RSS Feed
Author Archive
California’s ‘Dismally Meager’ Snowpack Signals More Drought
Posted by National Geographic: Warren Cornwall on January 30th, 2015
National Geographic: After measuring California's mountain snow on Thursday, state officials described it as "dismally meager" and predicted that a fourth year of drought is on the way. Statewide, the water trapped in the form of snow is just a quarter of the amount usually found at this time of year, California's Department of Water Resources reported shortly after teams returned from measuring snow levels at Echo Summit in the Sierra Nevada mountains, southwest of Lake Tahoe. (Watch a video about new technology California...
Posted in 
Overwhelming Cause of California Wildfires: Humans
Posted by National Geographic: Warren Cornwall on May 17th, 2014
National Geographic: Investigators around San Diego continue searching for the causes of ten fires that burned thousands of acres of land in the area this week, after determining that one of the blazes was set by sparks from construction equipment.
Whether the other blazes were set intentionally or by accident, experts say it's highly likely that humans are to blame. Two people were arrested north of San Diego on Thursday on suspicion of arson, though it's not clear if they are thought to be connected to this week's...
As Scientists Examine Landslide, Questions About Logging’s Potential Role
Posted by National Geographic: Warren Cornwall on April 1st, 2014
National Geographic: Scientists hoping to better understand what triggered the tragic landslide in western Washington are eyeing two prime suspects: rising groundwater that weakened slide-prone soils, perhaps exacerbated by logging; and the Stillaguamish River, which persistently chewed away at the bottom of the hillside. The March 22 landslide wiped out an entire neighborhood near the small town of Oso, leaving at least 27 dead and another 22 missing. But answers to what caused the hillside to come thundering down...