SLCC Earth and Environmental Sciences Department

Utah is looking good!

Featuring exaggerated shaded relief and natural landscape colors, this map of Utah brings to life the diverse beauty spread across Utah's 84,900 square miles. 😍 https://bit.ly/4z2Yim8

Fun fact: 34,375 of those square miles are managed for multiple uses by the Bureau of Land Management.

Meteorology and geology combine in the creation of fulgurites!

A single lightning strike can reach temperatures nearly five times hotter than the surface of the sun.

When lightning strikes the gypsum dunes at White Sands National Park in New Mexico, the intense heat can fuse the sand into formations called fulgurites, sometimes known as "fossilized lightning."

It's one of nature's most incredible works of art, created in the blink of an eye.

Photo by NPS

Internships and part time positions available!

Looking for a career that connects people, plants, and conservation?
 
Conservation Garden Park is looking for passionate individuals to join our team and help educate and inspire our community through horticulture, waterwise landscaping, and environmental stewardship.
 
These positions are employed through Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District (Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District), an organization dedicated to providing safe, reliable drinking water while promoting efficient water use throughout our community.
 
We’re currently hiring for:
🌿 Horticulturist & Lead Curator
🌿 Guest Services Assistant
🌿 Assistant Curator of Plants and Education
🌿 Assistant Horticulturist Intern
 
Explore our current opportunities, learn more about each position, and apply today at jvwcd.applicantpro.com/jobs
 

Hours are flexible around classes!

Dream job alert! 🚨 Want to get paid to hang out at Great Salt Lake State Park all day? 🏞️ Visit https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/great-salt-lake/employment/ to apply and make all your friends jealous! 😏

In 1999 there was a tornado in downtown SLC!

At this moment (12:41 pm) 27 years ago, the Salt Lake City Tornado of 1999 touched down just west of downtown Salt Lake City. Over the next 14 minutes the tornado would intensify to F2 strength while carving a 4.3 mile path of damage through downtown Salt Lake City, injuring 80 people and resulting in one death.

This event is a reminder that the Wasatch Front (and Utah as a whole) are not immune to tornadoes, even though they are relatively rare. Since the 1999 Salt Lake Tornado, some other notable tornadoes along the Wasatch Front have included the Washington Terrace Tornado of 2016 (EF1) and the Woods Cross Tornado of 2021 (EF1).

The number of days 100+ are increasing! 🥵

The climatological signal is becoming increasingly difficult to dismiss.

In the 1950s, Salt Lake City averaged about 3 days per year at or above 100°F. Through the 2000s and 2010s, that average increased to 8 days. So far in the 2020s, the average has climbed to 17 days per year.

Individual summers will always exhibit variability because of natural atmospheric patterns, but climatology is concerned with long-term averages, not isolated seasons. When the baseline warms, the probability distribution shifts, increasing the frequency of extreme heat events.

That's exactly what this dataset reflects.

A warmer mean climate doesn't guarantee every summer will be hotter than the last, but it does make triple-digit temperatures substantially more likely than they were several decades ago. The trend in Salt Lake City's climate record is consistent with that expectation.

Death Valley set a record when the temperature reached 134°F (57°C).

Here’s why deserts can reach such scorching temperatures – and also very cold ones: https://theconversation.com/how-hot-does-it-get-in-the-desert-a-climate-scientist-explains-its-blazing-heat-284498

We are hiring! The Geologic Mapping and Paleontology Program of the UGS is seeking a full-time permanent Preparator – Field Paleontologist. This is a unique opportunity to build a career focused on Field Paleontology in Utah. This position will be focused on fulfilling Utah paleontology regulations regarding the documentation, preservation, and promotion of Utah’s vast paleontological resources.

Are you interested, or do you know someone who might be? Learn more and apply by 8/6/2026: https://ow.ly/cZxm50Zq3H6