ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE
Chris Benbow 6, Mar 9 mins
9 mins
The Ritz Herald
Mount Sinabung, Indonesia. © Yosh Ginsu

Natural disasters are occurring more frequently, disrupting lives and economies worldwide. With these events becoming harder to predict, reliable climate data has never been more essential. Advanced analysis of weather patterns, historical trends, and environmental changes provides valuable insights that can save lives. Dr. Philippe Smith discusses how data shapes predictions, so communities and leaders can better prepare for what’s ahead.

Understanding Climate Data

Accurate natural disaster prediction relies on analyzing climate data, which records Earth’s atmospheric and environmental conditions over time. This data helps experts identify potential disaster warning signs by revealing key environmental trends.

Climate data is grouped into categories reflecting significant environmental factors. Temperature records track daily highs and lows, seasonal averages, and long-term shifts, providing insight into trends like heat waves or ice melting, which can lead to flooding. Precipitation data, including rainfall and snow measurements, assess the risks of storms and droughts. Analyzing changes in these patterns helps predict floods, landslides, or water scarcity. Atmospheric pressure data highlights shifts in weather systems; low-pressure areas often indicate storms, while high-pressure areas may signal dry conditions, aiding in hurricane forecasts.

Reliable predictions draw from a variety of data sources.

“Advances in technology and research have enhanced data collection methods, boosting accuracy and relevance,” says Dr. Philippe Smith. “Satellites orbit Earth and provide real-time insights into temperature, cloud cover, and atmospheric composition, offering a global view for tracking large-scale weather systems.”

Ground-based weather stations monitor local conditions such as temperature, rainfall, and wind speed, providing consistent information for specific areas. Climate models use historical and current data to simulate future conditions, predicting long-term trends like rising sea levels and increased storm activity.

Each source contributes a…

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Senator Padilla Announces $122.9 Million in Federal Funding for Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Projects in California
The Ritz Herald

Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation will award $122.9 million for six California projects to build zero-emission vehicle charging and fueling infrastructure, including over $55 million for medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles. The funding comes through the Federal Highway Administration’s…

Flying Green: Transforming Aviation With Sustainable Goals
The Ritz Herald

The aviation industry is at a transformative moment globally, driven by sustainability goals that aim to minimize the environmental impact of flying. Airlines, manufacturers, and regulators are under pressure to adopt greener technologies, such as Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs), electric aircraft, and hydrogen propulsion. These innovations promise to revolutionize…

Study Reveals Lingering Indoor Air Pollutants in Homes After Colorado’s Marshall Fire
The Ritz Herald

2021’s Marshall Fire became the most destructive fire in Colorado history, burning nearly 1,000 homes and forcing more than 37,000 residents of Boulder County to evacuate.

New research by scientists at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder found compromised indoor air quality…

U.S. House and Senate Pass Bipartisan Legislation: The Groundbreaking U.S. Foundation for International Conservation Act and the WILD Act
The Ritz Herald

The following statement was released today by the Wildlife Conservation Society upon the passage of the bipartisan U.S. Foundation for International Conservation Act and the WILD Act. Both were part of the National Defense Authorization Act headed to the president for his signature.

Wildlife Conservation Society’s Executive Vice President for…

8 mins
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Brandon Quintanilla and Spc. Cameron Bryant, both Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Specialists from the 172nd Chemical Company, 2nd Chemical Battalion, 48th Chemical Brigade, 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command, based out of Fort Riley, Kansas, sort batteries at a homesite in Pacific Palisades, California, Feb. 16, 2025. © Sgt. Maj. Casey Nelsen
The Ritz Herald
Soldiers assigned to the 172nd Chemical Company and the 21st Chemical Company removed hazardous waste from sites where homes once stood in Southern California as part of the wildfire response mission

U.S. Army Chemical Corps Soldiers recently worked with joint and interagency partners to support the wildfire response mission in Southern California, Feb. 12-17, 2025.

Highly trained Soldiers from the 172nd Chemical Company (Hazard Response) and the 21st Chemical Company (Hazard Response) joined together with Sailors, Marines and Airmen under the command of U.S. Northern Command’s Joint Task Force-Civil Support to remove hazardous waste from debris ridden homesites in California.

The Fort Riley, Kansas-based 172nd Chemical Company (Hazard Response) “Gladiators” are part of the 2nd Chemical Battalion and the Fort Bragg, North Carolina-based 21st Chemical Company (Hazard Response) “Blackjacks” are part of the 83rd Chemical Battalion. Both units are part of the 48th Chemical Brigade, under the Army’s 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command — the U.S. military’s premier multifunctional and deployable CBRNE formation.

Capt. Addison M. Love, the commander of the 172nd Chemical Company (Hazard Response), said the Soldiers were selected for the mission based on their readiness.

“Fifty-three Soldiers from 172d Chemical Company and 12 Soldiers from 21st Chemical Company combined under my command activated in response to the Southern California wildfires to assist FEMA and support the Environmental Protection Agency hazardous material collection and removal effort in the Los Angeles,…

2 mins
Wild vicuñas in the Peruvian Andes forage on plants growing in a hotspot amidst otherwise rocky, barren land once covered by glaciers. © Kelsey Reider
The Ritz Herald
JMU researcher: Andean vicuñas promote rapid ecosystem development

Recent research from James Madison University reveals that animal dung is crucial in accelerating ecosystem development on nutrient-poor soils exposed by melting glaciers in the Andes Mountains. Led by biology professor Kelsey Reider, this study highlights the significant impact of wild vicuñas, relatives of alpacas and llamas, in transforming barren landscapes into thriving habitats.

In the tropical Andes, vegetation growth is often stunted for long periods post-glacier melt due to nutrient-deficient soils. However, the presence of vicuñas has been shown to considerably enhance the potential for new plant life, as detailed in a study published on nature.com.

Collaborating with researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder, Reider examined the ecosystems at elevations reaching 17,700 feet, revealing that animal excrement significantly alters the soil’s biotic and abiotic components. The dung, found in concentrated areas known as latrines, maintains a more stable soil temperature amidst the drastic fluctuations typical of high-altitude environments — where nights can feel like winter while days are reminiscent of summer.

Furthermore, these latrines contribute essential organic matter and nutrients, fostering a more conducive environment for plant growth than latrine-free areas. This process benefits flora and creates nutrient hotspots that serve as habitats for various animal species,…

U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby Achieves LEED Gold Certification, Showcasing Commitment to Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship
The Ritz Herald

In recognition of the Department’s commitment to environmental leadership and sustainable design, the new U.S. Embassy Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Gold certification from the United States Green Building Council.

Designed in collaboration by KCCT Architecture and Krueck Sexton Partners and constructed…

Guardsmen Deliver Food to Alaska Community Hit by Typhoon
The Ritz Herald

Alaska National Guardsmen delivered nearly 14,000 pounds of frozen beef, chicken and pork this month to Toksook Bay, Alaska, helping residents still recovering from losses sustained when Typhoon Merbok flooded thousands of communities in September 2022.

The storm’s impact and ensuing power outages caused vital meat stores to spoil. After…

New Study Identifies Key Traits Linked to Bird Extinctions, Highlighting Urgent Need for Conservation Efforts
The Ritz Herald

Looking to inform the conservation of critically endangered bird species, University of Utah biologists completed an analysis identifying traits that correlate with all 216 bird extinctions since 1500.

Species most likely to go extinct sooner were endemic to islands, lacked the ability to fly, had larger bodies and sharply angled wings,…

Central Park Conservancy Gala Shines With ‘Fortune’s Fête,’ Raising Over $1.2 Million for the Iconic Park
The Ritz Herald

On November 20, the Central Park Conservancy Gala welcomed over 400 guests for a magical evening nestled in the heart of Manhattan. Thanks to unusually warm weather and the stunning backdrop of vibrant autumn leaves, attendees enjoyed a leisurely stroll through the park before making their way to the…

3 mins
The Ritz Herald
A monarch butterfly at Buckley Space Force Base, Aug. 29, 2024. © Air Force Senior Airman Joshua Hollis
Defense Department unveils conservation strategy to support monarch butterfly protections while ensuring military readiness
By / Environmental Reporter

Last month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed the monarch butterfly be afforded new protections under the Endangered Species Act.

The Defense Department, with nearly 27 million acres of land, air and water resources, already plays a role in providing protections for the monarch butterfly. However, the new “Conservation Strategy for the Monarch Butterfly” details what its role will be if the monarch butterfly becomes federally listed as a threatened species under the ESA.

In preparation for the monarch’s potential listing, the department has been collaborating with USFWS to develop a conservation strategy that allows DOD to contribute to the monarch’s conservation. That same collaborative effort also ensures that the department will still be able to perform its mission and maintain military readiness.

The strategy’s key tenets are to enable DOD to meet its mission with flexibility and certainty while participating in the conservation of the monarch butterfly.

The strategy promotes the continued implementation of existing conservation programs to benefit the monarch butterfly on the over 1.7 million acres of grasslands that the department manages by providing nectar and milkweed resources and protecting 53 sites for overwintering monarchs. These efforts allow for realistic military training, testing and operations on natural landscapes that are critical for maintaining mission readiness.

“Mission readiness is predicated on having sufficient access to open lands and ranges to enable our troops to train and test. To achieve this, the actively conducts natural resources management that provides conservation benefits to millions of acres that it oversees,” said Ron Tickle, the deputy assistant secretary…

Elephant Seal Population Struggles After Devastating H5N1 Outbreak in Argentina: Only a Third of Expected Returns
The Ritz Herald

The sounds of barking elephant seals are again in the air along the breeding grounds of Península Valdés, Argentina—but it’s quieter. Almost exactly a year after a massive outbreak of H5N1, highly pathogenic avian influenza killed more than 17,000 elephant seals, including about 97% of their pups, scientists estimate…

Holcim and Detroit Wayne County Port Authority Secures EPA Grant to Propel Zero-Emission Initiatives at Detroit Port
The Ritz Herald

Holcim, in close partnership with the Detroit Wayne County Port Authority (DWCPA), was awarded a grant through the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Ports program. The joint grant supports the Detroit Port Authority’s broader Zero-Emission Technology Deployment program to accelerate the decarbonization of the port and improve…

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $15.3 Million to Support New American Climate Corps Projects in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, PA
The Ritz Herald

Leaders from the Biden-Harris Administration, the State of Pennsylvania, and municipal agencies gathered in Philadelphia today to announce that PowerCorpsPHL, in collaboration with Landforce in Pittsburgh, has been selected to receive $15.3 million to expand urban forestry, repurpose wood waste from down and dead trees to higher value lumber…

4 mins
Airmen assigned to the 129th Rescue Wing, California Air National Guard, at Moffett Air National Guard Base, Calif., prepare an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter to help battle the Palisades Fire, Jan. 9, 2025. © Army Master Sgt. Ray Aquino, National Guard
The Ritz Herald
U.S. Military already fighting fires in California, ready to do more

The Defense Department now has 500 active-duty troops and a variety of equipment on standby to assist with the wildfires in California, said the deputy Pentagon press secretary.

“As announced by the president, 500 active-duty personnel currently stationed at Camp Pendleton, California, are preparing to support requests from federal and state authorities with route clearance, commodity distribution, search and rescue, rotary wing, airlift and general support, as requested,” said Sabrina Singh during a briefing today.

Those 500 active-duty personnel are from the Marine Corps, she said.

March Air Reserve Base, about 60 miles east of Los Angeles, is also now serving as a staging base for efforts by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Singh also said that a defense coordinating officer and support element are being activated as well.

The department is also preparing some 10 Navy-provided helicopters with water delivery buckets to assist with aerial fire suppression, Singh said. Those Navy helicopters, along with aircrew, are coming from California’s Naval Station North Island, Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendelton and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.

“Under a long-standing memorandum of agreement with CAL FIRE, active-duty units in Naval Region Southwest are prepared to provide aircraft and aircrew to support the firefighting efforts,”…

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U.S. Department of Energy Announces $65 Million Funding Opportunity for Small Businesses in Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization

Roscha / RH
On Dec. 27, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a $65 million funding opportunity to support projects through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer
New Study Reveals Harmful Effects of Tire-Wear Particles on Aquatic Life
The Ritz Herald

In a study published in Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, researchers from Hangzhou Normal University uncovered the adverse health effects of tire-wear particles (TWPs) on aquatic organisms. The study, led by Zhiquan Liu, focused on the hepatotoxicity of TWP leachates, revealing significant impacts on the gut-liver axis and oxidative stress levels…

AmeriCorps Ramps Up Disaster Response in North Carolina and Florida Following Hurricanes Helene and Milton
The Ritz Herald

AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, announced today that more than 140 additional AmeriCorps members are deploying to North Carolina and Florida this week in response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. These AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team members will join ongoing recovery…

Journey Into Panda Ridge: Panda Camera Launches at the San Diego Zoo
The Ritz Herald

The San Diego Zoo launched its giant panda live camera, enabling people around the globe to virtually connect with Xin Bao and Yun Chuan. Viewers can enter their world and marvel as the pandas tumble, climb, explore, nap, and munch on bamboo across their dynamic habitats.

Xin Bao and Yun…