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IS NITROGEN THE NEXT CARBON? The Role of Agriculture on Air Quality and Climate

Dr. Viney P. Aneja, Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University

Date: Monday April 3, 2017
Place: PACCAR 202
Time: 4:10 p.m.—5:00 p.m.

Agricultural air emissions produce significant local, regional and global impacts, such as odor, particulate matter (PM) exposure, eutrophication, acidification, climate effects, exposure to toxics, and pathogens. Excess reactive nitrogen threatens the quality of air, soil, and water, with implications for human health and the environment. Most important in the US are ammonia (where agriculture accounts for ~90% of total emissions), reduced sulfur (unquantified), PM2.5 (~16%), PM10 (~18%), methane (29%), nitrous oxide (72%); and odor and emissions of pathogens (both unquantified). Reactive nitrogen inputs in the US and the world have been increasing, largely due to human activities associated with food production and fossil fuel combustion. Despite the obvious benefits of a plentiful supply of food and energy, the adverse consequences associated with the accumulation of reactive nitrogen in the environment are large. Nitrogen pollution poses an even greater challenge than carbon, because once a new reactive nitrogen molecule is created, it can, in sequence, travel throughout the environment contributing to major environmental problems, i.e., the nitrogen cascade. There is a need for an integrated nitrogen management strategy and new policies that cover these concerns, while simultaneously challenging the scientific community to continue quantifying the benefits of nitrogen mitigation.

For More inofrmation

Environmental Science Writing for Public Impact Workshop- April 12, 2017 3-5:30pm

Good communication skills are critical not only for increasing public understanding of environmental science, but also for crossing disciplinary boundaries and helping to inform important societal decisions.  This workshop is designed for environmental scientists and students who’d like to learn how to tailor their ideas and information for the general public.  Led by several award-winning local faculty, including Scott Slovic from University of Idaho, and Peter Chilson, Linda Russo and Debbie Lee from WSU, this 1.5 hr workshop will include a discussion of several models of powerful science writing, and provide hands-on training in small groups to offer strategies for reaching non-scientists.  For more information and to register for the event, please visit: http://cereo.wsu.edu/envsci-writing-workshop/

Postdoctoral position at NCAR in statistical modeling of land use

National Center for Atmospheric Research
Boulder, Colorado

Full consideration of applications received by April 7, 2017

The Integrated Assessment Modeling group at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado, seeks a postdoctoral researcher in spatial modeling of land use change to develop and apply models at the US and global scale with a focus on agriculture. Key functions in this position are to (1) analyze and employ historical land use and land cover data, including crop-specific changes in agricultural land use, to estimate and validate statistical models of land use change; (2) participate in a comparison of results with those from other land use models; (3) conceive of, and carry out, improvements to the statistical model based on the results of the comparison with observations and with other models; (4) interact with integrated assessment and land surface modelers (including those employing the NCAR Community Land Model, CLM) to incorporate land use change in analyses of climate effects on agriculture, energy, land, and water.
The successful applicant will join an interdisciplinary research group at NCAR that includes both social and natural scientists working on the climate change issue (see https://www2.cgd.ucar.edu/sections/tss/iam). The group develops and applies new socio-economic models, and linkages to climate models, that leverage NCAR’s status as a world-leading climate modeling center.
The position requires expertise in spatial statistical methods; familiarity (or willingness to become familiar) with land use data and modeling at regional to global scales, especially related to agricultural land use; and proficiency in programming in a suitable language (e.g. R, Python, Matlab). Familiarity with Fortran is helpful and experience with geographic information systems is desirable.
This is a full-time two-year term position. For a detailed job description and instructions on how to apply, see goo.gl/Fm57nw.
For more information on the position, contact Brian O’Neill (email: boneill@ucar.edu).

 

Snake River Dams Debate

If you care about Green Energy, Water Rights, and The Salmon Population
Join us for  WRC YP@WSU Snake River Dams Debate

Join Washington Policy Center’s Young Professionals Club at WSU for a lively discussion over the future of the Snake River Dams. State and local experts will be there to debate the question: Should the Snake River Dams be removed?

The event is free to attend and open to all!!

Washington State University
March 28, 6:30pm in Goertzen 21
To register, go to www.washingtonpolicy.org/events

 

Washington State Municipal Stormwater Conference, May 16 & 17, 2017

The Day 1 half day schedule and agenda is complete. Day one provides three workshops/ training sessions options.  Day 1 Pre-Conference Activity (organized and hosted by the Eastern Washington Stormwater Group) Join the Eastern Washington Stormwater Group during this 2-hour open house as they present posters of their BMP Effectiveness Studies.

The Day 2 schedule is complete. The Day 2 agenda tracks are completing the review process by the municipal advisory committee (comprised of municipal stormwater managers statewide) and Ecology with the goal of completion March 2nd.

Visit our  web-page dedicated to bring you the most up-to date details regarding his event. 

If you have further questions, please call Laurie Larson at 253-445-4593 or Email.