are we on the verge of a megadrought?
TRANSCRIPT
Remember the MedievalEra in Europe?
Remember the MedievalEra in Europe?
What about how itlooked in the UnitedStates?
Due to a megadrought, itresembled this.
Due to a megadrought, itresembled this.
But what is a megadrought?
According to Martin Hoerling , a meteorologist at the NationalOceanic and Atmospheric Administration...
“Megadroughts are defined more by their duration thantheir severity. They are extreme dry spells that can lastfor a decade or longer…”
In the wake of California declaring a statewide droughtemergency this past year, researchers and scientists begantaking a serious look at the state’s risk of experiencing amegadrought.
Last summer, the drought lead to the drop in the reservoirstorage levels
Last summer, the drought lead to the drop in the reservoirstorage levels
Hitting a record low of 59% as of last August.
So what does this mean for the western areas of the United States?
More than 70 million people inhabit the areas affected by thecoming droughts as compared to the societies inhabiting the sameareas during the 12th Century in the Western US.
More than 70 million people inhabit the areas affected by thecoming droughts as compared to the societies inhabiting the sameareas during the 12th Century in the Western US.
What would this drought look like in California?
Not good.
An ongoing megadrought could result in...
ecosystem damage
out-migration
ghost towns
How would California handle a drought?
The state might have to take a cuefrom Santa Fe, restricting housingdevelopments from being built bydemanding they arrive with theirown water supply.
Simply, California will need to use water efficiently.
What role does climate change play?
Let's take a look.
The earth has been warming across the board.
The earth has been warming across the board.
This widespread warming only increases theoverall chances of a megadrought occuring.
So, what is our impact on the potential megadrought?
According to Cornell University scientist Toby Ault, thethe rise of megadroughts is linked to global warming.
“As we add greenhouse gases into the atmosphere —and we haven't put the brakes on stopping this — weare weighting the dice for megadrought conditions.”
According to Cornell University scientist Toby Ault, thethe rise of megadroughts is linked to global warming.
“As we add greenhouse gases into the atmosphere —and we haven't put the brakes on stopping this — weare weighting the dice for megadrought conditions.”
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