Articles tagged with Droughts
Researchers discovered that releasing reservoir water to recharge natural aquifers can help cities survive droughts with full production from municipal wells. This technique may become crucial for areas experiencing reduced inflow due to changing water uses or climate change, such as the city of Las Vegas, NM, and parts of California.
A climatologist and a political scientist argue that planning for droughts can minimize losses. In contrast, the US still reacts to droughts as unexpected emergencies, wasting resources. Experts call for a shift in perspective and proactive risk management.
Researchers from the University of Bristol warn that Eurasia, eastern China, Canada, Central America, and Amazonia are at risk of forest loss due to global warming. The team predicts more intense droughts in West Africa, southern Europe, and the eastern USA, while regions north of 50°N will face excessive runoff and flooding.
Researchers studied particle flow inside coronal streamers to understand space weather hazards. Turbulence within an oceanic mixed layer was found to inhibit sedimentation of planktonic particles. Zonal currents in the western equatorial Pacific Ocean were observed to flip direction, affecting water transport and zonal mass balance.
Researchers used tree-ring records and gauged streamflows to reconstruct historic Colorado River streamflows, dating back to 1490. The reconstructions suggest that droughts more severe than the recent 100-year period occurred in the past, with at least eight droughts similar in severity to the 2000-2004 drought.
A recent study found that factors such as development, population growth, and failing water supply systems contribute significantly to water emergencies in Rockland County, N.Y. The researchers' findings suggest that the balance between water demand and supply is becoming increasingly fragile due to human activities.
The western prairies in Canada are facing a dire water crisis due to climate change, drought, and human activity. The region's glaciers are dwindling, snowpacks are decreasing, and precipitation evaporation is increasing, exacerbating the issue.
Researchers found that periwinkle snails, normally harmless, played a significant role in killing off thousands of acres of salt marsh in the Southeast during intense droughts. The study reveals that extreme climatic events can trigger formation of grazer fronts, leading to habitat die-off in stable ecosystems.
Researchers found three pronounced cooling periods indicating drought, linked to African deforestation and global temperature increases. The study suggests that these changes will disrupt the monsoon system, affecting agriculture and food security in equatorial Africa.
Research revealed that a massive pinyon pine die-off in the Southwest was caused by hot and dry conditions, which are predicted by global climate change models. The study found that temperatures coupled with drought led to tree mortality, affecting ecosystems for decades.
A study using tree-ring data reveals that severe droughts and low-flow conditions in one basin are unlikely to be offset by abundant streamflow in another. The research covers waterways from Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, spanning nearly 800 years.
A new study links drought in southern Africa to the warming of the Indian Ocean, contradicting earlier research that connected it to the Sahelian region. The analysis suggests a late 20th-century cooling of the North Atlantic Ocean was key to Sahelian drought, with recent warming leading to increased rainfall in the area.
A severe drought in Asia has pushed millions of people below the poverty line, but researchers are developing new technologies to help farmers adapt. New rice varieties and irrigation management strategies can improve crop yields and reduce water usage.
Researchers from Columbia University and NASA used sediment layers to uncover a 500-year drought from 800 A.D. to 1300 A.D., as well as the effects of the Little Ice Age and European settlers' agricultural practices on the area's climate. The study found increased erosion, saltier water, and changes in vegetation during these periods.
A decade-long study on water availability in the Yakima River Valley found expected losses to agriculture of $92-163 million by mid-century due to projected snowpack reductions. Climate models predict up to 70% reduction in snowpack for the West Coast, with severe droughts becoming more frequent.
Researchers used tree-ring data to reconstruct years of low river flows in the Columbia River Basin back 250 years, revealing six multiyear droughts that were much more severe than anything in recent memory. These droughts persisted for years, including one that lasted 12 years.
Scientists have found that climate change is a major contributing factor to droughts' increasing frequency and severity, with rising temperatures accounting for almost half of the global trend. The study used a unique analysis to estimate how much of the global trend in soil moisture was due solely to warming-induced evaporation.
A new NCAR study reveals that rising temperatures are the primary cause of expanding droughts globally. The research found that almost half of the change in dry conditions since the 1970s is due to warming rather than decreased rainfall or snowfall.
A NASA study reveals that planting trees on marginal agricultural lands can sequester significant amounts of carbon dioxide, potentially offsetting one-fifth of the US's annual fossil fuel emissions. Additionally, research suggests that insect outbreaks linked to droughts and heat waves may contribute to increased greenhouse gas levels.
Researchers from UGA found that Georgia's recent drought, combined with an opportunistic parasite, led to the decline in blue crab numbers. The study reveals that the delicate balance of saltwater and freshwater in coastal estuaries is disrupted during droughts, creating a favorable environment for the parasite to thrive.
A team of UCR researchers led by Daniel R. Gallie found that reducing ethylene production through ACC synthase increases drought tolerance in corn plants. The study suggests a promising approach to help farmers adapt to changing environmental conditions.
Researchers have created a North American Drought Atlas CD-ROM, mapping year-by-year occurrences of droughts over the last 2005 years. The atlas provides essential paleoclimate data with applications to science, policy, education, and history.
A multi-species herbivore outbreak occurred in Panama following an El Niño drought, causing moth larvae to devour 250% more leaf material than usual. The short-lived event was brought under control quickly by natural predators and diseases, but highlights the potential impact of climate change on forest ecosystems.
A historical study found that elevated aridity in the western US may be a natural response to climate warming. The study revealed a 400-year-long period of epic drought during the Medieval Warm Period (A.D. 900-1300), which could lead to increased aridity if temperatures continue to rise.
The Lewis and Clark expedition successfully traversed the new frontier due to a favorable climatic window that allowed for abundant food sources. If they had traveled during an intense drought, their journey might have been significantly impacted, potentially altering the course of U.S. expansion into the West.
A new study suggests that droughts like the 1930s Dust Bowl may not be unique to modern times, but were common in prehistoric periods. The research found that ancient droughts persisted for several decades and caused widespread effects on ecosystems, including prairie fires and erosion.
Researchers found that under drought conditions, tropical forests and desert ecosystems have similar maximum rain-use efficiency, a measure of total plant growth per unit of precipitation. This discovery indicates an upper limit to ecosystem productivity, which may impact climate change scenarios.
By decreasing the enzyme dehydroascorbate reductase, UC Riverside researchers have improved drought tolerance in plants, enabling them to conserve water resources and survive droughts. This discovery is highly valuable for U.S. and world agriculture, particularly in areas with erratic rainfall.
Scientists have determined for the first time how drought conditions can be quantified over large forest areas in the Amazon rainforest from space. Using a combination of ground-based and space-based tools, they found that satellite imaging can measure the physiology of the rainforest canopy with high accuracy.
A study using modern-era satellite data found that a combination of cooler tropical Pacific Ocean surface temperatures and warmer Atlantic Ocean temperatures led to the US dust bowl drought from 1931 to 1939. This created shifts in weather patterns and reduced moisture supply, resulting in severe dry conditions.
A study by USGS researchers associates drought patterns in the US with multi-decade variations in North Pacific and North Atlantic sea surface temperatures. The research found that positive AMO (warm North Atlantic) and negative PDO (cool North Pacific) are linked to large-scale droughts, affecting regional weather patterns.
Native C4 plants faced disastrous consequences during prolonged severe droughts in the middle Holocene, contrary to expectations. Weedy C3 plants adapted well due to their ability to exploit limited water resources, highlighting a key difference between C3 and C4 plant responses.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis found that previous year's drought is the main driver of high mosquito populations in wetlands. This discovery has implications for predicting and controlling diseases like West Nile virus and malaria, which are spread by mosquitoes.
Contaminated water from abandoned mines poses a threat to Colorado's nine billion-dollar tourism industry, particularly in ski areas like Keystone and Arapahoe Basin. The use of artificially created snow due to droughts and climate change exacerbates the issue, highlighting the need for alternative methods to mitigate acid-rock drainage.
Contaminated water from abandoned mines in Colorado's Summit County is affecting artificial snowmaking and tourism, impacting $9 billion industry. Heavy metals are detected in headwater drainages, posing a risk to aquatic life and other sports.
The presentation highlights the impacts of major water restrictions and efforts toward community communication during severe droughts. Researchers explore the management of freshwater inflow criteria for affected regions, examining vulnerability to aquatic resources and allocation of water resources in South Africa.
A new study reveals that elevated carbon dioxide levels can improve corn growth during drought periods, increasing photosynthesis by up to 41% in some cases. The findings suggest that C4 plants like corn may benefit from rising CO2 levels, but other factors such as ozone levels could still impact crop yields.
Researchers at Purdue University have identified a gene that controls the production of plants' outermost protective coating. By manipulating this gene, they may be able to create crops with increased drought resistance. The study found that altering the gene's expression can result in thicker or more rigid cuticles, reducing water los...
A New Mexico State University scientist's study reveals that the cost of maintaining the upstream habitat for the endangered silvery minnow results in a net gain of $68,000 per year for New Mexico agriculture. However, central New Mexico agricultural users and Albuquerque residents would lose $68,000 annually, while southern New Mexico...
A study found a previously unknown abrupt shift in climatic conditions around AD 700 in the Canadian prairies and 500 years later in US prairies. Persistent changes in jet stream shape and storm tracks are believed to cause such patterns.
A new theory proposes Chaco Canyon's powerful political system kept other Pueblo peoples under its thumb from 1000 to 1125. The city's elite ruled a region containing tens of thousands of people, with influence stretching hundreds of miles.
A new study uses tree ring chronologies to identify patterns of multidecadal oscillations in precipitation, linking them to ocean temperature shifts. The research suggests that the Great Plains, Rockies, and Southwest are prone to megadroughts when tropical Pacific and North Atlantic sea surface temperatures align.
The study found three catastrophic droughts in Africa 8,300, 5,200, and 4,000 years ago, which coincided with the formation of cities and social structures. The ice cores also showed a significant decline in oxygen-18 isotopes, indicating another severe drought event around 5,200 years ago.
A study by Cornell University researchers found that urban areas in the US now have an average of 10 more very warm nights a year than rural areas, which has significant implications for heat problems. The growth was highest on the East Coast, with cities like Miami and Los Angeles showing the most extreme temperature trends.
Researchers predict that El Niño could lead to increased precipitation in the Southwest, alleviating water shortages and reducing wildfire danger. The region has been experiencing severe drought conditions, with reservoirs struggling to meet demand.
After severe droughts, wading bird populations surge due to changes in fish populations and nutrient cycles, according to University of Florida researchers. This phenomenon, known as 'pulsed productivity,' occurs worldwide among diverse wading bird species.
Researchers found that soil geology plays a significant role in the Congo River Basin's response to drought. The basin's varied geology, including ferruginous cuirassed peneplain, sandy soils, and porous aquifers, affects discharge reduction rates during droughts.
Research reveals Amazon forest fragments are more susceptible to extinction due to overhunting, increased airborne pollutants, and heightened fire risks. Climate change may further exacerbate these effects, threatening biodiversity in fragmented landscapes.
A recent study by Texas A&M University researchers found that environmental conditions such as drought, water quality, and predator presence impact crayfish populations. The findings highlight the importance of understanding the ecological relationships between organisms and their environments to predict stream health.
The analysis of three Himalayan ice cores reveals a highly detailed record of the last 1,000 years of earth's climate in the high Tibetan Plateau. The data shows that both the last decade and the last 50 years were the warmest in 1,000 years, with at least eight major droughts caused by a failure of the South Asian Monsoon.
Researchers analyzed ancient sediments to shed light on ancient drought cycles and their potential link to future aridity. The study found well-defined 80- to 100-year cycles of alternately arid and humid conditions in the region.
Researchers used a computer climate model to find that vegetation interactions significantly drive the Sahel region's drought. The study suggests that natural vegetation causes enhanced drying, leading to cooler climates and reduced rainfall.
Scientists create a new 'drought map' using National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellite data to identify areas hardest hit by the drought. The map compares current surface temperature measurements to average temperatures over the last 10 years, showing whether an area has a normal, low, medium or high drought index.
Researchers at Penn State found a correlation between jet stream strength and precipitation in the Sahel region, which has been experiencing drought since the 1970s. The Tropical Easterly Jet was mostly weaker during dry periods, while the African Easterly Jet showed slightly stronger patterns in very dry years.
Researchers can now forecast long-term climate cycles, such as the El Niño Southern Oscillation and Pacific Decadal Oscillation. By understanding these cycles, policymakers can develop strategies to lessen climate-related effects, potentially ensuring cultural survival.
A computer model predicts reliably the severity and timing of drought episodes six months in advance, helping farmers choose drought-tolerant crops and minimizing economic losses. The researchers also highlight the need to maintain adequate river levels to prevent barge traffic disruptions and ensure water supply.
Researchers from College of William and Mary and University of Arkansas found that extreme droughts from 1587-1589 and 1606-1612 affected the Tidewater region, decimating corn crops and aggravating relations with Native Americans. The findings suggest that even well-planned colonies would have struggled under these climatic conditions.
Studies found that tree species' moisture preference doesn't always correlate with their growth rate during droughts. Researchers used tree rings to analyze the energy stored in trunks, revealing inconsistencies between leaf physiology and radial growth.