Water Year Update: March 2021

Hydrologist Bart Nijssen and climatologist John Abatzoglou report on the 2021 water year, and use the Climate Toolbox to tell the story Bart Nijssen and John Abatzoglou Daylight hours are increasing rapidly and the end of winter is in sight. So it is an ideal time to do a quick recap of the water year…

Oregonians’ Views on the 2020 Wildfires and Climate Change

Sociologist Hilary Boudet and her team share their research on how Oregonians were affected by the 2020 wildfire season Hilary Boudet, Rachel Mooney, Leanne Giordono, and Greg Stelmach The impacts of the 2020 wildfires that affected much of the Pacific Northwest and western United States far exceeded those in recent memory. The fires burned more…

Oregon Climate Assessment Identifies Advances in Climate Science and Opportunities for Resilience

Oregon Climate Change Research Institute Director and CIRC Co-LEad Erica Fleishman shares highlights from the recently released Fifth Oregon Climate Assessment Erica Fleishman Every two years, the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute (OCCRI) assesses the state of climate change science and the likely effects of climate change on Oregon. On January 5, 2021, OCCRI released…

Climate Change and Future River Flooding in the Northwest

CIRC researchers publish a new study on increases in flooding in the Columbia River basin under climate change Laura Queen River flooding in the Northwest kills people, destroys property, and both disturbs and sustains ecosystems. From historic examples such as the Heppner flood of 1903 and the Vanport flood of 1948 to flooding of the…

Climate Enabling Conditions and Drivers of the Western Oregon Wildfires of 2020

Climatologists John Abatzoglou, David Rupp, and Larry O’Neill break down the forces that enabled Oregon’s historic fires in September 2020 John Abatzoglou, David Rupp, and Larry O’Neill Over half an inch of rain fell over Salem, Oregon, and much of western Oregon, on September 18. In most years this ordinary rainfall event would not have…

Historic Droughts and Fires: A Recap of the 2020 Water Year in Oregon and Washington and the 2021 Outlook

The year 2020 has been exceptional in many ways, and that extends to the water year (1 October 2019 – 30 September 2020). On October 28 and 29, scientists, resource managers, and planners convened virtually for the Water Year 2020 Recap and 2021 Outlook meeting. This highly collaborative event was sponsored by the National Integrated…