Arizona Environment

The pace of local extinctions is on the rise in the Sonoran Desert sky islands. Professor of ecology and evolutionary biology John Wiens discusses with Arizona Public Media how climate change is impacting these species and what it takes for them to survive.

Updating an endangered species count in the Sky Islands The pace of local extinctions is on the rise in the sky islands of the Sonoran Desert.

Earlier this summer, University of Arizona climate scientists Michael Crimmins and Zack Guido discussed the forecasts, predictions and significance of the monsoon in a Q&A with University of Arizona News.

Have those predictions held up? Read more: https://news.arizona.edu/news/magic-monsoon-socially-and-ecologically-important-phenomenon-southwest

Magic of the monsoon: A 'socially and ecologically' important phenomenon for the Southwest | University of Arizona News Two climate scientists discuss the significance of the monsoon and how members of the public can make their own rainfall predictions.

Some areas of the Amazon rainforest are more resilient to drought than others, new U of A-led research shows. If not managed carefully, we could "threaten the integrity of the whole system," the researchers say.

Read more about the new study by ecology and evolutionary biology doctoral degree candidate Shuli Chen:

https://news.arizona.edu/news/when-drought-researchers-map-which-parts-amazon-are-most-vulnerable-climate-change

When in drought: Researchers map which parts of the Amazon are most vulnerable to climate change | University of Arizona News Some areas of the Amazon rainforest are more resilient to drought than others, new UArizona-led research shows. If not managed carefully, we could "threaten the integrity of the whole system," researchers say.

By 2050, scientists project that more than 20% of Earth's population will be over 60, and when paired with increasing temperatures caused by climate change, the number of people at risk worldwide from chronic extreme heat is set to at least double by 2050, a KJZZ article reports.

In this story, Clinical Associate Professor Julia Jernberg describes why older adults could have difficulty tolerating such conditions.

Aging population, warming climate is recipe for disaster By 2050, scientists project, more than 20% of Earth's population will be over 60. At the same time, the Earth is heating up because of human-caused climate change. As these collide, more people are at risk of preventable deaths.

Summer puts outdoor workers in the crosshairs of Arizona's extreme heat, and some argue that the state needs stronger protections.

Shefali Milczarek-Desai, associate professor of law, discusses with the Arizona Republic whether new standards could benefit workers.

With no formal heat standards, Arizona's outdoor workers are at risk of illness and death Outdoor workers in Arizona are at high risk of heat hazards. With no heat standard in place, state agencies are increasing inspections and education.

The monsoon as we know it in the Southwest U.S. is changing. As the atmosphere gets hotter with climate change, it’s able to essentially hold more water v***r, which alters how our monsoon behaves, an ABC15 report describes.

“We don't get as many storms, but when they do come, they're tending to produce higher rainfall amounts, more intense rainfall, and more intense winds,” said Christopher Castro, at the time interim head of the University of Arizona's Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences Department at the University of Arizona.

Explore how "normal" monsoon precipitation expectations have changed over the past 50 years:

How Arizona's monsoon is changing "The monsoon is, generally all the way around, getting more extreme. So, when we get our heat waves now those are more intense than they used to be and when it rains...it tends to be more intense."

From space sciences to water resources, the University of Arizona is again recognized as one of the world's top research institutions.

According to the U.S. News & World Report's 2024-2025 Best Global Universities ranking, the U of A retained its stellar rankings in water resources (No. 2 in the U.S., No. 29 globally) and geosciences (No. 10 in the U.S., No. 25 globally).

UArizona also earned top-100 global placements for its programs in meteorology and atmospheric sciences (No. 47), environment/ecology (No. 59), arts and humanities (tied for No. 78) and plant/animal sciences (No. 78).

"I am continually in awe of the brilliant scientists and scholars who teach and conduct research at the University of Arizona," said University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins. "Their groundbreaking discoveries across a wide variety of disciplines help foster an environment of bold thinking that is necessary to address and solve the world’s biggest challenges. I am very proud to see the University of Arizona recognized as one of the world's top research institutions."

Space sciences, water resources, geosciences excel in latest US News global ranking | University of Arizona News In the Best Global Universities rankings, UArizona earned its best scores in space sciences, ranking No. 8 overall, No. 6 in the U.S. and No. 2 among public universities.

Earlier this July, the Arizona Institute for Resilience announced its Second Annual Resilience Theme Award!

Led by School of Music Associate Professor Sara Fraker, "Building Hydro-Local Community Through Music, Art, and Watershed Science" uses creative expression to inspire interest in watershed stewardship.

Alongside Fraker, project collaborators include Yuanyuan (Kay) He, a composer and assistant professor in the School of Music, Jackie Glazier, an associate professor in the School of Music and clarinetist, Carissa DiCindio, an associate professor in the School of Art, and Neha Gupta, an assistant research professor within AIR and the Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences.

"The arts are sometimes able to understand and communicate concepts in an emotional way that doesn’t always come through a scientific article or diagram," Fraker said.

Learn more about this year's Resilience Theme at the AIR website:

https://air.arizona.edu/news/building-community-through-music-art-and-watershed-science

Building Community Through Music, Art, and Watershed Science The winners of the second AIR Annual Resilience Theme Grant seek to inspire community stewardship of local watersheds through music, art, and science.

From water to wind, erosion impacts the community during monsoon. In an interview with KGUN9, University of Arizona Department of Environmental Science Professor Craig Rasmussen discusses how monsoon rain and wind contribute to soil loss around Tucson.

"Soil erosion can take place from water, running across the surface and taking the particles and washing them away," he said. "But another agent of erosion in the desert is actually the wind."

From water to wind, erosion impacts the community during monsoon As monsoon begins, neighbors take a closer look at slowing down the impacts of erosion in their yards and community.

Are you a University of Arizona undergraduate student interested in a major that will prepare you for a career in an environmental field but don’t know where to begin?

Consider taking UNIV 122: Find Your Environment this fall!

Designed for first-year and exploratory students interested in environment, sustainability and resilience, this one-unit course will help students better understand themselves, their goals and the available opportunities in environment and sustainability pathways.

“Deciding on a major and beginning to prepare for a career is a big step,” Ursula Basinger, Find Your Environment academic advisor and course instructor, said. “Courses like UNIV 122: Find Your Environment help students gather knowledge about themselves and their options to make an informed decision on the pathway they want to commit to.”

Read more and register for UNIV 122: https://environment.arizona.edu/news/explore-environmental-opportunities-univ-122-find-your-environment

🤔What can we do in the face of Arizona's myriad water challenges?

The 2024 'Arroyo' publication from our friends and colleagues at Arizona Water Resources Research Center (WRRC) attempts to provide actionable answers to this exact question.

Published each spring, 'Arroyo' builds on the most recent WRRC Conference topic by offering analysis, tools and other takeaways from the annual event.

Find the full 2024 report here: https://wrrc.arizona.edu/publications/arroyo
Arizona Environment

Previously thought to have gone extinct in the 1960's, the endangered Mount Graham red squirrels have managed to survive despite susceptibility to environmental threats like wildfire and drought.

To better understand these animals, researchers Sean Mahoney and Bret Pasch of 's Mt. Graham Biology Programs conducted a study to reveal factors that impact how the squirrels store food.

Their findings showed that temperature and population density influenced the squirrels’ food hoarding strategies.

"The data suggests that we need to be mindful of population density and temperature, and so we know that it's getting warmer, and cooler temperatures are associated with storing food in one place," Mahoney said. "This gives us some insight into the factors that might be pushing animals toward certain behaviors in the future."

Read more with the 🔗 in our bio!

https://news.arizona.edu/news/squirreling-it-away-unraveling-food-hoarding-behavior-conserve-endangered-mount-graham-red

Thanks to a $1M gift from Healthy Communities Foundation, the University of Arizona will significantly expand its reach through a new “Sprouts House” project.

The School Garden Workshop, which supports teaching and learning in K-12 school gardens, will now impact even more schools and students with garden-based education.

This generous gift will transform two historic houses near the UArizona campus into a community classroom, commercial kitchen, and teaching garden, creating a national model for garden and culinary education.

"We're thrilled to help establish the Sprouts House in Tucson and to help the University of Arizona School Garden Workshop expand its capacity to support more schools and students," said Lyndsey Waugh, executive director of the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation.

Read more with the 🔗 in our bio!

https://news.arizona.edu/news/1m-gift-uarizona-school-garden-workshop-launches-sprouts-house-project

John Wiens, a professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UArizona, has studied the Yarrow's spiny lizards for a decade.

Over the years, he’s watched a distinct 3-million-year-old lineage of the lizard that lives in the Mule Mountains of southern Arizona retreat to higher and higher elevations, seeking an escape from the rising temperatures and riding what scientists call the “elevator to extinction.”

Earlier this year, Wiens conducted another survey with , but could not find any lizards.

"It seems like the species is now extinct, this distinct lineage that's been separated for about 3 million years," he said in the CBS story. "This is what the future is going to look like. This is climate-related extinction."

Read more at the link in bio.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lizard-population-declining-climate-change/

Photo courtesy of John Wiens/UA News.

ICYMI: UArizona is joining forces to help tackle extreme heat across the U.S. through the new Center for Heat Resilient Communities

Led by and in partnership with with support from & , this initiative will turn cutting-edge research into actionable policies.

"What we'll do with the center is take the best practices that we've seen quickly develop in some places, take the best science and research being conducted and translate that into actionable policies that communities can do on the ground," said Ladd Keith, associate professor in .

Read more with the 🔗 link in bio!

https://news.arizona.edu/news/new-federally-funded-center-will-rely-uarizona-expertise-help-communities-manage-extreme-heat

The arrival of summer not only means a blast of exhausting Arizona heat, but also the emergence of cicadas and their notorious buzz.

UA News recently talked with University of Arizona Insect Collection Manager Gene Hall about a few facts you may not know about cicadas.

Learn 10 things you probably didn't know about cicadas with the 🔗 in our bio!

https://news.arizona.edu/news/whats-buzz-10-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-cicadas

We're so excited for this event! Join in Thursday for a free movie night and panel discussion, along with food and music!

The Sustainability Film Series + Native Voices in Film Present:
A Reflection of Life.
Thursday, May 9
5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Pascua Yaqui Tribal Annex Gym
7400 S Settler Ave, Tucson, AZ 85746
Film screening, panel discussion,
refreshments and more!
RSVP by scanning the provided QR code.

Brought to you by Native Voices in Film, the Sustainability Film Series, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and The Loft Cinema, join in for a FREE evening of activities, education and discussion.

Thursday, May 9 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Pascua Yaqui Tribal Annex Gym, 7400 South Settler Avenue, Tucson, AZ.

This event is open to the public and will feature food, music, and a panel discussion ahead of a free screening of the film “A Reflection of Life,” a feature documentary that explores environmental and water issues in the Pacific Northwest, while noting the broader issues facing the entire West, with an emphasis on amplifying Indigenous voices. It also features the University of Arizona’s Michael Johnson ._hopi_farmer!

Filmmaker Jesse Locke interviewed members of The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Chugach Alaska Native Corporation and Valdez Native Tribes, The Klamath Tribes, The Nez Perce Tribe, The Hopi Tribe, and Standing Rock Tribe to gather the Indigenous stories and wisdom featured in the film.

Learn more and RSVP at bit.ly/A-Reflection-of-Life. (RSVP appreciated but not required!)


This project is supported by , , , and .

friends + colleagues: Join us for a free screening at the Chandler Nature Center!

Join filmmaker and The University of Arizona Associate Professor Michael Mulcahy for a live ‘Climate Conversation’ and screening of his short documentary series, Making Arizona.

Arizona is feeling the intensifying effects of global climate change as extreme heat breaks new records and water scarcity concerns grow. But what can we do about it?

This is the question that drives Mulcahy's new short documentary series and educational project, ‘Making Arizona.’

Professor Mulcahy will show the first installment in this multi-part series and hold a panel discussion with stakeholders and participants from the films during this live event on Saturday, May 4 from 10am - 11:45 am.

The ‘Making Arizona’ project involves the development of a public impact campaign to encourage and help Arizonans move the state forward on climate change. Each “Climate Conversation” event will provide resources for Arizonans to effectively advocate for needed climate action at the local, state and federal levels.

Join us to discuss how we can advocate for a healthier, more sustainable AZ during the statewide ‘Climate Conversations’ series!

Climate Conversation events are free to attend!

Learn more and register to attend the Chandler screening event here: https://events.trellis.arizona.edu/en/f44lNu67/making-arizona-climate-conversation-event-chandler-az-5a3U6R2lFPf/overview
This project is supported by Arizona Environment, the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, Arizona Arts and the UA School of Theatre, Film & Television and is funded in part by the Southwest Center, the Southwest Foundation for Education and Historical Preservation and Arizona Humanities.

As design and construction standards have evolved over time to promote sustainable energy use, the students, staff and faculty at the University of Arizona are continuing to work strategically to improve facilities and reduce energy consumption.

Students for Sustainability has been particularly busy working with Facilities Management to improve energy efficiency in buildings across campus, recently completing a project to retrofit the Richard A. Harvill building with new, more energy efficient LED light fixtures.

With support from the Campus Sustainability Fund and the Utility Modification Revolving Fund, the team "developed our project to be more than just new lights; we have actively pursued educating students on the renovation through social media posts and an art installation dedicated to our project," said Avery Berger, a junior studying architecture and sustainable built environments.

Read more about this project and its impacts on the website!

https://sustainability.arizona.edu/featured-story/lighting-way-check-out-harvills-latest-glow

Can sound help us understand a warming climate? A new center led by Materials Science and Engineering Professor Pierre Deymier will explore this question.

With funding from the National Science Foundation and partners across eight universities, New Frontiers of Sound will utilize "topological acoustics," which allows researchers to see and exploit properties of sound that were not previously visible, like looking at the field with a new pair of eyeglasses – or better yet, listening to it with a new pair of hearing aids.

Read more with

https://kjzz.org/content/1872606/how-topological-acoustics-can-help-us-better-understand-warming-climate

The saguaro cactus is the keystone of the remarkable Sonoran Desert ecosystem, Desert Laboratory .tumamoc researcher Peter Breslin, PhD, told .

However, relocating saguaros often increases their risk of mortality, as federal officials experienced after moving over 100 along the Arizona-Mexico border.

Read more at the link in bio!
https://kjzz.org/content/1871287/more-100-saguaros-were-transplanted-trumps-rush-build-border-wall-many-have-died

When art + science + community come together, you get a full room and a vibrant discussion! It was great to hear from so many voices at the kick-off event for 'Making Arizona.' Stay tuned for future screenings in Chandler, Flagstaff and Yuma!

https://bit.ly/3wUc6UA

Interested in staying up-to-date with environment and sustainability research and creative activity at the University of Arizona? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Dirt, featuring curated news, events, announcements, opportunities and more, providing you with information on all things environment!

Sign up here: https://bit.ly/3PfzrWZ

📚Tucson Festival of Books is just around the corner – Are you planning on attending?

Taking place right in the heart of the UArizona Mall this upcoming March 9-10, and with over 65 local and national organizations showcased, Science City is the place to be for all things STEM at TFOB! Stop by their four themed "neighborhoods," Everyday Life, Natural World, Tomorrow, and You, packed with interactive exhibits and offering options for everyone to explore! The Arizona Institute for Resilience (that’s us!) will be there alongside the Cooperative Extension, Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter Observatory, the Desert Legume Program, Kartchner Caverns State Park, Tucson Herpetological Society, and many more. We hope to see you there! 📚🧬