Best Cliff Mass Podcasts (2024)

1
Meteorological Summer Starts Next Week 6:17

13d ago6:17

6:17

I will provide the forecast, which includes the start of meteorological summer!

1
Rerun: Electric Vehicle Retrofitting with Dr. Aly El Tayeb 1:46

2h ago1:46

1:46

What is electric vehicle (EV) retrofitting and why does it matter? ‘EV retrofitting’ refers to the process of converting a gas-powered vehicle into an electric vehicle by replacing its gas engine with a battery pack. The battery pack is designed to fit within the vehicle’s chassis—the structural frame to which its wheels, suspension, engine, and ot…

1
Media Manipulation with Author Mike Simonelli 1:06:17

5h ago1:06:17

1:06:17

In this episode, Mike is joined by author, Army veteran, and police officer Mike Simonelli to discuss Simonelli’s book: Justified Deadly Force and the Myth of Systemic Racism. About the book: Americans are being manipulated as the media, activists, and politicians racialize deadly police shootings. This book proves through scientific evidence that …

1
Sustainable Investing for a Climate-Proof Economy, with Kirsten Spalding 1:45

1h ago1:45

1:45

Mobilizing Investors to Build a More Sustainable Global Economy As the effects of climate change rise in prevalence, all facets of the global economy will be affected. In order to address many of the global environmental crises of today, such as biodiversity loss and extreme drought, entrepreneurs are looking into sustainable investment initiatives…

1
Increasing Efficiency Through Power Line Reconductoring, with Umed Paliwal 1:45

15d ago1:45

1:45

Reconductoring power grids to boost energy efficiency The expansion of renewable energy has resulted in a heightened need for greater transmission capacity of the electrical grid. Unfortunately, permitting and cost allocation have been large hurdles to the potential of rapid expansion to meet future demand. As an alternative, large-scale reconducto…

1
Rerun: Using Concrete for Carbon Removal with Dr. Erica Dodds 1:45

11d ago1:45

1:45

What is Carbon Mineralization Carbon mineralization is a naturally occurring chemical process that occurs when carbon dioxide becomes “mineralized” through a chemical reaction. The chemical reaction occurs when certain rocks, most often in deep underground igneous and metamorphic formations, are exposed to carbon dioxide. Carbon mineralization hold…

1
Mass Mobilization for Climate, with Dana Fisher 1:44

17d ago1:44

1:44

Mass mobilization in climate activism By the mid 2000s, the climate justice movement was beginning to gain momentum across the world. Through organized rallies and marches, the public has begun to see an increased recognition of climate justice issues amidst various other social movements. The existential threat of the climate crisis has given rise…

1
Rain without Clouds, the Upcoming Cooling, and Leeside Winds 8:22

22d ago8:22

8:22

The radar shows offshore rain, but it is not raining. This podcast explains why. I also give the forecast, with cooling and some showers possible. And I talk about strong winds on the eastern slopes of the Cascades..

1
Rerun: Raising the Bar: Brewing a Greener Future with Concentrated Beer, with Gary Tickle 1:45

28d ago1:45

1:45

What are the problems with current beer production methods? Beer is primarily composed of water—making up about 90 percent of its content. Annually, over 100 billion gallons of beer are produced and shipped, meaning nearly 90 billion gallons of water are being transported in the form of beer. This is significant because approximately 20 percent of …

1
Showers, Warm Up, and Eastside Winds 8:13

28d ago8:13

8:13

My podcast will discuss the origins of our current cool/showery weather and tell you why such cool weather in the west produces strong winds over the eastern slopes of the Cascades.

1
Generating Electricity from Air, with Jun Yao 1:45

1M ago1:45

1:45

A Need for Clean Energy Energy harvesting from environmental sources is key to mitigating the harm associated with fossil fuels. Renewable energy is generated from naturally replenishing resources, and common sources include solar, wind, and water. Currently, renewable energy only makes up roughly 20% of all U.S. electricity, and many of these sour…

1
A Beautiful Saturday Before June Gloom Returns 6:31

1M ago6:31

6:31

It's a phrase that puts a shiver down the spine of all Northwesterners: June Gloom. And it's coming. But first we have a delightful Friday and a warm (but not too warm) Saturday. In this podcast, I describe the forecast and why we get June gloom every year.

1
Rerun: Equitable Policy for Energy Efficient Homes with Dr. Steve Cliff 1:45

1M ago1:45

1:45

California is the first state to ban the sale of new gas furnaces and water heaters, which will begin in 2030. In efforts to fight climate change, all homes will be required to use zero-emission electric appliance alternatives. The Sierra Club and American Lung Association have supported this move to reduce the building sector’s carbon footprint an…

1
The Heavy Rain Event and the Potential for Thunderstorms 7:44

1M ago7:44

7:44

My podcast will review the heavy rain event predicted for Sunday through Tuesday and then turn to a warm stretch expected from the middle to end of next week. But then is a surprise: the potential for thunderstorms next weekend in eastern Washington and Oregon, the Cascades, and maybe a few boomers drifting into western Wasington.…

1
Adapting Coffee Production for Climate Resilience, with Catherine Kiwuka 1:45

2M ago1:45

1:45

The Environmental Impacts of Coffee Production For most of us, coffee is a part of our daily lives. 62% of Americans drink coffee every day, with 7 in 10 drinking coffee every week. In 2024, the coffee market amounted to over $86.7 billion in gross revenue, with numbers only predicted to rise. Americans consume over 400 million cups of coffee each …

1
Memorial Day Weekend Weather Plus Western Washington Wildfire 8:25

2M ago8:25

8:25

In this podcast I talk about the weather forecast for this weekend and beyond, and then discuss the validity of predictions of increased chances of western Washington wildfires.

1
Improving Lithium-Ion Batteries: The Manganese Solution 1:44

2M ago1:44

1:44

Lithium Ion Batteries Lithium ion batteries are a popular type of rechargeable battery, used in a variety of devices from laptops and cell phones to hybrid and electric vehicles. Lithium ion batteries have grown in use due to their light weight, high energy density, and ability to recharge. While these batteries are used to store electricity and, t…

1
The Latest Forecast Plus How Far into the Future Can We Forecast? 11:24

2M ago11:24

11:24

In this podcast, provide the weekend and weekly forecast and describe the cool/soggy pattern we are in. And in the second segment, I describe the limits on weather prediction technology: how far into the future can we forecast and why it has gotten so much better.

1
Alleviating Urban Heat Traps, with Jeff Goodell 1:45

2M ago1:45

1:45

What Does Extreme Heat Do? Since the pre-industrialized era, the global temperature has increased by about one degree Celsius. Although one degree may not seem significant, the consequences are increases in the intensity of heatwaves and drier conditions. In addition, in dense urban settings buildings trap and absorb this heat and cause even a high…

1
Forecast and Aurora (Updated) 5:52

3M ago5:52

5:52

I provide the weekend forecast and talk about the major aurora expected tonight.

1
Forecast and Aurora 4:40

3M ago4:40

4:40

I will provide the latest weekend forecast and tell you about the major aurora that should be visible tonight

1
Rerun: Corporate Lobbying as an Ally in the Fight Against Climate Change 1:46

2M ago1:46

1:46

Editorial Note The interview for this episode was recorded in June 2021. The basic point of the episode remains relevant, but the mentioned campaign is no longer active. ClimateVoice’s current campaign is Escape the Chamber, which calls on companies to leave the US Chamber of Commerce and to speak up and lead on climate policy at local, state, and …

1
Converting Food Waste into Energy Through Anaerobic Digestion, with Brett Reinford 1:44

3M ago1:44

1:44

If you’ve ever been near a farm with livestock, you might agree that farm odors can be carried far from the farm itself. Farms often face criticism from nearby residents over the offensive odor of manure. While manure is an unavoidable part of raising livestock, there is one technological innovation that can remove the smell from manure. Anaerobic …

1
E-Mobilization and Renewable Energy in Kenya, with Daniel Ngumy 1:45

3M ago1:45

1:45

Renewables and E-mobility E-mobility, the use of electric powertrain technologies in-vehicle transformation, allows for the use of electricity to enable the electric propulsion of various forms of transportation. Powertrain technologies refer to full electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, which can be less carbon-intensive than conventional diesel c…

1
The Homeless Industrial Complex PART 3 - with Tom Wolfe 1:01:58

3M ago1:01:58

1:01:58

In this episode Mike welcomes back Andrea Suarez from We Heart Seattle with special guest, recovering addict and homeless care advocate, Tom Wolfe. They dive deep into Tom’s backstory and discuss the root causes of the homeless epidemic plaguing the west coast.By Mike Solan

1
Designing Road Infrastructure to Promote Active Mobility, with Lina Lopez 1:46

3M ago1:46

1:46

Zero-Emission Transport Electric vehicles and other transportation-based climate solutions have made a big splash in recent years, and for good reason – transportation accounts for about a fourth of global carbon dioxide emissions. In the U.S, it’s the economic sector with the single largest contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. With such a lar…

1
Rerun: Cool surfaces: Reflecting heat and reducing emissions, with Ronnen Levinson 1:45

3M ago1:45

1:45

What is a cool surface? Cool surfaces are roofs, walls, or pavements that are generally light-colored and highly reflective. When sunlight hits a white surface, its rays bounce off the surface rather than being absorbed, and are reflected back into space. Darker surfaces tend to absorb sunlight, trapping heat. Cool surfaces release this heat back i…

1
Using Climate Journalism to Connect Weather Events and Climate, with Jonathan Vigliotti 1:45

3M ago1:45

1:45

Staying Educated About Climate Change As climate change intensifies, the heightened frequency of natural disaster weather-related events is quickly becoming the new reality. Whether it be prolonged wildfire seasons in Northern California or destructive hurricanes off the Florida coast, citizens across the country are beginning to bear the burden of…

1
Advancing Sustainable Steel Production, with Adam Rauwerdink 1:44

4M ago1:44

1:44

Steel Production Globally, 1.9 billion metric tons of crude steel were produced in 2022. Over the past 15 years, the global demand for steel production has nearly doubled, as this versatile product can be found in nearly all modern infrastructure such as buildings, ships, vehicles, machines, and appliances. Conventionally, steel is made from iron o…

1
Tracking Emissions with Remote Sensing, with Gavin McCormick 1:45

4M ago1:45

1:45

The Need to Accurately Quantify Emissions As we begin to come to terms with the reality of the fossil fuel industry’s role in climate change, many policymakers are looking towards market-based mechanisms to curb the level of emissions released by harmful polluters. Market-based mechanisms include taxing pollution directly (through a carbon tax) or …

1
Rerun: Tackling the Plastic Crisis, with Martin Bourque 1:44

4M ago1:44

1:44

What is plastic? Plastic is a material derived primarily from carbon-based sources like natural gas, oil, and even plants. It is created by treating these organic materials with heat and catalysts to form various polymers. Producing plastic is energy-intensive, often relying on the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas, both for p…

1
Calculating Threats from Rising Temperatures Using Heat Indexing, with Professor David Romps 1:45

5M ago1:45

1:45

Extreme Heat: More Dangerous Than We Think? Extreme heat, one of the adverse consequences of climate change, exacerbates drought, damages agriculture, and profoundly impacts human health. Heat is the top weather-related killer in the United States, contributing to deaths that arise from heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular diseases. As …

1
Bidirectional Charging: Vehicles as a Portable Battery, with Ellie Cohen 1:45

5M ago1:45

1:45

Renewable Energy is The Future California is no stranger to power outages. In 2019, for example, over 25,000 blackout events were recorded across the state, leaving homeowners and businesses without electricity. In recent years, most blackouts are the result of wildfire, wildfire risk (leading to utility shutdowns), and extreme heat (leading to hig…

1
Pedaling Towards A Sustainable Future, with Manuel de Araujo 1:45

5M ago1:45

1:45

Increasing Sustainable Modes of Transportation In 2022, global emissions from transportation reached nearly 8 gigatons of carbon. To achieve the Net Zero Scenario, transportation emissions need to drop by nearly 25% by 2030. Within the Global South, auto-centric planning, transport authorities’ structures, and alternatives to cars and buses are som…

1
Making Electric Heating Accessible and Affordable for Low-Income Residents, with Sarah Moskowitz 1:45

5M ago1:45

1:45

Electric Heat: A Hot Topic in Chicago In cold winter months, many people have to rely on fossil gas to heat their homes and power cookstoves. Yet all-electric appliances, including heat pumps to heat homes, are quickly becoming a cheaper alternative over the long term, though they often entail higher upfront costs compared to gas appliances. In Chi…

1
Restoring Urban Waterways to Create Climate Resiliency, with Nick Wesley 1:45

6M ago1:45

1:45

What’s interesting about urban rivers? Urban rivers play many important roles in our cities. They maintain the health of coastal and estuarine ecosystems and they are part of larger catchment ecosystems that are nested within wider, interconnected systems. Urban rivers are also essential to the quality of our drinking water, playing central roles i…

1
Solar Power On Farms, with Byron Kominek 1:43

6M ago1:43

1:43

Solar Power on Farms Many farmers, ranchers, and landowners are beginning to consider using their farmland not just for agricultural purposes, but for solar power as well. This combination of agriculture and solar is known as agrivoltaics, which offers an innovative approach to land management particularly in arid regions of the world. Solar panels…

1
Reducing Plastic Pollution with Bioplastics, with Raegan Kelly 1:45

6M ago1:45

1:45

Decreasing society’s reliance on single-use plastics The use of plastic has major environmental, social, and health consequences. Across the globe, one million plastic bottles are purchased every minute, with over half of the plastic produced worldwide being thrown away after one use. Upon disposal, plastics are often left in landfills where they c…

1
RERUN: The Clean Energy Potential of Nuclear Fusion, with Annie Kritcher 1:46

6M ago1:46

1:46

What is nuclear fusion? Nuclear fusion produces energy by fusing atoms together. Atomic cores (nuclei) merge together to form a heavier—though unstable—nucleus, releasing mass to regain stability. This mass release corresponds to an energy release, given Einstein’s equation E=mc2, which says in part that mass and energy can be converted into each o…

1
Educating Kids about Climate Change through Musical Storytelling 1:45

7M ago1:45

1:45

Climate Education for Youth Climate education has the potential to drive the public towards climate science literacy, an individual’s understanding of their influence on climate and climate’s influence on them and society. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a climate-literate person: understands the essential principl…

1
Rerun: Sequestering Carbon using Compost and Grasslands, with Whendee Silver 1:44

7M ago1:44

1:44

Carbon Sequestration Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide to slow the pace of climate change. There are two major types of carbon sequestration: geologic and biologic. Geological carbon sequestration injects carbon dioxide captured from an industrial or energy-related source into underground geolog…

1
Rerun: Recharging Aquifers with Flood Waters, with Daniel Swain 1:44

7M ago1:44

1:44

Climate change is increasing flood risk worldwide. Climate change is intensifying flood risk around the world, with potentially devastating consequences for communities and infrastructure. As the planet gets hotter, the atmosphere's capacity to hold water vapor increases, leading to more frequent and intense precipitation events in certain regions.…

1
Rerun: Using Groundwater to Heat and Cool Buildings 1:46

7M ago1:46

1:46

What is the GeoGrid? The Geo Grid is a network of heating pumps that harnesses the geothermal energy stored under the Earth’s surface to heat and cool buildings. It operates through a network of pipes that go deep into the ground and connect houses to each other. These pipes are filled with water, which brings the constant underground temperature u…

1
Balancing the Grid: California's Shift to Renewable Energy Sources 1:46

7M ago1:46

1:46

How does transitioning to renewable energy challenge the electric grid? As of 2022, renewable and non-greenhouse gas emitting sources accounted for 52% of California's in-state electricity generation with the remaining 48% fueled by natural gas. Legislation passed in 2018 mandates that the state must reach at least 60% renewable energy by 2030 whic…

1
Hip Hop 4 Change: Using Art Activism to Combat Climate Change 1:45

8M ago1:45

1:45

What are Art and Music Activism? Art activism refers to the use of artistic expression and creative endeavors to advocate for and educate others on social, political, environmental, or cultural issues. This form of activism employs the creative power of art as a medium to move us emotionally, raise awareness of certain issues, and provoke thought. …

1
International Monetary Fund Reform, With Kelly Varian 1:45

8M ago1:45

1:45

What is the IMF? The International Monetary Fund (IMF) provides aid to developing countries to promote global economic and monetary growth. IMF investments and loans can significantly impact the ability of developing countries to improve climate resilience. Most directly, reforms to the IMF can allow developing countries to invest more in climate r…

1
RERUN: Community as antidote to climate despair, with Teo Grossman 1:46

8M ago1:46

1:46

Why Community? It’s easy to feel despair about climate change and environmental destruction. But despair can make it hard to forge connections and take action. According to emotion researchers, hope means believing that you have the power to improve problems, rather than ignoring them. One possible source of hope? Community building events, where d…

1
Salt Marshes: Ecosystem Powerhouses in Climate Regulation and Biodiversity 1:45

9M ago1:45

1:45

The Vital Role of Wetlands Wetlands are critical ecosystems that play a fundamental role in maintaining the stability and well-being of both local and global environments. Coastal salt marshes, flooded and drained by tides, and often composed of deep mud and peat, provide a wide range of ecosystem services that contribute to biodiversity, water qua…

1
Resilience Hotspots: Nature's Role in Urban Climate Adaptation 1:44

9M ago1:44

1:44

What are “Resilience Hotspots”? Technology and high-tech solutions are not the only responses to climate change. Nature can also be a powerful form of climate resilience. Resilience hotspots are small pockets of nature that, when restored and maintained, act as barriers to climate impacts. For instance, wetlands can insulate shores from storm surge…

1
Green Ammonia: Pioneering a Sustainable Future in Food Production 1:45

9M ago1:45

1:45

What is “Green Ammonia”? Ammonia is a vital chemical that sustains half of all food production around the world (through the creation of agricultural fertilizer), but the process we use to make it results in significant greenhouse gas emissions. Ammonia, which is made up of nitrogen and hydrogen, requires extreme heat and pressure and large amounts…

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