New HMEI director Gabriel Vecchi aims to expand campus, community research and teaching partnerships
August 30, 2021 ・ Morgan KellyGabriel Vecchi, professor of geosciences and the High Meadows Environmental Institute (HMEI), was named director of HMEI effective July 1. Vecchi succeeds Michael Celia, the Theodora Shelton Pitney Professor of Environmental Studies and professor of civil and environmental engineering, who…
Rise and fall of water blisters offers glimpse beneath Greenland’s thick ice sheet
August 20, 2021 ・ Morgan KellyWater “blisters” trapped beneath the thick interior of Greenland’s ice sheet could provide critical insight into the hydrological network coursing deep below Earth’s second largest body of ice — and how it might be destabilized by climate change, according to…
Greater cloud formation over forests suggests replanting may cool the planet more than thought
August 9, 2021 ・ Liana WaitPlanting trees and replenishing forests are among the simplest and most appealing natural climate solutions, but the impact of trees on atmospheric temperature is more complex than meets the eye. One question among scientists is whether reforesting midlatitude locations such…
‘Less than 1% probability’ that Earth’s energy imbalance increase occurred naturally, say Princeton and GFDL scientists
July 28, 2021 ・ Liz Fuller-WrightSunlight in, reflected and emitted energy out. That’s the fundamental energy balance sheet for our planet. If Earth’s clouds, oceans, ice caps and land surfaces send as much energy back up to space as the sun shines down on us,…
Tropical birds may skip breeding when hot, dry conditions persist
July 20, 2021 ・ Liana WaitDuring the past several years, ecologists have warned that prolonged periods of drought may be leading to declines in tropical bird populations by reducing reproductive success in adults. Now, Princeton researchers report that some tropical birds may not only be…
Resplandy receives NSF CAREER Award to study the formation and future of Pacific and Indian Ocean dead zones
July 8, 2021 ・ Morgan KellyLaure Resplandy, assistant professor of geosciences and the High Meadows Environmental Institute (HMEI), received a five-year, $654,000 CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation to examine the complexity of factors that lead to the formation and expansion of oxygen-depleted regions,…
Exhaustive comparison of continental-scale hydrological models ensures better management of water resources
July 6, 2021 ・ Morgan KellyWhile Earth’s freshwater resources are finite, the challenge of effectively and sustainably managing them as we head into a warmer future with a growing human population means keeping tabs on a seemingly endless network of above- and below-ground waterways. For…
Study shows how cities can consider race and income in household energy efficiency programs
June 7, 2021 ・ Rachel NuwerClimate change and social inequality are two pressing issues that often overlap. A new study led by Princeton researchers offers a roadmap for cities to address inequalities in energy use by providing fine-grained methods for measuring both income and racial…
What is a net-zero city? Depends on how you count urban carbon emissions
May 13, 2021 ・ Morgan KellyAs more people call for action against climate change, more than 500 cities worldwide have established low-carbon and net-zero carbon goals intended to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the coming decades. But a major challenge to these decarbonization plans…
