to model Great Salt Lake dust exposure A data-based modeling tool to visualize dust exposures Read More Cleaner ship fuel changed clouds, but not their climate balance U scientists monitor how the change to cleaner ship fuel affects cloud formation Read More Home — College of Science