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Climate Cast - Podcast

Climate Cast

MPR News meteorologist Paul Huttner with the latest research on our changing climate.

Science Earth Sciences
Update frequency
every 6 days
Average duration
5 minutes
Episodes
69
Years Active
2024 - 2025
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Study: Shifting jet streams are influencing climate and weather patterns

Study: Shifting jet streams are influencing climate and weather patterns

The jet stream, a fast-moving river of air thousands feet above Earth, steers storms and weather systems around the globe.


Scientists have been studying how climate changes impact the jet stream for d…

00:04:03  |   Fri 05 Sep 2025
Minnesota’s lukewarm, soggy and smoky summer

Minnesota’s lukewarm, soggy and smoky summer

Summer is in its waning weeks and weather at the Great Minnesota Get-Together has been fair — for the most part. 


MPR News meteorologists Paul Huttner, Sven Sunggard and Mandy Thalhuber hosted their a…

00:55:22  |   Fri 29 Aug 2025
Lights out for fireflies? Climate change, pesticides and light pollution threaten lightning bug population

Lights out for fireflies? Climate change, pesticides and light pollution threaten lightning bug population

Fireflies across the U.S. have seen a robust surge in growth this summer in part to a wetter weather pattern.


But those fiery little critters — which some call lightning bugs — might be in a steady d…

00:04:51  |   Thu 21 Aug 2025
An exceptionally dry year in Canada fuels Minnesota's smoky summer

An exceptionally dry year in Canada fuels Minnesota's smoky summer

The smoky summer of 2025 has produced a near record number of air quality alerts for Minnesota.


Most of this summer smoke has drifted in from these massive Canadian wildfires where more than 16 milli…

00:04:33  |   Thu 14 Aug 2025
How people are fighting climate change on multiple fronts, amid climate skepticism

How people are fighting climate change on multiple fronts, amid climate skepticism

The Trump Administration has claimed that greenhouse gases don’t endanger people. And last month, the Environmental Protection Agency said it intends to rescind a landmark 2009 legal opinion — effect…

00:04:27  |   Thu 07 Aug 2025
As some governments pull away from climate issues, others are working on solutions

As some governments pull away from climate issues, others are working on solutions

Despite efforts from some governments to slowly pull away from climate regulations and actions, one writer discovered a climate revolution through a combination of technology, science and community.


“…

00:04:59  |   Thu 31 Jul 2025
Toxic blue-green algae thrive as Minnesota lakes grow warmer

Toxic blue-green algae thrive as Minnesota lakes grow warmer

Minnesota’s clear, cool lakes are heating up over the summer, and those warmer waters can produce a toxic agal bloom.


“Blue-green algae is bacteria,” said Kim Laing, a surface monitoring manager with …

00:04:39  |   Fri 25 Jul 2025
With eliminated tax credits, solar power heads into uncertain times

With eliminated tax credits, solar power heads into uncertain times

President Donald Trump’s massive budget bill eliminates tax credits and incentives for small and large scale solar and wind projects in Minnesota. It’s also projected to increase electricity bills ac…

00:04:55  |   Thu 17 Jul 2025
Business affected by climate change consider a move to the Midwest

Business affected by climate change consider a move to the Midwest

Will Minnesota become a climate refuge for business?


A survey conducted by MIT Technology Review Insights, in conjunction with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, asked 300 senior level ex…

00:04:44  |   Thu 10 Jul 2025
'Water vapor is a greenhouse gas': The little-known but growing climate concern

'Water vapor is a greenhouse gas': The little-known but growing climate concern

An increase in water vapor in the atmosphere is driving more extreme weather around the world.


How is that playing out here in Minnesota?


John Abraham, thermal sciences professor and mechanical enginee…

00:04:47  |   Thu 26 Jun 2025
Expert dispels myth that cities are immune from tornados

Expert dispels myth that cities are immune from tornados

This week brought another significant tornado outbreak to parts of Minnesota.


Downtowns for the Twin Cities, Rochester and Duluth were spared from any storm damage, but are cities safer from tornadoe…

00:04:35  |   Fri 20 Jun 2025
Despite EV boom, Minnesotans slower to embrace electric vehicles than many other states

Despite EV boom, Minnesotans slower to embrace electric vehicles than many other states

Electric vehicle use in Minnesota boomed over the past decade due to the popular fleet of Tesla vehicles driving into the market.


However, the Q1 auto sales report from earlier this year, showed a dr…

00:05:04  |   Thu 12 Jun 2025
Earth reaches level of warming climate scientists hoped to avoid

Earth reaches level of warming climate scientists hoped to avoid

For the past eleven years, the planet has been consecutively warmer each year. It’s a trend that has climate scientists and policy makers worried.


In 2024, global temperatures reached 1.5 degrees Cels…

00:04:45  |   Thu 05 Jun 2025
Brewing breakthrough: Craft beer makers eliminate wastewater in experiment

Brewing breakthrough: Craft beer makers eliminate wastewater in experiment

Craft beer grew in popularity over the past decade across Minnesota, but the brewing process has also created a ton of wastewater.


Now, there’s an experiment to make the process carbon neutral. Unive…

00:04:39  |   Fri 30 May 2025
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency adds ‘blowing dust’ to air quality alerts

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency adds ‘blowing dust’ to air quality alerts

Minnesota has experienced four significant blowing dust episodes over the past few years, and the uptick in frequency has raised air-quality concerns across the state.


Now, the Minnesota Pollution Co…

00:04:54  |   Wed 28 May 2025
Political headwinds could spell trouble for solar power in Minnesota

Political headwinds could spell trouble for solar power in Minnesota

Minnesota has been a part of the solar energy boom that has swept across the nation over the past decade.


Research has shown solar energy is now the cheapest form of electricity in the history of ele…

00:04:31  |   Wed 14 May 2025
How one Minnesota recycling facility is becoming more efficient

How one Minnesota recycling facility is becoming more efficient

Recycled plastics reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 to 80 percent compared to creating new plastics. But the process isn’t always waste-free.


Eureka Recycling, a 20-year-old mission-driven zero-wa…

00:04:45  |   Fri 09 May 2025
Tech giants vie to build data centers in Minnesota to support their growing AI networks

Tech giants vie to build data centers in Minnesota to support their growing AI networks

Tech companies are looking to the land of 10,000 lakes as a suitable environment to expand their data footprint.


About 10 tech giants, such as Microsoft and Meta, are vying to build data centers in Mi…

00:04:17  |   Thu 01 May 2025
Mississippi named 'most endangered' river in the U.S.

Mississippi named 'most endangered' river in the U.S.

The mighty Mississippi, which flows from its headwaters in northern Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico, has topped an endangered rivers list.


A report from nonprofit conservation organization American Ri…

00:04:41  |   Fri 25 Apr 2025
Writer turned citizen scientist offers tips on living lightly to reduce your carbon footprint

Writer turned citizen scientist offers tips on living lightly to reduce your carbon footprint

Writer Tamara Dean knew she wanted to live lightly on the planet. Her search to live a productive life while lowering her carbon footprint led her to the Driftless Area of Wisconsin — also known as B…

00:04:17  |   Thu 17 Apr 2025
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