Accounting for Carbon

By Christina Dierkes

“Accounting” - a term than brings to mind banks, money and taxes. But when climate change researchers like Peter Curtis talk about carbon accounting, they’re interested in providing data that illustrates the effects of climate change and points out ways to mitigate these effects. Curtis studies the flow of carbon into and out of Great Lakes forests, and often introduces himself as a “carbon accountant” to those unfamiliar with his work. “Just like an accountant would do accounting for money at a business, we’re interested in how much carbon goes in and out of a forest,” he says.Read More

Investigating the Impacts of Climate Change on Ohio Agriculture and Forests

By Christina Dierkes

Agriculture is Ohio’s number one industry, encompassing more than 14 million acres of farmland and providing more than $5 billion worth of crops every year. But if predictions come true and climate change continues, the associated rising temperatures could seriously affect all aspects of agriculture: the types of crops farmers plant, when and where crops are planted, and the policies that will be needed to manage agriculture in harmony with environmental protection needs.Read More

Studying World Climate to Help Ohio

By Christina Dierkes

Did you know that almost all US states have a state climatologist? These researchers, in addition to duties within universities or governmental agencies, manage networks of volunteer weather observers across their state, compile and verify weather data, and make it available to interested parties. The climatologists’ knowledge of their state’s climate and weather patterns makes them an invaluable resource not only for those concerned about the impacts of today’s weather, but also for those responsible for adapting to new weather scenarios in a world affected by climate change.


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The Bird Watcher

By Christina Dierkes

“Modeling” - it’s not always about high fashion photoshoots or runway shows. In Steve Matthews’ case, it’s about finding out how climate change will affect birds and their habitats in the Eastern United States, and about how wildlife officials can manage these effects to maintain healthy bird populations in their areas of responsibility. Matthews and his colleagues use statistical models to visualize the potential habitat changes, and they develop improved models that consider more environmental factors to forge new connections. “We rely on those models to identify the important connections between species under current conditions, but as climate or habitat changes, it’s important to understand that these connections may break or shift,” Matthews says.Read More

The Swamp in OSU’s Backyard

By Christina Dierkes

When the climate change conversation turns to storing carbon emissions in plant materials, people tend to think about forests and other large, often woody plants. But some researchers have found that wetlands, which are often more commonly known as marshes and swamps, may be much more effective in storing atmospheric carbon in its inactive forms.

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Climate-Proofing Science Education in the Great Lakes

By Christina Dierkes

Climate change is becoming a challenge across the world, and the Great Lakes will face unique new conditions as the local climate shifts along with the global. And in addition to adapting to the new conditions, we will need to be able to teach the next generation of Great Lakes residents about a changing climate. Download the article.Download Article