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CBS News
an hour ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Colorado weather driving surge in mosquitoes, but other insects need help
As Summer heats up, the bugs are out in Colorado As Summer heats up, the bugs are out in Colorado As Summer heats up, the bugs are out in Colorado Bug season in Colorado is off to a strong start thanks to the heat and recent rain across much of the state. There are some to watch out for and others that need our help. From grasshoppers devouring gardens to mosquitoes multiplying after rainstorms, insect activity across Colorado is on the rise, and weather is driving the surge. CBS "Some insects thrive in dry, hot weather, like our grasshoppers," said Lisa Mason, Horticulture Specialist and Entomologist at Colorado State University's Arapahoe County extension. "But Miller moths, on the other hand, prefer cooler temperatures." Expect more grasshoppers on the eastern plains. Miller moths are passing through quickly, heading into the mountains to escape the heat. Recent rains also mean mosquitoes, and lots of them. "Our partners in Arapahoe County Public Health have actually seen double, and in some cases triple, the number of mosquitoes," said Mason. CBS To keep bites at bay, Mason recommended dumping standing water, wearing long sleeves at dawn and dust and using repellent with DEET. Japanese beetles are also thriving in lawns and gardens. Mason said drying out your lawn between waterings can stop them before they start. "The adults thrive in hot weather," explained Mason. "In fact, that makes them just want to feed more. So we're likely to see high numbers of Japanese beetles again." CBS But while pests are booming, bees are in decline. Coloradans can help by planting native pollinator-friendly flowers like aspen daisies and prairie sunflowers. "The cool things about insects is we have so much biodiversity, and most of our biodiversity is in our landscapes and we barely even notice. So, go outside and observe," Mason suggested. Bug season is buzzing, but knowing what to expect helps you protect your yard, your health and the helpful insects too.
ABC News
3 hours ago
- Science
- ABC News
Antarctic clouds and pristine air hold clues to climate model blind spots
From the deck of an enormous research ship, surrounded by icebergs, Chelsea Bekemeier releases a tethered balloon into the air. She's standing in temperatures well below freezing, stationed deep in the Southern Ocean, just off East Antarctica. It's about as far from civilisation as you can get. The closest city, Hobart, is 5,000 kilometres away. But for scientists like Ms Bekemeier, this remote part of the world represents a treasure trove. The Southern Ocean is known as the "engine room" for global weather and climate, yet it remains a big blind spot for climate data. Scientists from around the world are making the mammoth journey to this end of the Earth to try and fill in crucial gaps in knowledge and improve global climate and weather models. The journey, which she returned from last month, is not for the faint-hearted. It took Ms Bekemeier — who is based at Colorado State University — three flights spanning more than 24 hours just to get to Hobart. It is then another week of travel on board the Australian Antarctic Division's RSV Nuyina to reach Denman Glacier, one of the largest glaciers in East Antarctica. She spent nine weeks on board the massive icebreaker, specially designed to break through the ice and huge swells. The remote location and harsh environment are the very reasons research has been so limited in this part of the globe, especially in the lead-up to winter. "I was very nervous," Ms Bekemeier said. "They made it very clear to us after a year of medical testing, psychological testing, jumping through hoops, that you are in a remote region on a boat. "If you need help, we have two doctors, but you really cannot get out. "It takes a week if you're in good condition to get back to land." The scientists on board the research vessel were investigating a range of important subjects — from marine life to sea floor mapping and recent rapid ice loss. But for Ms Bekemeier, a climate scientist, it was all about the clouds. The balloon the researchers released was fitted with sensors to capture data from the inside of these clouds. Clouds are a crucial aspect of the Earth's climate system, acting to cool and warm it by reflecting sunlight and trapping heat, like a blanket. "Clouds are constantly doing this job of balancing the incoming sunlight," she said. "You can see that when you go outside on a hot day and the clouds roll in, and the temperature drops pretty rapidly. "Then at night, if it's really overcast, it actually feels warmer because at night they insulate the planet." Yet clouds are also the biggest source of uncertainty for scientists projecting climate change, particularly "mixed phase" clouds, which contain both ice and water. It's this type of cloud that Ms Bekemeier is trying to better understand. "The Southern Ocean is the cloudiest region on the planet," she said. Currently, climate models struggle to represent the ratio of ice to water inside the clouds over this region — something that has big ramifications for temperatures on the ground. "We really want to understand these clouds so that we can use them in the models to project future climate," Ms Bekemeier said. Making matters more complex is the region's uniquely fresh air. While clouds on land are influenced by pollutants and dust, the Southern Ocean has some of the most pristine air on the planet, meaning the make-up of its clouds is different. Clouds formed over the Southern Ocean can contain microscopic marine life — like fragments of phytoplankton and gases they release. Ms Bekemeier said understanding what goes into making clouds in this region was a crucial step in shedding light on one of the biggest blind spots in climate models. A bit closer to home, CSIRO research scientist Ruhi Humphries has recently returned from a separate research trip onboard the RV Investigator, which also ventured into the vast, icy waters of the Southern Ocean. He, too, is interested in the region's uniquely fresh air, not just for clouds but for what it can tell us about the impacts of human activity on the atmosphere. "In a city, you would have lots of different sources of pollution. So you've got your cars that are spewing out CO2 and particles, and all your industry." This clean air over the Southern Ocean gives scientists a better idea of the bigger picture of climate change, away from pollution. "It's what we call baseline air," he said. "If you are going on a diet, you need to know your before weight so you can figure out your after weight and how much you've lost. "And for climate change, if we want to understand our impact and how to mitigate that effectively, we need to know what the atmosphere looks like without that pollution. "So, we have to find a location on the planet, which is as clean as possible … so then we can understand what the impact of humans is." This data has been captured in north-west Tasmania, at the Kennaook/Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station, for nearly 50 years. But now, Dr Humphries and his team have the opportunity to cross-check how fresh that air is with the use of state-of-the-art technology. "We've always assumed … that the air that we measured there is representative of that really distant Southern Ocean air," he said. "But now … we're taking the ship south-west, down into the Southern Ocean, to test how far Kennaook/Cape Grim is representative of that baseline air." According to both Dr Humphries and Ms Bekemeier, the research taking place in the Southern Ocean is a key part of understanding the impacts of climate change globally. "The Southern Ocean is vital to the future of our planet," Ms Bekemeier said. "Changes to this region will have impacts for the entire planet; impacts on the Antarctic circulations, impacts on the polar jet stream, impacts on climate around the world, impacts on weather in Australia." It's for this reason that both Ms Bekemeier and Dr Humphries say it's important the whole world works together, as part of a global endeavour to advance climate science. "We're part of global monitoring networks, and we're doing global climate models." For Ms Bekemeier, this hits particularly close to home. Her role on the Southern Ocean voyage was funded by the US National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF has faced significant funding cuts this year under the Trump administration, with hundreds of research grants terminated. "I am really devastated to see what is happening to climate science and science in general in the United States and the gutting of the US Antarctic program," she said. "I'm grateful that we have colleagues that can continue this work because we might not be able to do it in our own country."
Boston Globe
13-06-2025
- Climate
- Boston Globe
Hurricane season started two weeks ago. Where are the storms?
But one usually arrives before the end of the month, and Phil Klotzbach, a hurricane expert at Colorado State University, said it was unclear when this year's first storm would form. Here's a look at what's going on. Advertisement A storm gets a name when its sustained winds reach 39 miles per hour, and it becomes a Category 1 hurricane when they reach 74 miles per hour. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up A key ingredient for that is warm ocean waters, with temperatures at 80 degrees or above, and Jason Dunion, a meteorologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said many locations across the Atlantic had not quite reached that threshold. 'The waters are still warming, and they're actually a little bit cooler than last year, so we're not seeing some of those record temperatures,' Dunion said. Sea surface temperatures set records last year, which also made hurricanes more likely to rapidly intensify and become more destructive. Saharan dust carried from North Africa is another factor. It travels far across the Atlantic Ocean, creating a layer of dry air in the atmosphere that can suppress storm development. Dunion described the layer as a combination of 'superdry air that inhibits clouds, warm air that helps put a lid on clouds, and thunderstorm development, and a strong jet of winds that acts to tilt and tear thunderstorms apart.' Advertisement This week, a plume of dust spread from the central Atlantic all the way through the Caribbean, for more than 2,500 miles, which is roughly distance between Washington, D.C., and San Francisco. 'It's huge,' said Dunion, adding that conditions in large portions of the Atlantic just weren't favorable for hurricanes because of the dust plume. The season for trans-Atlantic dust begins in June and tapers off in mid-August, just as hurricane activity usually picks up. Dunion calls mid-August the 'switch point.' Klotzbach said wind shear had also been thwarting the formation of storms in the Gulf of Mexico, where tropical storms often form at this point in the season. Wind shear is the change of wind speed and direction with height, and it is notorious for shredding apart hurricanes and keeping tropical storms from developing. Like NOAA, Klotzbach's team at Colorado State released a forecast this spring that predicted an above-average number of storms this year. But if the shear remains elevated for several more weeks, he said, he may scale back his forecast 'substantially.' On Wednesday, Klotzbach's team issued an update saying that, for now, it was standing by its earlier expectation. In a typical season, there are 14 named storms. NOAA has predicted between 13 and 19 this year; Klotzbach's team expects there to be 17. If the storm shear in the Gulf were to weaken and a storm were to move through the Caribbean or the Gulf, 'we certainly have plenty of fuel there to get a robust hurricane,' Klotzbach said. Advertisement In the eastern Pacific, where hurricane season began on May 15 and where storms typically form before they do in the Atlantic, has been off to a busy start. Four storms have formed off the west coast of North America: Alvin, Barbara, Cosme, and Dalila. Both seasons run through Nov. 30.
Express Tribune
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Mya Lesnar, daughter of Brock Lesnar, wins NCAA shot put national title
Mya Lesnar has cemented her place in Colorado State University (CSU) history, winning the Division I shot put national title at the 2025 NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon. The victory marked CSU's first outdoor national title in 20 years, since Loree Smith's hammer throw win in 2005. Mya, who's the daughter of WWE legend Brock Lesnar, delivered a standout performance with her top mark of 62 feet, 4 ½ inches, securing the title with precision. Each participant was given three attempts, and Lesnar made her intentions clear from the start, launching her first throw well beyond 60 feet to take the early lead. Illinois' Abria Smith finished second, with her third throw of the first round landing at 61 feet, 10 ¼ inches. However, Lesnar's second-best throw (61 feet, 11 inches) was enough to ensure the victory. The 23-year-old, who transferred from Arizona State to CSU, has steadily developed into one of the best shot putters in collegiate athletics. She credited her coach, Brian Bedard, for his guidance and the competitive spirit fostered within the team. Despite operating with fewer resources than major programs, such as those in the SEC or Big Ten, CSU has produced the most women's throwers (11) to compete at nationals over the last three years. Lesnar, who entered the competition ranked No. 1, praised her team's ability to perform without relying on lavish facilities. 'We don't have fancy things, but we have a coach that's all-in and teammates that trust us. That's all we need,' she remarked. 𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐏 🏆 Mya Lesnar is the @NCAATrackField Shot Put NATIONAL CHAMPION!!!!#Relentless x #CSURams — Colorado State T&F/XC (@CSUTrackFieldXC) June 13, 2025 This national title adds to Lesnar's already impressive list of achievements. In 2024, she claimed the shot put national title in indoor track and field, and her performance in the outdoor competition further solidified her status as one of the sport's rising stars. Her mark of 62 feet, 4 ½ inches would have placed sixth at the 2024 Paris Olympics, while her personal best of 64 feet, 3 ¾ inches set earlier in 2025 would have earned her a bronze medal at the same event. In other CSU news, Kajsa Borrman, a redshirt sophomore from Loveland High School, competed in the hammer throw at the NCAA Championships. Borrman finished 21st out of 24 competitors, recording a mark of 207 feet, 3 inches. Her performance earned her honorable mention All-American status in what was her first appearance at the national meet. Lesnar's victory has put CSU's track and field program back in the spotlight, with the university now celebrating its latest national champion and the promise of more to come.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Above-average hurricane forecast issued in US and it has a warning for Americans. Check details
Leading hurricane researchers are maintaining their forecast for an above-average 2025 Atlantic hurricane season . Americans have been warned to prepare for this year's hurricane season after a new hurricane forecast from Colorado State University (CSU) has emerged which states that the US coastline has an above-average chance of seeing at least one major hurricane make landfall this year, reports NewsWeek. The updated forecast was issued nearly two weeks after the Atlantic hurricane season began on June 1 and mirrors the university's first forecast of the year issued in April. Reports from Colorado State University state that a more active normal season is still expected. Colorado State University (CSU) said Wednesday that above-average sea-surface temperatures in the subtropical eastern Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea were a primary factor in their prediction of nine total hurricanes this year. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Rates ALSO READ: Kamala Harris vote dispute: Trump's 2024 election win is under lens. Will it overturn his presidency? Warning for Americans issued This year's Atlantic hurricane season started on June 1. So far, no tropical storms or hurricanes have formed in the Atlantic basin. The forecast of the first Atlantic hurricane was issued in spring this year. During that time, the forecasters were predicting 17 named storms, with nine strengthening into hurricanes and four becoming major hurricanes. The forecast falls within the ranges shared by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecast in May. Live Events The updated forecast from CSU revealed there is a 51 percent chance that at least one major hurricane will make landfall along the U.S. coastline this season. The chances drop to 26 percent for the East Coast, including the Florida peninsula, and 33 percent for the Gulf Coast, including the Florida panhandle. "The probability of U.S. and Caribbean major hurricane landfall is estimated to be above its long-period average," the forecast said. "A warmer-than-normal Atlantic combined with ENSO neutral conditions typically favors an active Atlantic hurricane season via dynamic and thermodynamic conditions that are conducive for developing hurricanes," the forecast said. ALSO READ: Air India plane crash: What is Mayday call that pilot issued before fatal tragedy in Ahmedabad The Eastern Pacific season, which began on May 15, has produced three named storms, including one hurricane. "Coastal residents are reminded that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to make it an active season for them. Thorough preparations should be made for every season, regardless of how much activity is predicted," the CSU said. National Hurricane Center (NHC) in a forecast for the Atlantic: "For the North Sea and the Gulf of America: Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 7 days." Trump announces plans to 'wean off' FEMA President Trump has given the clearest indication yet that his administration is ready to shut down the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and shift its operations to US states after the 2025 hurricane season sputters out. ALSO READ: Amid California unrest, anti-Trump protesters to hold 'No Kings' protests at 2,000 locations in US: 10 points 'We want to wean off of FEMA, and we want to bring it down to the state level,' Trump told reporters in the Oval Office Tuesday, months after he signed an executive order for a 'full-scale review' of the agency. 'A governor should be able to handle it, and frankly, if they can't handle it, the aftermath, then maybe they shouldn't be governor.' The order also called out FEMA's 'political bias' after a supervisor was dinged by a federal watchdog for engaging in illegal partisan activities by telling her disaster relief team responding to Hurricane Milton in Florida in October 2024 to 'avoid homes advertising Trump.'
