As recently as 10 years ago, Boulder weather reporting was reliable and precise. While Boulder Valley has always presented a prediction challenge, even in Boulder the question was more along the lines of demarcation of different areas of moisture, temperature and wind. BUT since then, weather prediction has been poor. Rain might come as predicted, or might never come, or might come days earlier or later than predicted. Keep in mind that weather prediction has been primarily based upon models, and the models are based upon historical data. The Shear Quantity Of The Data Is Beyond Comprehension Climate... Read More

  Boulder’s Future? Not If We Can Help It! Climate change has become a pressing issue, with its effects being felt worldwide. In Boulder, Colorado, a region known for its picturesque snowfall, the impact of climate change on snowfall patterns has been a topic of concern. Understanding how climate change is altering Boulder’s snowfall patterns is crucial for the community and the environment. Rising Temperatures and Reduced Snowfall Boulder’s snowfall patterns have been significantly affected by rising temperatures attributed to climate change. Warmer temperatures lead to... Read More

Scientists have talked for years about the impact global climate will have on our planet.  Some are even speculating that, at this point, there are some things that have happened as a result of the changing climate that are already irreversible. For example, mountain glaciers are in alarming retreat and the downstream effects of reduced water supply in the driest months may already be a foregone conclusion. Did you know that global climate change is having an impact on your health now? Some scientists say that impact may also be irreversible. Catastrophic weather such as floods, hurricanes, tornadoes,... Read More

Boulder, Colorado, has long been a world-center for computers, hosting the world’s most powerful, fastest computers right down the road from us. NCAR has had a long list, since predicting weather and monitoring climate change requires massive computing power. The most massive on earth much of the time. CHATgpt and Siri and even Alexa are not people. Yet. By the hour we see CHATgpt becoming more human in its interactions with us. Data of Star Trek is not “human,” but acts like a human in most ways. His neutrality and lack of feelings apparently define him as a “robot.”... Read More

I grew up surrounded by art.  My father was born in Italy and was inspired by nature to become an artist. Growing up in New Jersey surrounded by a large Italian family and guided by a strong German mother, I would sit and paint with him as he meditated on the inspiration coming to him. Through all of the up and down times we went through, we could always come back to art and immerse ourselves in imagination and creativity.  It is one of the things that kept me grounded as a child. Art can be an expression of the beauty of life. Young people today are challenged to feel connected to this as the... Read More

Humans have always had a complicated relationship with weather. Ancient cultures prayed and made offerings to gods in hopes of receiving conditions conducive to growing crops. Adverse weather, then, was often interpreted as displeasure on behalf of those same beings—a punishment for failing to observe proper rituals. It doesn’t take a history scholar to understand this impulse. Weather, now as then, is both an enemy and ally. On one hand, it provides everything from the raw material for food—sunlight driving photosynthesis, wind the primary method of plants spreading their seeds—to something... Read More

Meet Heidi Cuppari and her daughter, Summer Cuppari Gould, co-authors of the groundbreaking EmpowerGen column. Heidi and Summer have lived in Boulder for 17 years and both adore the community here. Summer will be attending the Leeds School of Business at CU Boulder, where she will continue to fuel her passion for entrepreneurship and social impact.  Together, they are championing the voices of youth, sparking creativity, and driving meaningful change in our community.  Read More

Hey everyone, it’s Summer here, and I’m super excited to dive into this week’s EmpowerGen column! Today, let’s talk about something close to my heart: the incredible role that my generation, Gen Z, is playing in climate action. We’re not just sitting back and watching; we’re rolling up our sleeves and making a real difference. So, buckle up and join me as we explore the innovative ideas, passion, and determination of Gen Z in combating climate change and creating a safer world for all. Gen Z’s Passion Ignites Change: Let me start by sharing some eye-opening... Read More

You may have already noticed some sniffles and sneezes from pollen and other spring allergens. That’s because allergy season is starting earlier than it has in years past.  In a recent paper written by a plant physiologist at the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, the authors considered temperature and pollen trends in the Northern Hemisphere going back decades. The paper, published in Lancet, found a clear correlation between the change in temperature, the change and the increase in the length of the allergy season, and also the amount of pollen that’s being recorded. What does this... Read More

Monday morning was just the start of a week-long climate change protest that is being led by Extinction Rebellion Denver. 5 people were arrested in Monday’s protest, which saw activists blocking the intersection at Broadway and 9th. Extinction Rebellion Denver aims to bring awareness to climate change through non-violent civil disobedience. Protesters began their peaceful march at Speer Boulevard and Bannock, where they stayed for at least one light cycle. Arrests occurred once the protestors had reached Broadway and 9th. “We’re raising awareness to people and to the government about... Read More