Climate change

An artist's rendering of the conditions during the End-Permian Mass Extinction, which wiped out nearly all life on earth.

Animals Died in ‘Toxic Soup’ During Earth’s Worst Mass Extinction, a Warning for Today

'The end-Permian is one of the best places to look for parallels with what's happening now'

UConn Researcher Develops Novel Storm Damage Prediction Model

Wei Zhang used GIS and statistical data to construct a novel model of tsunami damage in Fairfield, CT. The model can easily transfer to other storm types and communities.

A 3D rendering of the earth, seen from outer space. Confronting the challenges of climate change requires a 'whole-earth' approach, says UConn's Robert Thorson.

Rx for Humanity: Whole Earth Environmentalism

'We are producing rates of change faster than the Earth is used to experiencing, and that's a big problem'

Copepod (Zooplankton) are a group of small crustaceans found in the marine and freshwater habitat (Adobe Stock).

For Copepods, there is No Free Lunch when Coping with Climate Change

Challenges for this small marine animal have ripple effects through the whole food web and beyond

Study co-author Julie Granger sampled water from the Arctic Ocean aboard the US Coast Guard icebreaker Healy.

The Arctic Ocean’s Deep Past Provides Clues to its Imminent Future

'Ongoing environmental change in the Arctic is alarmingly rapid'

Jason Courtmanche presents first place to a middle school student at a 2018 award ceremony for Letters About Litrerature.

Their Efforts Today Will Impact the State, and the World, for Decades to Come

UConn researchers working in the environment, documenting people’s lives during the pandemic, and teaching children to write better will have profound implications in the future

Climate models predict that Long Island Sound will rise 20 inches in the next 30 years. On the left, the image shows a typical flood plus 20 inches; on the right, a 100 year flood similar to Hurricane Sandy, plus 20 inches. The color scale shows the flood water level: green < 0.5 feet (0.5’), yellow is between 0.5’ and 1’, orange between 1’ and 2’, and red is flooding over 2’. Flooding at the 2’ level washes away cars and SUVs and undermines many structures.

For Future Flood Control, Cities Need Strategy

What we consider a 100-year event is a conservative version of a 10-year event plus 20 inches—what will be a normal flood in 2050

CIRCA scholars are working to help Connecticut policymakers and towns adapt best practices for climate resilience to the Nutmeg State.

Expanding Climate Resilience with Forward-Thinking Policy Initiatives

Looking to other states for best practices and adapting them for Connecticut's needs

Some 'hot spots' in Fairfield and New Haven counties have seen average temperatures climb by five to 10 degrees over the past two decades.

CIRCA Webinar Presents Changes to Land Surface Temperature, Land Use in New Haven, Fairfield Counties

'Heat islands' in urban areas have experienced a five-to-10-degree temperature increase over the past 20 years

A new method of calculating the flow of water through coastal areas like salt marshes can help residents and planners better prepare for sea level rise and major storms.

A Simple Simulation to Help Coastal Towns Plan for Rising Sea Levels

Knowing how water moves through coastal structures can yield important insights for residents and planners