Whether in the Americas, Africa, or Asia, droughts and floods have long been part of the cycle of rural life (Hiscock 67). California, home to more than 38 million people, has just recently entered the fourth year of one of the state 's worst droughts in the past century, one that 's led to fierce wildfires, water shortages and restrictions, and potentially staggering agricultural losses. In the next few pages, we will go over the history of the drought, the issues the drought has caused, what California is doing to conserve water, and a long term possible solution to what is being called a “water crisis”. 2014 was officially the driest year on record since 1977. There was less than 60 percent of the average precipitation. Records began in 1849, known as the Gold Rush Year, and since then, only 1924 and 1931 were drier. Scientists who study long term climate patterns have determined that there have been much longer drought stretches before the 163-year historical period began. These scientists also fear that the “megadroughts” found in California’s early history could be around the corner (http://www.salon.com). Researchers have documented multiple droughts in California through the studies of tree rings, sediment, and other natural evidence. There have been multiple droughts in the state that have lasted 10 or 20 years in a row during the past 1,000 years, which is nothing compared to the mere three-year duration of the current dry spell. The two worst megadroughts
As most know today, California is currently in the midst of a drought for about four years now and it is becoming worst and worst, which is a severe problem. The problem is formidable, however many can care less. Although, being in a drought is surely an environmental issue, it is our responsibility to be mindful and cautious about this issue. Evidence to support this states from the National Drought Mitigation Center states “People can also play a big role in drought. If we use too much water during times of normal
California is experiencing its worst drought in history. Throughout the state you can see lakes, rivers and streams drying up and leaving farmers and communities without water. Although it seems that science and global weather patterns caused this severe drought, however irresponsible usage of water paired with state laws on water rights and population growth have all played a role in prolonging this drought that is going into its eighth year. California’s central valley is the world leader in Agriculture, however the valley is also the perfect area for a drought to occur due to climate change. California is in a state of emergency, with the help of reduced water usage along with the state and federal government need to aid in lessening
This historical timeline of government mandates and corporate processes demonstrates just how much they have made the current drought even worse, and has transformed what would looked like a natural disaster into an unnatural one. The drought will have a tremendous social impact on California; executive orders now make it essentially illegal for citizens to take showers longer than five minutes due to punitive fees . People and corporations will have to drastically alter the way they do business now. Housing developments will have to subside and the drought will, I imagine, make housing much more expensive, thus forcing people to move away. Peoples’ idea of the California lifestyle will shift into one that embraces conservancy and environmental awareness. The same goes for the farming industry. Droughts in California have always been a threat to the state of California, but it’s a shame that these historical developments had to make this problem even worse. Yet, the state will have to adapt whether its citizens like it or
On September 7, 2016 – The State Water Resources Control Board announced today that urban Californians’ water conservation remained steady at 20 percent. This means California is going through a severe drought. In July, only one percentage point was lost in June’s savings of 21 percent. The July results come even after the state improved its water supply conditions. While many reservoirs have recovered, the Golden State is moving into its fifth year of drought. They call it the extreme drought according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The drought covers 98% of California. More than 44% of California is in exceptional drought, the worst level of drought. California is the world’s fifth-largest supplier of food, yet it is still going through a drought. Another reason is because of the strong wind. The most problematic cause is because of global warming. The harsh heat makes the water evaporate. People in California wish for as much snow as for rain. This is because down the line, because of heat, the snowy weather becomes less every year.
California has been in an extreme drought for the past four years, and some people are stating that this “may be the worst arid spell in 1,200 years.” The land never fully recovers from any land disaster, like the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression.
Community leaders, California is experiencing the most severe drought in decades, perhaps the worst in the past century. Our current drought has led to fierce wildfires, water shortages and restrictions, and potential loss in the agriculture business. While it has only been four years since the drought began, we have already seen a substantial loss in the body of water California water reservoirs contain. And while hopes for strong precipitation are high, the reality is that we are too deep in our drought to recover with a year or two of strong precipitation. The sad truth is that California uses a vast amount of water each year, varying from public supply and industrial to thermoelectric generators and irrigation systems, all without replenishing
Abstract: Residents in the state of California have been facing severe droughts caused from primarily human emissions. Research from Noah Diffenbaugh, an associate professor at Stanford University, has many Journals and Articles such as “Atmospheric Conditions Associated with the 2013-14 California Drought Are ‘Very Likely’ Linked to Human-caused Climate Change” and Causes of California’s Drought Linked to Climate Change, Stanford Scientists Say both have studies that prove California’s drought is linked to human-caused climate change . Other Articles such as Justin Gillis from the New York Times, California Drought Has Been Made Worse by Global Warming, Scientists Say also mentions that human emissions have intensified California’s drought.
California is in its fourth year of a drought and continues to affect the lives of our community. The drought is the “region’s worst in at least 1,200 years” (Holthaus) with “more than 70 percent of the state classified as in ‘exceptional’ or ‘extreme’ drought” (Cockerham). As a result, California has experienced many more wildfires, the drainage of main reservoirs and less crop production. Over the years, studies regarding the cause of the severe drought have been performed and the government has deliberated ideas for solving it.
The Calif. drought, currently coming into its fourth year, is sustained by variety of climate forces. The two most unrelenting factors are heat and dryness. A recent study from Stanford University climate scientist Noah Diffenbaugh links these prominent and current factors to the consequences of human-induced global climate change.
It seems that climate change may be partly responsible for California’s crippling drought. A new study, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters , found that global warming, caused by human emissions, has intensified the drought during the period between 2012 and 2014 by 8 to 27 percent. The study also suggests an increased likelihood of future droughts due to climate change, posing a serious threat to California’s farming and agricultural industries.
Each day millions of Californians suffer the lack of natural resources caused by the California Drought. A drought a period of time where the amount of precipitation is below average compared to the recent amount of rainfall the region had. According to The Environmental and Energy Study Insitute, the Golden State and along with many Western U.S. states has had a shortage of water since 2012. The drought has caused an enormous impact on our local business, agriculture, and the economy. The Environmental and Energy Institute or EESI has stated that California’s agriculture is at serious risk, as with the lack of precipitation, the ability to farm has been dramatically limited due to the deprived water supply and limitations set by the state
The drought that has been occurring in the state of California, has brought on many complications. The drought is currently on its third year of dryness in the state. According to USAToday, the past three years have been the worst consecutive years of precipitation in the last 119 years of recorded weather data in the state. The California drought is just of many climate changes that have occurred throughout planet Earth’s time, while others are saying, global warming is to blame. Many ask if this problem can change into a more complicated situation, while others ask what could happen if this problem is left unresolved.
Many of us have heard of the California drought (2), it is a current ongoing issue that California State is working on. California State is being named, the drought-stricken state, the state has set a limit use of water
Even though the findings suggest that the drought is primarily a consequence of natural climate variability, the scientists added that the likelihood of any drought becoming acute is rising because of climate change. The odds of California suffering droughts at the far end of the scale, like the current one that began in 2012, have roughly doubled over the past century, they said.
According to https://ca.water.usgs.gov/data/drought/, Jerry Brown, California State Governor declared a drought state of emergency, in 2014, January 17. Also on April 18, 2017, the National Drought Mitigation Center estimates approximately 10.3 million people in California are currently affected by the drought. In United States, the annual average rainfall is 30.21in but California recorded 18.51in per year. By rannist states, California takes 40th place out of 50 states. California has been in drought for more than 20 years from now. From 1923 to current, 1923-1924 were the most driest years and 1982-1983 were the most wettest years. To prevent more severe water issues, the most important thing that should be done is the change of people’s