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This is "Impact" from the University of California, Merced.
These scientists are part of UC Merced's Sierra Nevada Research Institute, which studies how
the Sierra and the San Joaquin Valley are affected by climate change, population growth,
pollution and the scarcity of important natural resources. One of those resources is snow,
which provides runoff that carries water to farmers and communities throughout the state.
This part of our measurement program is a flux tower. It's measuring the uptake of carbon
by the trees and the release of water by the trees as they grow. We're studying the cycle
of water, of carbon, how ecosystems, trees, other plants and animals respond to changes.
Bales and other researchers from UC Merced and UC Berkeley recently received a $2 million
grant to continue developing a system of wireless sensor networks that track snowpack depth,
stream flow, the storage of water in soil and other important water cycle factors.
California really depends on its snow resources as a major part of its water supply. That
snow really constitutes a steady runoff of water supply from the mountains, and also
a recharge to groundwater for the Central Valley.
UC Merced's presence in the Valley and its proximity to the Sierra has created unique
research opportunities that allow scientists to take on some of the biggest challenges
facing our region, state and world.
I think UC Merced is in the best location for any University of California, personally.
There are few places in California where the nexus of so many concerns and opportunities
come together.
This is Eric Alvarez reporting.
For more on the University of California, Merced, visit our website.