A Washington Department of Natural Resources map showing tsunami arrival times has attracted attention because it indicates that a tsunami generated by a magnitude 9.2 Alaska earthquake could reach Long Beach approximately three hours and 35 minutes after the earthquake. … Continue reading Tsunami Arrival Times: How Long Would Pacific County Residents Have to Evacuate?
Wildfire smoke doesn’t have to be nearby to affect your health. Smoke from fires hundreds of miles away can travel across the Pacific Northwest, bringing dangerous fine particle pollution (PM2.5) that can worsen breathing problems, heart disease, and other health … Continue reading Protecting Your Health During Wildfire Smoke: Practical Steps for Everyone, Especially Older Adults
Wildfire smoke continues to impact air quality across Washington and Oregon as numerous large fires burn throughout the Pacific Northwest. Air quality alerts have been issued for much of Eastern and Central Washington, with smoke also spreading into Western Washington, … Continue reading Wildfire Smoke Reduces Air Quality Across Washington and Oregon: Which Face Mask Should You Wear?
Across Europe and the American West, a troubling pattern is emerging. Record ocean temperatures, prolonged heat waves, drought, and explosive wildfires are no longer isolated disasters—they are increasingly occurring together. Scientists have warned for decades that climate change would amplify … Continue reading The Wildfire Tipping Point: When Nature Stops Waiting for Us
A wave of dry thunderstorms has unleashed thousands of lightning strikes across Oregon, igniting dozens of wildfires and stretching firefighting resources across the Pacific Northwest. While firefighters race to contain new fires, emerging technologies—including artificial intelligence (AI) and drones—are becoming … Continue reading Oregon’s Wildfire Surge Highlights AI and Drone Technology in the Fight Against Remote Fires
Whether you’re traveling to the Washington coast, the Oregon Cascades, Mount Rainier, the Olympic Peninsula, or anywhere else in the Pacific Northwest, checking wildfire maps before leaving home should be part of every travel plan. Wildfires can quickly affect road … Continue reading Planning a Trip? Check Northwest Wildfire Maps Before You Go
For many people, living on the coast has long been associated with fresh ocean air and a healthier environment. However, in recent years, massive wildfires burning hundreds or even thousands of miles away have demonstrated that no community is immune … Continue reading Wildfire Smoke Knows No Boundaries: Why Coastal Communities Need Healthy Trees More Than Ever
For more than a century, America’s forests have been challenged by invasive insects, destructive diseases, prolonged drought, and increasingly severe wildfires. Together, these threats have killed hundreds of millions of trees, reducing tree canopy that protects communities from heat, flooding, … Continue reading America’s Forest Recovery: How Planting Trees Is Helping Restore Forests Devastated by Disease, Insects, and Climate Change
Personally, I’ve been studying the tree canopy and environmental changes in Surfside for years. While climate change is certainly affecting the Washington coast, its impacts remain far less dramatic than those experienced inland. One reason I own property in Surfside … Continue reading Mount Hood’s Vanishing Snow: When Oregon’s Most Beautiful View Turns Ugly
For years, scientists have known that spending time among trees does more than simply help us relax. Research from Japan has shown that forests release natural airborne compounds called phytoncides—including alpha-pinene and beta-pinene—that may help strengthen the human immune system. … Continue reading Trees, Phytoncides, and Your Immune System: The Science Behind Nature’s Immune Health Benefits
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