May/June 2025 Newsletter - Now Out

The next NC CASC newsletter is now out. Explore stories on ecological scenarios for climate-smart management, fighting fire with fire, and wildly unpredictable warm-season rains.

New Publication on Climate Change Adaptation in National Parks

A new study quantifies both the magnitude of projected mid-century climate change and the associated uncertainty within 332 national park units in the continental United States.

Warm-Season Rainfall in the Northern Great Plains

The Northern Great Plains (NGP), spanning Montana, Wyoming, the Dakotas, and Nebraska, is more than just America’s agricultural heartland. This vast region produces two-thirds of U.S. wheat and over half its beef, while its unique "pothole" wetlands support 50% of North America’s waterfowl.

Fighting Fire with Fire

As another fire season begins across the western U.S., one of the most effective tools for reducing catastrophic wildfire remains underused: controlled burns. When executed correctly, they can prevent a smoldering forest floor from becoming a catastrophic inferno.

Ecological Scenarios for Climate-Smart Management in the American West

Rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and intensifying wildfires are altering the ecological dynamics of forests, grasslands, and rangelands. How do you prepare for a future that’s not only novel but also one that cannot be accurately predicted?

Congratulations, Dr. Prasad Thota!

Prasad Thota, a Research Assistant in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering (CEAE) at the University of Colorado (CU) Boulder, successfully defended his PhD on Friday, May 30. Congratulations!