Regional Environment
Digitizing the UH Coastal Center Herbarium
There’s plenty of information around the country regarding herbaria, but it’s not that easily accessible. UH biology professor, Steven Pennings, wants to digitize the collection at the UH Coastal Center herbarium in order to...
Determining the Microplastics Ingested by Oysters in Galveston
Do you want plastic with your oysters? Oysters are a filter organism – that means the water in Galveston runs through these small creatures. An oyster can filter about 30 gallons of water a day. Marc Hanke, marine biology professor at UH, and his students have been measuring the amount of microplastics present in the oysters that are harvested in Galveston Bay.
Determining the Effect of Wild Hogs on the Oyster Population
Wild hogs are an invasive species in Galveston Bay and they do over a million dollars’ worth of damage each year. Some of their behaviors are affecting a very different population in Galveston – the dwindling but crucial population of oysters.
Monitoring Ozone Formation and Matter Transport into the Houston Area
The high ozone level days that used to be seen in Houston in the late 90s and early 2000s are now “few and far between.” Regulations and policies that were implemented regarding certain types of emissions from industries in Houston’s Ship Channel have and continue to improve air quality in the city.
Predicting the Severity of Thunderstorms
A team of atmospheric scientists from around the nation is working in Houston to understand if tiny specks of soot, dust, smoke and other particles suspended in Earth’s atmosphere impact the severity of thunderstorms. Knowing this may make weather forecasts more accurate and provide crucial data for improving predictions about how aerosols may affect Earth’s future climate.
Measuring Rainfall in Houston
Houston's urbanization and growth can be seen as a blessing and a curse. We are the soon-to-be third largest city in the country. However, rainfall in our city has been and continues to be a critical problem.
Understanding How Sediment Impacts Urban Streams
Houston has a problem: flooding is unavoidable for a city essentially built on a floodplain, but proposals to mitigate the flooding may not be realistic...
Repurposing Oyster Shells for Juvenile Oyster Habitats
Oysters have a big impact on the regional environment. Oyster shells are repurposed in Galveston in order to replenish their numbers on reefs near shore.
Studying Oysters to Determine Pollution
A professor at UH is determining the amount of pollution in Galveston Bay by studying oysters.
Mitigating Floods with Mangroves
There is a complicated relationship between whooping cranes and mangroves in Galveston Bay.
Looking Objectively at Energy Solutions
Our region is positioned as a leader in this quest for cleaner, more efficient and environmental-friendly energy going forward.