CIRES
@cires.colorado.edu
The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at CU Boulder is a world leader in environmental research. We've partnered with NOAA since 1967. https://cires.colorado.edu/
📸: John Cassano/CIRES
📸: John Cassano/CIRES
From the 2020 CIRES Photo Contest archive — CIRES' Lianna Nixon captured this incredible image of a 3-year-old brown triumphantly carrying his catch until he found a dry place to eat. #PhotoFriday
📸: Lianna Nixon/CIRES alum
📸: Lianna Nixon/CIRES alum
November 28, 2025 at 5:07 PM
From the 2020 CIRES Photo Contest archive — CIRES' Lianna Nixon captured this incredible image of a 3-year-old brown triumphantly carrying his catch until he found a dry place to eat. #PhotoFriday
📸: Lianna Nixon/CIRES alum
📸: Lianna Nixon/CIRES alum
Today and every day, we're thankful for all the amazing scientists, students, and admin staff at CIRES and our colleagues at @colorado.edu, @noaa.gov, and beyond.
November 27, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Today and every day, we're thankful for all the amazing scientists, students, and admin staff at CIRES and our colleagues at @colorado.edu, @noaa.gov, and beyond.
Fens are peat-forming wetlands that rely on groundwater input and require thousands of years to develop. They cannot easily be restored once destroyed.
Climate change is expected to affect peatland processes that control the production of greenhouse gases, including methane.
Climate change is expected to affect peatland processes that control the production of greenhouse gases, including methane.
November 26, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Fens are peat-forming wetlands that rely on groundwater input and require thousands of years to develop. They cannot easily be restored once destroyed.
Climate change is expected to affect peatland processes that control the production of greenhouse gases, including methane.
Climate change is expected to affect peatland processes that control the production of greenhouse gases, including methane.
CU Boulder and CIRES scientist Khosro Ghobadi-Far is advancing the science of climate change with orbiting satellites. Ghobadi-Far has earned an $800,000 grant from @NASA to analyze data from the GRACE-FO satellites, which measure variations in Earth’s gravitational field.
November 25, 2025 at 5:04 PM
CU Boulder and CIRES scientist Khosro Ghobadi-Far is advancing the science of climate change with orbiting satellites. Ghobadi-Far has earned an $800,000 grant from @NASA to analyze data from the GRACE-FO satellites, which measure variations in Earth’s gravitational field.
New research: Understanding plant responses in a warming world will be crucial for predicting how alpine ecosystems may function. Read about the @cu-esiil.bsky.social study at this link. buff.ly/MjRR0xv #lessonsinbiology #alpineplants #climate
November 24, 2025 at 7:01 PM
New research: Understanding plant responses in a warming world will be crucial for predicting how alpine ecosystems may function. Read about the @cu-esiil.bsky.social study at this link. buff.ly/MjRR0xv #lessonsinbiology #alpineplants #climate
Fieldwork can be gruelling and tough — but even with the challenges, CIRES scientists get to experience some amazing views. Like this one, near a weather station at Swiss Camp in Greenland in 2010. #FieldworkFriday #PhotoFriday
📸: Nicolas Bayou/CIRES alum
📸: Nicolas Bayou/CIRES alum
November 21, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Fieldwork can be gruelling and tough — but even with the challenges, CIRES scientists get to experience some amazing views. Like this one, near a weather station at Swiss Camp in Greenland in 2010. #FieldworkFriday #PhotoFriday
📸: Nicolas Bayou/CIRES alum
📸: Nicolas Bayou/CIRES alum
At COP30 in Belém, Brazil, CU Boulder Today sat down with Max Boykoff, CIRES Fellow and executive faculty director of the Buckley Center for Sustainability Education at CU Boulder. buff.ly/kFQ4V0A
November 21, 2025 at 4:03 PM
At COP30 in Belém, Brazil, CU Boulder Today sat down with Max Boykoff, CIRES Fellow and executive faculty director of the Buckley Center for Sustainability Education at CU Boulder. buff.ly/kFQ4V0A
On Saturday, November 22, the San Luis Valley in southern Colorado will celebrate the grand opening of a new permanent exhibit, "We are Water." The exhibit, located at the Alamosa Public Library, is designed to spark conversations about the role water plays in community well-being.
November 20, 2025 at 5:23 PM
On Saturday, November 22, the San Luis Valley in southern Colorado will celebrate the grand opening of a new permanent exhibit, "We are Water." The exhibit, located at the Alamosa Public Library, is designed to spark conversations about the role water plays in community well-being.
Did you know mountains can sometimes collapse under their own weight? A CIRES scientist found new evidence of this happening in what is now the Mojave Desert. As tectonic plates collided, the crust compressed into a narrow belt.
November 17, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Did you know mountains can sometimes collapse under their own weight? A CIRES scientist found new evidence of this happening in what is now the Mojave Desert. As tectonic plates collided, the crust compressed into a narrow belt.
This video shows three X-class solar flares (strong emissions of electromagnetic radiation) on the Sun on November 9, 10, and 11. The associated coronal mass ejections (streams of hot solar plasma) streaming towards Earth disrupted Earth's magnetosphere and triggered auroras as far south as Florida.
November 14, 2025 at 9:51 PM
This video shows three X-class solar flares (strong emissions of electromagnetic radiation) on the Sun on November 9, 10, and 11. The associated coronal mass ejections (streams of hot solar plasma) streaming towards Earth disrupted Earth's magnetosphere and triggered auroras as far south as Florida.
Moving people and equipment during fieldwork can be difficult during the best of times. For the MOSAiC team, inclement weather, polar night, and their location directly on the sea ice provided unique challenges for transportation. #FieldworkFriday
📸: Matthew Shupe/CIRES
📸: Matthew Shupe/CIRES
November 14, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Moving people and equipment during fieldwork can be difficult during the best of times. For the MOSAiC team, inclement weather, polar night, and their location directly on the sea ice provided unique challenges for transportation. #FieldworkFriday
📸: Matthew Shupe/CIRES
📸: Matthew Shupe/CIRES
Three CIRES researchers are listed as 2025 Clarivate "Highly Cited Researchers 2025." The annual list celebrates researchers with significant and broad influence: Jennifer Balch, Noah Fierer, and Jose Jimenez! @cu-esiil.bsky.social @clarivate.com @noahfierer.bsky.social @jljcolorado.bsky.social
November 13, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Three CIRES researchers are listed as 2025 Clarivate "Highly Cited Researchers 2025." The annual list celebrates researchers with significant and broad influence: Jennifer Balch, Noah Fierer, and Jose Jimenez! @cu-esiil.bsky.social @clarivate.com @noahfierer.bsky.social @jljcolorado.bsky.social
Even in total darkness, the Arctic is getting warmer — and clouds are part of the reason why.
A new study analyzed 26 years of winter data from Alaska’s North Slope, and revealed that increasing cloud opacity — clouds becoming thicker and denser — is trapping more heat near the surface.
A new study analyzed 26 years of winter data from Alaska’s North Slope, and revealed that increasing cloud opacity — clouds becoming thicker and denser — is trapping more heat near the surface.
November 13, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Even in total darkness, the Arctic is getting warmer — and clouds are part of the reason why.
A new study analyzed 26 years of winter data from Alaska’s North Slope, and revealed that increasing cloud opacity — clouds becoming thicker and denser — is trapping more heat near the surface.
A new study analyzed 26 years of winter data from Alaska’s North Slope, and revealed that increasing cloud opacity — clouds becoming thicker and denser — is trapping more heat near the surface.
Many of us were treated to a spectacular light show from the Aurora Borealis last night! This was the view from Erie, Colorado, looking northwest. Cross your fingers for a cloudless night, and check the Aurora forecast from the www.swpc.noaa.gov/communities/.... #aurora #northernlights #cowx
November 12, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Many of us were treated to a spectacular light show from the Aurora Borealis last night! This was the view from Erie, Colorado, looking northwest. Cross your fingers for a cloudless night, and check the Aurora forecast from the www.swpc.noaa.gov/communities/.... #aurora #northernlights #cowx
Smart forest management pays off. New research shows that forest thinning and prescribed burns not only reduce wildfire risk but also deliver billions of dollars in economic benefits. Study by University of California-Merced and @cu-esill.bsky.social Min Gon Chung news.ucmerced.edu/news/2025/th...
November 12, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Smart forest management pays off. New research shows that forest thinning and prescribed burns not only reduce wildfire risk but also deliver billions of dollars in economic benefits. Study by University of California-Merced and @cu-esill.bsky.social Min Gon Chung news.ucmerced.edu/news/2025/th...
We salute the Joint Base Lewis McChord and the 109th Airlift Wing that support @CIRESnews research in the Arctic and Antarctica. They brave the cold and push the limits to deliver critical supplies, personnel, and equipment to the ends of the Earth for vital research on frozen lands! #veteransday
November 11, 2025 at 5:23 PM
We salute the Joint Base Lewis McChord and the 109th Airlift Wing that support @CIRESnews research in the Arctic and Antarctica. They brave the cold and push the limits to deliver critical supplies, personnel, and equipment to the ends of the Earth for vital research on frozen lands! #veteransday
"One glacier's 'Out of this world' retreat might have set a modern record. Now, scientists pieced together what happened," CIRES research posted by the Smithsonian Magazine. Story: buff.ly/gytQpc1
November 10, 2025 at 5:47 PM
"One glacier's 'Out of this world' retreat might have set a modern record. Now, scientists pieced together what happened," CIRES research posted by the Smithsonian Magazine. Story: buff.ly/gytQpc1
Aurora alert! The aurora could be visible tonight. Will you have a chance to see it? Check the forecast! CIRES and NOAA researchers work on the aurora forecast product on the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center webpage: www.swpc.noaa.gov #aurora #spacewx #CIRES
November 7, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Aurora alert! The aurora could be visible tonight. Will you have a chance to see it? Check the forecast! CIRES and NOAA researchers work on the aurora forecast product on the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center webpage: www.swpc.noaa.gov #aurora #spacewx #CIRES
Don't forget to pause and enjoy the small things! For example — Ice formations under a setting sun in Anchorage, Alaska. Photographed during the Navigating the New Arctic Community Meeting in November 2022. @arctictogether.bsky.social #PhotoFriday
📸: Taylor O'Brien/CIRES alum
📸: Taylor O'Brien/CIRES alum
November 7, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Don't forget to pause and enjoy the small things! For example — Ice formations under a setting sun in Anchorage, Alaska. Photographed during the Navigating the New Arctic Community Meeting in November 2022. @arctictogether.bsky.social #PhotoFriday
📸: Taylor O'Brien/CIRES alum
📸: Taylor O'Brien/CIRES alum
This week, CIRES’ Earth Lab celebrates 10 years as a leader in environmental data science and education. "It's awesome to see a vision transformed into reality,” said Virginia Iglesias, Earth Lab director. @earthlabcu.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 3:49 PM
This week, CIRES’ Earth Lab celebrates 10 years as a leader in environmental data science and education. "It's awesome to see a vision transformed into reality,” said Virginia Iglesias, Earth Lab director. @earthlabcu.bsky.social
We are proud of CU Boulder Department of Geography and CIRES PhD student Ethan Carr (third from the left) who was selected as one of 12 Climate Youth Champions from nine countries as part of the inaugural cohort of the Hindu-Kush-Himalaya - Arctic Youth Leadership Forum. buff.ly/qeNTBuA
November 5, 2025 at 8:42 PM
We are proud of CU Boulder Department of Geography and CIRES PhD student Ethan Carr (third from the left) who was selected as one of 12 Climate Youth Champions from nine countries as part of the inaugural cohort of the Hindu-Kush-Himalaya - Arctic Youth Leadership Forum. buff.ly/qeNTBuA
Dark winter Arctic nights are getting warmer -- and clouds are to blame. @cires.colorado.edu and @brookhavenlab.bsky.social found wintertime clouds are becoming more opaque, and both ice and liquid-containing clouds are trapping more heat instead of letting it escape to space. buff.ly/qYVv0qa
November 4, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Dark winter Arctic nights are getting warmer -- and clouds are to blame. @cires.colorado.edu and @brookhavenlab.bsky.social found wintertime clouds are becoming more opaque, and both ice and liquid-containing clouds are trapping more heat instead of letting it escape to space. buff.ly/qYVv0qa
Here's a visual of how Hektoria Glacier started to disintegrate in 2022. #CIRES #Antarctica
November 4, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Here's a visual of how Hektoria Glacier started to disintegrate in 2022. #CIRES #Antarctica
This video shows how Hektoria Glacier began to disintegrate in 2022. #Antarctica #CIRES
November 3, 2025 at 9:31 PM
This video shows how Hektoria Glacier began to disintegrate in 2022. #Antarctica #CIRES
New video: A glacier on Antarctica’s Eastern Peninsula experienced the fastest retreat recorded in modern history—in just two months, nearly 50 percent of the glacier disintegrated. Watch this video to understand what happened. Study by @ciresnews #Antarctica #glaciermelt
November 3, 2025 at 8:17 PM
New video: A glacier on Antarctica’s Eastern Peninsula experienced the fastest retreat recorded in modern history—in just two months, nearly 50 percent of the glacier disintegrated. Watch this video to understand what happened. Study by @ciresnews #Antarctica #glaciermelt