Luis E. Ortiz
@lortizuriarte.bsky.social
🇵🇷 | Urban climate & energy scientist @ Mason AOES
Reposted by Luis E. Ortiz
“The climate challenges outlined in this report transcend geopolitical borders and disciplinary silos. From the hollers of western Virginia to the Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore, the impacts [climate] has on communities, our economy, and our well-being.” www.gmu.edu/news/2025-11...
George Mason's Virginia Climate Center releases first-ever statewide climate assessment
George Mason’s Virginia Climate Center (VCC) has unveiled the commonwealth’s first comprehensive, peer-reviewed climate assessment—a landmark report that provides science-based insights into Virginia’...
www.gmu.edu
November 20, 2025 at 1:21 PM
“The climate challenges outlined in this report transcend geopolitical borders and disciplinary silos. From the hollers of western Virginia to the Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore, the impacts [climate] has on communities, our economy, and our well-being.” www.gmu.edu/news/2025-11...
Thank you @maibached.bsky.social! This is the result of a massive effort by @virginiaclimate.bsky.social and an extended network of experts from around the Commonwealth and beyond. We are incredibly excited to share the first of many such assessments for Virginia.
Hazzah! Today, my colleagues at @virginiaclimate.bsky.social released the first-ever Virginia Climate Assessment, a "comprehensive, science-based evaluation of how past, current, and anticipated climate conditions have and will impact Virginia and its people." Please join me in thanking them.
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The Virginia Climate Assessment — Virginia Climate Center
www.vaclimate.gmu.edu
November 20, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Thank you @maibached.bsky.social! This is the result of a massive effort by @virginiaclimate.bsky.social and an extended network of experts from around the Commonwealth and beyond. We are incredibly excited to share the first of many such assessments for Virginia.
Reposted by Luis E. Ortiz
Day 7 of #30DayMapChallenge asked us to think about accessibility. @gsagostini.bsky.social considers two metrics of access simultaneously: distance to a Subway and distance to the subway.
November 13, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Day 7 of #30DayMapChallenge asked us to think about accessibility. @gsagostini.bsky.social considers two metrics of access simultaneously: distance to a Subway and distance to the subway.
Reposted by Luis E. Ortiz
The more I learn about the health impacts of data centers, the more convinced I become that communities should think twice before putting out a welcome mat. @lortizuriarte.bsky.social @virginiaclimate.bsky.social @virginiaclinicians.bsky.social @vacleancities.bsky.social @docsforclimate.bsky.social
Data Centers’ Use of Diesel Generators for Backup Power Is Commonplace—and Problematic - Inside Climate News
Energy analysts and environmentalists say diesel generators are expensive, noisy, highly polluting and exempt from Clean Air Act regulations in times of energy “emergencies.”
insideclimatenews.org
November 12, 2025 at 11:53 PM
The more I learn about the health impacts of data centers, the more convinced I become that communities should think twice before putting out a welcome mat. @lortizuriarte.bsky.social @virginiaclimate.bsky.social @virginiaclinicians.bsky.social @vacleancities.bsky.social @docsforclimate.bsky.social
As one of the lead authors of this assessment, I am so excited to share with others in just a few weeks!
Coming soon: The First Virginia Climate Assessment (VCA) 🌱
We’ve collaborated with experts across the Commonwealth to put together the first ever comprehensive review of Virginia’s changing climate and its impacts on our communities, economy, and infrastructure.
FAQs 👇
We’ve collaborated with experts across the Commonwealth to put together the first ever comprehensive review of Virginia’s changing climate and its impacts on our communities, economy, and infrastructure.
FAQs 👇
October 30, 2025 at 8:21 PM
As one of the lead authors of this assessment, I am so excited to share with others in just a few weeks!
⬇️⬇️⬇️
I wanted to offer some thoughts on the Gates climate memo that has been circulating this week. While I can't directly speak for others, I can say that my own response is one of dismay & deep frustration (and that this view is shared by many climate/Earth scientists). [1/n]
October 30, 2025 at 8:19 PM
⬇️⬇️⬇️
Reposted by Luis E. Ortiz
Hot classrooms impede learning, as does elevated levels of carbon dioxide. Clean energy—not fossil fuels—is the path to a better, smarter, healthier future for our children.
@bfrist.bsky.social
@docsforclimate.bsky.social
@gchalliance.bsky.social
@bfrist.bsky.social
@docsforclimate.bsky.social
@gchalliance.bsky.social
When Classrooms Get Hot: What We Learned Exploring the Hidden Link Between the Environment, Health, and Learning
As both a physician and a policymaker, I’ve spent much of my life asking one central question: How can we help every child reach their full potential?
open.substack.com
October 20, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Hot classrooms impede learning, as does elevated levels of carbon dioxide. Clean energy—not fossil fuels—is the path to a better, smarter, healthier future for our children.
@bfrist.bsky.social
@docsforclimate.bsky.social
@gchalliance.bsky.social
@bfrist.bsky.social
@docsforclimate.bsky.social
@gchalliance.bsky.social
Reposted by Luis E. Ortiz
Having lived in Serbia during Fulbright, I am excited to announce opportunity. Interested in learning about the Balkans, drink rakiya, visit Sarajevo, Tito's Bunker or a 16th-century Ottoman-era bridge? Share with networks that may be interested such topics. #professionaldevelopment #geography
September 24, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Having lived in Serbia during Fulbright, I am excited to announce opportunity. Interested in learning about the Balkans, drink rakiya, visit Sarajevo, Tito's Bunker or a 16th-century Ottoman-era bridge? Share with networks that may be interested such topics. #professionaldevelopment #geography
Reposted by Luis E. Ortiz
At least 70% of US households are uninsured or underinsured against floods, yet climate change is rapidly increasing the number and severity of flooding in the US. This doesn’t end well for most people—unless we do something about it now.
@lortizuriarte.bsky.social @virginiaclimate.bsky.social
@lortizuriarte.bsky.social @virginiaclimate.bsky.social
Measuring flood underinsurance in the USA - Nature Climate Change
Homeowners could benefit from flood insurance to offset the negative impacts of climate-induced natural disasters. However, with detailed micro-level data, researchers find substantial protection gaps...
www.nature.com
September 9, 2025 at 4:38 PM
At least 70% of US households are uninsured or underinsured against floods, yet climate change is rapidly increasing the number and severity of flooding in the US. This doesn’t end well for most people—unless we do something about it now.
@lortizuriarte.bsky.social @virginiaclimate.bsky.social
@lortizuriarte.bsky.social @virginiaclimate.bsky.social
Reposted by Luis E. Ortiz
Who loses when America loses top scientists? America does.
Reduced funding for scientific research is an unforced error of epic proportions. Tell your members of Congress to stop the madness.
www.semafor.com/newsletter/0...
Reduced funding for scientific research is an unforced error of epic proportions. Tell your members of Congress to stop the madness.
www.semafor.com/newsletter/0...
🟡 Semafor Flagship: Turning up the heat | Semafor
European leaders call Trump ahead of his meeting with Putin, Gaza’s hospitals face a medical supply crisis, and Kodak may have to shut down after 133 years.
www.semafor.com
August 13, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Who loses when America loses top scientists? America does.
Reduced funding for scientific research is an unforced error of epic proportions. Tell your members of Congress to stop the madness.
www.semafor.com/newsletter/0...
Reduced funding for scientific research is an unforced error of epic proportions. Tell your members of Congress to stop the madness.
www.semafor.com/newsletter/0...
Reposted by Luis E. Ortiz
Who loses when the POTUS wages war on clean energy? Everyone (except fossil fuel & utility company CEOs + their lobbyists).
The latest casualty in Virginia? Solar for All, plus the clean air & water, better health, and local jobs it would have produced.
@virginiaclinicians.bsky.social
The latest casualty in Virginia? Solar for All, plus the clean air & water, better health, and local jobs it would have produced.
@virginiaclinicians.bsky.social
Virginia loses $156 million for expanding solar power after EPA grant cut
The Solar for All program would have helped about 15,000 households get rooftop panels or buy into shared solar projects.
www.whro.org
August 13, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Who loses when the POTUS wages war on clean energy? Everyone (except fossil fuel & utility company CEOs + their lobbyists).
The latest casualty in Virginia? Solar for All, plus the clean air & water, better health, and local jobs it would have produced.
@virginiaclinicians.bsky.social
The latest casualty in Virginia? Solar for All, plus the clean air & water, better health, and local jobs it would have produced.
@virginiaclinicians.bsky.social
Reposted by Luis E. Ortiz
There's a new 2025 peak demand record in ERCOT: 82,566 megawatts at 4:55 today. Solar provided 30% of the power at that time and wind about 16%; wholesale power was just $22/MWh. No conservation alerts. No energy emergencies. Just abundant, affordable power. #txlege #txenergy
August 7, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Reposted by Luis E. Ortiz
Heat is deadly. Ensuring people have air conditioning is more important now than ever
Air conditioning discourse, but this time it’s Good and Correct (from me in @aohnsman.bsky.social’s piece): www.forbes.com/sites/alanoh... 🔌💡
August 7, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Heat is deadly. Ensuring people have air conditioning is more important now than ever
Reposted by Luis E. Ortiz
It's the last weekend before the #AGU25 #abstract submission #deadline, which means it is finally time to submit your abstracts and crash their website.
If you are working on #urban-scale processes, consider submitting to our sessions (links below).
1. lnkd.in/gXXtKvtb
2. lnkd.in/gWuN2Yw6
If you are working on #urban-scale processes, consider submitting to our sessions (links below).
1. lnkd.in/gXXtKvtb
2. lnkd.in/gWuN2Yw6
July 27, 2025 at 4:09 AM
It's the last weekend before the #AGU25 #abstract submission #deadline, which means it is finally time to submit your abstracts and crash their website.
If you are working on #urban-scale processes, consider submitting to our sessions (links below).
1. lnkd.in/gXXtKvtb
2. lnkd.in/gWuN2Yw6
If you are working on #urban-scale processes, consider submitting to our sessions (links below).
1. lnkd.in/gXXtKvtb
2. lnkd.in/gWuN2Yw6
Reposted by Luis E. Ortiz
If you are having trouble finding National Climate Assessment reports, they are here.
www.realclimate.org/index.php/ar...
www.realclimate.org/index.php/ar...
RealClimate: National Climate Assessment links
RealClimate: For some reason, it has become hard to locate the various National Climate Assessments (NCAs) that have been produced by the USGCRP over the decades (and it's pretty hard to find the USGR...
www.realclimate.org
July 26, 2025 at 5:50 PM
If you are having trouble finding National Climate Assessment reports, they are here.
www.realclimate.org/index.php/ar...
www.realclimate.org/index.php/ar...
Reposted by Luis E. Ortiz
Global emissions from heating are about 4x those from cooling.
Air conditioning is an important and lifesaving adaptation to climate change.
Decarbonize the grid.
Air conditioning is an important and lifesaving adaptation to climate change.
Decarbonize the grid.
July 26, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Global emissions from heating are about 4x those from cooling.
Air conditioning is an important and lifesaving adaptation to climate change.
Decarbonize the grid.
Air conditioning is an important and lifesaving adaptation to climate change.
Decarbonize the grid.
Reposted by Luis E. Ortiz
"Rising food prices are the second-largest effect of climate change that people see in their day-to-day lives, only exceeded by extreme heat"
Link to study since, you know, WSJ apparently didn't feel the need to include: iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
Link to study since, you know, WSJ apparently didn't feel the need to include: iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
July 21, 2025 at 12:42 PM
"Rising food prices are the second-largest effect of climate change that people see in their day-to-day lives, only exceeded by extreme heat"
Link to study since, you know, WSJ apparently didn't feel the need to include: iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
Link to study since, you know, WSJ apparently didn't feel the need to include: iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
Reposted by Luis E. Ortiz
New @floodlab.bsky.social paper on wildfire risk mitigation - Mitigation behaviors of homeowners and renters in the wildland urban interface
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Mitigation behaviors of homeowners and renters in the wildland urban interface
Residential development within the wildland-urban interface (WUI) has greatly expanded in the United States since the 1990s, amplifying wildfire risk …
www.sciencedirect.com
July 14, 2025 at 3:36 PM
New @floodlab.bsky.social paper on wildfire risk mitigation - Mitigation behaviors of homeowners and renters in the wildland urban interface
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Luis E. Ortiz
550p: Flash flood warnings now stretch from near Haymarket to Bethesda as cluster of storms is is unloading. A few spots with 3” of rain. Don’t drive in this if you can avoid….should slowly fade next 30-45 mins. #cwgalert
July 12, 2025 at 9:51 PM
550p: Flash flood warnings now stretch from near Haymarket to Bethesda as cluster of storms is is unloading. A few spots with 3” of rain. Don’t drive in this if you can avoid….should slowly fade next 30-45 mins. #cwgalert
Reposted by Luis E. Ortiz
New: To protect your home from floods and fire, you can raise the house out of harm’s way or establish an ember-resistance zone around the dwelling. But how do you safeguard your home against increasingly deadly and frequent heat waves? Here's some tips. Free link.
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
10 Ways to Keep Your Home Cool This Summer
Climate-driven heat waves are becoming more intense, frequent and deadly. Here are tips to temperature-proof your house.
www.bloomberg.com
July 11, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Reposted by Luis E. Ortiz
Everyone is acting like US scientists will just go get science jobs elsewhere and sure some will but there are not anywhere close to enough science jobs elsewhere.
The end result of this will be much, much, much less science, not science happening in different places.
The end result of this will be much, much, much less science, not science happening in different places.
People are talking about the imminent brain drain of US researchers to other countries but that’s not the only way it’s going to look. There is going to be a brain drain out of science and into other US sectors. There are a lot of non-science things you can do with a Ph.D.
July 10, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Everyone is acting like US scientists will just go get science jobs elsewhere and sure some will but there are not anywhere close to enough science jobs elsewhere.
The end result of this will be much, much, much less science, not science happening in different places.
The end result of this will be much, much, much less science, not science happening in different places.
Reposted by Luis E. Ortiz
Tip of the cap to any state proactively working to identify natural hazard risk areas. This is not a trivial exercise, nor one that ends without A LOT of feedback.
Oregon tried creating their own wildfire maps, and then took a step back.
Washington now giving it a try.
www.opb.org/article/2025...
Oregon tried creating their own wildfire maps, and then took a step back.
Washington now giving it a try.
www.opb.org/article/2025...
As Oregon’s wildfire risk map dies, Washington creates its own
A recent Klickitat County meeting marks the early stages of a process to gauge the risks and hazards wildfire poses in Washington and to guide new codes for fire-resistant construction.
www.opb.org
July 9, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Tip of the cap to any state proactively working to identify natural hazard risk areas. This is not a trivial exercise, nor one that ends without A LOT of feedback.
Oregon tried creating their own wildfire maps, and then took a step back.
Washington now giving it a try.
www.opb.org/article/2025...
Oregon tried creating their own wildfire maps, and then took a step back.
Washington now giving it a try.
www.opb.org/article/2025...
Reposted by Luis E. Ortiz
Most climate denial falls into one of five general categories:
It’s not real
It’s not us
It’s not bad
We can’t fix it
It’s too late
Conspiracy theories about secret experiments have been around for decades and they fall solidly into category 2 above: “it’s not us, it’s THEM”
For more, watch:
It’s not real
It’s not us
It’s not bad
We can’t fix it
It’s too late
Conspiracy theories about secret experiments have been around for decades and they fall solidly into category 2 above: “it’s not us, it’s THEM”
For more, watch:
What is geoengineering anyways?
YouTube video by Global Weirding with Katharine Hayhoe
www.youtube.com
July 9, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Most climate denial falls into one of five general categories:
It’s not real
It’s not us
It’s not bad
We can’t fix it
It’s too late
Conspiracy theories about secret experiments have been around for decades and they fall solidly into category 2 above: “it’s not us, it’s THEM”
For more, watch:
It’s not real
It’s not us
It’s not bad
We can’t fix it
It’s too late
Conspiracy theories about secret experiments have been around for decades and they fall solidly into category 2 above: “it’s not us, it’s THEM”
For more, watch:
Reposted by Luis E. Ortiz
Many states - Texas, Utah - actively participate in weather modification (cloud seeding) to help address water supply issues. The process disperses silver iodide, a substance that encourages ice crystal formation in clouds, increasing precipitation.
Imagine H2O issues without it! Education 101
Imagine H2O issues without it! Education 101
July 8, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Many states - Texas, Utah - actively participate in weather modification (cloud seeding) to help address water supply issues. The process disperses silver iodide, a substance that encourages ice crystal formation in clouds, increasing precipitation.
Imagine H2O issues without it! Education 101
Imagine H2O issues without it! Education 101
Reposted by Luis E. Ortiz
With more than 10 inches of rain in spots, Tropical Storm Chantal produced flooding and damage across central NC over the past 24 hours. #ncwx
Our latest blog post reviews the rainfall totals, river crests, and other initial impacts from Chantal.
📰: climate.ncsu.edu/blog/2025/07...
Our latest blog post reviews the rainfall totals, river crests, and other initial impacts from Chantal.
📰: climate.ncsu.edu/blog/2025/07...
July 7, 2025 at 5:11 PM
With more than 10 inches of rain in spots, Tropical Storm Chantal produced flooding and damage across central NC over the past 24 hours. #ncwx
Our latest blog post reviews the rainfall totals, river crests, and other initial impacts from Chantal.
📰: climate.ncsu.edu/blog/2025/07...
Our latest blog post reviews the rainfall totals, river crests, and other initial impacts from Chantal.
📰: climate.ncsu.edu/blog/2025/07...