Mike Dettinger
@mdettinger.bsky.social
Water/environ/climate news & my own calculations when relevant, from CarsonCity (Wá∙šiw land), NV. Retired USGS & now p/t @CW3EScripps scientist
Letters by my name: PhD.UCLA F.AGU F.AAAS M.NAE; www.mdettinger.com
Letters by my name: PhD.UCLA F.AGU F.AAAS M.NAE; www.mdettinger.com
We made Alaska and Hawaii states (long) before Puerto Rico cause of skin color Plus language.
www.amazon.com/How-to-Hide-...
www.amazon.com/How-to-Hide-...
How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States
Amazon.com: How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States (Audible Audio Edition): Daniel Immerwahr, Luis Moreno, Recorded Books: Books
www.amazon.com
February 9, 2026 at 1:37 AM
We made Alaska and Hawaii states (long) before Puerto Rico cause of skin color Plus language.
www.amazon.com/How-to-Hide-...
www.amazon.com/How-to-Hide-...
American, America
February 8, 2026 at 11:26 PM
American, America
I rarely visit FB now, but its where my friend Dr Prather posts some for-the-public AQ announcements re: her extremely-important work down in the border communities of SanDiego. (See www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... for detailed background.)
Update this morning:
www.facebook.com/kim.prather2...
Update this morning:
www.facebook.com/kim.prather2...
February 6, 2026 at 5:34 PM
I rarely visit FB now, but its where my friend Dr Prather posts some for-the-public AQ announcements re: her extremely-important work down in the border communities of SanDiego. (See www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... for detailed background.)
Update this morning:
www.facebook.com/kim.prather2...
Update this morning:
www.facebook.com/kim.prather2...
Civil lawsuits filed by US DOJ & referred by EPA dropped to 16 in the first yr of Trump2. Corresponding 1st yr count for Biden was 67, Trump1 count was 86, & Obama’s was 127.
insideclimatenews.org/news/0502202...
insideclimatenews.org/news/0502202...
February 6, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Civil lawsuits filed by US DOJ & referred by EPA dropped to 16 in the first yr of Trump2. Corresponding 1st yr count for Biden was 67, Trump1 count was 86, & Obama’s was 127.
insideclimatenews.org/news/0502202...
insideclimatenews.org/news/0502202...
Reposted by Mike Dettinger
This year's Climate Fiction Prize longlist looks great. Read all of last year's list, haven't read any of these yet. Time to get stuck in.
Explore the longlist - The Climate Fiction Prize
Explore the inaugural longlist for the Climate Fiction Prize
climatefictionprize.co.uk
February 5, 2026 at 12:59 PM
This year's Climate Fiction Prize longlist looks great. Read all of last year's list, haven't read any of these yet. Time to get stuck in.
I encourage my scientist colleagues to read Fernando Racimo’s new book Science in Resistance—The Scientist Rebellion for Climate Justice. Whether or not you agree with his politics & goals, there is a lot that is inspirational here, in practice & theory!
indiepubs.com/products/sci...
indiepubs.com/products/sci...
Science in Resistance
Scientists around the world rise up for climate and ecological justice In April 2022, hundreds of scientists rose in civil disobedience, breaking the law in more than twenty-eight countries. Risking a...
indiepubs.com
February 4, 2026 at 2:09 PM
I encourage my scientist colleagues to read Fernando Racimo’s new book Science in Resistance—The Scientist Rebellion for Climate Justice. Whether or not you agree with his politics & goals, there is a lot that is inspirational here, in practice & theory!
indiepubs.com/products/sci...
indiepubs.com/products/sci...
On Monday, Trump administration exempted new nuclear reactors from environmental review
www.npr.org/2026/02/02/n...
www.npr.org/2026/02/02/n...
The Trump administration exempts new nuclear reactors from environmental review
The announcement comes just days after NPR revealed the administration had secretly rewritten safety and environmental standards.
www.npr.org
February 3, 2026 at 6:48 PM
On Monday, Trump administration exempted new nuclear reactors from environmental review
www.npr.org/2026/02/02/n...
www.npr.org/2026/02/02/n...
Not a surprise (given the mook who nominated him), but worth being aware of…Trump’s choice for Fed chair thinks Fed should avoid acknowledging or addressing the economy’s climate-change risks.
www.semafor.com/article/02/0...
www.semafor.com/article/02/0...
Trump’s Fed chair pick could lead shift on climate change
Kevin Warsh faces a tricky path to actually taking up the Fed leadership but were he to take charge, he may lead a major shift in how the Fed views climate.
www.semafor.com
February 3, 2026 at 4:15 PM
Not a surprise (given the mook who nominated him), but worth being aware of…Trump’s choice for Fed chair thinks Fed should avoid acknowledging or addressing the economy’s climate-change risks.
www.semafor.com/article/02/0...
www.semafor.com/article/02/0...
Snowpack-plus-reservoirs storage so far this year updates for Sierra Nevada and Upper Colorado River Basin. Long dry-spell of January has brought us into less-than-normal storage totals overall... @cw3escripps.bsky.social
cw3e.ucsd.edu/water_storag...
cnap.ucsd.edu/water-storag...
cw3e.ucsd.edu/water_storag...
cnap.ucsd.edu/water-storag...
February 2, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Snowpack-plus-reservoirs storage so far this year updates for Sierra Nevada and Upper Colorado River Basin. Long dry-spell of January has brought us into less-than-normal storage totals overall... @cw3escripps.bsky.social
cw3e.ucsd.edu/water_storag...
cnap.ucsd.edu/water-storag...
cw3e.ucsd.edu/water_storag...
cnap.ucsd.edu/water-storag...
@papacox on ARkStorm's core lesson: Every disaster teaches that survival correlates less w/ isolation than social cohesion. To prepare, know your neighbors. In real disasters, it is not the loner who fares best but the block, town or network that works together.
open.substack.com/pub/dalealan...
open.substack.com/pub/dalealan...
When a Scenario Escapes: ARkStorm, Expertise, and the Online Storm
Risk, Uncertainty, and the Long Drift of Big Ideas
open.substack.com
January 31, 2026 at 5:00 PM
@papacox on ARkStorm's core lesson: Every disaster teaches that survival correlates less w/ isolation than social cohesion. To prepare, know your neighbors. In real disasters, it is not the loner who fares best but the block, town or network that works together.
open.substack.com/pub/dalealan...
open.substack.com/pub/dalealan...
Notre Dame researchers call attention to potential for collapse of fossil-fuel system as they are reduced < “minimum viable scales,” levels of operation below which physical, financial & managerial structures fail. I.e. the transition cd get rocky near the end. (p/w)
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Fossil energy minimum viable scale
Unseen infrastructural threats to safety and decarbonization may arise as fossil energy systems are phased out
www.science.org
January 30, 2026 at 3:51 PM
Notre Dame researchers call attention to potential for collapse of fossil-fuel system as they are reduced < “minimum viable scales,” levels of operation below which physical, financial & managerial structures fail. I.e. the transition cd get rocky near the end. (p/w)
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Notice the mention of Alberta's "oil-rich"-ness at the core of this latest Trump tom-F-ery.
www.huffpost.com/entry/ice-ki...
www.huffpost.com/entry/ice-ki...
Report: Trump Administration Met With Groups Pushing Alberta To Break With Canada
www.huffpost.com
January 29, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Notice the mention of Alberta's "oil-rich"-ness at the core of this latest Trump tom-F-ery.
www.huffpost.com/entry/ice-ki...
www.huffpost.com/entry/ice-ki...
Reposting in case you missed it: US lost >150K years worth of federal-scientific experience in the past 2 years, 2/3 in 2025. Our scientific human resources are being “hollowed out”, a sure sign of national decline verging on collapse in today’s technological world!
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
January 29, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Reposting in case you missed it: US lost >150K years worth of federal-scientific experience in the past 2 years, 2/3 in 2025. Our scientific human resources are being “hollowed out”, a sure sign of national decline verging on collapse in today’s technological world!
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Large-river flows (& suspended sediments) now being tracked globally every ~21 days by the NASA/CNES SWOT (Sfc Water & Ocean Topography) satellite mission.
Has anyone encountered an up-to-date source and archive of these global maps?
www.space.com/astronomy/ea...
Has anyone encountered an up-to-date source and archive of these global maps?
www.space.com/astronomy/ea...
Satellite sees river flow across the globe | Space photo of the day for Jan. 29, 2025
Along with this stunning image is the first-ever global estimate of river water discharge and overall sediment suspension.
www.space.com
January 29, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Large-river flows (& suspended sediments) now being tracked globally every ~21 days by the NASA/CNES SWOT (Sfc Water & Ocean Topography) satellite mission.
Has anyone encountered an up-to-date source and archive of these global maps?
www.space.com/astronomy/ea...
Has anyone encountered an up-to-date source and archive of these global maps?
www.space.com/astronomy/ea...
A 2026 factsheet on California's rivers and streams (led by the guy--Jeff Mount--who wrote the classic book of the same title) from @ppicwater. Useful and updated numbers, figures for our times.
www.ppic.org/publication/...
www.ppic.org/publication/...
California’s Rivers and Streams
California’s rivers and streams are vital to the state’s residents, economy, and environment—but they also face challenges from a changing climate and decades of alterations. How can the state improve...
www.ppic.org
January 27, 2026 at 5:22 PM
A 2026 factsheet on California's rivers and streams (led by the guy--Jeff Mount--who wrote the classic book of the same title) from @ppicwater. Useful and updated numbers, figures for our times.
www.ppic.org/publication/...
www.ppic.org/publication/...
The great @billmckibben has words of wisdom this morning, re: the larger-scale longer-term lessons in courage and successes of the resistance in MN, as applies to the climate fight. Read it; read him always.
open.substack.com/pub/billmcki...
open.substack.com/pub/billmcki...
Time for some courage in the climate fight too
Big business, and its political enablers, have turned tail. They need to take a page from the resistance
open.substack.com
January 27, 2026 at 4:37 PM
The great @billmckibben has words of wisdom this morning, re: the larger-scale longer-term lessons in courage and successes of the resistance in MN, as applies to the climate fight. Read it; read him always.
open.substack.com/pub/billmcki...
open.substack.com/pub/billmcki...
New study concludes that climate change has already reduced US incomes by ~12% since 2000. More losses projected. Most of the costs are not from by changes in local weather but by changes in weather everywhere that affect supply chains and costs globally.”
www.sciencefocus.com/news/climate...
www.sciencefocus.com/news/climate...
Climate change has now shrunk US salaries by 12%. And worse is to come | BBC Science Focus Magazine
No matter where you live, a new study has found warmer temperatures are picking your pocket
www.sciencefocus.com
January 27, 2026 at 2:55 PM
New study concludes that climate change has already reduced US incomes by ~12% since 2000. More losses projected. Most of the costs are not from by changes in local weather but by changes in weather everywhere that affect supply chains and costs globally.”
www.sciencefocus.com/news/climate...
www.sciencefocus.com/news/climate...
US Federal government lost >150K years worth of scientific experience in the past two years, 3/4 of which was lost in 2025. Our scientific human resources are being “hollowed out”, a sure sign of national decline verging on collapse in today’s technological world!
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
January 27, 2026 at 2:24 PM
US Federal government lost >150K years worth of scientific experience in the past two years, 3/4 of which was lost in 2025. Our scientific human resources are being “hollowed out”, a sure sign of national decline verging on collapse in today’s technological world!
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
@PPICwater considers some of the opportunities and risks that AI may bring to California water.
www.ppic.org/blog/artific...
www.ppic.org/blog/artific...
Artificial Intelligence and California’s Water
Artificial intelligence is having a moment—to put it mildly. But can it help California with persistent challenges such as improving the state’s water management? We set aside the hype and take a look...
www.ppic.org
January 26, 2026 at 11:09 PM
@PPICwater considers some of the opportunities and risks that AI may bring to California water.
www.ppic.org/blog/artific...
www.ppic.org/blog/artific...
The UK's new National Security Assessment of Global Biodiversity Loss and Ecosystem Collapse...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/696e0e...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/696e0e...
January 26, 2026 at 5:05 PM
The UK's new National Security Assessment of Global Biodiversity Loss and Ecosystem Collapse...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/696e0e...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/696e0e...
Oh man! I really needed this!
I’ve spent a lifetime learning to fight a long battle and dedicating myself to it, and now find myself in my last haste in the midst of a rapidly emerged “other” deadly crisis. I really really needed @emorwee’s wisdom this morning.
heated.world/p/i-dont-kno...
I’ve spent a lifetime learning to fight a long battle and dedicating myself to it, and now find myself in my last haste in the midst of a rapidly emerged “other” deadly crisis. I really really needed @emorwee’s wisdom this morning.
heated.world/p/i-dont-kno...
I don't know how to do this
But I'm going to keep doing it anyway.
heated.world
January 26, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Oh man! I really needed this!
I’ve spent a lifetime learning to fight a long battle and dedicating myself to it, and now find myself in my last haste in the midst of a rapidly emerged “other” deadly crisis. I really really needed @emorwee’s wisdom this morning.
heated.world/p/i-dont-kno...
I’ve spent a lifetime learning to fight a long battle and dedicating myself to it, and now find myself in my last haste in the midst of a rapidly emerged “other” deadly crisis. I really really needed @emorwee’s wisdom this morning.
heated.world/p/i-dont-kno...
Excellent if chilling article about the state and fate of the world’s major rivers, by Julian Cribb.
www.circleofblue.org/2026/world/r...
www.circleofblue.org/2026/world/r...
Rivers of Death
The global river crisis is worsening. Learn about the causes behind the decline of vital waterways and their significance.
www.circleofblue.org
January 25, 2026 at 9:14 PM
Excellent if chilling article about the state and fate of the world’s major rivers, by Julian Cribb.
www.circleofblue.org/2026/world/r...
www.circleofblue.org/2026/world/r...
Reposted by Mike Dettinger
In 2000 95% of Poland's electricity was from coal. Today it is 51%. Total coal generation in TWh dropped by 36%.
Source is new @ember-energy.org European Electricity Review.
Source is new @ember-energy.org European Electricity Review.
January 25, 2026 at 11:19 AM
In 2000 95% of Poland's electricity was from coal. Today it is 51%. Total coal generation in TWh dropped by 36%.
Source is new @ember-energy.org European Electricity Review.
Source is new @ember-energy.org European Electricity Review.
The latest demonstration of how much Trump has hollowed out the capabilities of the Department of the Interior… what a clown car we have running the show!
www.fastcompany.com/91480142/the...
www.fastcompany.com/91480142/the...
January 24, 2026 at 2:19 PM
The latest demonstration of how much Trump has hollowed out the capabilities of the Department of the Interior… what a clown car we have running the show!
www.fastcompany.com/91480142/the...
www.fastcompany.com/91480142/the...