<p>With $60,000 awarded, the 2018 cohort focuses on water, health, climate and other issues related to the environment and social justice to improve the quality of life for people in Arizona and around the world.</p>
<p>December precipitation ranged from average to much-below average across most of Arizona, with record-dry conditions along the western edge of Arizona. Above-average temperatures and below-normal precipitation are reflected in the expanding areas of drought designation in the Jan. 17 U.S. Drought Monito, with Arizona documenting increases in extent and intensity of drought since the December outlook.</p>
<p>Those who worry about the Earth's animals and plants are more likely than others to experience stress — and even depression — related to climate change, UA researchers found.</p>
<p>In this episode of the CLIMAS Southwest Climate Podcast, Mike Crimmins and Zack Guido discuss the regional temperature and precip of the past 30-90 days, including the mostly above average temperatures, the very dry conditions, and the recent precipitation event that hit parts of southern Arizona and New Mexico. They also discuss the California wildfires in the context of the Santa Ana winds, years of persistent drought, the convergence of conditions that set the stage for the current crisis in California, and La Niña.</p>
<p>November precipitation was below average across most of Arizona, with record-dry conditions in the western third of the state. Above-average temperatures and below-normal precipitation are reflected in the expanding areas of drought designation, with both Arizona and New Mexico seeing increases in extent and intensity of drought. The three-month outlook for January through March calls for increased chances of below-average precipitation for all of Arizona and New Mexico, and increased chances of above-average temperatures for the entire southwestern United States.</p>