Don C. Schmitz
@tallydon.bsky.social
Conservation Biologist (retired) -invasive species prevention, management, research, ecological impacts, government policy, and climate change wildlife adaptation and invasive species.
Pinned
Don C. Schmitz
@tallydon.bsky.social
· Oct 19
I served as the lead editor, author, and organizer for a state report on invasive species in Florida, which was later expanded into a book to reach a broader audience. I’m sharing this information to assure you that I am not a bot.
Reposted by Don C. Schmitz
Please do not come at me, this was a nerd joke, I love that they did this, congratulations to Vardi et al. on a great paper. CC @stephenbheard.bsky.social for humor in a paper!
Effects of Future Climate Extreme Heat Events and Land Use Changes on Land Vertebrates
Our study demonstrates how the combined effects of extreme heat events resulting from climate change and land-use change may impact land vertebrates worldwide by 2100. Using global projections across...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 24, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Please do not come at me, this was a nerd joke, I love that they did this, congratulations to Vardi et al. on a great paper. CC @stephenbheard.bsky.social for humor in a paper!
Reposted by Don C. Schmitz
For those out there who still think of anthropogenic climate breakdown as a blip
It takes around 400,000 years for nature to completely remove a tonne of CO2 released by human activities
It takes around 400,000 years for nature to completely remove a tonne of CO2 released by human activities
December 19, 2025 at 10:35 AM
For those out there who still think of anthropogenic climate breakdown as a blip
It takes around 400,000 years for nature to completely remove a tonne of CO2 released by human activities
It takes around 400,000 years for nature to completely remove a tonne of CO2 released by human activities
Reposted by Don C. Schmitz
This year's Arctic Report Card from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration finds that the northernmost part of the Earth is warming faster than the global average, leading to melting glaciers, shifting fish populations, and rivers running orange. n.pr/4rYZwLP
New report finds the Arctic continues to warm faster than the planet as a whole
This year's Arctic Report Card from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration finds that the northernmost part of the Earth is warming faster than the global average, leading to melting glaciers, shifting fish populations, and rivers running orange.
n.pr
December 16, 2025 at 5:40 PM
This year's Arctic Report Card from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration finds that the northernmost part of the Earth is warming faster than the global average, leading to melting glaciers, shifting fish populations, and rivers running orange. n.pr/4rYZwLP
Reposted by Don C. Schmitz
A mass shooting now occurs every 17 hours in America and our political leaders assure us they will continue to do nothing about the problem.
December 14, 2025 at 6:48 PM
A mass shooting now occurs every 17 hours in America and our political leaders assure us they will continue to do nothing about the problem.
Reposted by Don C. Schmitz
Actual climate scientist here. 2.5C is on the optimistic end of the literature on current policy outcomes, which spans the range from 2.3C to 3C. I wrote a review of the literature on the subject earlier this year: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
December 13, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Actual climate scientist here. 2.5C is on the optimistic end of the literature on current policy outcomes, which spans the range from 2.3C to 3C. I wrote a review of the literature on the subject earlier this year: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Here are the structural, strategic, and communication gaps that climate scientists are mostly not doing to help create the social, political and economic conditions required to phase down fossil fuels.
December 11, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Here are the structural, strategic, and communication gaps that climate scientists are mostly not doing to help create the social, political and economic conditions required to phase down fossil fuels.
Reposted by Don C. Schmitz
“Little-known secret: Almost every earthworm in most of the U.S. came from somewhere else. Native earthworms all but disappeared more than 10,000 years ago, when glaciers from a Pleistocene ice age wiped them out.” ecosystemsontheedge.org/earthworm-in...
Earthworm Invaders
Little-known secret: Almost every earthworm in most of the U.S. came from somewhere else. Native earthworms all but disappeared more than 10,000 years ago, when glaciers from a Pleistocene ice age …
ecosystemsontheedge.org
December 11, 2025 at 12:05 PM
“Little-known secret: Almost every earthworm in most of the U.S. came from somewhere else. Native earthworms all but disappeared more than 10,000 years ago, when glaciers from a Pleistocene ice age wiped them out.” ecosystemsontheedge.org/earthworm-in...
Reposted by Don C. Schmitz
427.04 parts per million (ppm) CO2 in air 09-Dec-2025
keelingcurve.ucsd.edu
keelingcurve.ucsd.edu
The Keeling Curve
The Keeling Curve is a daily record of global atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration maintained by Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego.
keelingcurve.ucsd.edu
December 10, 2025 at 6:32 PM
427.04 parts per million (ppm) CO2 in air 09-Dec-2025
keelingcurve.ucsd.edu
keelingcurve.ucsd.edu
Reposted by Don C. Schmitz
It’s almost like something dramatically changed after the Industrial Revolution! (figure via Ed Hawkins)
November 18, 2025 at 4:53 PM
It’s almost like something dramatically changed after the Industrial Revolution! (figure via Ed Hawkins)
Reposted by Don C. Schmitz
Check out the full piece (with tons of model-observation comparison figures) over at The Climate Brink:
Comparing climate models with observations
The latest generation of climate models shows too much long-term warming but better reproduces recent trends
www.theclimatebrink.com
December 6, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Check out the full piece (with tons of model-observation comparison figures) over at The Climate Brink:
Reposted by Don C. Schmitz
I have a new update to climate model-observation comparisons over at The Climate Brink, covering CMIP3, CMIP5, and CMIP6. Models perform well globally. The latest generation shows too much long-term warming but better reproduces recent trends: www.theclimatebrink....
December 6, 2025 at 8:42 PM
I have a new update to climate model-observation comparisons over at The Climate Brink, covering CMIP3, CMIP5, and CMIP6. Models perform well globally. The latest generation shows too much long-term warming but better reproduces recent trends: www.theclimatebrink....
Reposted by Don C. Schmitz
🚨 Friday ice update - #Arctic sea ice extent is currently the lowest on record (JAXA data)
• about 840,000 km² below the 2010s mean
• about 1,380,000 km² below the 2000s mean
• about 2,070,000 km² below the 1990s mean
• about 2,530,000 km² below the 1980s mean
Graphics zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
• about 840,000 km² below the 2010s mean
• about 1,380,000 km² below the 2000s mean
• about 2,070,000 km² below the 1990s mean
• about 2,530,000 km² below the 1980s mean
Graphics zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
December 5, 2025 at 2:19 PM
🚨 Friday ice update - #Arctic sea ice extent is currently the lowest on record (JAXA data)
• about 840,000 km² below the 2010s mean
• about 1,380,000 km² below the 2000s mean
• about 2,070,000 km² below the 1990s mean
• about 2,530,000 km² below the 1980s mean
Graphics zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
• about 840,000 km² below the 2010s mean
• about 1,380,000 km² below the 2000s mean
• about 2,070,000 km² below the 1990s mean
• about 2,530,000 km² below the 1980s mean
Graphics zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
Reposted by Don C. Schmitz
A climate deal without explicit language calling for a fossil fuel phaseout is like a ceasefire without explicit language calling for a suspension of hostilities.
#COP30
#COP30
November 22, 2025 at 2:54 PM
A climate deal without explicit language calling for a fossil fuel phaseout is like a ceasefire without explicit language calling for a suspension of hostilities.
#COP30
#COP30
Reposted by Don C. Schmitz
If you're still wanting more suggestions here's my recommendation list from last year... 📖
Happy reading!
Happy reading!
Looking for books to get for #climate curious friends & family this Christmas🎄?
Here are 6 of my favourites reads this year.
First up @doctorvive.bsky.social's indispensable guide to talking climate action & fighting fossil fuel propaganda 🧵
Here are 6 of my favourites reads this year.
First up @doctorvive.bsky.social's indispensable guide to talking climate action & fighting fossil fuel propaganda 🧵
December 3, 2025 at 5:21 AM
If you're still wanting more suggestions here's my recommendation list from last year... 📖
Happy reading!
Happy reading!
Reposted by Don C. Schmitz
Another great read from @scrawford.bsky.social: "We can’t rely on the insurance industry to be the only risk-signaler for homes. These companies may be tracking hurricanes and wildfires, and translating those risks into higher premiums, but they are likely to exclude saltwater intrusion coverage."
New research shows climate risk is already hitting insurance and home values. And that’s only part of the story. Some serious hazards, like saltwater intrusion, often aren’t covered at all -- and aren’t yet priced into housing markets. Column today: susanpcrawford.substack.com/p/new-data-s...
New data shows insurance costs rising and home values sinking as climate risks grow
Insurance markets are flashing warnings — even as some major climate risks remain unmeasured and unaccounted for
susanpcrawford.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Another great read from @scrawford.bsky.social: "We can’t rely on the insurance industry to be the only risk-signaler for homes. These companies may be tracking hurricanes and wildfires, and translating those risks into higher premiums, but they are likely to exclude saltwater intrusion coverage."
Reposted by Don C. Schmitz
Monday ice update - #Arctic sea ice extent is currently the *2nd* lowest on record (JAXA data)
• about 770,000 km² below the 2010s mean
• about 1,390,000 km² below the 2000s mean
• about 2,010,000 km² below the 1990s mean
• about 2,530,000 km² below the 1980s mean
More zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
• about 770,000 km² below the 2010s mean
• about 1,390,000 km² below the 2000s mean
• about 2,010,000 km² below the 1990s mean
• about 2,530,000 km² below the 1980s mean
More zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
November 25, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Monday ice update - #Arctic sea ice extent is currently the *2nd* lowest on record (JAXA data)
• about 770,000 km² below the 2010s mean
• about 1,390,000 km² below the 2000s mean
• about 2,010,000 km² below the 1990s mean
• about 2,530,000 km² below the 1980s mean
More zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
• about 770,000 km² below the 2010s mean
• about 1,390,000 km² below the 2000s mean
• about 2,010,000 km² below the 1990s mean
• about 2,530,000 km² below the 1980s mean
More zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
Reposted by Don C. Schmitz
www.dailymail.co.uk/real-estate/...
“Hail now causes more home-damage dollars nationwide than hurricanes in some years, and is driving insurance premiums in the Great Plains to the highest levels in America.” As predicted by scientists.
“Hail now causes more home-damage dollars nationwide than hurricanes in some years, and is driving insurance premiums in the Great Plains to the highest levels in America.” As predicted by scientists.
A new menace is blowing up home insurance costs
A tiny Nebraska town with less than 4,000 residents was left in ruins after softball-sized hail storm battered homes, shattered windows, and caused $100 million in property damage.
www.dailymail.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 4:48 PM
www.dailymail.co.uk/real-estate/...
“Hail now causes more home-damage dollars nationwide than hurricanes in some years, and is driving insurance premiums in the Great Plains to the highest levels in America.” As predicted by scientists.
“Hail now causes more home-damage dollars nationwide than hurricanes in some years, and is driving insurance premiums in the Great Plains to the highest levels in America.” As predicted by scientists.
Reposted by Don C. Schmitz
And we warned them with our new 2025 State of the Climate Report which you can check out here: doi.org/10.1093/bios...
November 14, 2025 at 7:31 AM
And we warned them with our new 2025 State of the Climate Report which you can check out here: doi.org/10.1093/bios...
Reposted by Don C. Schmitz
In our Climate Report my coauthors and I say: We are hurtling toward climate chaos. The planet's vital signs are flashing red. Consequences of human-driven alterations of the climate are no longer future threats but are here now. Read report here doi.org/10.1093/bios...
The 2025 state of the climate report: a planet on the brink
We are hurtling toward climate chaos. The planet's vital signs are flashing red. The consequences of human-driven alterations of the climate are no longer
doi.org
November 22, 2025 at 11:10 PM
In our Climate Report my coauthors and I say: We are hurtling toward climate chaos. The planet's vital signs are flashing red. Consequences of human-driven alterations of the climate are no longer future threats but are here now. Read report here doi.org/10.1093/bios...
Reposted by Don C. Schmitz
Charts like this paint an overly optimistic picture
Many countries are off track for delivery & are unlikely to fully implement their current policy targets without greater action
E.g UKs Climate Change Commitee asseses that there is insufficient implementation to meet 40%of our emissions target!
Many countries are off track for delivery & are unlikely to fully implement their current policy targets without greater action
E.g UKs Climate Change Commitee asseses that there is insufficient implementation to meet 40%of our emissions target!
November 17, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Charts like this paint an overly optimistic picture
Many countries are off track for delivery & are unlikely to fully implement their current policy targets without greater action
E.g UKs Climate Change Commitee asseses that there is insufficient implementation to meet 40%of our emissions target!
Many countries are off track for delivery & are unlikely to fully implement their current policy targets without greater action
E.g UKs Climate Change Commitee asseses that there is insufficient implementation to meet 40%of our emissions target!
Reposted by Don C. Schmitz
Friday ice update - #Arctic sea ice extent is currently the *2nd* lowest on record (JAXA data)
• about 720,000 km² below the 2010s mean
• about 1,390,000 km² below the 2000s mean
• about 2,010,000 km² below the 1990s mean
• about 2,520,000 km² below the 1980s mean
More zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
• about 720,000 km² below the 2010s mean
• about 1,390,000 km² below the 2000s mean
• about 2,010,000 km² below the 1990s mean
• about 2,520,000 km² below the 1980s mean
More zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
November 21, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Friday ice update - #Arctic sea ice extent is currently the *2nd* lowest on record (JAXA data)
• about 720,000 km² below the 2010s mean
• about 1,390,000 km² below the 2000s mean
• about 2,010,000 km² below the 1990s mean
• about 2,520,000 km² below the 1980s mean
More zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
• about 720,000 km² below the 2010s mean
• about 1,390,000 km² below the 2000s mean
• about 2,010,000 km² below the 1990s mean
• about 2,520,000 km² below the 1980s mean
More zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...
Reposted by Don C. Schmitz
A view of this year's extreme sea surface temperatures and recent warming across the North Pacific... 🌊
This graph shows the average for a band across the midlatitudes for every average January-October period from 1854-2025 using ERSSTv5 data.
This graph shows the average for a band across the midlatitudes for every average January-October period from 1854-2025 using ERSSTv5 data.
November 19, 2025 at 1:28 AM
A view of this year's extreme sea surface temperatures and recent warming across the North Pacific... 🌊
This graph shows the average for a band across the midlatitudes for every average January-October period from 1854-2025 using ERSSTv5 data.
This graph shows the average for a band across the midlatitudes for every average January-October period from 1854-2025 using ERSSTv5 data.
Reposted by Don C. Schmitz
A number of new estimates of current policy warming by 2100 have been released in recent months, including three prominent ones from UNEP, IEA, and CAT in the run-up to COP30.
I've got a new piece over at The Climate Brink digging into the details: www.theclimatebrink....
I've got a new piece over at The Climate Brink digging into the details: www.theclimatebrink....
November 14, 2025 at 6:52 PM
A number of new estimates of current policy warming by 2100 have been released in recent months, including three prominent ones from UNEP, IEA, and CAT in the run-up to COP30.
I've got a new piece over at The Climate Brink digging into the details: www.theclimatebrink....
I've got a new piece over at The Climate Brink digging into the details: www.theclimatebrink....
Reposted by Don C. Schmitz
“As the planet warms, so much ice has been erased from around Mount Everest that the elevation at base camp in Nepal, which sits on a melting glacier, has dropped more than 220 feet since the 1980s.” www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Melting Glaciers in the Himalayas Feed Lakes That Threaten Towns Below
Melting ice from the Himalayas is creating thousands of unstable lakes, a growing menace to towns and cities below.
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:07 PM
“As the planet warms, so much ice has been erased from around Mount Everest that the elevation at base camp in Nepal, which sits on a melting glacier, has dropped more than 220 feet since the 1980s.” www.nytimes.com/interactive/...