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"content": "\u003cp>Caitlin Quinn remembers seeing the first solar panels go up in Petaluma City Schools as a high school student. The panels helped “normalize” green energy and were a learning opportunity, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, Quinn is the school district’s board president, where she is exploring opportunities to install more solar. Already, solar energy accounts for between about 40% and 70% of energy use per campus. But she’s worried that a state decision to reduce rooftop solar incentives could drive up costs and hurt the district’s efforts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Is it better to keep investing in solar when it saves less money or pay our teachers enough so they can afford to live in Sonoma County?” she said. “These are not decisions we want to be making.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[pullquote align=\"right\" size=\"medium\" citation=\"Caitlin Quinn, board president, Petaluma City Schools\"]‘Is it better to keep investing in solar when it saves less money or pay our teachers enough so they can afford to live in Sonoma County? These are not decisions we want to be making.’[/pullquote]Starting Valentine’s Day, a controversial new rate will take effect across California, reducing the cost savings of installing solar for customers with more than one electric meter, a category that includes many schools, apartment buildings and businesses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>New customers will be credited about 80% less for the energy they produce and sell back to the grid, according to solar advocates. Additionally, most non-residential customers with more than one meter will be charged for the electricity they consume at full retail price, even during the sunny hours when their equipment is generating power. Meanwhile, the solar energy they generate is sold back to their provider at a reduced rate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Currently, the California Public Utilities Commission assumes that electricity generated by solar homes is used on-site and doesn’t require customers to be charged.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Solar advocates said that these changes will further drive down demand for solar, putting additional strain on an industry that has suffered since a similar policy went into effect for homeowners last April. These changes could also threaten the state’s efforts to meet its goal of 100% clean power by 2045, solar advocates said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“California is sabotaging its clean energy goals with this decision,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of the California Solar and Storage Association.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CPUC, on the other hand, described the changes as an effort to “modernize” solar regulations. (The regulatory agency did not respond to questions sent by KQED and instead directed the publication to two \u003ca href=\"https://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Published/G000/M520/K893/520893708.PDF\">press\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/-/media/cpuc-website/divisions/energy-division/documents/net-energy-metering-nem/nemrevisit/vnem-pd-fact-sheet-update-111323.pdf\">releases [PDFs]\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside label=\"Related Stories\" postID=\"news_11963769,news_11969614,science_1985611\"]The commission has in the past argued that the reduced rates better reflect the true value that solar customers provide to the grid and could temper the state’s soaring electricity bills, which are some of the highest in the country. The changes are also designed to incentivize customers to install battery storage, which could bolster grid reliability, the commission said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Energy experts said these goals have merit: “In order to achieve our renewable goals, we need to build a lot of solar, period,” said Michael Wara, director of the climate and energy policy program at Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. “But we need to make sure we do it in a way that’s fair and equitable for all Californians.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wara said the previous rates did not reflect the cost solar customers impose on the grid by using it as a “giant battery” — feeding power into it in the daytime and taking it out at night. He said the old incentives shifted costs onto customers without solar, contributing to rate increases, which disproportionately affect Californians with lower incomes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Commission officials’ rationale has not appeased the broad coalition of groups that assembled to oppose the new regulations, which regulators unanimously approved in November and are taking effect after a 90-day grace period. Climate advocacy groups, farmers, school districts and elected officials all \u003ca href=\"https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/solar/california-makes-it-harder-for-schools-farms-and-rental-housing-to-go-solar\">wrote\u003c/a> to regulators in advance of the decision, detailing the ways the changes would hurt their ability to install solar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Oakland Unified School District Board President Sam Davis said the district’s goal of achieving 100% clean electricity by 2030 and completing new school construction and renovation with high environmental standards is a “no-brainer.” But the new rates, he said, will make it harder to afford additional solar panels.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It feels very hypocritical,” he said of the state’s latest policy change. “We say we’re about building a green economy and addressing climate change, but then we’re not supporting school districts’ ability to put in green infrastructure.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The reduced incentives could also exacerbate the challenges facing California’s strained solar industry. The California Solar and Storage Association estimates that about 17,000 solar workers lost their jobs by the end of 2023 after a similar rate structure went into effect for single-meter customers in April.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These layoffs are continuing into the New Year. San Francisco-based solar company Sunrun, one of the largest solar installers in the country, laid off 88 workers in California in January, according to Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act filings. This follows the company laying off roughly 1,000 direct employees in California in the second half of 2023, according to Sunrun’s vice president of public policy, Walker Wright.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[pullquote align=\"right\" size=\"medium\" citation=\"Sam Davis, board president, Oakland Unified School District\"]‘It feels very hypocritical. We say we’re about building a green economy and addressing climate change, but then we’re not supporting school districts’ ability to put in green infrastructure.’[/pullquote]Del Chiaro said the latest decision would especially affect solar businesses that specialize in commercial installations, which she estimates constitute about a third of California’s solar industry. She anticipates that the industry will see layoffs rise again in the summer after these companies work through the backlog of projects.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’ve decimated that market going forward,” she said, adding that she is concerned about the impact the decision will have on the state’s climate goals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These climate concerns were shared by the school district officials and others who have spoken out against the changes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CPUC \u003ca href=\"https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/clean-energy/california-ups-renewables-target-again-with-new-plan-to-add-85gw-by-2035\">aims\u003c/a> to add about 86,000 megawatts of electric resources to the grid by 2035, which would more than double the state’s existing capacity. Of that total, the plan calls for about 39,000 megawatts of solar power and 28,000 megawatts of battery storage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wara, the Stanford researcher, was more reserved in his judgment. He said the state needed to set a rate structure that incentivized more storage, but it is not yet clear whether they struck the right balance between promoting increased storage and energy generation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s too soon to know,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was reported in partnership with \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://biglocalnews.org/content/about/\">\u003cem>Big Local News\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> at Stanford University.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Solar advocates say a controversial new rate that takes effect across California today will further drive down demand for solar and threaten the state’s efforts to meet its goal of 100% clean power by 2045.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Caitlin Quinn remembers seeing the first solar panels go up in Petaluma City Schools as a high school student. The panels helped “normalize” green energy and were a learning opportunity, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, Quinn is the school district’s board president, where she is exploring opportunities to install more solar. Already, solar energy accounts for between about 40% and 70% of energy use per campus. But she’s worried that a state decision to reduce rooftop solar incentives could drive up costs and hurt the district’s efforts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Is it better to keep investing in solar when it saves less money or pay our teachers enough so they can afford to live in Sonoma County?” she said. “These are not decisions we want to be making.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Starting Valentine’s Day, a controversial new rate will take effect across California, reducing the cost savings of installing solar for customers with more than one electric meter, a category that includes many schools, apartment buildings and businesses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>New customers will be credited about 80% less for the energy they produce and sell back to the grid, according to solar advocates. Additionally, most non-residential customers with more than one meter will be charged for the electricity they consume at full retail price, even during the sunny hours when their equipment is generating power. Meanwhile, the solar energy they generate is sold back to their provider at a reduced rate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Currently, the California Public Utilities Commission assumes that electricity generated by solar homes is used on-site and doesn’t require customers to be charged.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Solar advocates said that these changes will further drive down demand for solar, putting additional strain on an industry that has suffered since a similar policy went into effect for homeowners last April. These changes could also threaten the state’s efforts to meet its goal of 100% clean power by 2045, solar advocates said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“California is sabotaging its clean energy goals with this decision,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of the California Solar and Storage Association.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CPUC, on the other hand, described the changes as an effort to “modernize” solar regulations. (The regulatory agency did not respond to questions sent by KQED and instead directed the publication to two \u003ca href=\"https://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Published/G000/M520/K893/520893708.PDF\">press\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/-/media/cpuc-website/divisions/energy-division/documents/net-energy-metering-nem/nemrevisit/vnem-pd-fact-sheet-update-111323.pdf\">releases [PDFs]\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The commission has in the past argued that the reduced rates better reflect the true value that solar customers provide to the grid and could temper the state’s soaring electricity bills, which are some of the highest in the country. The changes are also designed to incentivize customers to install battery storage, which could bolster grid reliability, the commission said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Energy experts said these goals have merit: “In order to achieve our renewable goals, we need to build a lot of solar, period,” said Michael Wara, director of the climate and energy policy program at Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. “But we need to make sure we do it in a way that’s fair and equitable for all Californians.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wara said the previous rates did not reflect the cost solar customers impose on the grid by using it as a “giant battery” — feeding power into it in the daytime and taking it out at night. He said the old incentives shifted costs onto customers without solar, contributing to rate increases, which disproportionately affect Californians with lower incomes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Commission officials’ rationale has not appeased the broad coalition of groups that assembled to oppose the new regulations, which regulators unanimously approved in November and are taking effect after a 90-day grace period. Climate advocacy groups, farmers, school districts and elected officials all \u003ca href=\"https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/solar/california-makes-it-harder-for-schools-farms-and-rental-housing-to-go-solar\">wrote\u003c/a> to regulators in advance of the decision, detailing the ways the changes would hurt their ability to install solar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Oakland Unified School District Board President Sam Davis said the district’s goal of achieving 100% clean electricity by 2030 and completing new school construction and renovation with high environmental standards is a “no-brainer.” But the new rates, he said, will make it harder to afford additional solar panels.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It feels very hypocritical,” he said of the state’s latest policy change. “We say we’re about building a green economy and addressing climate change, but then we’re not supporting school districts’ ability to put in green infrastructure.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The reduced incentives could also exacerbate the challenges facing California’s strained solar industry. The California Solar and Storage Association estimates that about 17,000 solar workers lost their jobs by the end of 2023 after a similar rate structure went into effect for single-meter customers in April.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These layoffs are continuing into the New Year. San Francisco-based solar company Sunrun, one of the largest solar installers in the country, laid off 88 workers in California in January, according to Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act filings. This follows the company laying off roughly 1,000 direct employees in California in the second half of 2023, according to Sunrun’s vice president of public policy, Walker Wright.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Del Chiaro said the latest decision would especially affect solar businesses that specialize in commercial installations, which she estimates constitute about a third of California’s solar industry. She anticipates that the industry will see layoffs rise again in the summer after these companies work through the backlog of projects.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’ve decimated that market going forward,” she said, adding that she is concerned about the impact the decision will have on the state’s climate goals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These climate concerns were shared by the school district officials and others who have spoken out against the changes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CPUC \u003ca href=\"https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/clean-energy/california-ups-renewables-target-again-with-new-plan-to-add-85gw-by-2035\">aims\u003c/a> to add about 86,000 megawatts of electric resources to the grid by 2035, which would more than double the state’s existing capacity. Of that total, the plan calls for about 39,000 megawatts of solar power and 28,000 megawatts of battery storage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wara, the Stanford researcher, was more reserved in his judgment. He said the state needed to set a rate structure that incentivized more storage, but it is not yet clear whether they struck the right balance between promoting increased storage and energy generation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s too soon to know,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This article was reported in partnership with \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://biglocalnews.org/content/about/\">\u003cem>Big Local News\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> at Stanford University.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "From Richmond to Gaza: Bay Area Environmentalists Speak Out Against the War",
"headTitle": "From Richmond to Gaza: Bay Area Environmentalists Speak Out Against the War | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>It has been more than 120 days now since the start of Israel’s bombing of Gaza, following an attack by Hamas that began on Oct. 7.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The death toll in Gaza is now more than \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-02-05-2024-dd005061f9925525c56ea460ab5c9e77#:~:text=The%20offensive%20in%20Gaza%20that,ruled%20territory's%20Health%20Ministry%20reported.\">27,400 people\u003c/a> — NPR reports that \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2024/01/14/1224674017/100-days-of-war-23-000-killed-in-gaza-with-over-60-of-homes-destroyed\">most of the dead are women and children, citing Gaza health officials\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-1-26-2024-49a168140cbca3778095e8fb437aba37\">Approximately 1,200 people in Israel have been killed since the beginning of this tragedy\u003c/a>.[aside label=\"related coverage\" tag=\"gaza\"]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Oct. 25, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-10-25/california-city-first-in-nation-to-support-palestinians-in-gaza-with-resolution-accusing-israel-of-ethnic-cleansing\">Richmond city council was the first city in the U.S. to call for a Gaza cease-fire resolution\u003c/a>. In late November, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11968400/oakland-city-council-set-to-vote-on-gaza-cease-fire-resolution\">Oakland’s leaders voted unanimously on their own resolution\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11971971/san-francisco-is-considering-a-gaza-cease-fire-resolution-what-is-a-resolution\">followed by supervisors in San Francisco\u003c/a>. While much of the debate around these measures has centered on the horrors of the war and the loss of life, Bay Area’s climate and environmental leaders — both in the streets and in elected positions — have been at the center of the push for these solidarity resolutions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Two Bay Area environmental organizations — the Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) and Communities for Better Environment (CBE) in Richmond — were integral in organizing the effort in Richmond.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They argued that on top of the loss of life, war has tremendous impacts on our climate and environment. “Global militaries are the world’s largest industrial polluters,” said Keala Uchoa, Richmond youth organizer at CBE in Richmond, pointing to a recent study that shows that \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/09/emissions-gaza-israel-hamas-war-climate-change\">militaries account for almost 5.5% of global greenhouse emissions annually\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1991349\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1991349 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Keala-Uchoa-and-others-stand-behind-ceasefire-now-banner-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Three activists wearing white masks hold up a black banner that reads "No more California money for Israel's crimes." \" width=\"2560\" height=\"1703\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Keala-Uchoa-and-others-stand-behind-ceasefire-now-banner-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Keala-Uchoa-and-others-stand-behind-ceasefire-now-banner-800x532.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Keala-Uchoa-and-others-stand-behind-ceasefire-now-banner-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Keala-Uchoa-and-others-stand-behind-ceasefire-now-banner-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Keala-Uchoa-and-others-stand-behind-ceasefire-now-banner-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Keala-Uchoa-and-others-stand-behind-ceasefire-now-banner-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Keala-Uchoa-and-others-stand-behind-ceasefire-now-banner-2048x1363.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Keala-Uchoa-and-others-stand-behind-ceasefire-now-banner-1920x1277.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Keala Uchoa and others stand behind a banner that reads ‘Ceasefire Now.’ \u003ccite>(Courtesy of APEN)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>People in Gaza are already vulnerable to the effects of climate change, she argued, \u003ca href=\"https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2021RG000762\">and live in a region that is warming twice as fast as the global average\u003c/a>. On top of that, bombs are destroying farmland and carbon sinks like forests that purify the air. “All of those things compound to create a very deadly climate [and] environmental situation,” Uchoa added.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[pullquote align=\"right\" size=\"medium\" citation=\"Hayward Councilmember George Syrop\"]“Why do we spend years and millions of taxpayer dollars trying to fight climate change, just to have Israel’s bombs that we pay for emit more CO2 than 20 countries combined, accelerating an unlivable future for all of us.”[/pullquote]On Jan. 23, the Hayward City Council voted to divest its shares of companies with ties to Israel, including Caterpillar, Chevron, Hyundai and Intel. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/eastbay/article/hayward-divest-shares-four-companies-business-18628705.php\">Hayward is the first city in the Bay Area to take such a measure\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Councilmember George Syrop lobbied for it and made an environmental case. “Why do we spend years and millions of taxpayer dollars trying to fight climate change, just to have Israel’s bombs that we pay for emit more CO2 than 20 countries combined, accelerating an unlivable future for all of us,” he said, \u003ca href=\"https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4684768\">referring to a recent estimate led by researchers at Queen Mary University of London\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The scientists calculated the carbon emissions from aircraft, tanks and fuel from other vehicles and emissions generated from the manufacturing and detonation of bombs, artillery and rockets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As Hayward being a climate forward city, I don’t know why we’re investing in Chevron in the first place,” Syrop said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>From Richmond to Gaza: fighting for environmental justice\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Richmond resident Katherine Lee comes from a family of refugees who fled the Laotian War.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Her family’s history is one reason she joined in organizing for the call for a cease-fire back in October. Those experiences are “very real for what’s happening in Palestine,” too, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lee is a senior Richmond youth organizer at APEN. Her family’s history is only part of it. Lee grew up around the Chevron refinery in Richmond, one of the largest polluters in the state, breathing the fumes it releases into the air. “It’s just a constant thing in our environment that we have to really fight [for],” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chevron is also \u003ca href=\"https://israel.chevron.com/en/our-businesses\">one of the largest energy companies to work in Israel\u003c/a>, bringing the government \u003ca href=\"https://israel.chevron.com/en/our-businesses/natural-gas\">billions of dollars in revenue annually\u003c/a>. APEN has called for a \u003ca href=\"https://bdsmovement.net/news/bds-movement-calls-for-consumer-boycott-chevron-branded-gas-stations\">boycott of Chevron\u003c/a> locally, saying it is a fight for the environmental rights of both Richmond residents and Palestinians.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The facility released nearly 3 million metric tons of planet-warming gas emissions in 2022, according to an \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/climate/article/greenhouse-gas-emissions-18531155.php\">analysis from the \u003cem>San Francisco Chronicle\u003c/em>\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pollutants released by refineries can cause \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6524223/\">respiratory problems and chronic health issues.\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://clear.ucsf.edu/reach\">A UCSF-led community health assessment of Richmond found\u003c/a> that the childhood asthma rate in Richmond is \u003ca href=\"https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/5207\">double the national average\u003c/a>. People with existing heart or lung disease, diabetes, older adults, children, and people of lower socio-economic status have a greater risk of particle pollution health effects.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1991347\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1991347 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Katherine-Lee-APEN-youth-organizer-speaks-at-Padilla-action-credit-Jen-Rocha--scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A woman holds a microphone and wears a yellow sweatshirt. \" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Katherine-Lee-APEN-youth-organizer-speaks-at-Padilla-action-credit-Jen-Rocha--scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Katherine-Lee-APEN-youth-organizer-speaks-at-Padilla-action-credit-Jen-Rocha--800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Katherine-Lee-APEN-youth-organizer-speaks-at-Padilla-action-credit-Jen-Rocha--1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Katherine-Lee-APEN-youth-organizer-speaks-at-Padilla-action-credit-Jen-Rocha--160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Katherine-Lee-APEN-youth-organizer-speaks-at-Padilla-action-credit-Jen-Rocha--768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Katherine-Lee-APEN-youth-organizer-speaks-at-Padilla-action-credit-Jen-Rocha--1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Katherine-Lee-APEN-youth-organizer-speaks-at-Padilla-action-credit-Jen-Rocha--2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Katherine-Lee-APEN-youth-organizer-speaks-at-Padilla-action-credit-Jen-Rocha--1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Katherine Lee, APEN youth organizer, speaks at an action. \u003ccite>(Jen Rocha)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Our local fights for environmental justice and destabilizing Chevron and ultimately decommissioning the refinery are connected to international solidarity work with Indigenous people, including the Indigenous people of Palestine,” Uchoa said. “There’s a sacred relationship between Indigenous people and the land that they belong to.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Not only are we losing thousands and thousands of human beings, but we’re also losing so many knowledge bearers of the land and of culture. And the land is feeling that,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Feb. 3, hundreds of protesters marched in front of the Chevron facility in Richmond to call for a cease-fire in Gaza and for the company to divest from Israel. They’re asking for the public to boycott Chevron fuel until they do so.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a statement responding to the protest, Chevron said it respects the rights of individuals to express their viewpoints peacefully.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Aisha Mansour is Palestinian from a small village called Al-Walaja in the West Bank. She currently lives in Oakland, but some of her family still reside in Palestine. Mansour was one of the “Bay Bridge 78” protesters who \u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/san-francisco/dozens-of-protesters-stop-traffic-on-bay-bridge/3373428/\">shut down the westbound lanes of the Bay Bridge on Nov. 16, demanding a cease-fire\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[pullquote align=\"right\" size=\"medium\" citation=\"Aisha Mansour, communications director, Honor the Earth\"]“They got it. They got that it was bigger than them. And that was amazing.”[/pullquote]“That was an amazingly powerful day. Not just because of what we’re able to accomplish, but also just the massive amount of support from people that we were able to feel,” said Mansour, communications director at Honor the Earth, an Indigenous-led environmental organization known for their advocacy against fossil fuel pipelines. “I didn’t expect it. I thought people would be frustrated, maybe rightfully so. But they got it. They got that it was bigger than them. And that was amazing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mansour is motivated, in part, by the impact the war has had on her community. In December, she attended a funeral for seven people killed by a bomb in Gaza, family members of one of her Palestinian community members in the Bay Area. “Our families are being killed,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1991343\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1170px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1991343\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Aisha-Mansour-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1170\" height=\"776\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Aisha-Mansour-2.jpg 1170w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Aisha-Mansour-2-800x531.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Aisha-Mansour-2-1020x677.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Aisha-Mansour-2-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Aisha-Mansour-2-768x509.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Aisha Mansour speaks at a Bay Bridge 78 press conference in San Francisco in December. \u003ccite>(Savannah Kuang)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Legacies of past war and conflicts\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The environmental impacts of war often lead to the displacement of people, whether it’s in Gaza, where Palestinians are relocating to the south of the territory, or Vietnam, Iraq and Ukraine. “You have the immediate contamination of the sites where fighting occurs,” said Logan Hennessy, a professor in the School of Liberal Studies at San Francisco State University. “But then you also have the exodus of people. And the exodus also creates other environmental issues and problems.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Ukraine, Russian attacks on industrial sites, including factories, fuel depots, and nuclear power facilities with potential radioactive waste storage, \u003ca href=\"https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/toxic-legacy-ukraine-war\">could result in water contamination that might linger for decades or even centuries\u003c/a>, said Hennessy, who teaches classes on international development and resource justice, as well as forest ecology and conservation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[pullquote align=\"right\" size=\"medium\" citation=\"Keala Uchoa, Richmond youth organizer, CBE in Richmond\"]“Our local fights for environmental justice and destabilizing Chevron and ultimately decommissioning the refinery are connected to international solidarity work with Indigenous people, including the Indigenous people of Palestine.”[/pullquote]The U.S. used chemicals such as Agent Orange in Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia during the Vietnam War to defoliate millions of acres of forests and farmland. This was not only harmful to the environment, it \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK594243/\">also could have caused cancer, birth disorders, and life-threatening health complications\u003c/a> for generations to come.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Similarly, Israel’s use of \u003ca href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2023/12/11/israel-us-white-phosphorus-lebanon/\">white phosphorus in the recent bombardment in Gaza\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/white-phosphorus\">not only burns the flesh of humans it touches\u003c/a>, but these chemicals will contaminate the soil for decades and are also an air pollutant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the case of Gaza, these displacements can strain vital resources like food, water and medicine as millions of Palestinians relocate. “You have a second wave of environmental impacts that then have cascading effects,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It makes sense that organizing efforts for moving towards better, cleaner, and more just environments here in the Bay Area have solidarity with other communities facing similar problems anywhere, Hennessy said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re not going to achieve any kind of progress, environmentally speaking, in terms of climate change by just focusing on only local issues,” he added. “The movement here for environmental justice is deeply connected to any kind of continued environmental impact we see anywhere.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1991352\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1991352 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Ayesha-Abbasi-state-organizer-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A woman with a white mask on stands in front of a black banner and infront of a sign that says cease fire now. \" width=\"2560\" height=\"1703\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Ayesha-Abbasi-state-organizer-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Ayesha-Abbasi-state-organizer-800x532.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Ayesha-Abbasi-state-organizer-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Ayesha-Abbasi-state-organizer-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Ayesha-Abbasi-state-organizer-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Ayesha-Abbasi-state-organizer-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Ayesha-Abbasi-state-organizer-2048x1363.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Ayesha-Abbasi-state-organizer-1920x1277.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ayesha Abbasi, APEN state organizer holding up a banner that reads ‘Ceasefire Now.’ \u003ccite>(Courtesy of APEN)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>History of Bay Area environmental movements against war\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Environmental organizations, such as APEN, have been involved in anti-war efforts long before the war in Gaza. The group made activism against what they described as former President George Bush’s “war agenda” in Iraq and Afghanistan central to their environmental campaigns.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An \u003ca href=\"http://archive.apen4ej.org/download/2002%20APEN%20annual%20report.pdf\">annual report from the organization about the Iraq war in 2003 (PDF)\u003c/a> stated that APEN’s “longer-term agenda for environmental justice that ensures basic needs such as housing are met, that rights of workers, women, girls, are valued and addressed, decision-making rests in the many, rather than an elite few. Our work is both global and local.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[pullquote align=\"right\" size=\"medium\" citation=\"Logan Hennessy, professor, School of Liberal Studies at San Francisco State University\"]“The movement here for environmental justice is deeply connected to any kind of continued environmental impact we see anywhere.”[/pullquote]\u003ca href=\"http://www.envirosagainstwar.org/sayno/endorsers.html\">A few other Bay Area environmental organizations opposed the Iraq War\u003c/a>, including San Francisco’s \u003ca href=\"https://podersf.org/\">People Organizing to Demand Environmental & Economical Rights (PODER)\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://treesfoundation.org/partner-groups/bay-area-coalition-for-headwaters/\">Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://dhventures.com/West_about_us.htm\">West County Toxics Coalition\u003c/a> in Contra Costa County, and more. In 2008, \u003ca href=\"https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/05/25/18502090.php\">these organizations participated in anti-war protests at Chevron in San Ramon\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"http://www.envirosagainstwar.org/sayno/sierraclubpresident.html\">Sierra Club opposed an invasion of Iraq in 2003\u003c/a>. While Bay Area environmental organizations like APEN and CBE are calling for a cease-fire in Gaza, noting the destruction the war is causing to humans and the environment, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sierraclub.org/california\">Sierra Club in California\u003c/a> has not taken any stance on the matter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s been incredibly disappointing to see the continued silence of some of the bigger green organizations like Sierra Club and others that have a really strong influence in Washington,” said Ayesha Abbasi, state organizer at APEN.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Sierra Club in California did not respond to an email asking for a statement about the war.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To Abbasi, ensuring that everyone can live in a healthy environment where they can thrive should be the vision for the future, “whether it’s in Palestine or Richmond,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>It has been more than 120 days now since the start of Israel’s bombing of Gaza, following an attack by Hamas that began on Oct. 7.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The death toll in Gaza is now more than \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-02-05-2024-dd005061f9925525c56ea460ab5c9e77#:~:text=The%20offensive%20in%20Gaza%20that,ruled%20territory's%20Health%20Ministry%20reported.\">27,400 people\u003c/a> — NPR reports that \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2024/01/14/1224674017/100-days-of-war-23-000-killed-in-gaza-with-over-60-of-homes-destroyed\">most of the dead are women and children, citing Gaza health officials\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-1-26-2024-49a168140cbca3778095e8fb437aba37\">Approximately 1,200 people in Israel have been killed since the beginning of this tragedy\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Oct. 25, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-10-25/california-city-first-in-nation-to-support-palestinians-in-gaza-with-resolution-accusing-israel-of-ethnic-cleansing\">Richmond city council was the first city in the U.S. to call for a Gaza cease-fire resolution\u003c/a>. In late November, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11968400/oakland-city-council-set-to-vote-on-gaza-cease-fire-resolution\">Oakland’s leaders voted unanimously on their own resolution\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11971971/san-francisco-is-considering-a-gaza-cease-fire-resolution-what-is-a-resolution\">followed by supervisors in San Francisco\u003c/a>. While much of the debate around these measures has centered on the horrors of the war and the loss of life, Bay Area’s climate and environmental leaders — both in the streets and in elected positions — have been at the center of the push for these solidarity resolutions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Two Bay Area environmental organizations — the Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) and Communities for Better Environment (CBE) in Richmond — were integral in organizing the effort in Richmond.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They argued that on top of the loss of life, war has tremendous impacts on our climate and environment. “Global militaries are the world’s largest industrial polluters,” said Keala Uchoa, Richmond youth organizer at CBE in Richmond, pointing to a recent study that shows that \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/09/emissions-gaza-israel-hamas-war-climate-change\">militaries account for almost 5.5% of global greenhouse emissions annually\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1991349\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1991349 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Keala-Uchoa-and-others-stand-behind-ceasefire-now-banner-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Three activists wearing white masks hold up a black banner that reads "No more California money for Israel's crimes." \" width=\"2560\" height=\"1703\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Keala-Uchoa-and-others-stand-behind-ceasefire-now-banner-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Keala-Uchoa-and-others-stand-behind-ceasefire-now-banner-800x532.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Keala-Uchoa-and-others-stand-behind-ceasefire-now-banner-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Keala-Uchoa-and-others-stand-behind-ceasefire-now-banner-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Keala-Uchoa-and-others-stand-behind-ceasefire-now-banner-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Keala-Uchoa-and-others-stand-behind-ceasefire-now-banner-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Keala-Uchoa-and-others-stand-behind-ceasefire-now-banner-2048x1363.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Keala-Uchoa-and-others-stand-behind-ceasefire-now-banner-1920x1277.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Keala Uchoa and others stand behind a banner that reads ‘Ceasefire Now.’ \u003ccite>(Courtesy of APEN)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>People in Gaza are already vulnerable to the effects of climate change, she argued, \u003ca href=\"https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2021RG000762\">and live in a region that is warming twice as fast as the global average\u003c/a>. On top of that, bombs are destroying farmland and carbon sinks like forests that purify the air. “All of those things compound to create a very deadly climate [and] environmental situation,” Uchoa added.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "“Why do we spend years and millions of taxpayer dollars trying to fight climate change, just to have Israel’s bombs that we pay for emit more CO2 than 20 countries combined, accelerating an unlivable future for all of us.”",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>On Jan. 23, the Hayward City Council voted to divest its shares of companies with ties to Israel, including Caterpillar, Chevron, Hyundai and Intel. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/eastbay/article/hayward-divest-shares-four-companies-business-18628705.php\">Hayward is the first city in the Bay Area to take such a measure\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Councilmember George Syrop lobbied for it and made an environmental case. “Why do we spend years and millions of taxpayer dollars trying to fight climate change, just to have Israel’s bombs that we pay for emit more CO2 than 20 countries combined, accelerating an unlivable future for all of us,” he said, \u003ca href=\"https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4684768\">referring to a recent estimate led by researchers at Queen Mary University of London\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The scientists calculated the carbon emissions from aircraft, tanks and fuel from other vehicles and emissions generated from the manufacturing and detonation of bombs, artillery and rockets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As Hayward being a climate forward city, I don’t know why we’re investing in Chevron in the first place,” Syrop said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>From Richmond to Gaza: fighting for environmental justice\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Richmond resident Katherine Lee comes from a family of refugees who fled the Laotian War.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Her family’s history is one reason she joined in organizing for the call for a cease-fire back in October. Those experiences are “very real for what’s happening in Palestine,” too, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lee is a senior Richmond youth organizer at APEN. Her family’s history is only part of it. Lee grew up around the Chevron refinery in Richmond, one of the largest polluters in the state, breathing the fumes it releases into the air. “It’s just a constant thing in our environment that we have to really fight [for],” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chevron is also \u003ca href=\"https://israel.chevron.com/en/our-businesses\">one of the largest energy companies to work in Israel\u003c/a>, bringing the government \u003ca href=\"https://israel.chevron.com/en/our-businesses/natural-gas\">billions of dollars in revenue annually\u003c/a>. APEN has called for a \u003ca href=\"https://bdsmovement.net/news/bds-movement-calls-for-consumer-boycott-chevron-branded-gas-stations\">boycott of Chevron\u003c/a> locally, saying it is a fight for the environmental rights of both Richmond residents and Palestinians.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The facility released nearly 3 million metric tons of planet-warming gas emissions in 2022, according to an \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/climate/article/greenhouse-gas-emissions-18531155.php\">analysis from the \u003cem>San Francisco Chronicle\u003c/em>\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pollutants released by refineries can cause \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6524223/\">respiratory problems and chronic health issues.\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://clear.ucsf.edu/reach\">A UCSF-led community health assessment of Richmond found\u003c/a> that the childhood asthma rate in Richmond is \u003ca href=\"https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/5207\">double the national average\u003c/a>. People with existing heart or lung disease, diabetes, older adults, children, and people of lower socio-economic status have a greater risk of particle pollution health effects.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1991347\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1991347 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Katherine-Lee-APEN-youth-organizer-speaks-at-Padilla-action-credit-Jen-Rocha--scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A woman holds a microphone and wears a yellow sweatshirt. \" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Katherine-Lee-APEN-youth-organizer-speaks-at-Padilla-action-credit-Jen-Rocha--scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Katherine-Lee-APEN-youth-organizer-speaks-at-Padilla-action-credit-Jen-Rocha--800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Katherine-Lee-APEN-youth-organizer-speaks-at-Padilla-action-credit-Jen-Rocha--1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Katherine-Lee-APEN-youth-organizer-speaks-at-Padilla-action-credit-Jen-Rocha--160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Katherine-Lee-APEN-youth-organizer-speaks-at-Padilla-action-credit-Jen-Rocha--768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Katherine-Lee-APEN-youth-organizer-speaks-at-Padilla-action-credit-Jen-Rocha--1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Katherine-Lee-APEN-youth-organizer-speaks-at-Padilla-action-credit-Jen-Rocha--2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Katherine-Lee-APEN-youth-organizer-speaks-at-Padilla-action-credit-Jen-Rocha--1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Katherine Lee, APEN youth organizer, speaks at an action. \u003ccite>(Jen Rocha)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Our local fights for environmental justice and destabilizing Chevron and ultimately decommissioning the refinery are connected to international solidarity work with Indigenous people, including the Indigenous people of Palestine,” Uchoa said. “There’s a sacred relationship between Indigenous people and the land that they belong to.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Not only are we losing thousands and thousands of human beings, but we’re also losing so many knowledge bearers of the land and of culture. And the land is feeling that,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Feb. 3, hundreds of protesters marched in front of the Chevron facility in Richmond to call for a cease-fire in Gaza and for the company to divest from Israel. They’re asking for the public to boycott Chevron fuel until they do so.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a statement responding to the protest, Chevron said it respects the rights of individuals to express their viewpoints peacefully.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Aisha Mansour is Palestinian from a small village called Al-Walaja in the West Bank. She currently lives in Oakland, but some of her family still reside in Palestine. Mansour was one of the “Bay Bridge 78” protesters who \u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/san-francisco/dozens-of-protesters-stop-traffic-on-bay-bridge/3373428/\">shut down the westbound lanes of the Bay Bridge on Nov. 16, demanding a cease-fire\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "“They got it. They got that it was bigger than them. And that was amazing.”",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“That was an amazingly powerful day. Not just because of what we’re able to accomplish, but also just the massive amount of support from people that we were able to feel,” said Mansour, communications director at Honor the Earth, an Indigenous-led environmental organization known for their advocacy against fossil fuel pipelines. “I didn’t expect it. I thought people would be frustrated, maybe rightfully so. But they got it. They got that it was bigger than them. And that was amazing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mansour is motivated, in part, by the impact the war has had on her community. In December, she attended a funeral for seven people killed by a bomb in Gaza, family members of one of her Palestinian community members in the Bay Area. “Our families are being killed,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1991343\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1170px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1991343\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Aisha-Mansour-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1170\" height=\"776\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Aisha-Mansour-2.jpg 1170w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Aisha-Mansour-2-800x531.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Aisha-Mansour-2-1020x677.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Aisha-Mansour-2-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Aisha-Mansour-2-768x509.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Aisha Mansour speaks at a Bay Bridge 78 press conference in San Francisco in December. \u003ccite>(Savannah Kuang)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Legacies of past war and conflicts\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The environmental impacts of war often lead to the displacement of people, whether it’s in Gaza, where Palestinians are relocating to the south of the territory, or Vietnam, Iraq and Ukraine. “You have the immediate contamination of the sites where fighting occurs,” said Logan Hennessy, a professor in the School of Liberal Studies at San Francisco State University. “But then you also have the exodus of people. And the exodus also creates other environmental issues and problems.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Ukraine, Russian attacks on industrial sites, including factories, fuel depots, and nuclear power facilities with potential radioactive waste storage, \u003ca href=\"https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/toxic-legacy-ukraine-war\">could result in water contamination that might linger for decades or even centuries\u003c/a>, said Hennessy, who teaches classes on international development and resource justice, as well as forest ecology and conservation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "“Our local fights for environmental justice and destabilizing Chevron and ultimately decommissioning the refinery are connected to international solidarity work with Indigenous people, including the Indigenous people of Palestine.”",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The U.S. used chemicals such as Agent Orange in Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia during the Vietnam War to defoliate millions of acres of forests and farmland. This was not only harmful to the environment, it \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK594243/\">also could have caused cancer, birth disorders, and life-threatening health complications\u003c/a> for generations to come.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Similarly, Israel’s use of \u003ca href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2023/12/11/israel-us-white-phosphorus-lebanon/\">white phosphorus in the recent bombardment in Gaza\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/white-phosphorus\">not only burns the flesh of humans it touches\u003c/a>, but these chemicals will contaminate the soil for decades and are also an air pollutant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the case of Gaza, these displacements can strain vital resources like food, water and medicine as millions of Palestinians relocate. “You have a second wave of environmental impacts that then have cascading effects,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It makes sense that organizing efforts for moving towards better, cleaner, and more just environments here in the Bay Area have solidarity with other communities facing similar problems anywhere, Hennessy said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re not going to achieve any kind of progress, environmentally speaking, in terms of climate change by just focusing on only local issues,” he added. “The movement here for environmental justice is deeply connected to any kind of continued environmental impact we see anywhere.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1991352\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1991352 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Ayesha-Abbasi-state-organizer-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A woman with a white mask on stands in front of a black banner and infront of a sign that says cease fire now. \" width=\"2560\" height=\"1703\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Ayesha-Abbasi-state-organizer-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Ayesha-Abbasi-state-organizer-800x532.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Ayesha-Abbasi-state-organizer-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Ayesha-Abbasi-state-organizer-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Ayesha-Abbasi-state-organizer-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Ayesha-Abbasi-state-organizer-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Ayesha-Abbasi-state-organizer-2048x1363.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/02/Ayesha-Abbasi-state-organizer-1920x1277.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ayesha Abbasi, APEN state organizer holding up a banner that reads ‘Ceasefire Now.’ \u003ccite>(Courtesy of APEN)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>History of Bay Area environmental movements against war\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Environmental organizations, such as APEN, have been involved in anti-war efforts long before the war in Gaza. The group made activism against what they described as former President George Bush’s “war agenda” in Iraq and Afghanistan central to their environmental campaigns.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An \u003ca href=\"http://archive.apen4ej.org/download/2002%20APEN%20annual%20report.pdf\">annual report from the organization about the Iraq war in 2003 (PDF)\u003c/a> stated that APEN’s “longer-term agenda for environmental justice that ensures basic needs such as housing are met, that rights of workers, women, girls, are valued and addressed, decision-making rests in the many, rather than an elite few. Our work is both global and local.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"http://www.envirosagainstwar.org/sayno/endorsers.html\">A few other Bay Area environmental organizations opposed the Iraq War\u003c/a>, including San Francisco’s \u003ca href=\"https://podersf.org/\">People Organizing to Demand Environmental & Economical Rights (PODER)\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://treesfoundation.org/partner-groups/bay-area-coalition-for-headwaters/\">Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://dhventures.com/West_about_us.htm\">West County Toxics Coalition\u003c/a> in Contra Costa County, and more. In 2008, \u003ca href=\"https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/05/25/18502090.php\">these organizations participated in anti-war protests at Chevron in San Ramon\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"http://www.envirosagainstwar.org/sayno/sierraclubpresident.html\">Sierra Club opposed an invasion of Iraq in 2003\u003c/a>. While Bay Area environmental organizations like APEN and CBE are calling for a cease-fire in Gaza, noting the destruction the war is causing to humans and the environment, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sierraclub.org/california\">Sierra Club in California\u003c/a> has not taken any stance on the matter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s been incredibly disappointing to see the continued silence of some of the bigger green organizations like Sierra Club and others that have a really strong influence in Washington,” said Ayesha Abbasi, state organizer at APEN.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Sierra Club in California did not respond to an email asking for a statement about the war.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To Abbasi, ensuring that everyone can live in a healthy environment where they can thrive should be the vision for the future, “whether it’s in Palestine or Richmond,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>[dl_subscribe]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>When the moon, sun and ocean temperatures all align, an underwater “snowstorm” occurs. Corals put on a massive spawning spectacle by sending tiny white spheres floating up the water column all at once.\u003cem>\u003c/em>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>TRANSCRIPT\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Once a year, something astounding happens at Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. It lasts barely half an hour. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you jumped into the water at this very moment, it’d be like swimming through a snow globe, hundreds of kilometers across.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But these “snowflakes” are actually packets of eggs and sperm of coral. Corals might look like colorful rocks or undersea gardens, but they’re actually animals. A coral is a colony of hundreds of thousands of tiny individual animals called polyps.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[pullquote]\u003cbr>\nADDITIONAL RESOURCES\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Discover more about coral and the work of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.calacademy.org/about-us/major-initiatives/hope-for-reefs-phase-ii/coral-regeneration-lab-corl/\">Coral Regeneration Lab\u003c/a> at the California Academy of Sciences, where researchers are successfully breeding coral with the hope of regenerating reefs around the world.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[/pullquote] \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Each of these flower-shaped polyps has a mouth and tentacles. Polyps secrete calcium carbonate that creates their skeleton. It gives them structure and anchors them to a rock or the seafloor. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since they can’t move to find a partner and mix up the gene pool, most warm-water corals practice “broadcast spawning.” \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But with such a short window to meet up, they have to sync it just right. The warming summer waters cue the right month. The light from a waning moon cues the right day, and the setting sun cues the exact minute. Good luck out there!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These bundles contain the coral’s gametes — its sperm and eggs. But the gametes don’t mix in there. The bundles float to the surface and burst open.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sperm search out a new egg. Only one of these guys will get in. Look familiar? \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once fertilized, it starts dividing and transforms into this adventurous larva called a planula. The planula swims through the sea, searching for a place to settle down. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chemical and light sensors on its backside guide the planula to the perfect spot. It wants what we want: a stable foundation, plenty of sunlight, and room to grow. The planula cements itself into place and morphs into a polyp. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As it grows, it absorbs algae called zooxanthellae from the surrounding water. See these green dots? They live inside the polyps.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The algae give the coral nutrition and its brilliant colors. Then something curious happens: The polyp clones itself. It grows copies right out of its side, that then bud their own clones. Through broadcast spawning and cloning, corals create the massive reefs we’re familiar with. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But reefs are in danger, and that’s not just a problem for the corals.They’re vital ecosystems that provide food and shelter for a quarter of marine life, like fish, crustaceans and sea turtles. Climate change is the main culprit. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When ocean waters warm up too much, stressed polyps expel their colorful and nutritious algae. This is coral bleaching. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When reefs die and spawning season comes, it’s harder and harder for the eggs and sperm to find each other. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, researchers at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco have replicated the delicate spawning conditions in a lab.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lights mimic moon cycles, and heaters simulate the change of seasons. Their goal is to discover the best ways to grow corals, so more scientists can help restore them to the oceans.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An underwater blizzard is a thing of beauty, even more so when you consider how this snowstorm can replenish a delicate and threatened ecosystem.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cbr>\nADDITIONAL RESOURCES\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Discover more about coral and the work of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.calacademy.org/about-us/major-initiatives/hope-for-reefs-phase-ii/coral-regeneration-lab-corl/\">Coral Regeneration Lab\u003c/a> at the California Academy of Sciences, where researchers are successfully breeding coral with the hope of regenerating reefs around the world.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp> \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Each of these flower-shaped polyps has a mouth and tentacles. Polyps secrete calcium carbonate that creates their skeleton. It gives them structure and anchors them to a rock or the seafloor. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since they can’t move to find a partner and mix up the gene pool, most warm-water corals practice “broadcast spawning.” \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But with such a short window to meet up, they have to sync it just right. The warming summer waters cue the right month. The light from a waning moon cues the right day, and the setting sun cues the exact minute. Good luck out there!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These bundles contain the coral’s gametes — its sperm and eggs. But the gametes don’t mix in there. The bundles float to the surface and burst open.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sperm search out a new egg. Only one of these guys will get in. Look familiar? \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once fertilized, it starts dividing and transforms into this adventurous larva called a planula. The planula swims through the sea, searching for a place to settle down. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chemical and light sensors on its backside guide the planula to the perfect spot. It wants what we want: a stable foundation, plenty of sunlight, and room to grow. The planula cements itself into place and morphs into a polyp. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As it grows, it absorbs algae called zooxanthellae from the surrounding water. See these green dots? They live inside the polyps.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The algae give the coral nutrition and its brilliant colors. Then something curious happens: The polyp clones itself. It grows copies right out of its side, that then bud their own clones. Through broadcast spawning and cloning, corals create the massive reefs we’re familiar with. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But reefs are in danger, and that’s not just a problem for the corals.They’re vital ecosystems that provide food and shelter for a quarter of marine life, like fish, crustaceans and sea turtles. Climate change is the main culprit. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When ocean waters warm up too much, stressed polyps expel their colorful and nutritious algae. This is coral bleaching. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When reefs die and spawning season comes, it’s harder and harder for the eggs and sperm to find each other. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, researchers at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco have replicated the delicate spawning conditions in a lab.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lights mimic moon cycles, and heaters simulate the change of seasons. Their goal is to discover the best ways to grow corals, so more scientists can help restore them to the oceans.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An underwater blizzard is a thing of beauty, even more so when you consider how this snowstorm can replenish a delicate and threatened ecosystem.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "Storm Brings More Powerful Wind and Rain to the Bay Area",
"headTitle": "Storm Brings More Powerful Wind and Rain to the Bay Area | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated Sunday 8:30 a.m.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yet another atmospheric river-boosted storm is bringing heavy rain and gusty weather to the Bay Area. The storm is forecast to last through Monday and is expected to be more powerful than those that have hit the region thus far this year, bringing with it the potential of flooding rain and strong winds that could damage trees and lead to power outages.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San Jose has issued a \u003ca href=\"https://www.sanjoseca.gov/news-stories/news/emergency-notifications\">proclamation of local emergency — \u003c/a> a mandatory evacuation for unhoused individuals living along the banks of the waterways. The Bay Area Taxi Cab Inc. (408-573-7777) is providing free rides to the Roosevelt Community Center which serves as a warming center for unhoused individuals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A list of \u003ca href=\"https://emergencymanagement.sccgov.org/residents/cold-weather-safety?\">warming centers in San Jose\u003c/a> is located here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#start\">How should I prepare my home for a storm?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#sandbags\">Where can I get free sandbags?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#poweroutages\">How can I be ready for potential power outages?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#driving\">What are best practices for driving in heavy rain and wind?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#updates\">How can I receive updates about my area?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The system appears aimed at the Central Coast and Southern California, but the National Weather Service is warning that recent models suggest the Bay Area will be facing much stronger gusting winds than previously anticipated.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The weather service’s latest forecast discussion from the Bay Area office said that the “second half of Saturday is when the magic happens.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Shower activity and south to southeast winds build in the southern portions of the [region], particularly along the Big Sur coast. Winds and showers spread north and east through Saturday night with dangerously strong winds expected in the late night and through Sunday. Rain rates begin to increase into the late night as the main rainband arrives.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meteorologist Roger Gass with the National Weather Service says he recommends people stay home Sunday if they can — a message that officials have plastered on digital billboards overhead the Bay Bridge, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The impacts will be the greatest with some gusts up to 80 miles per hour in the hills,” he said. “We may get up to 70 miles per hour along the coast and within the city we’re expecting gusts in the 45 to 55 mile per hour range.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Much of the Bay Area and Central Coast are also under a flood watch through Monday morning, meaning roads, rivers, creeks and rivers are at risk of flooding. Burn scars are also at risk of flash flooding and debris flows.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is monitoring five rivers across the state it says are at risk of flooding, including the Guadalupe River in Santa Clara County, the Russian River in Mendocino County and the Carmel River in Monterey County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://twitter.com/NWSBayArea/status/1753554716360106346?s=20\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom has activated emergency operations centers around the state and mobilized 8,300 workers to respond to storm impacts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Avoid going outside as there are dangerous debris, falling tree limbs, and downed power lines. High winds may lead to power outages. Keep your batteries handy for your devices,” said Cal OES director Nancy Ward during a Saturday press conference.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The San Francisco Bay Area is forecast to get about three inches of rain between now and Monday afternoon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the biggest impact for the Bay Area, according to UCLA’s Daniel Swain, could come from the strong winds, which could be “highly disruptive and possibly substantially damaging winds” at times, along the central coast and even parts of the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“With an explosively developing surface low expected to be located just a couple hundred miles southwest of the SF Bay Area by late tonight, a major and possibly widespread damaging windstorm will be likely along much of the Central Coast, portions of the SF Bay Area, and possibly also farther north and east (especially across the northern San Joaquin and southern/central Sacramento Valley),” Swain wrote in a blog post posted this morning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This latest series of storms will also bring heavy snow to the Sierra Nevada. The weather service’s Sacramento office warns of “significant mountain travel impacts” from Sunday into Tuesday and that driving in the Tahoe region will bring delays, snow-covered roads, chain control and possible road closures, and could be dangerous.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://twitter.com/nwsreno/status/1753648693155332543?s=46\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"start\">\u003c/a>How should I start preparing?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>First up, understand just how much you — and your home — could be affected by another storm of this magnitude.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Previous storms in the Bay Area have knocked down trees, flooded roads and cut power to tens of thousands of homes and businesses, and contributed to several deaths. Winds have also previously forced the cancellation of flights at local airports including San Francisco International Airport.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Flooding could mean you have to evacuate your home, or live without crucial services for an extended period. Besides flashlights, experts recommend having \u003ca href=\"https://www.ready.gov/floods#prepare\">an emergency supply kit\u003c/a> ready in both your home and car — should you need to evacuate — that includes nonperishable foods, necessary medications, cleaning supplies and water for several days, in case services are cut off in your area. You can also include \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11833686/what-to-pack-in-your-emergency-bag-with-covid-19-in-mind\">a copy of your ID, charging cables for your cellphone\u003c/a> and a portable cellphone battery pack.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Previous storms in the Bay Area have resulted in power outages that affected over 100,000 \u003ca href=\"https://pgealerts.alerts.pge.com/outagecenter/\">PG&E customers\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"#poweroutages\">Read more about preparing your home for a potential power outage \u003c/a>in this next storm.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11937690\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1620px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11937690\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/5D65DA1F-1731-42C5-834B-6BA5B80BEF7F.jpg\" alt=\"two people in raincoats stand in shin deep water as they try to clear a drain on a city street in San Francisco\" width=\"1620\" height=\"1080\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Two Mission District residents work to open a clogged drain on Mission and 21st streets in San Francisco on Jan. 10, 2023.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=\"news_11833686\" hero=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/08/pexels-dids-1986996-1-1020x680-1.jpg\"]If your home experienced flooding during previous storms this year — or in storms from years past — officials recommend having sandbags, plastic sheeting and other flood control materials ready. Counties, public utilities and even community organizations across the Bay Area are distributing free sandbags. Keep in mind that some distribution sites, like those in San Francisco and San José, may ask you to show ID to prove you are a resident. \u003ca href=\"#sandbags\">Learn more about where to find sandbags.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Following the atmospheric river storm that hit Northern California on New Year’s Eve, officials around the Bay Area have doubled down on efforts to keep waterways and storm drains clear to reduce the risk of flooding in residential areas. Both \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandca.gov/services/adopt-a-drain\">Oakland\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://sfpuc.org/learning/how-you-can-help/adopt-drain-sf\">San Francisco\u003c/a> have programs where \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13923319/you-can-adopt-a-drain-in-san-francisco-with-naming-rights-included\">residents can “adopt” a storm drain in their community\u003c/a> and help remove leaves and other debris.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://twitter.com/valleywater/status/1633925512853856256\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>FEMA also has created a tool that tracks which parts of a city are under flood risk — and to what extent. You can input your address in the \u003ca href=\"https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home\">FEMA Flood Map Service Center\u003c/a>. Once the map tool locates your address, you can select the “Dynamic Map” option to see a more detailed map that may have certain neighborhoods or blocks color coded to represent flood risk.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are a homeowner, keep in mind that most home insurance plans do \u003cem>not\u003c/em> cover damage caused by flooding. However, you can buy an additional policy with the \u003ca href=\"https://floodsmart.gov/\">National Flood Insurance Program\u003c/a> through your existing insurance provider. It’s important to mention that if you decide to buy a plan now, there is a 30-day wait period for the benefits to begin, so the policy would not cover damages potentially caused by this week’s storms.\u003cbr>\n[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"sandbags\">\u003c/a>I need sandbags. Where can I get them?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In San Francisco, officials in the past have stressed that only residents who have previously experienced flooding in their homes should seek out the free sandbags provided by city agencies. Additionally, San Mateo County has added on its emergency preparation website that \u003ca href=\"https://www.smcgov.org/ceo/news/prepare-now-heavy-rains-and-strong-winds-forecast-san-mateo-county\">sandbags brought out during a previous storm can be reused\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Santa Clara Valley Water has \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpvVAQ57uqM&t=39s\">created a helpful video tutorial on how best to place sandbags around a home\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If your home has flooded in the past and you’re looking to pick up free sandbags, several options are available. Be aware that some sites may offer bags and sand separately or exclusively, and that you may need to bring your own shovel to some locations. You may also be required to prove county residency with an ID. Be sure to research the site you’re visiting before leaving.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alameda County\u003c/strong>: In Alameda County, \u003ca href=\"https://www.acpwa.org/prepare-for-winter-storms.page\">residents can pick up sandbags supplied by the County Public Works Agency from four sites\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Contra Costa County\u003c/strong>: Each city in Contra Costa County has its own sandbag pickup locations. \u003ca href=\"https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/55575/Sandbag-City-Contacts-11-20-18-PDF?bidId=\">You can find the contact information for your city’s sandbag distribution site here (PDF).\u003c/a> Additionally, if you live in an unincorporated part of the county,\u003ca href=\"https://contracosta.ca.gov/5976/Sandbags\"> six additional locations are available\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marin County\u003c/strong>: Marin County has a list of both government-provided locations and commercial/retail options for sandbags.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://emergency.marincounty.org/pages/flooding#sandbags\">Where to find sandbags in Marin County\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Napa County\u003c/strong>: In addition to the county-run sandbag locations below, Napa County also recommends residents of American Canyon, Napa, St. Helena, Calistoga and Yountville \u003ca href=\"https://www.countyofnapa.org/DocumentCenter/View/20444/2023-Sandbag-Locations-PDF?bidId=\">contact their city directly for sandbag locations and availability (PDF)\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.smcgov.org/publicworks/storm-preparedness\">Where to find sandbags in San Mateo County\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Santa Clara County: \u003c/strong>Santa Clara County residents can pick up free sandbags from \u003ca href=\"https://www.valleywater.org/flooding-safety/flood-ready/sandbags\">several locations managed by Santa Clara Valley Water\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Solano County\u003c/strong>: All locations are self-serve and require your own shovel.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/oes/grs/storm_ready/sandbag_information.asp\">Where to find sandbags in Solano County\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sonoma County\u003c/strong>: Sandbags are available at over 10 locations around the county.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://socoemergency.org/emergency/flooding/sandbags/\">Where to find sandbags in Sonoma County\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"poweroutages\">\u003c/a>How can I be ready for potential power outages?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Flooding, downed trees and downed power lines: All of these can create the very real possibility of power outages during a storm like this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember: It can sometimes take days for PG&E to do safety checks and turn your power back on, particularly if an outage affects a large enough number of people. If you have medical needs that rely on power, consider planning which family members or friends you can stay with during a lengthy power outage. You might also talk to your doctor in advance about how to prepare with medications or mobility needs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Things to have close at hand before a potential power outage\u003c/strong>:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Battery-powered flashlights, ideally one for every household member.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>A supply of fresh batteries.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Portable chargers or battery packs to keep your mobile phone charged.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>LED candles, instead of wax candles, are recommended by PG&E.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>A battery-powered radio to hear updates on storm conditions and outages.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Nonperishable food (think canned goods) and water: The state recommends having enough food and water for every member of your household for three days.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>A thermometer to make sure your food is safe to eat (more on that below).\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Make sure you know exactly where these crucial items are, so you’re not scrambling to find them in the dark.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Other things to do ahead of an outage\u003c/strong>:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Fully charge your cellphone and any portable chargers.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Get cash, as ATMs may not work during a power outage.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Top your vehicle up with a full tank of gas (similarly, gas stations may not be operational during an outage).\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Fill up plastic containers with water and store them in your freezer, which you can use later as ice substitutes to keep food fresh.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Additionally, make sure you and your household all know:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>How to manually open any door in your home or building that requires electricity (think garage doors, apartment complex doors that require key cards).\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>How you’ll communicate in an emergency situation, and not depend on a phone that needs electricity.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>How you’ll operate a generator, if you have one — check ahead of time that the one you have works, and make sure you know \u003ca href=\"https://www.pge.com/en_US/safety/electrical-safety/electric-generator-safety/electric-generator-safety.page\">how to use it safely and eliminate the risk of carbon-monoxide poisoning\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>As always, you should also consider checking on neighbors, especially those who may need assistance.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What should I do if a power outage hits my home?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Turn off almost all your appliances\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If your power goes out, be sure to unplug or turn off any appliances and equipment to prevent damage from surges when the power is restored.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>PG&E recommends keeping one lamp turned to the on position, to alert you when power has returned. You can then turn each appliance back on one by one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Stay far away from any downed power lines, and report them\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.pge.com/en_US/safety/emergency-preparedness/natural-disaster/storms/storms.page\">If you’re near a downed power line, PG&E advises that you assume it’s energized and dangerous\u003c/a> and stay far away from it. You should:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Make sure that others in your household, especially children, also stay far back from any downed lines.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Call 911 to report the downed power line, and make sure you give the location clearly.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Then call PG&E to report the downed line, at \u003ca href=\"tel:18007435000\">(800) 743-5000\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Keep your food safe and edible during an outage \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once your power is out, be especially purposeful about when you open your freezer or your refrigerator.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A refrigerator that loses power can keep food cold for about four hours, and a freezer for about 48 hours, if kept closed. Plan to rely on coolers with ice or any water-filled plastic containers you’ve frozen ahead of time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The state recommends that during an outage, you monitor food temperatures with a thermometer — and throw out any food that has a temperature of 40 degrees or higher.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re opting to use a camp stove or a grill in the absence of your oven or microwave, you should only use these appliances outdoors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re without power for more than 48 hours, you may qualify for compensation from PG&E. \u003ca href=\"https://www.pge.com/en_US/residential/outages/current-outages/report-view-an-electric-outage/additional-resources/extended-outage-compensation/extended-outage-compensation.page\">Read more about the PG&E Safety Net program\u003c/a>, which offers these payments due to “severe events, like storms.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"driving\">\u003c/a>How can I drive safely in rain and strong winds?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>During these storms, officials urge residents to limit unnecessary travel and stay home if at all possible during weather events like these, citing the potential dangers presented by downed trees and power lines in addition to flooding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you must drive, use your headlights, turn off cruise control, maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel and drive more slowly and cautiously than usual. Leave twice as much space between your vehicle and the one in front of it; wet roads might mean it takes longer to stop. Be alert for debris on the road. If your car begins to hydroplane, do not slam on the brakes. Remain calm, ease off the gas, steer in the direction you want to go and very lightly pump the brakes until you regain traction.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11936994\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1478px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11936994\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/E2081DCF-BC1D-480F-B27A-DBB7E0C45B3A.jpg\" alt=\"A red car lies abandoned under a flooded underpass with another car submerged behind it.\" width=\"1478\" height=\"985\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Two cars are stuck in a flooded underpass at 34th and Webster streets in Oakland on Jan. 4, 2023.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If flooding occurs, err on the side of caution. Don’t assume you know the depth of a pool of water or the conditions of the road underneath it, especially at night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Always turn around rather than driving through a flooded area\u003c/strong> — as few as 6 inches of water is enough to disable or stall a small car, while 12 inches can sweep away a vehicle. If floodwaters begin to rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground on foot. According to the California Department of Water Resources, more people become trapped and die in their vehicles than anywhere else during a flood.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"updates\">\u003c/a>How can I receive updates about my area?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you haven’t done so already, sign up to receive emergency weather alerts from your county. County officials use these notifications to inform residents of weather alerts, street and road closures, and evacuation orders. Find your county below:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.acgov.org/emergencysite/\">Alameda County emergency alerts\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cityofberkeley.info/EmergencyAlerting/\">City of Berkeley emergency alerts\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/2269/Emergency-Alerts-Resources\">Contra Costa County emergency alerts\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://emergency.marincounty.org/\">Marin County emergency alerts\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.countyofnapa.org/2481/Emergency-Alerts\">Napa County emergency alerts\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sf.gov/information/be-know-official-emergency-alerts\">City and County of San Francisco emergency alerts\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cmo.smcgov.org/smc-alert\">San Mateo County emergency alerts\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://emergencymanagement.sccgov.org/AlertSCC\">Santa Clara County emergency alerts\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/oes/emergency.asp\">Solano County emergency alerts\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://socoemergency.org/get-ready/sign-up/\">Sonoma County emergency alerts\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>In San Francisco, officials have asked the public to call 311 to report flooding inside homes, instead of 911. “We still have to run all our critical 911 calls whether it’s a cardiac arrest, a car accident or a fire. If you add all these flooding issues … it can really overtax the system,” Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson said. “So if you have a little bit of flooding in your home, call 311. If someone is having a heart attack or if someone is being swept by water, call 911.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>An earlier version of this story was published on Jan 30, 2024. KQED’s Danielle Venton, Kevin Stark, Daisy Nguyen and Erin Baldassari contributed to this story.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The storm is forecast to last through Monday and is expected to be more powerful than those that have hit the region thus far this year. ",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated Sunday 8:30 a.m.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yet another atmospheric river-boosted storm is bringing heavy rain and gusty weather to the Bay Area. The storm is forecast to last through Monday and is expected to be more powerful than those that have hit the region thus far this year, bringing with it the potential of flooding rain and strong winds that could damage trees and lead to power outages.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San Jose has issued a \u003ca href=\"https://www.sanjoseca.gov/news-stories/news/emergency-notifications\">proclamation of local emergency — \u003c/a> a mandatory evacuation for unhoused individuals living along the banks of the waterways. The Bay Area Taxi Cab Inc. (408-573-7777) is providing free rides to the Roosevelt Community Center which serves as a warming center for unhoused individuals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A list of \u003ca href=\"https://emergencymanagement.sccgov.org/residents/cold-weather-safety?\">warming centers in San Jose\u003c/a> is located here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#start\">How should I prepare my home for a storm?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#sandbags\">Where can I get free sandbags?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#poweroutages\">How can I be ready for potential power outages?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#driving\">What are best practices for driving in heavy rain and wind?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#updates\">How can I receive updates about my area?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The system appears aimed at the Central Coast and Southern California, but the National Weather Service is warning that recent models suggest the Bay Area will be facing much stronger gusting winds than previously anticipated.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The weather service’s latest forecast discussion from the Bay Area office said that the “second half of Saturday is when the magic happens.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Shower activity and south to southeast winds build in the southern portions of the [region], particularly along the Big Sur coast. Winds and showers spread north and east through Saturday night with dangerously strong winds expected in the late night and through Sunday. Rain rates begin to increase into the late night as the main rainband arrives.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meteorologist Roger Gass with the National Weather Service says he recommends people stay home Sunday if they can — a message that officials have plastered on digital billboards overhead the Bay Bridge, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The impacts will be the greatest with some gusts up to 80 miles per hour in the hills,” he said. “We may get up to 70 miles per hour along the coast and within the city we’re expecting gusts in the 45 to 55 mile per hour range.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Much of the Bay Area and Central Coast are also under a flood watch through Monday morning, meaning roads, rivers, creeks and rivers are at risk of flooding. Burn scars are also at risk of flash flooding and debris flows.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is monitoring five rivers across the state it says are at risk of flooding, including the Guadalupe River in Santa Clara County, the Russian River in Mendocino County and the Carmel River in Monterey County.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom has activated emergency operations centers around the state and mobilized 8,300 workers to respond to storm impacts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Avoid going outside as there are dangerous debris, falling tree limbs, and downed power lines. High winds may lead to power outages. Keep your batteries handy for your devices,” said Cal OES director Nancy Ward during a Saturday press conference.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The San Francisco Bay Area is forecast to get about three inches of rain between now and Monday afternoon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the biggest impact for the Bay Area, according to UCLA’s Daniel Swain, could come from the strong winds, which could be “highly disruptive and possibly substantially damaging winds” at times, along the central coast and even parts of the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“With an explosively developing surface low expected to be located just a couple hundred miles southwest of the SF Bay Area by late tonight, a major and possibly widespread damaging windstorm will be likely along much of the Central Coast, portions of the SF Bay Area, and possibly also farther north and east (especially across the northern San Joaquin and southern/central Sacramento Valley),” Swain wrote in a blog post posted this morning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This latest series of storms will also bring heavy snow to the Sierra Nevada. The weather service’s Sacramento office warns of “significant mountain travel impacts” from Sunday into Tuesday and that driving in the Tahoe region will bring delays, snow-covered roads, chain control and possible road closures, and could be dangerous.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"start\">\u003c/a>How should I start preparing?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>First up, understand just how much you — and your home — could be affected by another storm of this magnitude.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Previous storms in the Bay Area have knocked down trees, flooded roads and cut power to tens of thousands of homes and businesses, and contributed to several deaths. Winds have also previously forced the cancellation of flights at local airports including San Francisco International Airport.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Flooding could mean you have to evacuate your home, or live without crucial services for an extended period. Besides flashlights, experts recommend having \u003ca href=\"https://www.ready.gov/floods#prepare\">an emergency supply kit\u003c/a> ready in both your home and car — should you need to evacuate — that includes nonperishable foods, necessary medications, cleaning supplies and water for several days, in case services are cut off in your area. You can also include \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11833686/what-to-pack-in-your-emergency-bag-with-covid-19-in-mind\">a copy of your ID, charging cables for your cellphone\u003c/a> and a portable cellphone battery pack.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Previous storms in the Bay Area have resulted in power outages that affected over 100,000 \u003ca href=\"https://pgealerts.alerts.pge.com/outagecenter/\">PG&E customers\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"#poweroutages\">Read more about preparing your home for a potential power outage \u003c/a>in this next storm.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11937690\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1620px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11937690\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/5D65DA1F-1731-42C5-834B-6BA5B80BEF7F.jpg\" alt=\"two people in raincoats stand in shin deep water as they try to clear a drain on a city street in San Francisco\" width=\"1620\" height=\"1080\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Two Mission District residents work to open a clogged drain on Mission and 21st streets in San Francisco on Jan. 10, 2023.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>If your home experienced flooding during previous storms this year — or in storms from years past — officials recommend having sandbags, plastic sheeting and other flood control materials ready. Counties, public utilities and even community organizations across the Bay Area are distributing free sandbags. Keep in mind that some distribution sites, like those in San Francisco and San José, may ask you to show ID to prove you are a resident. \u003ca href=\"#sandbags\">Learn more about where to find sandbags.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Following the atmospheric river storm that hit Northern California on New Year’s Eve, officials around the Bay Area have doubled down on efforts to keep waterways and storm drains clear to reduce the risk of flooding in residential areas. Both \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandca.gov/services/adopt-a-drain\">Oakland\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://sfpuc.org/learning/how-you-can-help/adopt-drain-sf\">San Francisco\u003c/a> have programs where \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13923319/you-can-adopt-a-drain-in-san-francisco-with-naming-rights-included\">residents can “adopt” a storm drain in their community\u003c/a> and help remove leaves and other debris.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>FEMA also has created a tool that tracks which parts of a city are under flood risk — and to what extent. You can input your address in the \u003ca href=\"https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home\">FEMA Flood Map Service Center\u003c/a>. Once the map tool locates your address, you can select the “Dynamic Map” option to see a more detailed map that may have certain neighborhoods or blocks color coded to represent flood risk.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are a homeowner, keep in mind that most home insurance plans do \u003cem>not\u003c/em> cover damage caused by flooding. However, you can buy an additional policy with the \u003ca href=\"https://floodsmart.gov/\">National Flood Insurance Program\u003c/a> through your existing insurance provider. It’s important to mention that if you decide to buy a plan now, there is a 30-day wait period for the benefits to begin, so the policy would not cover damages potentially caused by this week’s storms.\u003cbr>\n\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"sandbags\">\u003c/a>I need sandbags. Where can I get them?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In San Francisco, officials in the past have stressed that only residents who have previously experienced flooding in their homes should seek out the free sandbags provided by city agencies. Additionally, San Mateo County has added on its emergency preparation website that \u003ca href=\"https://www.smcgov.org/ceo/news/prepare-now-heavy-rains-and-strong-winds-forecast-san-mateo-county\">sandbags brought out during a previous storm can be reused\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Santa Clara Valley Water has \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpvVAQ57uqM&t=39s\">created a helpful video tutorial on how best to place sandbags around a home\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If your home has flooded in the past and you’re looking to pick up free sandbags, several options are available. Be aware that some sites may offer bags and sand separately or exclusively, and that you may need to bring your own shovel to some locations. You may also be required to prove county residency with an ID. Be sure to research the site you’re visiting before leaving.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Alameda County\u003c/strong>: In Alameda County, \u003ca href=\"https://www.acpwa.org/prepare-for-winter-storms.page\">residents can pick up sandbags supplied by the County Public Works Agency from four sites\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Contra Costa County\u003c/strong>: Each city in Contra Costa County has its own sandbag pickup locations. \u003ca href=\"https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/55575/Sandbag-City-Contacts-11-20-18-PDF?bidId=\">You can find the contact information for your city’s sandbag distribution site here (PDF).\u003c/a> Additionally, if you live in an unincorporated part of the county,\u003ca href=\"https://contracosta.ca.gov/5976/Sandbags\"> six additional locations are available\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marin County\u003c/strong>: Marin County has a list of both government-provided locations and commercial/retail options for sandbags.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://emergency.marincounty.org/pages/flooding#sandbags\">Where to find sandbags in Marin County\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Napa County\u003c/strong>: In addition to the county-run sandbag locations below, Napa County also recommends residents of American Canyon, Napa, St. Helena, Calistoga and Yountville \u003ca href=\"https://www.countyofnapa.org/DocumentCenter/View/20444/2023-Sandbag-Locations-PDF?bidId=\">contact their city directly for sandbag locations and availability (PDF)\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.smcgov.org/publicworks/storm-preparedness\">Where to find sandbags in San Mateo County\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Santa Clara County: \u003c/strong>Santa Clara County residents can pick up free sandbags from \u003ca href=\"https://www.valleywater.org/flooding-safety/flood-ready/sandbags\">several locations managed by Santa Clara Valley Water\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Solano County\u003c/strong>: All locations are self-serve and require your own shovel.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/oes/grs/storm_ready/sandbag_information.asp\">Where to find sandbags in Solano County\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sonoma County\u003c/strong>: Sandbags are available at over 10 locations around the county.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://socoemergency.org/emergency/flooding/sandbags/\">Where to find sandbags in Sonoma County\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"poweroutages\">\u003c/a>How can I be ready for potential power outages?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Flooding, downed trees and downed power lines: All of these can create the very real possibility of power outages during a storm like this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember: It can sometimes take days for PG&E to do safety checks and turn your power back on, particularly if an outage affects a large enough number of people. If you have medical needs that rely on power, consider planning which family members or friends you can stay with during a lengthy power outage. You might also talk to your doctor in advance about how to prepare with medications or mobility needs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Things to have close at hand before a potential power outage\u003c/strong>:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Battery-powered flashlights, ideally one for every household member.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>A supply of fresh batteries.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Portable chargers or battery packs to keep your mobile phone charged.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>LED candles, instead of wax candles, are recommended by PG&E.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>A battery-powered radio to hear updates on storm conditions and outages.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Nonperishable food (think canned goods) and water: The state recommends having enough food and water for every member of your household for three days.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>A thermometer to make sure your food is safe to eat (more on that below).\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Make sure you know exactly where these crucial items are, so you’re not scrambling to find them in the dark.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Other things to do ahead of an outage\u003c/strong>:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Fully charge your cellphone and any portable chargers.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Get cash, as ATMs may not work during a power outage.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Top your vehicle up with a full tank of gas (similarly, gas stations may not be operational during an outage).\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Fill up plastic containers with water and store them in your freezer, which you can use later as ice substitutes to keep food fresh.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Additionally, make sure you and your household all know:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>How to manually open any door in your home or building that requires electricity (think garage doors, apartment complex doors that require key cards).\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>How you’ll communicate in an emergency situation, and not depend on a phone that needs electricity.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>How you’ll operate a generator, if you have one — check ahead of time that the one you have works, and make sure you know \u003ca href=\"https://www.pge.com/en_US/safety/electrical-safety/electric-generator-safety/electric-generator-safety.page\">how to use it safely and eliminate the risk of carbon-monoxide poisoning\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>As always, you should also consider checking on neighbors, especially those who may need assistance.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What should I do if a power outage hits my home?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Turn off almost all your appliances\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If your power goes out, be sure to unplug or turn off any appliances and equipment to prevent damage from surges when the power is restored.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>PG&E recommends keeping one lamp turned to the on position, to alert you when power has returned. You can then turn each appliance back on one by one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Stay far away from any downed power lines, and report them\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.pge.com/en_US/safety/emergency-preparedness/natural-disaster/storms/storms.page\">If you’re near a downed power line, PG&E advises that you assume it’s energized and dangerous\u003c/a> and stay far away from it. You should:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Make sure that others in your household, especially children, also stay far back from any downed lines.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Call 911 to report the downed power line, and make sure you give the location clearly.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Then call PG&E to report the downed line, at \u003ca href=\"tel:18007435000\">(800) 743-5000\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Keep your food safe and edible during an outage \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once your power is out, be especially purposeful about when you open your freezer or your refrigerator.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A refrigerator that loses power can keep food cold for about four hours, and a freezer for about 48 hours, if kept closed. Plan to rely on coolers with ice or any water-filled plastic containers you’ve frozen ahead of time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The state recommends that during an outage, you monitor food temperatures with a thermometer — and throw out any food that has a temperature of 40 degrees or higher.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re opting to use a camp stove or a grill in the absence of your oven or microwave, you should only use these appliances outdoors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re without power for more than 48 hours, you may qualify for compensation from PG&E. \u003ca href=\"https://www.pge.com/en_US/residential/outages/current-outages/report-view-an-electric-outage/additional-resources/extended-outage-compensation/extended-outage-compensation.page\">Read more about the PG&E Safety Net program\u003c/a>, which offers these payments due to “severe events, like storms.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"driving\">\u003c/a>How can I drive safely in rain and strong winds?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>During these storms, officials urge residents to limit unnecessary travel and stay home if at all possible during weather events like these, citing the potential dangers presented by downed trees and power lines in addition to flooding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you must drive, use your headlights, turn off cruise control, maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel and drive more slowly and cautiously than usual. Leave twice as much space between your vehicle and the one in front of it; wet roads might mean it takes longer to stop. Be alert for debris on the road. If your car begins to hydroplane, do not slam on the brakes. Remain calm, ease off the gas, steer in the direction you want to go and very lightly pump the brakes until you regain traction.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11936994\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1478px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11936994\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/E2081DCF-BC1D-480F-B27A-DBB7E0C45B3A.jpg\" alt=\"A red car lies abandoned under a flooded underpass with another car submerged behind it.\" width=\"1478\" height=\"985\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Two cars are stuck in a flooded underpass at 34th and Webster streets in Oakland on Jan. 4, 2023.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If flooding occurs, err on the side of caution. Don’t assume you know the depth of a pool of water or the conditions of the road underneath it, especially at night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Always turn around rather than driving through a flooded area\u003c/strong> — as few as 6 inches of water is enough to disable or stall a small car, while 12 inches can sweep away a vehicle. If floodwaters begin to rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground on foot. According to the California Department of Water Resources, more people become trapped and die in their vehicles than anywhere else during a flood.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"updates\">\u003c/a>How can I receive updates about my area?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you haven’t done so already, sign up to receive emergency weather alerts from your county. County officials use these notifications to inform residents of weather alerts, street and road closures, and evacuation orders. Find your county below:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.acgov.org/emergencysite/\">Alameda County emergency alerts\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cityofberkeley.info/EmergencyAlerting/\">City of Berkeley emergency alerts\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/2269/Emergency-Alerts-Resources\">Contra Costa County emergency alerts\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://emergency.marincounty.org/\">Marin County emergency alerts\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.countyofnapa.org/2481/Emergency-Alerts\">Napa County emergency alerts\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sf.gov/information/be-know-official-emergency-alerts\">City and County of San Francisco emergency alerts\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://cmo.smcgov.org/smc-alert\">San Mateo County emergency alerts\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://emergencymanagement.sccgov.org/AlertSCC\">Santa Clara County emergency alerts\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/oes/emergency.asp\">Solano County emergency alerts\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://socoemergency.org/get-ready/sign-up/\">Sonoma County emergency alerts\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>In San Francisco, officials have asked the public to call 311 to report flooding inside homes, instead of 911. “We still have to run all our critical 911 calls whether it’s a cardiac arrest, a car accident or a fire. If you add all these flooding issues … it can really overtax the system,” Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson said. “So if you have a little bit of flooding in your home, call 311. If someone is having a heart attack or if someone is being swept by water, call 911.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>An earlier version of this story was published on Jan 30, 2024. KQED’s Danielle Venton, Kevin Stark, Daisy Nguyen and Erin Baldassari contributed to this story.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "New Fossils Suggest Kelp Forests Have Swayed in the Seas for at Least 32 Million Years",
"headTitle": "New Fossils Suggest Kelp Forests Have Swayed in the Seas for at Least 32 Million Years | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>The kelp forests that hug the Pacific coastline are an underwater jungle. They’re a thicket of colossal algae intermixed with a pageant of life that includes snails, urchins, sea lions, sea otters, and a host of seabirds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The current Pacific kelp forests are the base of very rich shallow marine ecosystems,” says \u003ca href=\"https://ib.berkeley.edu/labs/looy/\">Cindy Looy\u003c/a>, a paleobotanist at the University of California at Berkeley.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A study published in \u003ca href=\"https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2317054121\">\u003cem>PNAS\u003c/em>\u003c/a> presents new evidence that the first kelps were much older than we once suspected, dating back 32 million years — well before the arrival of many of their present-day animal inhabitants.[aside postID='science_1973217,science_1976045,science_1952335' label='Related coverage']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This means that kelp was likely available as a food source for ancient marine mammals. And that the foundation of the ecosystem was already in place when kelp later evolved and grew dramatically in height, providing an even greater range of habitats to the ancestors of the animals we associate with them today.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When Looy gazes out at the Pacific Ocean from Point Lobos State Natural Reserve in Monterey, California, she knows the kelp forest with all its attendant species pulsates just below the surface.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Just to think,” she says, “that we now added a little tiny piece of the puzzle of when [the kelps] started and how the ecosystem diversified — that makes me very proud.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A lucky find at the beach\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Jim Goedert is a retired railroad signal inspector. He lives outside of Tacoma, Washington where, for years, he’s regularly driven up to the north side of the Olympic Peninsula to walk along the rocky shoreline.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Gray whales and seals come in, and occasionally orcas,” he says. “There are kelp beds offshore.” At low tide, when large swaths of the beach become exposed, Goedert goes in search of fossils including hard, round masses called concretions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We would crack these open,” he says. “And sometimes there’s a crab or some other fossil in these rocks. But I would find these little squiggly veins or roots. I couldn’t really tell what they were.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One day, during a break on one of his beach walks, Goedert came across a mound that had washed ashore of kelp holdfasts — the root-like structures that fasten the towering algae to the seafloor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And I thought, ‘That’s what that thing is — kelp,'” he says. “It was just an aha moment.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Goedert packed up some of his best specimens, drove to the post office, and shipped them to Stockholm to a professional.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He just kept sending me holdfasts,” recounts \u003ca href=\"https://www.nrm.se/english/researchandcollections/palaeobiology/staffandcontacts/steffenkiel.9003235.html\">Steffen Kiel\u003c/a>, a senior curator at the Swedish Museum of Natural History and a collaborator and friend of Goedert’s. Some of the fossils weren’t that impressive but “sometimes they were, like, wow,” he says. Still, “I just left it alone for a few years because, as usual, I had other things to do.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1991214\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2288px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1991214\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/s169277_fossil_kelp_holdfast_custom-de5c315f6055f703f989b0c2da4d52bba05252a2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2288\" height=\"1626\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/s169277_fossil_kelp_holdfast_custom-de5c315f6055f703f989b0c2da4d52bba05252a2.jpg 2288w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/s169277_fossil_kelp_holdfast_custom-de5c315f6055f703f989b0c2da4d52bba05252a2-800x569.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/s169277_fossil_kelp_holdfast_custom-de5c315f6055f703f989b0c2da4d52bba05252a2-1020x725.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/s169277_fossil_kelp_holdfast_custom-de5c315f6055f703f989b0c2da4d52bba05252a2-160x114.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/s169277_fossil_kelp_holdfast_custom-de5c315f6055f703f989b0c2da4d52bba05252a2-768x546.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/s169277_fossil_kelp_holdfast_custom-de5c315f6055f703f989b0c2da4d52bba05252a2-1536x1092.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/s169277_fossil_kelp_holdfast_custom-de5c315f6055f703f989b0c2da4d52bba05252a2-2048x1455.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/s169277_fossil_kelp_holdfast_custom-de5c315f6055f703f989b0c2da4d52bba05252a2-1920x1364.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2288px) 100vw, 2288px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A fossil showing kelp ‘holdfasts,’ the root-like structures that serve to tether the algae to the seafloor. \u003ccite>(Steffen Kiel)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Asking a fossil how old it is\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Kelp fossils are exceedingly rare. “We all know things fossilize — big vertebrates, dinosaurs, things with bones and hard parts,” says \u003ca href=\"https://www.ceridwenfraser.com/\">Ceridwyn Fraser\u003c/a>, a marine scientist at the University of Otago in New Zealand. “But kelp is a very squidgy organism.” Plus, says Kiel, “they quickly rot away because they are eaten up by microbes and various animals. Kelps are essential[ly] edible, nutritious soft tissue.” It all adds up to very little kelp making it into the fossil record.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Years ago, researchers used a single specimen from California to estimate that complex kelps emerged at least 13 or 14 million years ago. (Complex kelps differ from simple kelps in a few ways, including that they have distinct stems and leaves.) More recently, genetics helped push that date back to at least \u003ca href=\"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1055790319300892\">30 million years\u003c/a>. But there was no fossil evidence to back that number up, which made Kiel wonder whether the samples he’d received from Goedert might offer some insight. So eventually, he took a closer look, cutting into them and polishing their surfaces.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On one, a splotch of root-like tendrils appears to be draped across the rock. “That’s the holdfast,” Kiel says, pointing. “I have various specimens where they were sitting on a bivalve shell, on a clamshell or especially often on barnacles.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He took one of those fossilized shells that the kelp had glued itself to and performed a chemical analysis involving strontium isotopes to determine its age.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We then knew exactly, pretty much exactly, that these fossils were 32 million years old,” Kiel says. “No doubt about it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This result confirms the earlier genetics work, but the fossils are stronger proof that complex kelp dates back to the early Oligocene, a time of dramatic global cooling.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The whole world’s oceans got a hell [of a] lot colder right at that time,” Kiel says. “Kelp like it cold. So that was a perfect fit.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Why the earlier arrival of kelp matters\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The fact that complex kelp has been around for so long means a couple of things. First, it helps resolve a puzzle about an ancient vegetarian marine mammal related to today’s manatees called the desmostylian.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“People were wondering what they were actually feeding on 30 million years ago,” Kiel says. “What kind of green fresh food would there be? And now, our kelp fossils show, yeah, hippo-sized desmostylians most likely were happily feeding on this kelp.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s logical, Looy says: “Kelps can grow incredibly fast, and those desmostylians are relatively big, and they have to eat a lot to stay alive.” Now that the researchers know that both kelp and desmostylians were alive at the same time, “we can more or less rewrite the history of the kelp ecosystems,” she says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s the second insight: “This whole rich ecosystem that we know now must have gradually evolved,” Looy says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That is, for millions of years, the kelp ecosystem was quite simple, with the kelps themselves being somewhat short, maybe a few feet tall. Then, around 14 million years ago, much taller kelps evolved, forming the underwater forests we know today. And that’s when a thriving hub of biodiversity slowly began to materialize in this new wealth of vertical habitat — “all these animals that characterize modern kelp ecosystems — full with all sorts of life,” says Kiel, from invertebrates to larger grazers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fraser, the marine scientist, says the findings are exciting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I have been approached before by people who thought they had kelp fossils, and I wasn’t convinced,” says Fraser, who wasn’t involved in the study. “But what we’re looking at are very clearly kelp.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fraser studies kelp evolution and how its DNA mutates, something she anchors in time using the fossil record.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And the annoying thing about kelp is there’s hardly anything known from the fossil record,” Fraser says. “So this will be a tool that I can use now to better understand how kelps are evolving and what’s happened through time.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kiel says he’s delighted that, once again, fossils have taught him a familiar yet fundamental lesson about our world.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To him, they’re an archive of life throughout Earth’s history — an archive that sometimes washes ashore where all you have to do is look for it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">\u003cem>Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=New+fossils+suggest+kelp+forests+have+swayed+in+the+seas+for+at+least+32+million+years&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/em>\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "A new study of kelp forests from the coast of Washington state show that kelp forests, which host all manner of marine life, developed tens of millions of years ago. ",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The kelp forests that hug the Pacific coastline are an underwater jungle. They’re a thicket of colossal algae intermixed with a pageant of life that includes snails, urchins, sea lions, sea otters, and a host of seabirds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The current Pacific kelp forests are the base of very rich shallow marine ecosystems,” says \u003ca href=\"https://ib.berkeley.edu/labs/looy/\">Cindy Looy\u003c/a>, a paleobotanist at the University of California at Berkeley.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A study published in \u003ca href=\"https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2317054121\">\u003cem>PNAS\u003c/em>\u003c/a> presents new evidence that the first kelps were much older than we once suspected, dating back 32 million years — well before the arrival of many of their present-day animal inhabitants.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This means that kelp was likely available as a food source for ancient marine mammals. And that the foundation of the ecosystem was already in place when kelp later evolved and grew dramatically in height, providing an even greater range of habitats to the ancestors of the animals we associate with them today.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When Looy gazes out at the Pacific Ocean from Point Lobos State Natural Reserve in Monterey, California, she knows the kelp forest with all its attendant species pulsates just below the surface.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Just to think,” she says, “that we now added a little tiny piece of the puzzle of when [the kelps] started and how the ecosystem diversified — that makes me very proud.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A lucky find at the beach\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Jim Goedert is a retired railroad signal inspector. He lives outside of Tacoma, Washington where, for years, he’s regularly driven up to the north side of the Olympic Peninsula to walk along the rocky shoreline.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Gray whales and seals come in, and occasionally orcas,” he says. “There are kelp beds offshore.” At low tide, when large swaths of the beach become exposed, Goedert goes in search of fossils including hard, round masses called concretions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We would crack these open,” he says. “And sometimes there’s a crab or some other fossil in these rocks. But I would find these little squiggly veins or roots. I couldn’t really tell what they were.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One day, during a break on one of his beach walks, Goedert came across a mound that had washed ashore of kelp holdfasts — the root-like structures that fasten the towering algae to the seafloor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And I thought, ‘That’s what that thing is — kelp,'” he says. “It was just an aha moment.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Goedert packed up some of his best specimens, drove to the post office, and shipped them to Stockholm to a professional.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“He just kept sending me holdfasts,” recounts \u003ca href=\"https://www.nrm.se/english/researchandcollections/palaeobiology/staffandcontacts/steffenkiel.9003235.html\">Steffen Kiel\u003c/a>, a senior curator at the Swedish Museum of Natural History and a collaborator and friend of Goedert’s. Some of the fossils weren’t that impressive but “sometimes they were, like, wow,” he says. Still, “I just left it alone for a few years because, as usual, I had other things to do.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1991214\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2288px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1991214\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/s169277_fossil_kelp_holdfast_custom-de5c315f6055f703f989b0c2da4d52bba05252a2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2288\" height=\"1626\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/s169277_fossil_kelp_holdfast_custom-de5c315f6055f703f989b0c2da4d52bba05252a2.jpg 2288w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/s169277_fossil_kelp_holdfast_custom-de5c315f6055f703f989b0c2da4d52bba05252a2-800x569.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/s169277_fossil_kelp_holdfast_custom-de5c315f6055f703f989b0c2da4d52bba05252a2-1020x725.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/s169277_fossil_kelp_holdfast_custom-de5c315f6055f703f989b0c2da4d52bba05252a2-160x114.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/s169277_fossil_kelp_holdfast_custom-de5c315f6055f703f989b0c2da4d52bba05252a2-768x546.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/s169277_fossil_kelp_holdfast_custom-de5c315f6055f703f989b0c2da4d52bba05252a2-1536x1092.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/s169277_fossil_kelp_holdfast_custom-de5c315f6055f703f989b0c2da4d52bba05252a2-2048x1455.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/s169277_fossil_kelp_holdfast_custom-de5c315f6055f703f989b0c2da4d52bba05252a2-1920x1364.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2288px) 100vw, 2288px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A fossil showing kelp ‘holdfasts,’ the root-like structures that serve to tether the algae to the seafloor. \u003ccite>(Steffen Kiel)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Asking a fossil how old it is\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Kelp fossils are exceedingly rare. “We all know things fossilize — big vertebrates, dinosaurs, things with bones and hard parts,” says \u003ca href=\"https://www.ceridwenfraser.com/\">Ceridwyn Fraser\u003c/a>, a marine scientist at the University of Otago in New Zealand. “But kelp is a very squidgy organism.” Plus, says Kiel, “they quickly rot away because they are eaten up by microbes and various animals. Kelps are essential[ly] edible, nutritious soft tissue.” It all adds up to very little kelp making it into the fossil record.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Years ago, researchers used a single specimen from California to estimate that complex kelps emerged at least 13 or 14 million years ago. (Complex kelps differ from simple kelps in a few ways, including that they have distinct stems and leaves.) More recently, genetics helped push that date back to at least \u003ca href=\"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1055790319300892\">30 million years\u003c/a>. But there was no fossil evidence to back that number up, which made Kiel wonder whether the samples he’d received from Goedert might offer some insight. So eventually, he took a closer look, cutting into them and polishing their surfaces.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On one, a splotch of root-like tendrils appears to be draped across the rock. “That’s the holdfast,” Kiel says, pointing. “I have various specimens where they were sitting on a bivalve shell, on a clamshell or especially often on barnacles.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He took one of those fossilized shells that the kelp had glued itself to and performed a chemical analysis involving strontium isotopes to determine its age.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We then knew exactly, pretty much exactly, that these fossils were 32 million years old,” Kiel says. “No doubt about it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This result confirms the earlier genetics work, but the fossils are stronger proof that complex kelp dates back to the early Oligocene, a time of dramatic global cooling.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The whole world’s oceans got a hell [of a] lot colder right at that time,” Kiel says. “Kelp like it cold. So that was a perfect fit.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Why the earlier arrival of kelp matters\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The fact that complex kelp has been around for so long means a couple of things. First, it helps resolve a puzzle about an ancient vegetarian marine mammal related to today’s manatees called the desmostylian.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“People were wondering what they were actually feeding on 30 million years ago,” Kiel says. “What kind of green fresh food would there be? And now, our kelp fossils show, yeah, hippo-sized desmostylians most likely were happily feeding on this kelp.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s logical, Looy says: “Kelps can grow incredibly fast, and those desmostylians are relatively big, and they have to eat a lot to stay alive.” Now that the researchers know that both kelp and desmostylians were alive at the same time, “we can more or less rewrite the history of the kelp ecosystems,” she says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s the second insight: “This whole rich ecosystem that we know now must have gradually evolved,” Looy says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That is, for millions of years, the kelp ecosystem was quite simple, with the kelps themselves being somewhat short, maybe a few feet tall. Then, around 14 million years ago, much taller kelps evolved, forming the underwater forests we know today. And that’s when a thriving hub of biodiversity slowly began to materialize in this new wealth of vertical habitat — “all these animals that characterize modern kelp ecosystems — full with all sorts of life,” says Kiel, from invertebrates to larger grazers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fraser, the marine scientist, says the findings are exciting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I have been approached before by people who thought they had kelp fossils, and I wasn’t convinced,” says Fraser, who wasn’t involved in the study. “But what we’re looking at are very clearly kelp.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fraser studies kelp evolution and how its DNA mutates, something she anchors in time using the fossil record.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And the annoying thing about kelp is there’s hardly anything known from the fossil record,” Fraser says. “So this will be a tool that I can use now to better understand how kelps are evolving and what’s happened through time.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kiel says he’s delighted that, once again, fossils have taught him a familiar yet fundamental lesson about our world.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To him, they’re an archive of life throughout Earth’s history — an archive that sometimes washes ashore where all you have to do is look for it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">\u003cem>Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=New+fossils+suggest+kelp+forests+have+swayed+in+the+seas+for+at+least+32+million+years&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/em>\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "Why the War in Ukraine Is Bad for Climate Science",
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"content": "\u003cp>Lack of data about conditions in the Russian Arctic is already hampering climate science and will cause ever-growing gaps in our understanding of how climate change affects the fastest-warming region of the planet, scientists warn.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Arctic is warming up to four times faster than the Earth as a whole. And Russia has more Arctic land than any other nation. But, since Russia invaded Ukraine, it’s been increasingly difficult for climate scientists in Russia to collaborate or share data about conditions in the country’s vast frozen areas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That includes basic measurements of temperature and snowfall in the Russian Arctic, as well as more sophisticated details about greenhouse gas emissions and what’s happening to plants and animals in the region.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Excluding such data from climate models makes them less accurate, and the problem will get worse over time, a new study warns. “By neglecting Russian sites, we decrease our chances to mitigate the negative consequences of climate change,” says Efrén López-Blanco of Aarhus University in Denmark, who is one of the authors of \u003ca href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-023-01903-1\">the paper\u003c/a> published in the journal \u003cem>Nature Climate Change.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In order to build climate models that can accurately predict what will happen to the Arctic in the future, scientists need measurements from across the Arctic. If the available data is concentrated in a few places, like Alaska, Canada and Scandinavia, and excludes Russia’s vast Arctic expanses, then the models will be increasingly inaccurate, the study finds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s a huge landmass,” says Ken Tape, an ecologist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. “You can’t ignore it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Beaver access has been cut off for Western scientists\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Tape is already seeing the negative effects of the war on his area of research. He studies beavers, which are \u003ca href=\"https://alaskapublic.org/2020/05/10/beaver-numbers-have-exploded-in-northwest-alaska-and-theyre-having-some-unexpected-effects/\">moving into the tundra\u003c/a> and are often unpopular neighbors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s like an intruder,” he says. “The connotations are not positive, you know? Especially if fish is a big resource for you, you’re going to be very skeptical of someone who comes in and dams up fish-bearing streams.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Scientists like Tape are studying where beavers are showing up and trying to understand how far North the population will move, how quickly, and at what scale. Such research can help local communities manage the animals: beavers are notorious for turning streams into bogs, for example, which can affect water quality for humans nearby.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The research is also important because when beavers build dams, they can disturb the frozen ground, releasing trapped greenhouse gasses as it thaws.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A few years ago, Tape helped start the Arctic Beaver Observation Network so scientists all around the Arctic could collaborate and share data. But with the invasion of Ukraine, the dream of Russian collaboration in the project stalled, he says. “We’re having a meeting at the end of February,” he says, “and it’s basically Alaska, Canada and Scandinavia. There’s no one from Russia coming.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On top of that, Western scientists no longer have access to field sites in Russia, he says. Instead, they have to rely on what they can see from space, from satellite images of beaver dams. “You can do a lot from space, but you need to have some boots on the ground confirming what you’re seeing,” Tape says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1991178\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1991178\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/gettyimages-1068523518-e0b1af529618017fb8f79cfb212643e56bb07337-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/gettyimages-1068523518-e0b1af529618017fb8f79cfb212643e56bb07337-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/gettyimages-1068523518-e0b1af529618017fb8f79cfb212643e56bb07337-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/gettyimages-1068523518-e0b1af529618017fb8f79cfb212643e56bb07337-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/gettyimages-1068523518-e0b1af529618017fb8f79cfb212643e56bb07337-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/gettyimages-1068523518-e0b1af529618017fb8f79cfb212643e56bb07337-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/gettyimages-1068523518-e0b1af529618017fb8f79cfb212643e56bb07337-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/gettyimages-1068523518-e0b1af529618017fb8f79cfb212643e56bb07337-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/gettyimages-1068523518-e0b1af529618017fb8f79cfb212643e56bb07337-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People walk next to a cracked panel apartment building in the eastern Siberian city of Yakutsk in 2018. Climate change is causing permafrost, or permanently frozen ground, to thaw across the Arctic. When the earth thaws, it can destabilize building foundations, roads, pipelines and other infrastructure. \u003ccite>(Mladen Antonov/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>For some, it’s a reminder of Cold War science\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For Russian climate scientists who started their careers in the Soviet Union, the current situation can feel eerily familiar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In the past — like, Soviet Union past — the data from this part of the world was also limited,” says Vladimir Romanovsky, a permafrost expert at the University of Alaska Fairbanks who trained in Moscow. In the mid-1970s, young scientists had virtually no contact with Western collaborators, he remembers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But when things opened up in the 1990s, he says, his field exploded. “During that time, lots of data became available from the Russian permafrost regions,” he remembers. International scientists started collaborating with Russian scientists to investigate how permafrost was changing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And the research findings were explosive. Permafrost is the permanently frozen ground found across the Arctic. As it thaws, it creates massive problems\u003ca href=\"https://climate.mit.edu/explainers/permafrost\"> for the infrastructure built on top of it\u003c/a>, causing roads to buckle, building foundations to crack and pipelines to break.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It can also release enormous amounts of planet-warming gasses trapped within the frozen earth. Scientists now warn that virtually all surface permafrost \u003ca href=\"https://www.gi.alaska.edu/news/study-near-surface-permafrost-will-be-nearly-gone-2100\">could be gone from the Arctic\u003c/a> by the end of the century.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But now the data that is so crucial for permafrost science is drying up, Romanovsky says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the past, he and other Western scientists received temperature and soil measurements from Russian research facilities. “This year, there may not be any data,” he says. “If this will continue into the future, eventually it may have some impact on our understanding [of permafrost changes.]”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Romanovsky is also concerned about young Russian scientists who are important to the future of climate research in the region. “It’s very discouraging,” he says. “Eventually, I believe that we will be able to communicate openly again.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">\u003cem>Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Why+the+war+in+Ukraine+is+bad+for+climate+science&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/em>\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Lack of data about conditions in the Russian Arctic is already hampering climate science and will cause ever-growing gaps in our understanding of how climate change affects the fastest-warming region of the planet, scientists warn.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Arctic is warming up to four times faster than the Earth as a whole. And Russia has more Arctic land than any other nation. But, since Russia invaded Ukraine, it’s been increasingly difficult for climate scientists in Russia to collaborate or share data about conditions in the country’s vast frozen areas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That includes basic measurements of temperature and snowfall in the Russian Arctic, as well as more sophisticated details about greenhouse gas emissions and what’s happening to plants and animals in the region.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Excluding such data from climate models makes them less accurate, and the problem will get worse over time, a new study warns. “By neglecting Russian sites, we decrease our chances to mitigate the negative consequences of climate change,” says Efrén López-Blanco of Aarhus University in Denmark, who is one of the authors of \u003ca href=\"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-023-01903-1\">the paper\u003c/a> published in the journal \u003cem>Nature Climate Change.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In order to build climate models that can accurately predict what will happen to the Arctic in the future, scientists need measurements from across the Arctic. If the available data is concentrated in a few places, like Alaska, Canada and Scandinavia, and excludes Russia’s vast Arctic expanses, then the models will be increasingly inaccurate, the study finds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s a huge landmass,” says Ken Tape, an ecologist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. “You can’t ignore it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Beaver access has been cut off for Western scientists\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Tape is already seeing the negative effects of the war on his area of research. He studies beavers, which are \u003ca href=\"https://alaskapublic.org/2020/05/10/beaver-numbers-have-exploded-in-northwest-alaska-and-theyre-having-some-unexpected-effects/\">moving into the tundra\u003c/a> and are often unpopular neighbors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s like an intruder,” he says. “The connotations are not positive, you know? Especially if fish is a big resource for you, you’re going to be very skeptical of someone who comes in and dams up fish-bearing streams.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Scientists like Tape are studying where beavers are showing up and trying to understand how far North the population will move, how quickly, and at what scale. Such research can help local communities manage the animals: beavers are notorious for turning streams into bogs, for example, which can affect water quality for humans nearby.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The research is also important because when beavers build dams, they can disturb the frozen ground, releasing trapped greenhouse gasses as it thaws.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A few years ago, Tape helped start the Arctic Beaver Observation Network so scientists all around the Arctic could collaborate and share data. But with the invasion of Ukraine, the dream of Russian collaboration in the project stalled, he says. “We’re having a meeting at the end of February,” he says, “and it’s basically Alaska, Canada and Scandinavia. There’s no one from Russia coming.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On top of that, Western scientists no longer have access to field sites in Russia, he says. Instead, they have to rely on what they can see from space, from satellite images of beaver dams. “You can do a lot from space, but you need to have some boots on the ground confirming what you’re seeing,” Tape says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1991178\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1991178\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/gettyimages-1068523518-e0b1af529618017fb8f79cfb212643e56bb07337-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/gettyimages-1068523518-e0b1af529618017fb8f79cfb212643e56bb07337-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/gettyimages-1068523518-e0b1af529618017fb8f79cfb212643e56bb07337-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/gettyimages-1068523518-e0b1af529618017fb8f79cfb212643e56bb07337-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/gettyimages-1068523518-e0b1af529618017fb8f79cfb212643e56bb07337-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/gettyimages-1068523518-e0b1af529618017fb8f79cfb212643e56bb07337-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/gettyimages-1068523518-e0b1af529618017fb8f79cfb212643e56bb07337-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/gettyimages-1068523518-e0b1af529618017fb8f79cfb212643e56bb07337-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/gettyimages-1068523518-e0b1af529618017fb8f79cfb212643e56bb07337-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People walk next to a cracked panel apartment building in the eastern Siberian city of Yakutsk in 2018. Climate change is causing permafrost, or permanently frozen ground, to thaw across the Arctic. When the earth thaws, it can destabilize building foundations, roads, pipelines and other infrastructure. \u003ccite>(Mladen Antonov/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>For some, it’s a reminder of Cold War science\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For Russian climate scientists who started their careers in the Soviet Union, the current situation can feel eerily familiar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In the past — like, Soviet Union past — the data from this part of the world was also limited,” says Vladimir Romanovsky, a permafrost expert at the University of Alaska Fairbanks who trained in Moscow. In the mid-1970s, young scientists had virtually no contact with Western collaborators, he remembers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But when things opened up in the 1990s, he says, his field exploded. “During that time, lots of data became available from the Russian permafrost regions,” he remembers. International scientists started collaborating with Russian scientists to investigate how permafrost was changing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And the research findings were explosive. Permafrost is the permanently frozen ground found across the Arctic. As it thaws, it creates massive problems\u003ca href=\"https://climate.mit.edu/explainers/permafrost\"> for the infrastructure built on top of it\u003c/a>, causing roads to buckle, building foundations to crack and pipelines to break.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It can also release enormous amounts of planet-warming gasses trapped within the frozen earth. Scientists now warn that virtually all surface permafrost \u003ca href=\"https://www.gi.alaska.edu/news/study-near-surface-permafrost-will-be-nearly-gone-2100\">could be gone from the Arctic\u003c/a> by the end of the century.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But now the data that is so crucial for permafrost science is drying up, Romanovsky says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the past, he and other Western scientists received temperature and soil measurements from Russian research facilities. “This year, there may not be any data,” he says. “If this will continue into the future, eventually it may have some impact on our understanding [of permafrost changes.]”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Romanovsky is also concerned about young Russian scientists who are important to the future of climate research in the region. “It’s very discouraging,” he says. “Eventually, I believe that we will be able to communicate openly again.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">\u003cem>Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Why+the+war+in+Ukraine+is+bad+for+climate+science&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/em>\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "How Kern County's Carbon Removal Industry Can Save California's Oil Country",
"headTitle": "How Kern County’s Carbon Removal Industry Can Save California’s Oil Country | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>Omar Hayat sees the future in a patch of dirt near Bakersfield, California, where oil was discovered more than a century ago. That discovery paved the way for Kern County’s lucrative petroleum industry. Now, Hayat hopes to use the same dirt patch to launch a new business — one that may help California reach its ambitious climate goals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We want to be accepted as a solution,” said Hayat, the executive vice president of operations at California Resources Corporation, one of the state’s leading oil producers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hayat is leading the company’s push to store climate-warming carbon more than a mile underground in the cracks and crevices of ancient rock formations. The firm is one of several companies developing plans to capture carbon from oil and gas plants and the air and store it deep beneath California’s oil country at the foot of the San Joaquin Valley.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kern County is betting those projects will make it the center of California’s nascent carbon removal and storage industry. The county is already the state’s largest oil producer and a top producer of agricultural products, but climate change — and the state’s effort to mitigate it — threatens those economic mainstays. The county hopes the new carbon management industry will help make up for the hundreds of millions in tax revenue it anticipates losing by 2045 when California plans to phase out all oil drilling and eliminate most carbon emissions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our economy is built on oil and agriculture. This is how we keep our libraries open. This is how we provide Meals on Wheels. This is how we provide our services to the million people here,” said Lorelei Oviatt, the county’s director of planning and natural resources.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In late December, Kern and the federal government took steps that could allow CRC to begin capturing and storing carbon next year. The county published its draft environmental review of the company’s project, and the U.S. \u003ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/publicnotices/intent-issue-class-vi-underground-injection-control-permits-carbon-terravault-jv\">Environmental Protection Agency said it plans to approve\u003c/a> permits to allow CRC to inject carbon under an oil field.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kern has found opportunity in renewable energy, becoming the state’s biggest producer of solar and wind energy. But the county’s push for carbon management amounts to a huge experiment — with its economy and community, as well as California’s climate commitments, hanging in the balance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the \u003ca href=\"https://psbweb.kerncounty.com/planning/pdfs/eirs/ctv1/CTV1_DEIR_Vol_1_Ch_1-12_upd.pdf\">900-page environmental assessment (PDF)\u003c/a>, Kern officials determined that CRC’s project is likely to have “significant and unavoidable” impacts on local air quality, even with measures taken to curb emissions. The report also notes the proximity of proposed pipelines to schools and neighborhoods. Those are among several issues likely to be contested when the public begins weighing in on the project this week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, the county sees carbon management as critical to its future.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s existential,” Oviatt said. “What is this place going to look like in 30 years? What’s it going to look like in five?”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘Enormous Numbers’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In addition to moving quickly towards clean sources of energy, countries \u003ca href=\"https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/syr/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_SYR_LongerReport.pdf\">will need to remove carbon from the air (PDF)\u003c/a> in order to avoid the worst effects of climate change, according to the IPCC, the United Nations panel that assesses the science of climate change.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today, \u003ca href=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/dbtfcnfij/images/v1700717007/Global-Status-of-CCS-Report-Update-23-Nov/Global-Status-of-CCS-Report-Update-23-Nov.pdf?_i=AA\">41 commercial carbon capture facilities (PDF)\u003c/a> are \u003ca href=\"https://www.iea.org/energy-system/carbon-capture-utilisation-and-storage/direct-air-capture\">operating worldwide\u003c/a>. Together, they have the capacity to capture much less than 1% of the emissions that countries produce every year — negating annual emissions equivalent to 49 million metric tons of carbon per year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California, which has positioned itself as a global leader in climate action, wants to pull an unprecedented amount of carbon from the air — 100 million metric tons — by 2045. That represents nearly a quarter of the emissions the state produces today.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Those are enormous numbers, relative to where not just California is today, but where the world is today,” said Michael Wara, director of the climate and energy policy program at Stanford University.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, the Biden administration is pouring billions into the carbon capture and storage industry, and Kern is racing to get a piece of it. Much of that money goes to regions led by Republican lawmakers who support boosting domestic energy production. Until he resigned from Congress last month, Bakersfield Republican and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy represented much of Kern County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last year, the U.S. Department of Energy announced it would offer $3.5 billion for companies to demonstrate direct air capture, a process that sucks carbon from the air so that it can be stowed underground. The department recently said it would give $1.2 billion in grants for “Direct Air Capture hubs” in Louisiana and Texas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Carbon removal projects proposed in California, all located in the conservative-leaning Central Valley, earned more than $20 million from the pool of federal funding for feasibility and planning studies, including roughly $12 million to a group led in part by CRC, Hayat’s company, and the city of Bakersfield. The amount is small compared to the billions to be disbursed elsewhere but significant enough to continue fueling ambitions in Kern.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1991162\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1536px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1991162\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/Omar-Hayat-1536x1024-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/Omar-Hayat-1536x1024-1.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/Omar-Hayat-1536x1024-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/Omar-Hayat-1536x1024-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/Omar-Hayat-1536x1024-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/Omar-Hayat-1536x1024-1-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Omar Hayat, executive vice president of operations at California Resources Corporation. \u003ccite>(Harika Maddala)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Several other major oil and gas companies are also racing to launch their own carbon capture facilities in Kern, including Chevron and \u003ca href=\"https://www.aeraenergy.com/responsibility/carbon-frontier/\">Aera Energy\u003c/a>. Though certain details of CRC’s carbon removal proposal have not been made public, its ambitions center on a project called “Carbon TerraVault 1.” The project would be located in the Elk Hills Oil Field, one of the most productive in the nation, near the site where oil was discovered in 1911. The company wants to inject millions of tons of liquefied carbon a mile underground, beginning with carbon dioxide from the oilfield.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘Looking for Hope’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If all of the projects proposed for the county come online, planning director Oviatt said Kern could be home to most of the storage required to achieve the state’s carbon removal goals. Oviatt frames the growth of this industry as inevitable. Even if the projects currently proposed don’t win regulatory approval, she’s confident that more proposals will follow them, she said at a recent public forum.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The county estimates that the carbon removal industry could generate as much as $64 million per year in tax revenues and create thousands of jobs. Kern envisions much of that money coming from a proposed \u003ca href=\"https://cmbp.kernplanning.com/\">Carbon Management Business Park\u003c/a>, which it sees as a way to bring in emerging climate-friendly industries — including future direct air capture projects.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If the oil industry leaves Kern, more than 16,000 jobs could disappear, and the area’s already-high poverty and unemployment rates could climb. A county-commissioned study estimates the business park could support up to 22,000 permanent jobs, both in carbon removal and adjacent industries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That’s encouraging,” Oviatt said. “We are looking for hope.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But realizing that vision is dependent on buy-in from the private sector. Oviatt said a handful of companies have expressed interest in the idea, but so far, none have submitted formal applications.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And community support for the county’s vision is hardly unanimous. At an October county Board of Supervisors meeting, residents and environmental activists expressed concerns about the need for pipelines to carry carbon across the state, which could rupture or leak.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They also questioned whether the proposed TerraVault and business park would worsen air quality. The American Lung Association consistently ranks Kern County’s air as among the most polluted in the country.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It does not make sense to proceed with this park given the current health and air quality conditions in Kern County,” said Emma De La Rosa, an advocate with the Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other community organizers like Ileana Navarro with the Central California Environmental Justice Network called for greater transparency and questioned the technology’s track record.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Projects worldwide have failed to live up to their promise on climate benefits, so why take the risk here in our backyards and in the backyards of already overburdened communities?” the Bakersfield resident asked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1991163\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1536px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1991163\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/Oil-Pumps-1536x1024-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/Oil-Pumps-1536x1024-1.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/Oil-Pumps-1536x1024-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/Oil-Pumps-1536x1024-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/Oil-Pumps-1536x1024-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/Oil-Pumps-1536x1024-1-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pumping jacks spread throughout an oilfield in Kern County, California.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The county’s environmental review shows that pipelines carrying carbon dioxide and injection sites are slated to sit within a few miles of a handful of elementary schools and a couple of towns.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Oviatt said that any future project would be located far away from neighborhoods to reduce the health risks to residents. But she was frank about the county’s prospects if a thriving carbon removal industry fails to take off in the region.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think we’re all concerned about our health, but we’re also concerned: Will Kern County survive these policies of the state of California?” Oviatt told the meeting. “I wanted to make sure the community understands that we are at a very, very difficult crossroads.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Kern County’s ‘Gift From God’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Carbon can’t be injected and permanently stowed underground just anywhere, but the storage potential in the Central Valley is “a gift from God,” George Peridas, the energy program director at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, said at an April symposium on carbon management. The San Joaquin Valley is one of about three dozen areas nationwide with the potential to store the climate pollutant, according to assessments by the U.S. Geological Survey. That’s because, in theory, depleted oil and gas fields can make ideal reservoirs for captured carbon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For decades, petroleum companies operating in the region have made billions pumping fossil fuels out of the ground. Now, these same corporations hope to also make money by pumping liquefied carbon back underground.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s just like reconfiguring a Lego set,” Hayat, the oil executive, said. “Instead of using that CO2, for example, for increasing oil and gas production, we’re just putting it away for storage.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But critics say it’s not so simple.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Storing carbon permanently and safely remains a complex technological challenge full of potential pitfalls. Extracting oil is different than ensuring carbon stays buried for thousands of years without leaking, according to Daniel Ress, a staff attorney at the Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment. California already has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kvpr.org/local-news/2023-07-21/state-releases-draft-plan-to-plug-leaky-oil-wells-many-of-them-in-kern-county\">thousands of uncapped oil wells\u003c/a>, many of which are leaking greenhouse gasses and other pollutants into the air. Ress is concerned that carbon stored underground could escape.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m skeptical that this can be done well in this area where there’s so much oil and gas exploration,” Ress said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Until now, oil companies have almost exclusively injected carbon to extract more oil from the earth. The CEO of Occidental Petroleum — CRC’s former parent company — \u003ca href=\"https://www.politico.com/newsletters/power-switch/2023/12/18/carbon-removal-climate-savior-or-distraction-00132266\">said last year\u003c/a> that carbon removal could give the petroleum industry “a license to continue to operate for the next 60, 70, 80 years.” California law prohibits companies from using captured carbon to enhance drilling in the state. Still, some environmentalists like Ress worry that injecting carbon could be used to extend the life of fossil fuels.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Several major obstacles remain on the path to building and operating carbon capture and storage plants. California has just \u003ca href=\"https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/climate-tech-company-heirloom-opens-us-commercial-carbon-capture-plant-2023-11-09/\">one commercial carbon removal project\u003c/a> in operation. The state has also banned new carbon pipelines until federal regulations are put in place, which could challenge CRC’s ambitious plans. Without pipelines to move the carbon from industrial centers to the vault, the company’s potential customer base is limited.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But last month, the county and the EPA’s actions boosted CRC’s hope for its TerraVault project. Company president and CEO Francisco Leon called the moves a “significant milestone” in attaining California’s “ambitious climate goals.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kern is the first county in the state to assess the environmental risks of a carbon storage project, working on the draft for about a year. Still, CRC’s project is facing a potentially lengthy approval process. The planning commission is expected to vote on the project in March, with a vote from county supervisors likely this summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is a collaboration between \u003ca href=\"https://www.kvpr.org/\">KVPR\u003c/a>, Inside Climate News, the Investigative Editing Corps and Report for America.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ca href=\"https://insideclimatenews.org/\">Inside Climate News\u003c/a> is a nonprofit, independent news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. Sign up for the ICN newsletter \u003ca href=\"https://insideclimatenews.org/newsletter/\">here\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"description": "The county is already the state’s largest oil producer and a top producer of agricultural products, but climate change — and the state’s effort to mitigate it — threatens those economic mainstays.",
"title": "How Kern County's Carbon Removal Industry Can Save California's Oil Country | KQED",
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"headline": "How Kern County's Carbon Removal Industry Can Save California's Oil Country",
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"nprByline": "\u003ca href=\"https://insideclimatenews.org/profile/emma-foehringer-merchant/\"> Emma Foehringer Merchant, Inside Climate News\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kvpr.org/people/joshua-yeager/\">Joshua Yeager, KVPR\u003c/a>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Omar Hayat sees the future in a patch of dirt near Bakersfield, California, where oil was discovered more than a century ago. That discovery paved the way for Kern County’s lucrative petroleum industry. Now, Hayat hopes to use the same dirt patch to launch a new business — one that may help California reach its ambitious climate goals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We want to be accepted as a solution,” said Hayat, the executive vice president of operations at California Resources Corporation, one of the state’s leading oil producers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hayat is leading the company’s push to store climate-warming carbon more than a mile underground in the cracks and crevices of ancient rock formations. The firm is one of several companies developing plans to capture carbon from oil and gas plants and the air and store it deep beneath California’s oil country at the foot of the San Joaquin Valley.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kern County is betting those projects will make it the center of California’s nascent carbon removal and storage industry. The county is already the state’s largest oil producer and a top producer of agricultural products, but climate change — and the state’s effort to mitigate it — threatens those economic mainstays. The county hopes the new carbon management industry will help make up for the hundreds of millions in tax revenue it anticipates losing by 2045 when California plans to phase out all oil drilling and eliminate most carbon emissions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our economy is built on oil and agriculture. This is how we keep our libraries open. This is how we provide Meals on Wheels. This is how we provide our services to the million people here,” said Lorelei Oviatt, the county’s director of planning and natural resources.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In late December, Kern and the federal government took steps that could allow CRC to begin capturing and storing carbon next year. The county published its draft environmental review of the company’s project, and the U.S. \u003ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/publicnotices/intent-issue-class-vi-underground-injection-control-permits-carbon-terravault-jv\">Environmental Protection Agency said it plans to approve\u003c/a> permits to allow CRC to inject carbon under an oil field.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kern has found opportunity in renewable energy, becoming the state’s biggest producer of solar and wind energy. But the county’s push for carbon management amounts to a huge experiment — with its economy and community, as well as California’s climate commitments, hanging in the balance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the \u003ca href=\"https://psbweb.kerncounty.com/planning/pdfs/eirs/ctv1/CTV1_DEIR_Vol_1_Ch_1-12_upd.pdf\">900-page environmental assessment (PDF)\u003c/a>, Kern officials determined that CRC’s project is likely to have “significant and unavoidable” impacts on local air quality, even with measures taken to curb emissions. The report also notes the proximity of proposed pipelines to schools and neighborhoods. Those are among several issues likely to be contested when the public begins weighing in on the project this week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, the county sees carbon management as critical to its future.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s existential,” Oviatt said. “What is this place going to look like in 30 years? What’s it going to look like in five?”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘Enormous Numbers’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In addition to moving quickly towards clean sources of energy, countries \u003ca href=\"https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/syr/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_SYR_LongerReport.pdf\">will need to remove carbon from the air (PDF)\u003c/a> in order to avoid the worst effects of climate change, according to the IPCC, the United Nations panel that assesses the science of climate change.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today, \u003ca href=\"https://res.cloudinary.com/dbtfcnfij/images/v1700717007/Global-Status-of-CCS-Report-Update-23-Nov/Global-Status-of-CCS-Report-Update-23-Nov.pdf?_i=AA\">41 commercial carbon capture facilities (PDF)\u003c/a> are \u003ca href=\"https://www.iea.org/energy-system/carbon-capture-utilisation-and-storage/direct-air-capture\">operating worldwide\u003c/a>. Together, they have the capacity to capture much less than 1% of the emissions that countries produce every year — negating annual emissions equivalent to 49 million metric tons of carbon per year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California, which has positioned itself as a global leader in climate action, wants to pull an unprecedented amount of carbon from the air — 100 million metric tons — by 2045. That represents nearly a quarter of the emissions the state produces today.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Those are enormous numbers, relative to where not just California is today, but where the world is today,” said Michael Wara, director of the climate and energy policy program at Stanford University.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, the Biden administration is pouring billions into the carbon capture and storage industry, and Kern is racing to get a piece of it. Much of that money goes to regions led by Republican lawmakers who support boosting domestic energy production. Until he resigned from Congress last month, Bakersfield Republican and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy represented much of Kern County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last year, the U.S. Department of Energy announced it would offer $3.5 billion for companies to demonstrate direct air capture, a process that sucks carbon from the air so that it can be stowed underground. The department recently said it would give $1.2 billion in grants for “Direct Air Capture hubs” in Louisiana and Texas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Carbon removal projects proposed in California, all located in the conservative-leaning Central Valley, earned more than $20 million from the pool of federal funding for feasibility and planning studies, including roughly $12 million to a group led in part by CRC, Hayat’s company, and the city of Bakersfield. The amount is small compared to the billions to be disbursed elsewhere but significant enough to continue fueling ambitions in Kern.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1991162\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1536px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1991162\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/Omar-Hayat-1536x1024-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/Omar-Hayat-1536x1024-1.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/Omar-Hayat-1536x1024-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/Omar-Hayat-1536x1024-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/Omar-Hayat-1536x1024-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/Omar-Hayat-1536x1024-1-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Omar Hayat, executive vice president of operations at California Resources Corporation. \u003ccite>(Harika Maddala)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Several other major oil and gas companies are also racing to launch their own carbon capture facilities in Kern, including Chevron and \u003ca href=\"https://www.aeraenergy.com/responsibility/carbon-frontier/\">Aera Energy\u003c/a>. Though certain details of CRC’s carbon removal proposal have not been made public, its ambitions center on a project called “Carbon TerraVault 1.” The project would be located in the Elk Hills Oil Field, one of the most productive in the nation, near the site where oil was discovered in 1911. The company wants to inject millions of tons of liquefied carbon a mile underground, beginning with carbon dioxide from the oilfield.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘Looking for Hope’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If all of the projects proposed for the county come online, planning director Oviatt said Kern could be home to most of the storage required to achieve the state’s carbon removal goals. Oviatt frames the growth of this industry as inevitable. Even if the projects currently proposed don’t win regulatory approval, she’s confident that more proposals will follow them, she said at a recent public forum.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The county estimates that the carbon removal industry could generate as much as $64 million per year in tax revenues and create thousands of jobs. Kern envisions much of that money coming from a proposed \u003ca href=\"https://cmbp.kernplanning.com/\">Carbon Management Business Park\u003c/a>, which it sees as a way to bring in emerging climate-friendly industries — including future direct air capture projects.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If the oil industry leaves Kern, more than 16,000 jobs could disappear, and the area’s already-high poverty and unemployment rates could climb. A county-commissioned study estimates the business park could support up to 22,000 permanent jobs, both in carbon removal and adjacent industries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That’s encouraging,” Oviatt said. “We are looking for hope.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But realizing that vision is dependent on buy-in from the private sector. Oviatt said a handful of companies have expressed interest in the idea, but so far, none have submitted formal applications.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And community support for the county’s vision is hardly unanimous. At an October county Board of Supervisors meeting, residents and environmental activists expressed concerns about the need for pipelines to carry carbon across the state, which could rupture or leak.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They also questioned whether the proposed TerraVault and business park would worsen air quality. The American Lung Association consistently ranks Kern County’s air as among the most polluted in the country.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It does not make sense to proceed with this park given the current health and air quality conditions in Kern County,” said Emma De La Rosa, an advocate with the Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other community organizers like Ileana Navarro with the Central California Environmental Justice Network called for greater transparency and questioned the technology’s track record.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Projects worldwide have failed to live up to their promise on climate benefits, so why take the risk here in our backyards and in the backyards of already overburdened communities?” the Bakersfield resident asked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1991163\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1536px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1991163\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/Oil-Pumps-1536x1024-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/Oil-Pumps-1536x1024-1.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/Oil-Pumps-1536x1024-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/Oil-Pumps-1536x1024-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/Oil-Pumps-1536x1024-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/Oil-Pumps-1536x1024-1-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pumping jacks spread throughout an oilfield in Kern County, California.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The county’s environmental review shows that pipelines carrying carbon dioxide and injection sites are slated to sit within a few miles of a handful of elementary schools and a couple of towns.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Oviatt said that any future project would be located far away from neighborhoods to reduce the health risks to residents. But she was frank about the county’s prospects if a thriving carbon removal industry fails to take off in the region.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think we’re all concerned about our health, but we’re also concerned: Will Kern County survive these policies of the state of California?” Oviatt told the meeting. “I wanted to make sure the community understands that we are at a very, very difficult crossroads.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Kern County’s ‘Gift From God’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Carbon can’t be injected and permanently stowed underground just anywhere, but the storage potential in the Central Valley is “a gift from God,” George Peridas, the energy program director at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, said at an April symposium on carbon management. The San Joaquin Valley is one of about three dozen areas nationwide with the potential to store the climate pollutant, according to assessments by the U.S. Geological Survey. That’s because, in theory, depleted oil and gas fields can make ideal reservoirs for captured carbon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For decades, petroleum companies operating in the region have made billions pumping fossil fuels out of the ground. Now, these same corporations hope to also make money by pumping liquefied carbon back underground.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s just like reconfiguring a Lego set,” Hayat, the oil executive, said. “Instead of using that CO2, for example, for increasing oil and gas production, we’re just putting it away for storage.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But critics say it’s not so simple.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Storing carbon permanently and safely remains a complex technological challenge full of potential pitfalls. Extracting oil is different than ensuring carbon stays buried for thousands of years without leaking, according to Daniel Ress, a staff attorney at the Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment. California already has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kvpr.org/local-news/2023-07-21/state-releases-draft-plan-to-plug-leaky-oil-wells-many-of-them-in-kern-county\">thousands of uncapped oil wells\u003c/a>, many of which are leaking greenhouse gasses and other pollutants into the air. Ress is concerned that carbon stored underground could escape.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m skeptical that this can be done well in this area where there’s so much oil and gas exploration,” Ress said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Until now, oil companies have almost exclusively injected carbon to extract more oil from the earth. The CEO of Occidental Petroleum — CRC’s former parent company — \u003ca href=\"https://www.politico.com/newsletters/power-switch/2023/12/18/carbon-removal-climate-savior-or-distraction-00132266\">said last year\u003c/a> that carbon removal could give the petroleum industry “a license to continue to operate for the next 60, 70, 80 years.” California law prohibits companies from using captured carbon to enhance drilling in the state. Still, some environmentalists like Ress worry that injecting carbon could be used to extend the life of fossil fuels.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Several major obstacles remain on the path to building and operating carbon capture and storage plants. California has just \u003ca href=\"https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/climate-tech-company-heirloom-opens-us-commercial-carbon-capture-plant-2023-11-09/\">one commercial carbon removal project\u003c/a> in operation. The state has also banned new carbon pipelines until federal regulations are put in place, which could challenge CRC’s ambitious plans. Without pipelines to move the carbon from industrial centers to the vault, the company’s potential customer base is limited.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But last month, the county and the EPA’s actions boosted CRC’s hope for its TerraVault project. Company president and CEO Francisco Leon called the moves a “significant milestone” in attaining California’s “ambitious climate goals.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kern is the first county in the state to assess the environmental risks of a carbon storage project, working on the draft for about a year. Still, CRC’s project is facing a potentially lengthy approval process. The planning commission is expected to vote on the project in March, with a vote from county supervisors likely this summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is a collaboration between \u003ca href=\"https://www.kvpr.org/\">KVPR\u003c/a>, Inside Climate News, the Investigative Editing Corps and Report for America.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ca href=\"https://insideclimatenews.org/\">Inside Climate News\u003c/a> is a nonprofit, independent news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. Sign up for the ICN newsletter \u003ca href=\"https://insideclimatenews.org/newsletter/\">here\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "How Giant Balloons Are Helping California Prepare for Intense Storms",
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"content": "\u003cp>Just before the rays of dawn on Jan. 12 paraded over the cliffs that separate Bodega Bay from the expanse of the Pacific Ocean, Adolfo Lopez Miranda and Jacob Morgan inflated a shapeless giant silicone balloon with helium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The duo worked inside a wooden gray shed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A few minutes before seven, the two men hiked to a nearby hilltop, carrying the now bulging balloon, around 3 feet long and wide.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They attached a tiny red parachute with a translucent cord, added an array of weather sensors, and released it like kids at a birthday party.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1991143\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1991143\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-13-BL.jpg\" alt=\"A person wearing a blue jacket holds a red parachute on a string. A person in a black jacket and blue LA Dodgers hat holds a large white balloon attached to the parachute.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-13-BL.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-13-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-13-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-13-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-13-BL-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-13-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jacob Morgan (left) and Adolfo Lopez Miranda inflate a weather balloon before launching it into an atmospheric river-fueled storm to help forecast precipitation levels and locations in the Bay Area at the UC Davis Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute’s Bodega Marine Laboratory in Bodega Bay on Jan. 12, 2024. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>They watched it lift over the dark ocean toward an incoming rainstorm forced over the Bay Area by \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1935067/rivers-in-the-sky-what-you-need-to-know-about-atmospheric-river-storms\">an extended, narrow region in the sky transporting moisture called an atmospheric river\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lopez Miranda and Morgan, engineers with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, are attempting to better understand these rivers in the sky, which can dump an onslaught of precipitation \u003cstrong>—\u003c/strong> several inches of rain in less than an hour \u003cstrong>— \u003c/strong>and trigger catastrophic flooding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[pullquote align=\"right\" size=\"medium\" citation=\"Jacob Morgan, engineer, Scripps Institution of Oceanography\"]‘It’s really helpful for getting a better understanding of water availability in California and how we can better manage the water that we have and when we should expect to receive a big load of precipitation.’[/pullquote]The duo flew up from San Diego to the UC Davis Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute’s Bodega Marine Laboratory for this storm. The weather balloon they launched directly into the atmospheric river will send back data on the storm’s course as it approaches the coast of California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2022, a family of atmospheric rivers dumped so much rain over California that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1984643/reluctant-retreat-one-familys-fight-against-climate-induced-flooding\">multiple levees crumbled from the weight and intensity of the water, destroying hundreds of homes and disrupting life for thousands of people\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For each storm, the team launches a new balloon every few hours.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the balloons float higher and higher into the atmosphere, they expand. Attached is a small white styrofoam radiosonde, which collects data — temperature, location, wind speed, wind direction, humidity and pressure — and transmits it to a computer in the wooden shack.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the balloon ascends, the atmospheric pressure decreases, and the balloon eventually swells to the size of a school bus. “When it’s that big, the latex is stretched so thin that eventually it pops,” Morgan said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1991144\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1991144\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-18-BL.jpg\" alt=\"A person wearing a black jacket and blue LA Dodgers hat holds a large white balloon while another person holds a red parachute on the end of a string attached to the balloon.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-18-BL.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-18-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-18-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-18-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-18-BL-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-18-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Adolfo Lopez Miranda (left) and Jacob Morgan prepare to launch a weather balloon into an atmospheric river-fueled storm. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>According to Morgan, the balloon he released on the morning of Jan. 12 burst around 15 miles into the atmosphere and parachuted down.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Unfortunately, they might land in a tree or mountain,” Lopez Miranda said. “We know where they are, but sometimes they’re miles away from here where we don’t have access to.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside label=\"Related Stories\" postID=\"forum_2010101894135,science_1984737,science_19828220\"]All the information the device collects is vital to tell forecasters how fast the storm is approaching, where it’s headed, how warm it will be, and how much rain the storm will likely drop. Within a few hours, the data is uploaded to the university’s database and made available to the National Weather Service to incorporate into real-time forecasting models.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s really helpful for getting a better understanding of water availability in California and how we can better manage the water that we have and when we should expect to receive a big load of precipitation,” Morgan said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the balloons float into the stratosphere, airplanes equipped with similar sensors fly over the storm and survey it from above to understand how the storm is progressing from that perspective above the cloudy mass. The information researchers collect from above and within the storm allows cities, counties and emergency officials to know how to prepare in real time. The information also helps reservoir operators make more informed decisions about how much water to keep in them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This gives us a better idea of the weather and our decision-making with water-related things,” Lopez Miranda said. “I feel like we’re making better decisions now with all the information we’re getting, so you don’t feel like you’re gambling anymore.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1991147\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1991147\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-30-BL.jpg\" alt=\"Five people look up toward an overcast sky with vehicles behind them.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-30-BL.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-30-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-30-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-30-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-30-BL-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-30-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jacob Morgan points upward at a weather balloon while Adolfo Lopez Miranda (right) and a group of docents look up to spot it in the clouds. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The Scripps balloon project has helped close the gap in knowledge of how a storm will progress, said Lopez-Miranda, who started as an intern with the group.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These real-time weather observations provide insights into the potential behavior of future storms made more intense by human-caused climate change, said Chad Hecht, a meteorologist at the Centre for Western Weather and Water Extremes at the University of California, San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s a lot of research that still needs to be done using this data, but what we are seeing is an exacerbation of that feast or famine hydroclimate in California,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1991150\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1991150\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-38-BL.jpg\" alt=\"A person looks at a computer screen with green, red, and blue lines on a graph.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-38-BL.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-38-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-38-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-38-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-38-BL-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-38-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jacob Morgan, an engineer with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, looks at a program that follows the location of the weather balloon launched into an atmospheric river-fueled storm. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>With the pace of human-caused climate change speeding up, the frequency of storms could increase. A study from June 2022 by Bay Area scientists found that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1983299/san-franciscos-aging-infrastructure-isnt-ready-for-its-wetter-future\">these deluges from the sky could become up to 37% wetter by the end of the century\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our infrastructure is not designed for these big storms, and we’re never going to be able to design it to handle them,” said Kris May, founder of the Pathways Climate Institute, a San Francisco-based consulting firm behind the study. “We’re gonna see more areas that flood that have never flooded before.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1991146\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1991146\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-27-BL.jpg\" alt=\"A white balloon with a string hanging from it floats in the sky with clouds behind it.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-27-BL.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-27-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-27-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-27-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-27-BL-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-27-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A weather balloon launched by Adolfo Lopez Miranda and Jacob Morgan heads toward an atmospheric river-fueled storm. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Hecht said data collected by these balloon launches and aircraft is only “scratching the surface” of the knowledge needed to understand future weather intensifying because of climate change. Still, in the immediate, the new precipitation information is helping forecasters better inform people and water managers how to prepare for storms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“To optimize water operations, we need to have the best precipitation forecast as possible because we want to store as much water as possible, but we also don’t want to store too much that leads to flooding impacts,” he said. “We can better prepare, whether that’s going to be on the impactful or beneficial end.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "California scientists launch weather balloons into atmospheric river-fueled storms to better forecast where they will hit the Bay Area and how hard. The information is all the more important as climate change increases their frequency and intensity.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Just before the rays of dawn on Jan. 12 paraded over the cliffs that separate Bodega Bay from the expanse of the Pacific Ocean, Adolfo Lopez Miranda and Jacob Morgan inflated a shapeless giant silicone balloon with helium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The duo worked inside a wooden gray shed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A few minutes before seven, the two men hiked to a nearby hilltop, carrying the now bulging balloon, around 3 feet long and wide.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They attached a tiny red parachute with a translucent cord, added an array of weather sensors, and released it like kids at a birthday party.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1991143\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1991143\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-13-BL.jpg\" alt=\"A person wearing a blue jacket holds a red parachute on a string. A person in a black jacket and blue LA Dodgers hat holds a large white balloon attached to the parachute.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-13-BL.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-13-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-13-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-13-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-13-BL-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-13-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jacob Morgan (left) and Adolfo Lopez Miranda inflate a weather balloon before launching it into an atmospheric river-fueled storm to help forecast precipitation levels and locations in the Bay Area at the UC Davis Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute’s Bodega Marine Laboratory in Bodega Bay on Jan. 12, 2024. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>They watched it lift over the dark ocean toward an incoming rainstorm forced over the Bay Area by \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1935067/rivers-in-the-sky-what-you-need-to-know-about-atmospheric-river-storms\">an extended, narrow region in the sky transporting moisture called an atmospheric river\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lopez Miranda and Morgan, engineers with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, are attempting to better understand these rivers in the sky, which can dump an onslaught of precipitation \u003cstrong>—\u003c/strong> several inches of rain in less than an hour \u003cstrong>— \u003c/strong>and trigger catastrophic flooding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "‘It’s really helpful for getting a better understanding of water availability in California and how we can better manage the water that we have and when we should expect to receive a big load of precipitation.’",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The duo flew up from San Diego to the UC Davis Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute’s Bodega Marine Laboratory for this storm. The weather balloon they launched directly into the atmospheric river will send back data on the storm’s course as it approaches the coast of California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2022, a family of atmospheric rivers dumped so much rain over California that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1984643/reluctant-retreat-one-familys-fight-against-climate-induced-flooding\">multiple levees crumbled from the weight and intensity of the water, destroying hundreds of homes and disrupting life for thousands of people\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For each storm, the team launches a new balloon every few hours.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the balloons float higher and higher into the atmosphere, they expand. Attached is a small white styrofoam radiosonde, which collects data — temperature, location, wind speed, wind direction, humidity and pressure — and transmits it to a computer in the wooden shack.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the balloon ascends, the atmospheric pressure decreases, and the balloon eventually swells to the size of a school bus. “When it’s that big, the latex is stretched so thin that eventually it pops,” Morgan said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1991144\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1991144\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-18-BL.jpg\" alt=\"A person wearing a black jacket and blue LA Dodgers hat holds a large white balloon while another person holds a red parachute on the end of a string attached to the balloon.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-18-BL.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-18-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-18-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-18-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-18-BL-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-18-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Adolfo Lopez Miranda (left) and Jacob Morgan prepare to launch a weather balloon into an atmospheric river-fueled storm. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>According to Morgan, the balloon he released on the morning of Jan. 12 burst around 15 miles into the atmosphere and parachuted down.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Unfortunately, they might land in a tree or mountain,” Lopez Miranda said. “We know where they are, but sometimes they’re miles away from here where we don’t have access to.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>All the information the device collects is vital to tell forecasters how fast the storm is approaching, where it’s headed, how warm it will be, and how much rain the storm will likely drop. Within a few hours, the data is uploaded to the university’s database and made available to the National Weather Service to incorporate into real-time forecasting models.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s really helpful for getting a better understanding of water availability in California and how we can better manage the water that we have and when we should expect to receive a big load of precipitation,” Morgan said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the balloons float into the stratosphere, airplanes equipped with similar sensors fly over the storm and survey it from above to understand how the storm is progressing from that perspective above the cloudy mass. The information researchers collect from above and within the storm allows cities, counties and emergency officials to know how to prepare in real time. The information also helps reservoir operators make more informed decisions about how much water to keep in them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This gives us a better idea of the weather and our decision-making with water-related things,” Lopez Miranda said. “I feel like we’re making better decisions now with all the information we’re getting, so you don’t feel like you’re gambling anymore.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1991147\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1991147\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-30-BL.jpg\" alt=\"Five people look up toward an overcast sky with vehicles behind them.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-30-BL.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-30-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-30-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-30-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-30-BL-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-30-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jacob Morgan points upward at a weather balloon while Adolfo Lopez Miranda (right) and a group of docents look up to spot it in the clouds. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The Scripps balloon project has helped close the gap in knowledge of how a storm will progress, said Lopez-Miranda, who started as an intern with the group.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These real-time weather observations provide insights into the potential behavior of future storms made more intense by human-caused climate change, said Chad Hecht, a meteorologist at the Centre for Western Weather and Water Extremes at the University of California, San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s a lot of research that still needs to be done using this data, but what we are seeing is an exacerbation of that feast or famine hydroclimate in California,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1991150\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1991150\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-38-BL.jpg\" alt=\"A person looks at a computer screen with green, red, and blue lines on a graph.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-38-BL.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-38-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-38-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-38-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-38-BL-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-38-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jacob Morgan, an engineer with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, looks at a program that follows the location of the weather balloon launched into an atmospheric river-fueled storm. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>With the pace of human-caused climate change speeding up, the frequency of storms could increase. A study from June 2022 by Bay Area scientists found that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1983299/san-franciscos-aging-infrastructure-isnt-ready-for-its-wetter-future\">these deluges from the sky could become up to 37% wetter by the end of the century\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our infrastructure is not designed for these big storms, and we’re never going to be able to design it to handle them,” said Kris May, founder of the Pathways Climate Institute, a San Francisco-based consulting firm behind the study. “We’re gonna see more areas that flood that have never flooded before.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1991146\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1991146\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-27-BL.jpg\" alt=\"A white balloon with a string hanging from it floats in the sky with clouds behind it.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-27-BL.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-27-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-27-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-27-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-27-BL-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240112-ARBalloons-27-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A weather balloon launched by Adolfo Lopez Miranda and Jacob Morgan heads toward an atmospheric river-fueled storm. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Hecht said data collected by these balloon launches and aircraft is only “scratching the surface” of the knowledge needed to understand future weather intensifying because of climate change. Still, in the immediate, the new precipitation information is helping forecasters better inform people and water managers how to prepare for storms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“To optimize water operations, we need to have the best precipitation forecast as possible because we want to store as much water as possible, but we also don’t want to store too much that leads to flooding impacts,” he said. “We can better prepare, whether that’s going to be on the impactful or beneficial end.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>As a popular Tahoe ski resort digs out from a tragedy that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11972303/one-dead-following-avalanche-at-palisades-tahoe\">killed a skier\u003c/a> and buried several others, scientists said predicting how the warming planet will affect avalanches in California is elusive at best.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Just after lifts opened on Wednesday, an avalanche tore through the Palisades Tahoe ski resort, creating a \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/story.php/?id=100064556774669&story_fbid=790665709761981\">10-foot-deep debris field\u003c/a> that stretched 450 feet long and 150 feet wide. A second avalanche struck in neighboring Alpine Meadows this afternoon, although no one was injured. The U.S. Forest Service and ski resorts take steps to forecast and \u003ca href=\"https://dot.alaska.gov/stwdmno/documents/History_Military_Weapons_Avalanche.pdf\">prevent dangerous slides (PDF)\u003c/a>, and avalanche \u003ca href=\"https://avalanche.state.co.us/accidents/us\">fatalities at ski resorts\u003c/a> remain rare: Before this week, the last one in California was four years ago.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=news_11972210,news_11972320 label='More on the Avalanche in Palisades']But what can California’s skiers and snowboarders expect as Sierra Nevada snow patterns become unpredictable due to climate change? Experts say understanding the effects on avalanches is tricky: Climate change is not just a matter of warming temperatures but also \u003ca href=\"https://www.ipcc.ch/srocc/chapter/chapter-2/\">altered patterns in storms and snow cover\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An array of factors such as wind, rain, previous snowpack and temperatures can all enter into the equation of what causes a mass of snow to slide down a mountain.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are humans working in a natural world. And so everybody does the best they can,” said \u003ca href=\"https://www.inscc.utah.edu/~steenburgh/home/\">Jim Steenburgh\u003c/a>, a University of Utah professor of atmospheric sciences and author of the book \u003cem>Secrets of the Greatest Snow on Earth\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The circumstances that lead to avalanches are multifaceted, Steenburgh said: a weak layer in the snowpack, a steep slope and a trigger — usually people on the slope. The frequency of human-triggered avalanches in the future will largely depend on how many skiers and snowboarders recreate in risky backcountry areas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That also means untangling the effects of climate change is especially difficult, or “elusive,” as \u003ca href=\"https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2021.639433/full\">one team of scientists said\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, researchers are making a few predictions. Lower-elevation areas that see less snow in a warmer future \u003ca href=\"https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2107306118\">may see fewer avalanches\u003c/a>, but higher elevations could see more intense storms and the potential effects on avalanches there are uncertain.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change \u003ca href=\"https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/sites/3/2022/03/04_SROCC_Ch02_FINAL.pdf\">reported (PDF)\u003c/a> in 2019 that there was medium evidence for less avalanche hazards at lower elevations and mixed changes at higher elevations. Though the report predicted an increase in avalanches involving wet snow, they found “no clear direction of trend for overall avalanche activity.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Avalanches involving wet snow could increase — as could conditions where scarce snow and cold, clear weather combine to cause persistent weak layers in the snowpack, creating “a major threat to recreationists,” a team of researchers from Switzerland, Italy and the U.S. wrote in a 2021 review paper.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Trauma and injuries could rise as snowpacks dwindle, with less snow to cushion blows from the terrain. And wetter avalanches could also increase buried victims’ risk of suffocation in the higher-density snow.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There will be a higher risk of disastrous events where poorly managed winter tourism activities, transportation routes, and exploitation of natural resources lead to increases in exposure,” the international study said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=science_1939719 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2019/03/iStock-161822125.jpg']Mixed findings also were reported on other mountain ranges around the planet. Climate warming was \u003ca href=\"https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1716913115\">linked to an increase in wet snow avalanches\u003c/a> in the Western Himalayas — which the researchers said “contradict the intuitive notion that warming results in less snow, and thus lower avalanche activity.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But three years later, another team \u003ca href=\"https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2107306118\">found\u003c/a> that the number and magnitude of avalanches dropped substantially at low-to-medium elevations of the Vosges Mountains in northeast France as snow became scarce. They predicted that the increases observed in the Alps and Himalayas “will eventually vanish as warming will become more pronounced to reduce snow cover at increasingly higher elevations.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mike Reitzell, president of Ski California, a trade association of 36 ski areas in California and Nevada, said ski resorts in avalanche-prone terrain already have programs to reduce the dangers – regardless of the impacts of climate change.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The slope angles aren’t going to change with climate change,” Reitzell said. “The type of snowpack that there is, whether it’s a wet snow versus a drier snow, those are things they would already be analyzing anyway.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘Dangerous avalanche conditions’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Ski resorts have long used explosives and artillery to trigger avalanches and remove the mass of snow before it can produce avalanches that are dangerous to visitors. “This greatly reduces, but does not eliminate, the avalanche threat,” Steenburgh said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before the deadly event on Wednesday, the Sierra Avalanche Center \u003ca href=\"https://www.sierraavalanchecenter.org/forecasts/#/central-sierra-nevada\">forecasted\u003c/a> a “considerable” risk of avalanches in the Central Sierra Nevada backcountry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Dangerous avalanche conditions will continue today. New snow and high winds have \u003ca href=\"https://avalanche.org/avalanche-encyclopedia/snowpack/snowpack-observations/signs-of-instability-red-flags/heavy-snowfall-or-rain/loading-loading-rate/\">loaded\u003c/a> existing weak \u003ca href=\"https://avalanche.org/avalanche-encyclopedia/snowpack/snow-layer/\">layers\u003c/a> in our snowpack. Large avalanches are the main concern today, failing well below our recent storm snow. High winds will also continue to create \u003ca href=\"https://avalanche.org/avalanche-encyclopedia/snowpack/slab/\">slabs\u003c/a> of wind-blown snow in exposed areas,” the center reported.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1991099\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1568px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2024/01/12/experts-unsure-if-california-avalanches-will-worsen-with-climate-changes/011024-palisades-avalanche-ap-cm-03/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1991099\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1991099\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/011024-Palisades-Avalanche-AP-CM-03.jpg\" alt=\"Two people ski past the bottom of a lift in snowy conditions\" width=\"1568\" height=\"1045\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/011024-Palisades-Avalanche-AP-CM-03.jpg 1568w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/011024-Palisades-Avalanche-AP-CM-03-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/011024-Palisades-Avalanche-AP-CM-03-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/011024-Palisades-Avalanche-AP-CM-03-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/011024-Palisades-Avalanche-AP-CM-03-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/011024-Palisades-Avalanche-AP-CM-03-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1568px) 100vw, 1568px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People snowshoe next to a ski lift at Palisades Tahoe on Jan. 10, 2024.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Palisades Tahoe said the cause of the avalanche was \u003ca href=\"https://blog.palisadestahoe.com/operations/incident-update/\">under investigation\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The resort had already seen a smattering of storms in the months before. Then the wind picked up on Monday night, and light snow started Wednesday morning before the avalanche occurred, according to Chris Johnston, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Reno, Nevada. The storm dropped about 14 inches of snow on \u003ca href=\"https://www.palisadestahoe.com/mountain-information/snow-and-weather\">the resort’s upper mountain area over 24 hours\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The avalanche occurred just minutes after the resort opened on a steep, black diamond run made famous during \u003ca href=\"https://olympics.com/en/olympic-games/squaw-valley-1960\">the 1960 Olympics’ alpine skiing events\u003c/a> at the resort, then called Squaw Valley. It was the first day the famed KT-22 lift had opened for the season. While Palisades \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11972320/palisades-tahoe-ski-resort-reopens-in-wake-of-deadly-avalanche\">reopened\u003c/a> on Thursday, KT-22 and nine other lifts \u003ca href=\"https://www.palisadestahoe.com/mountain-information/lift-and-grooming-status\">remained closed\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sjsu.edu/people/craig.clements/\">Craig Clements\u003c/a>, a San Jose State University chair and professor of meteorology who teaches a mountain meteorology class that covers avalanche mechanics, said conditions were primed for an avalanche because high winds transported snow to form a thick slab atop weak layers of snow.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You have a weak shear zone there, and so basically, all that new snow can slide … you just need to trigger it,” Clements said. “And then it will slide downslope — and that is dangerous.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Predicting the effects of climate change on avalanches is elusive and multi-faceted. Lower-elevation areas may see fewer avalanches, but uncertainties remain about higher elevations.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>As a popular Tahoe ski resort digs out from a tragedy that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11972303/one-dead-following-avalanche-at-palisades-tahoe\">killed a skier\u003c/a> and buried several others, scientists said predicting how the warming planet will affect avalanches in California is elusive at best.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Just after lifts opened on Wednesday, an avalanche tore through the Palisades Tahoe ski resort, creating a \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/story.php/?id=100064556774669&story_fbid=790665709761981\">10-foot-deep debris field\u003c/a> that stretched 450 feet long and 150 feet wide. A second avalanche struck in neighboring Alpine Meadows this afternoon, although no one was injured. The U.S. Forest Service and ski resorts take steps to forecast and \u003ca href=\"https://dot.alaska.gov/stwdmno/documents/History_Military_Weapons_Avalanche.pdf\">prevent dangerous slides (PDF)\u003c/a>, and avalanche \u003ca href=\"https://avalanche.state.co.us/accidents/us\">fatalities at ski resorts\u003c/a> remain rare: Before this week, the last one in California was four years ago.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>But what can California’s skiers and snowboarders expect as Sierra Nevada snow patterns become unpredictable due to climate change? Experts say understanding the effects on avalanches is tricky: Climate change is not just a matter of warming temperatures but also \u003ca href=\"https://www.ipcc.ch/srocc/chapter/chapter-2/\">altered patterns in storms and snow cover\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An array of factors such as wind, rain, previous snowpack and temperatures can all enter into the equation of what causes a mass of snow to slide down a mountain.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are humans working in a natural world. And so everybody does the best they can,” said \u003ca href=\"https://www.inscc.utah.edu/~steenburgh/home/\">Jim Steenburgh\u003c/a>, a University of Utah professor of atmospheric sciences and author of the book \u003cem>Secrets of the Greatest Snow on Earth\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The circumstances that lead to avalanches are multifaceted, Steenburgh said: a weak layer in the snowpack, a steep slope and a trigger — usually people on the slope. The frequency of human-triggered avalanches in the future will largely depend on how many skiers and snowboarders recreate in risky backcountry areas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That also means untangling the effects of climate change is especially difficult, or “elusive,” as \u003ca href=\"https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2021.639433/full\">one team of scientists said\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, researchers are making a few predictions. Lower-elevation areas that see less snow in a warmer future \u003ca href=\"https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2107306118\">may see fewer avalanches\u003c/a>, but higher elevations could see more intense storms and the potential effects on avalanches there are uncertain.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change \u003ca href=\"https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/sites/3/2022/03/04_SROCC_Ch02_FINAL.pdf\">reported (PDF)\u003c/a> in 2019 that there was medium evidence for less avalanche hazards at lower elevations and mixed changes at higher elevations. Though the report predicted an increase in avalanches involving wet snow, they found “no clear direction of trend for overall avalanche activity.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Avalanches involving wet snow could increase — as could conditions where scarce snow and cold, clear weather combine to cause persistent weak layers in the snowpack, creating “a major threat to recreationists,” a team of researchers from Switzerland, Italy and the U.S. wrote in a 2021 review paper.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Trauma and injuries could rise as snowpacks dwindle, with less snow to cushion blows from the terrain. And wetter avalanches could also increase buried victims’ risk of suffocation in the higher-density snow.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There will be a higher risk of disastrous events where poorly managed winter tourism activities, transportation routes, and exploitation of natural resources lead to increases in exposure,” the international study said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Mixed findings also were reported on other mountain ranges around the planet. Climate warming was \u003ca href=\"https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1716913115\">linked to an increase in wet snow avalanches\u003c/a> in the Western Himalayas — which the researchers said “contradict the intuitive notion that warming results in less snow, and thus lower avalanche activity.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But three years later, another team \u003ca href=\"https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2107306118\">found\u003c/a> that the number and magnitude of avalanches dropped substantially at low-to-medium elevations of the Vosges Mountains in northeast France as snow became scarce. They predicted that the increases observed in the Alps and Himalayas “will eventually vanish as warming will become more pronounced to reduce snow cover at increasingly higher elevations.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mike Reitzell, president of Ski California, a trade association of 36 ski areas in California and Nevada, said ski resorts in avalanche-prone terrain already have programs to reduce the dangers – regardless of the impacts of climate change.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The slope angles aren’t going to change with climate change,” Reitzell said. “The type of snowpack that there is, whether it’s a wet snow versus a drier snow, those are things they would already be analyzing anyway.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘Dangerous avalanche conditions’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Ski resorts have long used explosives and artillery to trigger avalanches and remove the mass of snow before it can produce avalanches that are dangerous to visitors. “This greatly reduces, but does not eliminate, the avalanche threat,” Steenburgh said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before the deadly event on Wednesday, the Sierra Avalanche Center \u003ca href=\"https://www.sierraavalanchecenter.org/forecasts/#/central-sierra-nevada\">forecasted\u003c/a> a “considerable” risk of avalanches in the Central Sierra Nevada backcountry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Dangerous avalanche conditions will continue today. New snow and high winds have \u003ca href=\"https://avalanche.org/avalanche-encyclopedia/snowpack/snowpack-observations/signs-of-instability-red-flags/heavy-snowfall-or-rain/loading-loading-rate/\">loaded\u003c/a> existing weak \u003ca href=\"https://avalanche.org/avalanche-encyclopedia/snowpack/snow-layer/\">layers\u003c/a> in our snowpack. Large avalanches are the main concern today, failing well below our recent storm snow. High winds will also continue to create \u003ca href=\"https://avalanche.org/avalanche-encyclopedia/snowpack/slab/\">slabs\u003c/a> of wind-blown snow in exposed areas,” the center reported.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1991099\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1568px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2024/01/12/experts-unsure-if-california-avalanches-will-worsen-with-climate-changes/011024-palisades-avalanche-ap-cm-03/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1991099\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1991099\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/011024-Palisades-Avalanche-AP-CM-03.jpg\" alt=\"Two people ski past the bottom of a lift in snowy conditions\" width=\"1568\" height=\"1045\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/011024-Palisades-Avalanche-AP-CM-03.jpg 1568w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/011024-Palisades-Avalanche-AP-CM-03-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/011024-Palisades-Avalanche-AP-CM-03-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/011024-Palisades-Avalanche-AP-CM-03-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/011024-Palisades-Avalanche-AP-CM-03-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/011024-Palisades-Avalanche-AP-CM-03-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1568px) 100vw, 1568px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People snowshoe next to a ski lift at Palisades Tahoe on Jan. 10, 2024.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Palisades Tahoe said the cause of the avalanche was \u003ca href=\"https://blog.palisadestahoe.com/operations/incident-update/\">under investigation\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The resort had already seen a smattering of storms in the months before. Then the wind picked up on Monday night, and light snow started Wednesday morning before the avalanche occurred, according to Chris Johnston, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Reno, Nevada. The storm dropped about 14 inches of snow on \u003ca href=\"https://www.palisadestahoe.com/mountain-information/snow-and-weather\">the resort’s upper mountain area over 24 hours\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The avalanche occurred just minutes after the resort opened on a steep, black diamond run made famous during \u003ca href=\"https://olympics.com/en/olympic-games/squaw-valley-1960\">the 1960 Olympics’ alpine skiing events\u003c/a> at the resort, then called Squaw Valley. It was the first day the famed KT-22 lift had opened for the season. While Palisades \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11972320/palisades-tahoe-ski-resort-reopens-in-wake-of-deadly-avalanche\">reopened\u003c/a> on Thursday, KT-22 and nine other lifts \u003ca href=\"https://www.palisadestahoe.com/mountain-information/lift-and-grooming-status\">remained closed\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sjsu.edu/people/craig.clements/\">Craig Clements\u003c/a>, a San Jose State University chair and professor of meteorology who teaches a mountain meteorology class that covers avalanche mechanics, said conditions were primed for an avalanche because high winds transported snow to form a thick slab atop weak layers of snow.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You have a weak shear zone there, and so basically, all that new snow can slide … you just need to trigger it,” Clements said. “And then it will slide downslope — and that is dangerous.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "California's Snowpack at Record Lows, One-Quarter of Normal in First Measurement of Year",
"headTitle": "California’s Snowpack at Record Lows, One-Quarter of Normal in First Measurement of Year | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>Standing on a patch of snow near Lake Tahoe, Sean de Guzman, manager of the state’s Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting section, pierced the snow with a metal tube to detect how much snow was on Tuesday’s ground. He then added the number to \u003ca href=\"https://cdec.water.ca.gov/snowapp/sweq.action\">a statewide database of snow measurements\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bad news? He found the snowpack across the entire Sierra Nevada is just one-quarter of normal. One year ago, he stood on about five feet of snow here \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1982147/california-snowpack-may-hold-record-amount-of-water-with-significant-flooding-possible\">when the snowpack was at 177% of normal\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Today’s result shows that it’s really still too early to determine what kind of year we’ll have in terms of wet or dry,” de Guzman said. “Luckily, our statewide reservoirs are still well above average this time of year, thanks partly to how wet it was last year.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The other good news is that meteorologists expect a winter storm to pile up more than a foot of snow on the Sierra Nevada tonight and tomorrow morning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A cold front is coming in, so the storm is gonna be a little bit colder and snow elevations lower,” de Guzman said. That’ll add snow to the pack.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://twitter.com/UCB_CSSL/status/1742250438123225550?s=20\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite these initial measurement numbers, the Climate Prediction Center’s seasonal outlook for January, February and March still shows an increased chance of above-normal precipitation and snow, partly because this year is an El Niño year. With that climate pattern in mind, there is a possibility that storm after storm could batter the state, ultimately building up the snowpack to record levels.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Right now, California’s preparing for both extreme conditions, either extremely dry or extremely wet conditions,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://twitter.com/NWSSacramento/status/1742278337001828862?s=20\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, not all El Niño years guarantee a wet winter because they “span the gap from dry years to wet years. So by itself, El Niño’s really not a good predictor of the water year,” state climatologist Michael Anderson said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This year, UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain said a warm December led to “an absolutely abysmal snowpack.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What this means, as of today, is that the snowpack is at or below all-time record low numbers for the beginning of January,” he said. “I know that it is pretty alarming.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said there is a possibility of a sequence of three to five storms in the near future that could help build the snowpack, but he said there may be snow drought conditions this winter in part because of warmer temperatures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I don’t necessarily think this is going to be a good snow year,” he said. “In fact, it might end up being a pretty bad snow year.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When looking back to 1978, UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab’s Andrew Schwartz said snowfall in California is declining about every month and rainfall is increasing. Those warmer temperatures and decreasing snowfall could complicate how the state stores water for the rest of the year. The snowpack is considered a frozen reservoir that slowly melts into rivers, streams and reservoirs, but if too much snow comes as rain instead, it could overwhelm reservoirs and may complicate water storage for drier times.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This really shows us that our snow season is getting shorter,” he said. “We’re going to have to plan for shorter periods of snowpack and the complications that may bring with our management of water resources.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1985949\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/240102-snow-survey-dwr-fg-02-kqed/\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1985949\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240102-SNOW-SURVEY-DWR-FG-02-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"An open field with patches of snow and bare grass.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240102-SNOW-SURVEY-DWR-FG-02-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240102-SNOW-SURVEY-DWR-FG-02-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240102-SNOW-SURVEY-DWR-FG-02-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240102-SNOW-SURVEY-DWR-FG-02-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240102-SNOW-SURVEY-DWR-FG-02-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240102-SNOW-SURVEY-DWR-FG-02-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240102-SNOW-SURVEY-DWR-FG-02-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">So far, the snow levels are lacking depth, with a number of bare spots in the meadow where the California Department of Water Resources conducted its first snow survey of the 2024 season. \u003ccite>(Andrew Nixon/California Department of Water Resources)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In the Bay Area, up to an inch of rain could fall in the first storm this week, said National Weather Service meteorologist Dylan Flynn. He expects wind gusts of up to 30 miles per hour and a slight chance of thunderstorms overnight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://twitter.com/NWSBayArea/status/1742293541580415215?s=20\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, the storm is not a slow-moving storm riding an atmospheric river, which can dump rain, creating flooding issues.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s just beneficial rain to help our rainfall totals for the year, but we don’t really have a big flooding threat,” he said\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Flynn forecasts two storm systems Friday and Saturday but said they will likely produce even less rain than today’s storm.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“But looking ahead over the next two weeks, that kind of trend is going to continue, where every three days or five days or so, there’s going to be another system that comes through and gives a good amount of rain,” he said. “But there’s nothing that looks like a major, major rain producer like we saw this time last year.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Storms this week could add to the snowpack, but climate experts are concerned over the year’s shaky start.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Standing on a patch of snow near Lake Tahoe, Sean de Guzman, manager of the state’s Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting section, pierced the snow with a metal tube to detect how much snow was on Tuesday’s ground. He then added the number to \u003ca href=\"https://cdec.water.ca.gov/snowapp/sweq.action\">a statewide database of snow measurements\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bad news? He found the snowpack across the entire Sierra Nevada is just one-quarter of normal. One year ago, he stood on about five feet of snow here \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1982147/california-snowpack-may-hold-record-amount-of-water-with-significant-flooding-possible\">when the snowpack was at 177% of normal\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Today’s result shows that it’s really still too early to determine what kind of year we’ll have in terms of wet or dry,” de Guzman said. “Luckily, our statewide reservoirs are still well above average this time of year, thanks partly to how wet it was last year.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The other good news is that meteorologists expect a winter storm to pile up more than a foot of snow on the Sierra Nevada tonight and tomorrow morning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A cold front is coming in, so the storm is gonna be a little bit colder and snow elevations lower,” de Guzman said. That’ll add snow to the pack.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>Despite these initial measurement numbers, the Climate Prediction Center’s seasonal outlook for January, February and March still shows an increased chance of above-normal precipitation and snow, partly because this year is an El Niño year. With that climate pattern in mind, there is a possibility that storm after storm could batter the state, ultimately building up the snowpack to record levels.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Right now, California’s preparing for both extreme conditions, either extremely dry or extremely wet conditions,” he said.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>However, not all El Niño years guarantee a wet winter because they “span the gap from dry years to wet years. So by itself, El Niño’s really not a good predictor of the water year,” state climatologist Michael Anderson said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This year, UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain said a warm December led to “an absolutely abysmal snowpack.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What this means, as of today, is that the snowpack is at or below all-time record low numbers for the beginning of January,” he said. “I know that it is pretty alarming.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He said there is a possibility of a sequence of three to five storms in the near future that could help build the snowpack, but he said there may be snow drought conditions this winter in part because of warmer temperatures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I don’t necessarily think this is going to be a good snow year,” he said. “In fact, it might end up being a pretty bad snow year.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When looking back to 1978, UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab’s Andrew Schwartz said snowfall in California is declining about every month and rainfall is increasing. Those warmer temperatures and decreasing snowfall could complicate how the state stores water for the rest of the year. The snowpack is considered a frozen reservoir that slowly melts into rivers, streams and reservoirs, but if too much snow comes as rain instead, it could overwhelm reservoirs and may complicate water storage for drier times.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This really shows us that our snow season is getting shorter,” he said. “We’re going to have to plan for shorter periods of snowpack and the complications that may bring with our management of water resources.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1985949\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/science/240102-snow-survey-dwr-fg-02-kqed/\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1985949\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240102-SNOW-SURVEY-DWR-FG-02-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"An open field with patches of snow and bare grass.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240102-SNOW-SURVEY-DWR-FG-02-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240102-SNOW-SURVEY-DWR-FG-02-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240102-SNOW-SURVEY-DWR-FG-02-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240102-SNOW-SURVEY-DWR-FG-02-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240102-SNOW-SURVEY-DWR-FG-02-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240102-SNOW-SURVEY-DWR-FG-02-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2024/01/240102-SNOW-SURVEY-DWR-FG-02-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">So far, the snow levels are lacking depth, with a number of bare spots in the meadow where the California Department of Water Resources conducted its first snow survey of the 2024 season. \u003ccite>(Andrew Nixon/California Department of Water Resources)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In the Bay Area, up to an inch of rain could fall in the first storm this week, said National Weather Service meteorologist Dylan Flynn. He expects wind gusts of up to 30 miles per hour and a slight chance of thunderstorms overnight.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>However, the storm is not a slow-moving storm riding an atmospheric river, which can dump rain, creating flooding issues.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s just beneficial rain to help our rainfall totals for the year, but we don’t really have a big flooding threat,” he said\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Flynn forecasts two storm systems Friday and Saturday but said they will likely produce even less rain than today’s storm.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“But looking ahead over the next two weeks, that kind of trend is going to continue, where every three days or five days or so, there’s going to be another system that comes through and gives a good amount of rain,” he said. “But there’s nothing that looks like a major, major rain producer like we saw this time last year.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1982309/san-mateo-countys-new-sea-level-rise-plan-calls-for-a-100-foot-buffer-zone-for-shoreline-development\">San Mateo sea-level rise planners\u003c/a> have proposed building \u003ca href=\"https://oneshoreline.org/projects/millbrae-burlingame/\">an off-shore tidal lagoon from the southern edge of San Francisco International Airport to the northern tip of the city of San Mateo\u003c/a>. They want to constrict it with an artificial barrier that would come with a series of doors — tidal gates that would close during big storms or high tides.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[pullquote size=\"medium\" align=\"right\" citation=\"John Callaway, wetlands restoration ecologist, University of San Francisco\"]‘There needs to be coordination with other communities around the bay because if you just build a levee or a seawall, you’re just pushing sea-level rise into other communities.’[/pullquote]The goal of the project is to protect Burlingame’s economic corridor — home to a slew of airport hotels, restaurants and tech companies like Meta — from future rising seas as well as inland flooding along half a dozen creeks that flow through the area toward San Francisco Bay, said Len Materman, CEO of OneShoreline, the county’s Flood and Sea Level Rise Resiliency District.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Climate change will affect those ecosystems as the water level rises, and we want to create sustainable ecosystems that we can manage,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The idea is that operators would raise the doors when tides are high, or storms are intense to block water from running over the shoreline.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1985926\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 3108px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.39.00-PM-1.png\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1985926\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.39.00-PM-1.png\" alt='An illustrated map showing \"Footprints of conceptual alternatives considered\" with purple, red and yellow lines. ' width=\"3108\" height=\"1686\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.39.00-PM-1.png 3108w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.39.00-PM-1-800x434.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.39.00-PM-1-1020x553.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.39.00-PM-1-160x87.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.39.00-PM-1-768x417.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.39.00-PM-1-1536x833.png 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.39.00-PM-1-2048x1111.png 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.39.00-PM-1-1920x1042.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 3108px) 100vw, 3108px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">San Mateo County sea-level rise planners would like to protect the Burlingame shoreline with an offshore barrier that would create a sometimes artificial lagoon within San Francisco Bay. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of OneShoreline)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Still in its conceptual phase, the project resembles a system in Venice, where inflatable floodgates fill with air during high tides and storms. Materman said it could feature oyster beds that act like a reef and benefit the environment by creating a habitat for marine life.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The county could install a pump to control inland flooding from heavy rain storms. When the tides fall and the water recede, the operators lower the doors, allowing bay water to permeate the wetland area again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One draft design includes an extension of the Bay Trail running over the tidal gates and a short living sea wall jetting out from the base.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’ve proposed building the nearly three-mile-long offshore barrier from Millbrae to Coyote Point within the city of San Mateo. At first, the tidal doors would be open 99% of the time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=\"science_1985322,science_1984830,science_1982875\" label=\"Related Stories\"]As seas rise, the system would likely close more often, Materman said. Scientists project the San Francisco Bay could rise by a foot by 2050 — at which point the doors would close for an hour a day — and 3 feet by the end of the century, when the gates could close for up to 7 hours a day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The county is currently studying the area’s adaptation options, including looking at the impacts and costs of the tidal door system.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If the county doesn’t take action, Materman said rising seas could inundate much of this area, including parts of Highway 101 and Burlingame’s economic corridor filled with hotel branches like Marriott, Hilton and Embassy Suites. The area also has a waterfront dim sum restaurant, businesses like It’s-It Ice Cream and the software company Groupup. The estimated \u003ca href=\"https://www.bcdc.ca.gov/cm/2023/04-06-Briefing-Funding-and-Investment-Framework-presentation.pdf\">price of preparing San Mateo County’s shoreline is $11 billion\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A solution from rising bay water to stormwater\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Materman said the tidal system would also give creeks room to drain during heavy rainfall and storms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It would be a win-win in creating capacity for stormwater [to drain and] to not cause flooding in areas along the bay,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1985927\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2112px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.42.56-PM.png\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1985927\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.42.56-PM.png\" alt='A map showing the \"Current 100-year plan\" by the San Francisco Bay.' width=\"2112\" height=\"1170\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.42.56-PM.png 2112w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.42.56-PM-800x443.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.42.56-PM-1020x565.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.42.56-PM-160x89.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.42.56-PM-768x425.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.42.56-PM-1536x851.png 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.42.56-PM-2048x1135.png 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.42.56-PM-672x372.png 672w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.42.56-PM-1038x576.png 1038w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.42.56-PM-1920x1064.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2112px) 100vw, 2112px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Protecting Burlingame’s economic corridor is important for San Mateo County sea-level rise planners. If they were to flood, the county map of the current 100-year floodplain shows water swamping much of the existing shoreline. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of OneShoreline)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>San Mateo County will be the most at-risk California county from sea-level rise by the end of the century, with more than 40% of the county’s land at risk from rising seas, according to Materman. He said out-of-the-box ideas are needed to prepare for the slow-rolling climate impact. The county aims to adapt its 53 miles of bayshore for 10 feet of water beyond today’s high tide levels.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Materman said the project could remove much of the area from the Federal Emergency Management Agency flood zone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Planners are also studying two more traditional alternatives: fortifying creeks and the shoreline with levees or building barriers along the shore with gates and pump stations at each creek.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re going to need to do something along the shoreline that’s fairly dramatic from the old business as usual of just rebuilding a levee, which in the long term is not the best investment of our resources,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Syed Murtuza, public works director for the city of Burlingame, said the lagoon proposal would be less costly and intrusive than building levees.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Close to one-third of our city revenues come from that area,” he said. “It’s very important to make sure the financial well-being of the city is protected from sea-level rise.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>But would it benefit the existing wetland?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Nícola Ulibarrí, a UC Irvine professor of Urban Planning who studies flooding and climate policy, applauded the ingenuity of the idea.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I like the fact that it is flexible,” she said. “I think it’s a great design relative to options like a levee or a sea wall that will always be there\u003ci>.”\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Ulibarrí said that removing the area from the federal flood zone maps would be premature, given the pace and scale of climate warming \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1984927/what-does-unavoidable-west-antarctic-ice-shelf-melt-mean-for-the-bay-area\">causing rapid ice melt and sea-level rise\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The problem is if this ever fails, suddenly you have even more development at risk, damage and even more lives potentially lost,” she said. “So, there’s this potential feedback loop where we put this in to protect people, but then long term, it might backfire.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Elliott White Jr., a coastal ecosystem scientist at Stanford University, said the artificial lagoon could have unintended consequences.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the doors closed more often as the sea rose, the gates would cut off the mudflat from the bay. In the long run, White said this would harm the ecosystem because sediment or dirt in bay water helps build it up. He said this could create a “sediment-starved” wetland that won’t keep up with the pace of rising sea levels.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you start with the premise that this is already an unhealthy ecosystem and you’re adding something that will reduce its resilience and that reduction is going to increase over time, then you’re effectively dooming that part of the landscape to never be a functioning ecosystem in the long term,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>White points to Venice, Italy, where the inflatable floodgates fill with air during high tides and storms. The barrier is similar to the lagoon proposal in that it is flexible and responsive to weather and waves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In the Venice example, they’ve already greatly exceeded how many times they thought it would be open,” he said, recognizing that the gates have helped keep the city from flooding. “Now they have this very expensive structure operating at a capacity they never truly intended.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>John Callaway, a wetlands restoration ecologist at the University of San Francisco, agrees the project could negatively impact the remaining wetland habitat in the area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The longer the doors are closed, it has implications for water quality because if an area is diked off and not connected to the tides, it’s much more likely to be impacted by pollutants coming down and accumulating that then lead to algal blooms,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Callaway said he is also worried that when the doors are up, they will push the excess water elsewhere, “increasing flooding in other areas.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There needs to be coordination with other communities around the bay because if you just build a levee or a seawall, you’re just pushing sea-level rise into other communities,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Materman, with OneShoreline, said the proposal would allow them to manage a healthy lagoon and ensure the mudflats remain instead of being pounded by open water as seas rise.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’d rather manage a habitat for the shoreline than just add more open water to the bay,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The goal of the project is to protect Burlingame’s economic corridor — home to a slew of airport hotels, restaurants and tech companies like Meta — from future rising seas as well as inland flooding along half a dozen creeks that flow through the area toward San Francisco Bay, said Len Materman, CEO of OneShoreline, the county’s Flood and Sea Level Rise Resiliency District.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Climate change will affect those ecosystems as the water level rises, and we want to create sustainable ecosystems that we can manage,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The idea is that operators would raise the doors when tides are high, or storms are intense to block water from running over the shoreline.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1985926\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 3108px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.39.00-PM-1.png\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1985926\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.39.00-PM-1.png\" alt='An illustrated map showing \"Footprints of conceptual alternatives considered\" with purple, red and yellow lines. ' width=\"3108\" height=\"1686\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.39.00-PM-1.png 3108w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.39.00-PM-1-800x434.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.39.00-PM-1-1020x553.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.39.00-PM-1-160x87.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.39.00-PM-1-768x417.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.39.00-PM-1-1536x833.png 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.39.00-PM-1-2048x1111.png 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.39.00-PM-1-1920x1042.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 3108px) 100vw, 3108px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">San Mateo County sea-level rise planners would like to protect the Burlingame shoreline with an offshore barrier that would create a sometimes artificial lagoon within San Francisco Bay. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of OneShoreline)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Still in its conceptual phase, the project resembles a system in Venice, where inflatable floodgates fill with air during high tides and storms. Materman said it could feature oyster beds that act like a reef and benefit the environment by creating a habitat for marine life.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The county could install a pump to control inland flooding from heavy rain storms. When the tides fall and the water recede, the operators lower the doors, allowing bay water to permeate the wetland area again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One draft design includes an extension of the Bay Trail running over the tidal gates and a short living sea wall jetting out from the base.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’ve proposed building the nearly three-mile-long offshore barrier from Millbrae to Coyote Point within the city of San Mateo. At first, the tidal doors would be open 99% of the time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>As seas rise, the system would likely close more often, Materman said. Scientists project the San Francisco Bay could rise by a foot by 2050 — at which point the doors would close for an hour a day — and 3 feet by the end of the century, when the gates could close for up to 7 hours a day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The county is currently studying the area’s adaptation options, including looking at the impacts and costs of the tidal door system.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If the county doesn’t take action, Materman said rising seas could inundate much of this area, including parts of Highway 101 and Burlingame’s economic corridor filled with hotel branches like Marriott, Hilton and Embassy Suites. The area also has a waterfront dim sum restaurant, businesses like It’s-It Ice Cream and the software company Groupup. The estimated \u003ca href=\"https://www.bcdc.ca.gov/cm/2023/04-06-Briefing-Funding-and-Investment-Framework-presentation.pdf\">price of preparing San Mateo County’s shoreline is $11 billion\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A solution from rising bay water to stormwater\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Materman said the tidal system would also give creeks room to drain during heavy rainfall and storms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It would be a win-win in creating capacity for stormwater [to drain and] to not cause flooding in areas along the bay,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1985927\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2112px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.42.56-PM.png\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1985927\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.42.56-PM.png\" alt='A map showing the \"Current 100-year plan\" by the San Francisco Bay.' width=\"2112\" height=\"1170\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.42.56-PM.png 2112w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.42.56-PM-800x443.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.42.56-PM-1020x565.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.42.56-PM-160x89.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.42.56-PM-768x425.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.42.56-PM-1536x851.png 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.42.56-PM-2048x1135.png 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.42.56-PM-672x372.png 672w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.42.56-PM-1038x576.png 1038w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-20-at-4.42.56-PM-1920x1064.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2112px) 100vw, 2112px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Protecting Burlingame’s economic corridor is important for San Mateo County sea-level rise planners. If they were to flood, the county map of the current 100-year floodplain shows water swamping much of the existing shoreline. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of OneShoreline)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>San Mateo County will be the most at-risk California county from sea-level rise by the end of the century, with more than 40% of the county’s land at risk from rising seas, according to Materman. He said out-of-the-box ideas are needed to prepare for the slow-rolling climate impact. The county aims to adapt its 53 miles of bayshore for 10 feet of water beyond today’s high tide levels.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Materman said the project could remove much of the area from the Federal Emergency Management Agency flood zone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Planners are also studying two more traditional alternatives: fortifying creeks and the shoreline with levees or building barriers along the shore with gates and pump stations at each creek.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re going to need to do something along the shoreline that’s fairly dramatic from the old business as usual of just rebuilding a levee, which in the long term is not the best investment of our resources,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Syed Murtuza, public works director for the city of Burlingame, said the lagoon proposal would be less costly and intrusive than building levees.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Close to one-third of our city revenues come from that area,” he said. “It’s very important to make sure the financial well-being of the city is protected from sea-level rise.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>But would it benefit the existing wetland?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Nícola Ulibarrí, a UC Irvine professor of Urban Planning who studies flooding and climate policy, applauded the ingenuity of the idea.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I like the fact that it is flexible,” she said. “I think it’s a great design relative to options like a levee or a sea wall that will always be there\u003ci>.”\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Ulibarrí said that removing the area from the federal flood zone maps would be premature, given the pace and scale of climate warming \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1984927/what-does-unavoidable-west-antarctic-ice-shelf-melt-mean-for-the-bay-area\">causing rapid ice melt and sea-level rise\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The problem is if this ever fails, suddenly you have even more development at risk, damage and even more lives potentially lost,” she said. “So, there’s this potential feedback loop where we put this in to protect people, but then long term, it might backfire.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Elliott White Jr., a coastal ecosystem scientist at Stanford University, said the artificial lagoon could have unintended consequences.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the doors closed more often as the sea rose, the gates would cut off the mudflat from the bay. In the long run, White said this would harm the ecosystem because sediment or dirt in bay water helps build it up. He said this could create a “sediment-starved” wetland that won’t keep up with the pace of rising sea levels.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you start with the premise that this is already an unhealthy ecosystem and you’re adding something that will reduce its resilience and that reduction is going to increase over time, then you’re effectively dooming that part of the landscape to never be a functioning ecosystem in the long term,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>White points to Venice, Italy, where the inflatable floodgates fill with air during high tides and storms. The barrier is similar to the lagoon proposal in that it is flexible and responsive to weather and waves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In the Venice example, they’ve already greatly exceeded how many times they thought it would be open,” he said, recognizing that the gates have helped keep the city from flooding. “Now they have this very expensive structure operating at a capacity they never truly intended.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>John Callaway, a wetlands restoration ecologist at the University of San Francisco, agrees the project could negatively impact the remaining wetland habitat in the area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The longer the doors are closed, it has implications for water quality because if an area is diked off and not connected to the tides, it’s much more likely to be impacted by pollutants coming down and accumulating that then lead to algal blooms,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Callaway said he is also worried that when the doors are up, they will push the excess water elsewhere, “increasing flooding in other areas.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There needs to be coordination with other communities around the bay because if you just build a levee or a seawall, you’re just pushing sea-level rise into other communities,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Materman, with OneShoreline, said the proposal would allow them to manage a healthy lagoon and ensure the mudflats remain instead of being pounded by open water as seas rise.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
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"info": "Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.",
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"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
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"info": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
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"politicalbreakdown": {
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"title": "Political Breakdown",
"tagline": "Politics from a personal perspective",
"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
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"possible": {
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"title": "Possible",
"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
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"pri-the-world": {
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"title": "PRI's The World: Latest Edition",
"info": "Each weekday, host Marco Werman and his team of producers bring you the world's most interesting stories in an hour of radio that reminds us just how small our planet really is.",
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"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-World-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
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},
"radiolab": {
"id": "radiolab",
"title": "Radiolab",
"info": "A two-time Peabody Award-winner, Radiolab is an investigation told through sounds and stories, and centered around one big idea. In the Radiolab world, information sounds like music and science and culture collide. Hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, the show is designed for listeners who demand skepticism, but appreciate wonder. WNYC Studios is the producer of other leading podcasts including Freakonomics Radio, Death, Sex & Money, On the Media and many more.",
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"reveal": {
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"title": "Reveal",
"info": "Created by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX, Reveal is public radios first one-hour weekly radio show and podcast dedicated to investigative reporting. Credible, fact based and without a partisan agenda, Reveal combines the power and artistry of driveway moment storytelling with data-rich reporting on critically important issues. The result is stories that inform and inspire, arming our listeners with information to right injustices, hold the powerful accountable and improve lives.Reveal is hosted by Al Letson and showcases the award-winning work of CIR and newsrooms large and small across the nation. In a radio and podcast market crowded with choices, Reveal focuses on important and often surprising stories that illuminate the world for our listeners.",
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"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.revealnews.org/episodes/",
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},
"rightnowish": {
"id": "rightnowish",
"title": "Rightnowish",
"tagline": "Art is where you find it",
"info": "Rightnowish digs into life in the Bay Area right now… ish. Journalist Pendarvis Harshaw takes us to galleries painted on the sides of liquor stores in West Oakland. We'll dance in warehouses in the Bayview, make smoothies with kids in South Berkeley, and listen to classical music in a 1984 Cutlass Supreme in Richmond. Every week, Pen talks to movers and shakers about how the Bay Area shapes what they create, and how they shape the place we call home.",
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"order": 16
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},
"science-friday": {
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