Climate Change
Water Wells Go Dry as California Feels Warming Impacts
Officials say climate change is driving an increase in dry wells in drought-stricken California
Water68 articles archived since 1845
Water
Poem: ‘Uncertain-Sea Principle’
Science in meter and verse
Water
5 Billion People Will Face Water Shortages by 2050, U.N. Says
The World Meteorological Organization warns that climate-related shortages in water resources could affect two thirds of the world’s population by midcentury and will be felt unevenly...
Geology
Hidden ‘Paleo Valleys’ Could Help California Survive Droughts
“Paleo valleys,” carved by ice age rivers and now underground, could provide spaces to recharge California’s depleted groundwater
Pollution
How Safe are U.S. Rivers 50 Years after the Clean Water Act?
Millions of miles of U.S. rivers have dramatically improved in the half-century after the Clean Water Act, but climate change and other types of pollution still pose threats
Water
SCOTUS Hears a Case with Broad Implications for the Clean Water Act
As the new term begins, the Supreme Court debates what wetlands should be protected under one of the EPA’s most successful and controversial efforts
Pollution
A Growing Drinking Water Crisis Threatens American Cities and Towns
The Jackson, Miss., disaster rings alarm bells about myriad problems lurking in water systems across the country
Oceans
See Delicate Rib Vortices Encircle Breaking Ocean Waves
These little-studied mini twisters form beautiful loops under the water’s surface
Climate Change
Drastic Cuts to Colorado River Water Use Show Depth of West’s Drought
Cuts to states’ use of Colorado River water are needed to prevent levels in Lake Mead and Lake Powell from dropping below a critical point
Climate Change
Ongoing Megadrought Puts the West in ‘Uncharted Waters’
Scientists say the current drought in the West is the region’s driest 22-year stretch in more than 1,200 years
Water
Skies Are Sucking More Water from the Land
Western states’ “atmospheric thirst” means more fires and strained water supplies
Water
Coastal Cities Are Drinking Themselves Underwater
Cities are sinking as they guzzle groundwater—and oil and gas—from below
Climate Change
Little Snow Is Left in California, Setting Up a Dangerous Wildfire Season
As of April 1, statewide snowpack stood at just 38 percent of the average for that date
Climate Change
Where Rising Seas Threaten Drinking Water, Scientists Look for Affordable Solutions
Researchers are looking to identify areas facing saltwater intrusion on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts
Climate Change
Western ‘Megadrought’ Is the Worst in 1,200 Years
An exceptionally dry year in 2021 pushed the 22-year-long drought to the top of the record books
Climate Change
Mountain Glaciers Have Less Ice Than Previously Thought
Some communities may run out of fresh water faster than expected
Quantum Physics
Turbulence Equations Discovered after Century-Long Quest
The formulas describe the complex behavior of a liquid when it meets a boundary
Ecology
Beaver Dams Help Wildfire-Ravaged Ecosystems Recover Long after Flames Subside
Dams mop up debris that would otherwise kill fish and other downstream wildlife, new observations suggest
Climate Change
December Fires Raise Concerns over Remarkable Colorado Drought
Higher temperatures and a dearth of snow are extending the fire season
Water
‘Portable Oasis’ Extracts Water from Dry Desert Air
An ultraporous humidity sponge could provide 300 gallons of fresh water a day
