Strange but true: the grain that supported the Aztec empire, amaranth, also turns out to be a grain far better suited than corn for the heat waves of climate change in Mexico. As we've seen in recent years with heat waves in the Midwest, during pollination corn can be set back badly by heat waves.Continue reading “Amaranth: An answer to climate change in Mexico”
Author Archives: Kit Stolz
Conservative media can’t handle climate change news
In a column today in the Washington Post, Michael Gerson, who once wrote speeches for George Bush, Jr., complains to the Tea Party, re: Obamacare, "You can't handle the truth!" Gerson puts it a little more politely, saying that the Tea Party in Congress "is against anyone who accepts the constraints of political reality." TheContinue reading “Conservative media can’t handle climate change news”
Edward Hopper’s mom, drawn by Edward Hopper
From a fascinating exhibit at the Whitney Museum, here's a drawing by the great American realist of his mother. The curators mentioned in a note on the wall that Hopper was considered by his peers at art school, including Rockwell Kent, to be literally the best in his class at drawing. He used this talentContinue reading “Edward Hopper’s mom, drawn by Edward Hopper”
Patzert: The history of the world is written in droughts
From the most prominent and respected expert on climate and weather in Southern California: Our water supply depends on the snowpack in the northern Sierra and the eastern Rockies. It also depends on the population growth in the Southwest. We share the Colorado with seven states and six Indian nations. Everybody gets an allocation andContinue reading “Patzert: The history of the world is written in droughts”
How to dramatize climate change: Eric Holthaus
When I met Eric Holthaus at the American Meteorological Society's convention about six months ago, he was a journalist reporting on weather for New York City to the Wall Street Journal. At the time he was a little frustrated, I think it's fair to say, because he wasn't able to talk about big picture issuesContinue reading “How to dramatize climate change: Eric Holthaus”
Murder or wilderness? A choice for October
Have been distracted from the PCT by a reporting assignment — covering a murder trial. Alex Medina, age eighteen, is on trial for the killing of Seth Scarminach, age sixteen at the time of his death 2009. Here's a story I wrote for the local paper on this for Wednesday: An eyewitness to a slayingContinue reading “Murder or wilderness? A choice for October”
Science: As certain of climate change as of smoking
Will Seth Borenstein of the Associated Press ever get the respect he deserves as a science writer? Doubtful. He's too popular, I guess, and too unpretentious. Covers breaking news still. But let me put it this way: Who has framed the question of the science of climate change more effectively than this? WASHINGTON – TopContinue reading “Science: As certain of climate change as of smoking”
WSJ Expert: We need an alternative to coal for AGW
Because the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) editorial page consistently has found reasons to scoff at the risks of anthropogenic global warming (AGW), it's notable when an expert vetted by the paper — Robert Rapier, an energy specialist – declares that global warming is a problem. In order to address the carbon dioxide problem, we either have toContinue reading “WSJ Expert: We need an alternative to coal for AGW”
How Yosemite fire crews saved the giant Sequoias
Awe-inspiring story from Diana Marcum at the Los Angeles Times. Here's a part of it: Two days later, on Aug. 17, flames exploded over a ridge above the Tuolumne River. Whitewater rafters navigating the canyon of buckeyes and bald eagles said it sounded like bombs. It was about 20 miles in the distance, but YosemiteContinue reading “How Yosemite fire crews saved the giant Sequoias”
Speaking of “Biblical” flooding in Colorado…
Chris Mooney is now reporting on climate for Grist, which is great news in and of itself. His latest post looks at the huge and deadly floods of this past week in Colorado, and tries to answer the obvious question — did climate change contribute to or worsen these floods? The answer is not aContinue reading “Speaking of “Biblical” flooding in Colorado…”
Kit Stolz 