News

Kennebec Journal interviews Birkel on extreme weather in Maine

January 3, 2025 The Kennebec Journal interviewed Maine state climatologist Sean Birkel on how extreme weather patterns, such as the December 2023 flooding along the Kennebec River, will affect Maine in the future. Birkel said events like the flooding last December will get more severe with climate change. “We’re much more uncertain about the frequency […]

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Forbes cites Climate Reanalyzer data visualization

Forbes cited a data visualization from the University of Maine Climate Change Institute Climate Reanalyzer that shows daily sea surface temperatures throughout 2024 in the area of the Atlantic Ocean where tropical cyclones typically form.

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Vendy Hazukova standing on the staircase landing in Sawyer Env. Res. Bdlg.

Vendy Hazuková: Diving deep into Arctic lake ecology

June 7, 2024 Someone who knows how to smile in subzero weather, Vendy Hazuková’s grit in the field has defined her as a graduate student at the University of Maine. Much of her time learning was outside of the classroom collecting samples in the Arctic, which ultimately led to a postdoctoral position in Northern Europe […]

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Formal photo of Marcella Sorg.

Sorg receives Governor’s Award for helping combat opioid epidemic

From the piers in Casco Bay to the marinas of the midcoast and wharves along Downeast shorelines, working waterfronts are crucial to Maine’s economy and communities. Faced with the threat of rising sea levels, stronger and more frequent storms, aging infrastructure and development pressures, Gov. Janet Mills and her administration have developed strategies and nature-based […]

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COP 29

Baku, Azerbaijan, November 11th – 22nd, 2024.   Over the next two weeks, members of the University of Maine and Maine Law delegation will be following key negotiation streams including discussions linked to a new global goal for annual investments in climate policy, carbon trading mechanisms, adaptation for Indigenous communities, and operationalizing the loss and damage fund. […]

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WFVX interviews Birkel on Maine’s current climate outlook

WFVX (FOX 22/ABC 7 in Bangor) interviewed Sean Birkel, Maine state climatologist, on the drought affecting Maine. Birkel, assistant research professor with the Climate Change Institute and University of Maine Cooperative Extension, said the drought is beginning to affect ground moisture and water well supply, but isn’t yet considered severe. Upcoming precipitation could better prepare […]

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Behavior of the Cordillera Darwin Icefield during the Last Termination

Expedition Location: Tierra del Fuego, Chile Expedition Dates: March 7-April 5, 2024 Field Team Members: Dr. Brenda Hall* (co-PI), Dr. Thomas Lowell* (co-PI), Dr. Rodrigo Soteres (Postdoc), Meghan Spoth (PhD student), Maraina Miles (PhD student), Sera Thomas (MS student), Annika Schmidt (MS student) Funding Support: Dan and Betty Churchill Exploration Fund Introduction How rapid was […]

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COP 29 Blog

Baku, Azerbaijan, November 11th – 22nd, 2024.   Over the next two weeks, members of the University of Maine and Maine Law delegation will be following key negotiation streams including discussions linked to a new global goal for annual investments in climate policy, carbon trading mechanisms, adaptation for Indigenous communities, and operationalizing the loss and damage fund. […]

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