Kat Kerlin
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katkerlin.bsky.social
Kat Kerlin
@katkerlin.bsky.social
Environmental science writer, press officer, pro #scicomm -er for UC Davis. Covering climate change, ecology, conservation, water and wildlife. My other brain is full of paint. Views my own.
Pinned
Channeling some bristlecone pine energy for 2026. Extreme, harsh, and cold conditions? "Bring it," they say, but with grace and dignity.
After a slow start in early spring, male frogs pick up the pace of their love songs as the weather warms. Lady frogs not only find "hotter" songs more attractive, it signals the temperature is right for laying their eggs, finds new @ucdavis.bsky.social study. ❤️🎵 www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news...
Frog Love Songs and the Sounds of Climate Change
A good love song tells female frogs when the time is right for mating, finds a UC Davis study showing male frogs change their tune as the weather warms.
www.ucdavis.edu
February 12, 2026 at 4:28 PM
For every bad thing happening in the world—and, wow, is it bad—there are good people trying to make things right. Sometimes they even win. #TellMeSomethingGood series 💡 @ucdavis.bsky.social www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news...
Tell Me Something Good … About Salmon
For every bad thing happening in the world, there are good people trying to make things right. Sometimes they even win. That’s why I’m starting a new monthly series on this blog called “Tell Me Someth...
www.ucdavis.edu
February 10, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Scientists confirm H5N1 as cause of death for more than 50 skuas, a seabird, that died in Antarctica in 2023-24. It marks first confirmed die-off of wildlife from bird flu on the continent, New study from @ucdavis.bsky.social @erasmusmc.bsky.social www.ucdavis.edu/health/news/...
H5N1 Causes Die-off of Antarctic Skuas, a Seabird
More than 50 skua deaths in Antarctica from H5N1 mark the first confirmed die-off of wildlife from bird flu on the continent, reports study from UC Davis and Erasmus MC.
www.ucdavis.edu
February 5, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Well this is terrible. Sad news about Washington Post and much of its climate desk. 💔
February 4, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Why can some corals take the heat and others die from it? A @ucdavis.bsky.social feature story dives in to research looking at ways to help coral reefs adapt. @dranyabrown.bsky.social @rachaelabay.bsky.social www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news...
Some Corals Can Stand the Heat — Could They Help Those That Can’t?
UC Davis researchers are studying why some corals can stand heat and heal from bleaching. The answers could help protect coral reefs from climate change.
www.ucdavis.edu
January 27, 2026 at 10:55 PM
Our scientists are in Antarctica with an international team and the @nytimes.com. Our underwater robot is helping us learn how fast Thwaites and other glaciers are melting -- and how fast we need to be ready for it. @ucdavis.bsky.social @ucdavistahoe.bsky.social www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news...
Expedition to Antarctica: UC Davis Tracks Melting Glaciers
UC Davis scientists are in Antarctica to deploy Gull, an autonomous underwater vehicle known as a glider, that will help us understand how fast one of the world’s biggest and most important glaciers —...
www.ucdavis.edu
January 23, 2026 at 11:22 PM
I love this on so many levels: As a daughter, mom, nature lover, Peter Moyle fan, Putah Creek fan, and CA water lover. "Three Generations of Stewardship" by Petrea Moyle Marchand. @ucdavis.bsky.social @ucdaviswater.bsky.social californiawaterblog.com/2026/01/11/t...
January 12, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Channeling some bristlecone pine energy for 2026. Extreme, harsh, and cold conditions? "Bring it," they say, but with grace and dignity.
January 9, 2026 at 7:48 PM
Reposted by Kat Kerlin
We're getting back into the swing of things and we have some elements of science communication that we hope are "in" and "out" this year.

#ScienceForChange #CommunicationSkills #StrategicMessaging #ScienceCommunication #SciComm #ScienceEngage
January 9, 2026 at 7:35 PM
We must not stop talking about joy in science. ... Excerpt: "We are drawn to this work by... a desire to do good, to learn more, to make a living, to explore uncharted waters, to make the world a better place, to advance technology, to teach, to help people." www.aaas.org/news/we-must...
January 7, 2026 at 11:13 PM
I suddenly have a bunch of new followers for some reason 🤔, so just wanted to say hello to all the nice new scientists and artists and concerned citizens who found me. 👋 Here’s a photo of some leaves on my front porch.
December 21, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Some called it the "Christmas Valley miracle" when that Tahoe community and Meyers were spared during 2021's Caldor Fire. A @ucdavis.bsky.social study reveals which pre-fire treatments worked best to ⬇️ the fire damage. Also: Unburned fuel piles are a big problem. www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news...
Lessons from the Caldor Fire’s Christmas Valley ‘Miracle’
The Lake Tahoe communities of Christmas Valley and Meyers were spared during 2021's Caldor Fire. A UC Davis study reveals which pre-fire fuel treatments worked best to bring about the Christmas Valley...
www.ucdavis.edu
December 19, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Reposted by Kat Kerlin
I 'll have a special rapid-response livestream for 8:30am PT today to discuss dire implications of this proposal to dismantle NCAR. Due to extreme fire weather in Boulder today (and associated pre-emptive power outages/NCAR closure), I am going live ASAP. www.youtube.com/live/FTKW68R...
December 17, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Our local Putah Creek boasts record returns for Chinook salmon! At least 2,100 this fall. This little creek, brown and muddy as it is, is such a bright spot for our region and state. @wfcbucdavis.bsky.social @ucdaviswater.bsky.social @ucdavis.bsky.social www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news...
Record Returns: 2,100 Salmon Spawned in Putah Creek
A record-breaking 2,100 Chinook salmon returned to spawn in restored Putah Creek this fall. UC Davis fish biologists and partners are tracking and monitoring the run.
www.ucdavis.edu
December 17, 2025 at 9:53 PM
'We are no longer just documenting warming — we are witnessing an entire marine ecosystem transform within a single generation.' NOAA and partners, including @ucdavis, release 2025 Arctic Report Card. www.ucdavis.edu/climate/blog...
2025 Arctic Report Card Released
Bright orange rivers, a greening tundra, the “Atlantification” of the Arctic and record-breaking temperatures on both land and sea are among the emerging concerns highlighted in the 2025 Arctic Report...
www.ucdavis.edu
December 16, 2025 at 10:57 PM
I’m reminded today how federal scientists are literally risking their jobs just to get the truth out there about our changing environment and its consequences for all of us. It shouldn’t be brave work, but it is. I’m very grateful to them.
December 16, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Reposted by Kat Kerlin
Central California is currently experiencing one of the most remarkable temperature inversions I've ever seen in this part of the world. The Central Valley remains miserably damp & chilly under dense fog layer, but it's balmily warm & sunny just 2,000ft up nearby mountain slopes!
December 11, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Reposted by Kat Kerlin
“This is, I think, one of the more dramatic scrubbings we’ve seen so far in the climate space,” said Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social, a climate scientist @ucanr.edu, reports @shannonosaka.bsky.social wapo.st/4pXFvDw
The EPA is wiping mention of human-caused climate change from its website
Some pages have been tweaked to emphasize ‘natural forces’; others have been deleted entirely.
wapo.st
December 9, 2025 at 5:47 PM
A $4.6M project to capture solar heat for industrial use was on the cusp of its final phase. Then it was canceled by the US Dept of Energy. @ucdavis.bsky.social @ucdavisnews.bsky.social #FromLabstoLives www.ucdavis.edu/news/federal...
Federal Budget Cut Halts Solar Heat Technology Project
A project to capture solar heat for industrial use — with potential spinoffs in other energy areas, including nuclear power — has been canceled by the U.S. Department of Energy on the cusp of its fina...
www.ucdavis.edu
December 8, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Reposted by Kat Kerlin
California's tomato growers have a highly efficient system to get tomatoes from field to cannery. In a bit of good news, UC Davis researchers find the tomato chain likely isn't vulnerable to climate change. www.ucdavis.edu/food/news/ri...
Rising Heat Leads to Minimal Losses for California Processing Tomatoes
California’s $1 billion processing tomato industry is highly efficient and likely will be able to withstand higher temperatures from climate change, as well as traffic.
www.ucdavis.edu
December 2, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Reposted by Kat Kerlin
UC Davis is the “greenest” campus in North America and seventh most sustainable campus in the world, according to the 2025 UI GreenMetric World University Rankings: ucdav.is/4poPbqS
December 5, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Reposted by Kat Kerlin
UC Davis now in space: Satellite built by students was successfully launched Nov. 28! @ucdavisengineering.bsky.social
December 2, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Reposted by Kat Kerlin
A new federally funded research project led by @ucdavis.bsky.social will help develop technologies that recover previously discarded critical minerals from U.S. wastewaters. Learn more. @ucdavisengineering.bsky.social @ucdaviscaes.bsky.social @ucdlands.bsky.social
www.ucdavis.edu/news/extract...
Extracting Rare Earth Elements from U.S. Wastewaters
A new federally funded research project at the University of California, Davis, endeavors to extract valuable components for magnets, lasers and other modern technologies from an unlikely source: acid...
www.ucdavis.edu
December 2, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Scientists at @ucdavis.bsky.social analyzed truckloads of tomatoes to see how climate change may affect the $1B tomato processing industry. @ucdaviscaes.bsky.social www.ucdavis.edu/food/news/ri...
Rising Heat Leads to Minimal Losses for California Processing Tomatoes
California’s $1 billion processing tomato industry is highly efficient and likely will be able to withstand higher temperatures from climate change, as well as traffic.
www.ucdavis.edu
December 2, 2025 at 6:21 PM