Fall Science Speaks Series

Extreme wildfires now occur with increasing regularity in western North America and other parts of the world. These wildfires generate large plumes of smoke and ash that can travel thousands of miles and persist for weeks or longer in the atmosphere. These “smoke storms” block sunlight and deposit ash on surfaces. Lakes and ponds are affected by the reduced light and ash inputs from wildfires, but much about these potential impacts is unknown. Light and nutrients are both important factors that regulate the growth of plants and algae in aquatic ecosystems. Rates of primary production from plants and algae in turn determine how much food becomes available for other organisms, such as fish, and can affect many aspects of water quality. Thus, understanding how and why aquatic primary production is responding to wildfires is a critical research objective. This lecture will illustrate the scale at which smoke from wildfires is affecting lakes across North America, and highlight some of the effects with data from lakes throughout California, including Lake Tahoe’s response to the Caldor fire of 2021.

Featuring UC Davis TERC Associate Professor Steve Sadro, much of his research is conducted in the Sierra Nevada mountains, where steep landscape gradients provide a natural laboratory to test ecological questions. He seeks solutions to environmental problems and contributes to the conservation of aquatic ecosystems.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/oct-26-wildfire-impacts-on-lakes-with-steve-sadro-tickets-730951023187

In-person event details

Doors open at 5:00 p.m. Presentation begins at 6:00 p.m.

Tickets purchased in advance are $10 through EventBrite and free for students with a student ID. Tickets at the door are $15. Refreshments and a hosted bar will be available from 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. The lecture will begin at 6 p.m. in the Mountainside Bar at Sunnyside Restaurant & Lodge, 1850 W Lake Blvd, Tahoe City, CA 96145. 

Enjoy dinner at Sunnyside either before or after the lecture where participants will be treated to 20% off their entire meal. 

For more information call 775-881-7560 or email tercinfo@ucdavis.edu.

Can't make it in-person? Join us at the presentation date and time on zoom for a livestream of the presentation:
https://ucdavis.zoom.us/j/99907458704

We are excited to partner with Sunnyside Restaurant & Lodge as the new location for the UC Davis TERC Fall Science Speaker lecture series to be held at the Mountainside bar at Sunnyside Restaurant & Lodge in Tahoe City (directions). Free self-parking on-site and across the street.