How Much Will These Storms Help Relieve California’s Drought? – the New York Times

Caples Lake, High Sierra Nevada (by Tom Christensen CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 via Flickr).

All the rain and snow are undoubtedly good news for California’s water supply, but they’re unlikely to end the drought altogether.

If you’re looking for a silver lining to the punishing storms sweeping California, look no further than the state’s snowpack.

As of Tuesday, California’s mountain snow held more than twice the water content that’s considered average for this time of year…

A Fossil Museum Uses the Past to Reimagine Climate’s Future – The New York Times

A detail from the frieze above the front entrance to the Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits (by John Fladd CC BY 2.0 via Flickr).

As the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum undergoes a major redesign, its leaders hope it can do more to engage the public and educate visitors about the realities of climate change.

“How we present this information in a way it can help communities is a challenge,” she said. “If you go too far in the hope direction, it goes against the science. But we need to bring people in.” – Dr. Lori Bettison-Varga

To Save America’s Coasts, Don’t Always Rebuild Them – New York Times

Aftermath of Hurricane Ian, September 28, 2022 (by Florida Fish and Wildlife CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 via Flickr)

Federal and state taxpayers have spent billions of dollars over the past four decades pumping up beaches in front of coastal properties in what are known as beach nourishment projects. In Florida alone, almost $3 billion in public funds has been spent just to keep beaches in front of investment homes and oceanfront infrastructure…