Support the Arctic Sea Ice Forum and Blog

Author Topic: California weather extremes and climate  (Read 339574 times)

Yuha

  • Frazil ice
  • Posts: 368
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 78
  • Likes Given: 34
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #100 on: May 02, 2014, 01:10:54 PM »
According to the latest snow survey, the California snow levels are down to 18% of normal.

http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cdecapp/snowapp/sweq.action

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25761
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #101 on: May 09, 2014, 01:13:03 AM »
Quote
"The severity of the drought has been compounded by poor planning, poor management, and population growth putting pressure on already overcommitted resources," says Gleick, president of the Oakland, California-based Pacific Institute, a nonprofit that conducts interdisciplinary research on water issues. "It is the third year of the drought, and we did not act in the first two years as though anything was abnormal."
How five California cities are tackling the drought.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/05/140508-drought-california-water-shortage-conservation/
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25761
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #102 on: May 09, 2014, 01:18:34 AM »
It's only the beginning of May, yet five US states have 100% of their land in drought:
• California
• Nevada
• New Mexico
• Arizona
• Kansas

http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

ritter

  • Grease ice
  • Posts: 573
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 24
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #103 on: May 09, 2014, 06:40:58 PM »
The rain season has since past and we've got another (second this year) heatwave forecast for next week. 

Laurent

  • Young ice
  • Posts: 2546
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 13
  • Likes Given: 50

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25761
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #105 on: May 14, 2014, 01:26:36 AM »
Tweet from USFS Fire-California:
Quote
178 of our 179 wildfires so far this year have been human-caused http://t.co/IEj6KnfD8l #OneLessSpark
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25761
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #106 on: May 15, 2014, 02:12:53 AM »
California is experiencing multiple Santa Ana wind events -- conditions usually not seen until late fall.  Does this signal more anomalous weather for the US?
Quote
It’s pretty unusual to have multiple strong Santa Ana wind events this late in the spring–typically, these events are most common in the early spring and particularly during the late fall months. The recurrence of hot, dry, and windy conditions over California over the past month or so stems from the persistence of a high-amplitude atmospheric flow pattern over much of the Pacific Ocean and North America. This pattern is reminiscent of the one associated with the incredible California dry spell that lasted from January 2013 through early February 2014–associated with the “Ridiculously Resilient Ridge”–which also brought highly anomalous weather conditions to much of North America, including prodigious snowfalls in the upper Midwest and the advection of frigid Arctic airmasses over the eastern half of North America for much of the winter. Interestingly, the eastern Rocky Mountain region just experienced one of its more impressive late-season snowstorms in recent memory.
http://www.weatherwest.com/archives/1474
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

ritter

  • Grease ice
  • Posts: 573
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 24
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #107 on: May 15, 2014, 05:52:02 PM »
California is experiencing multiple Santa Ana wind events -- conditions usually not seen until late fall.  Does this signal more anomalous weather for the US?

Without any speculation, I can say it is burning the hell out of Southern California. Dry, hot and windy. Not a good combination.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/15/us-usa-wildfires-california-idUSBREA4D00A20140515

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25761
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #108 on: May 15, 2014, 07:24:59 PM »
A tour of California's Central Valley in the "Thirsty West" series by meteorologist Eric Holthaus.

Quote
Almonds alone use about 10 percent of California’s total water supply each year. That’s nuts. But almonds are also the state’s most lucrative exported agricultural product, with California producing 80 percent of the world’s supply. Alfalfa hay requires even more water, about 15 percent of the state’s supply. About 70 percent of alfalfa grown in California is used in dairies, and a good portion of the rest is exported to land-poor Asian countries like Japan. Yep, that’s right: In the middle of a drought, farmers are shipping fresh hay across the Pacific Ocean. The water that’s locked up in exported hay amounts to about 100 billion gallons per year—enough to supply 1 million families with drinking water for a year.
http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2014/05/_10_percent_of_california_s_water_goes_to_almond_farming.1.html
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25761
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #109 on: May 15, 2014, 09:37:29 PM »
Quote
The drought, combined with a recent set of powerful earthquakes, has provided the momentum for about a dozen local governments across California, the third-largest oil producing state, to vote to restrict or prohibit fracking in their jurisdictions, as concerns over environmental effects and water usage have grown.

At the same time, a bill that would declare a statewide moratorium on fracking has been gathering support in the State Senate, a year after a similar effort failed.

“There will be a statewide moratorium, whether it comes this year, next year or the year after that,” said Kathryn Phillips, the director of Sierra Club California, a leading opponent of fracking. “Even if we don’t get a moratorium, just the threat of a moratorium discourages investment.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/15/us/californias-thirst-shapes-debate-over-fracking.html?hpw&rref=science&_r=2
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

JimD

  • Nilas ice
  • Posts: 2272
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 6
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #110 on: May 16, 2014, 05:46:53 PM »
A tour of California's Central Valley in the "Thirsty West" series by meteorologist Eric Holthaus.

Quote
Almonds alone use about 10 percent of California’s total water supply each year. That’s nuts. But almonds are also the state’s most lucrative exported agricultural product, with California producing 80 percent of the world’s supply. Alfalfa hay requires even more water, about 15 percent of the state’s supply. About 70 percent of alfalfa grown in California is used in dairies, and a good portion of the rest is exported to land-poor Asian countries like Japan. Yep, that’s right: In the middle of a drought, farmers are shipping fresh hay across the Pacific Ocean. The water that’s locked up in exported hay amounts to about 100 billion gallons per year—enough to supply 1 million families with drinking water for a year.

Vast amounts of hay are also grown and exported from the arid parts of Australia to Japan to feed their cattle.

You want to largely fix California's water problem for a couple of decades ban orchards in the Central Valley and the export of hay and growing rice there and you have huge slack in the system.  Stop cotton farming via irrigation in Texas while you are at it.
http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2014/05/_10_percent_of_california_s_water_goes_to_almond_farming.1.html
We do not err because truth is difficult to see. It is visible at a glance. We err because this is more comfortable. Alexander Solzhenitsyn

How is it conceivable that all our technological progress - our very civilization - is like the axe in the hand of the pathological criminal? Albert Einstein

Laurent

  • Young ice
  • Posts: 2546
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 13
  • Likes Given: 50
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #111 on: May 27, 2014, 02:35:13 PM »

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25761
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #112 on: May 31, 2014, 03:01:40 AM »
Just now watched "Cracked: Running Out of Water" from The Weather Channel.  They mentioned that an aquifer in California's Central Valley the size of Rhode Island could be made unusable -- due to sea water intrusion because of the lowering of the water table -- in as little as two years!

I could not find anything recent on this.  A 1994 "California Water Plan" document noted sea water incursion was already a problem "which is now almost 5 miles inland and threatens to contaminate municipal wells in Salinas."
http://www.waterplan.water.ca.gov/previous/b160-93/b160-93v1/sgw.cfm
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Shared Humanity

  • Guest
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #113 on: May 31, 2014, 05:20:09 AM »
Just now watched "Cracked: Running Out of Water" from The Weather Channel.  They mentioned that an aquifer in California's Central Valley the size of Rhode Island could be made unusable -- due to sea water intrusion because of the lowering of the water table -- in as little as two years!

I could not find anything recent on this.  A 1994 "California Water Plan" document noted sea water incursion was already a problem "which is now almost 5 miles inland and threatens to contaminate municipal wells in Salinas."
http://www.waterplan.water.ca.gov/previous/b160-93/b160-93v1/sgw.cfm

As difficult as this decision may be, they are going to have to shut down agriculture in the Central Valley at some point.

Shared Humanity

  • Guest
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #114 on: June 05, 2014, 08:13:57 PM »
Not sure how accurate these long term forecasts are but the forecast is for a hot dry summer for the West Coast. Not good news.

http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/whats-your-ideal-summer-weather/28049294

Shared Humanity

  • Guest
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #115 on: June 05, 2014, 08:19:41 PM »
And if a persistent high settles over the Northeast Pacific like this, it will  be a dry summer indeed as the Pacific moisture is driven north.

http://earth.nullschool.net/#2014/06/05/1500Z/wind/isobaric/1000hPa/overlay=mean_sea_level_pressure/orthographic=-133.51,40.30,2017

Buddy

  • Young ice
  • Posts: 3379
  • Go DUCKS!!
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 49
  • Likes Given: 34
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #116 on: June 05, 2014, 09:28:56 PM »
Southwest and western US likely to get really torched this coming wildfire season.  Oregon had a wildfire on the central Oregon coast IN JANUARY.  Usually you can't even get a fire LIT in January on the Oregon coast.

And you can see from the drought monitor that the drought is "moving north" into Oregon.

Could be ugly.....we have 4 months of fire season ahead....
FOX (RT) News....."The Trump Channel.....where truth and journalism are dead."

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25761
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #117 on: June 07, 2014, 02:34:57 AM »
Poll:  Most Californians say the drought hasn't affected them personally [yet!].  They don't blame environmental regulations -- and they don't want to pay for building solutions.
Quote
While Central Valley congressmen and some agribusiness interests have blamed environmental regulations for worsening the water shortages, those polled cited a much broader range of causes. Topping the list was a lack of rain and snow and people using too much water, followed by insufficient storage and climate change.

"They're really blaming larger forces here," said David Kanevsky of American Viewpoint, the Republican firm that conducted the opinion survey with Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, a Democratic firm. "What they don't want to see is quick fixes at the expense of the environment."

The survey showed strong support for water recycling, capturing storm water, increasing storage in underground aquifers, voluntary conservation and seawater desalination. A smaller percentage, though still a majority, favored building new dams and reservoirs.

But when it comes to paying for the projects, the numbers flipped. Only 36% want to improve storage and delivery systems by spending taxpayer dollars.
http://www.latimes.com/science/la-me-poll-drought-20140606-story.html
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Yuha

  • Frazil ice
  • Posts: 368
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 78
  • Likes Given: 34
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #118 on: June 08, 2014, 12:01:00 PM »
An interesting video on CA drought and El Nino by National Weather Service saying a moderate El Nino might not help much:



Laurent

  • Young ice
  • Posts: 2546
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 13
  • Likes Given: 50
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #119 on: June 08, 2014, 11:45:10 PM »

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25761
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #120 on: June 16, 2014, 02:57:19 AM »
More on the trucking of fish due to the drought.  It's only a partial solution.
Quote
Trucking the smolts ensures a large number will survive and grow to be the California king salmon prized by fishermen and seafood lovers. But skipping the river journey means the migratory fish won't know how to swim home to spawn in three years.

"Because that imprinting cycle is broken, it's unlikely that many fish will make it back to Coleman. In other words, they stray. They won't find that scent to where home is," said Scott Hamelberg, who manages the Coleman National Fish Hatchery.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/15/california-salmon-trucks-migrate-fish-drought
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Shared Humanity

  • Guest
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #121 on: June 16, 2014, 06:09:58 PM »
More on the trucking of fish due to the drought.  It's only a partial solution.
Quote
Trucking the smolts ensures a large number will survive and grow to be the California king salmon prized by fishermen and seafood lovers. But skipping the river journey means the migratory fish won't know how to swim home to spawn in three years.

"Because that imprinting cycle is broken, it's unlikely that many fish will make it back to Coleman. In other words, they stray. They won't find that scent to where home is," said Scott Hamelberg, who manages the Coleman National Fish Hatchery.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/15/california-salmon-trucks-migrate-fish-drought

I guess we'll have to train the fish to drive and outfit them with tablets so they can use Google  maps.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25761
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #122 on: June 17, 2014, 12:25:11 AM »
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

LRC1962

  • Frazil ice
  • Posts: 446
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 11
  • Likes Given: 3
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #123 on: June 17, 2014, 01:24:51 AM »
Possible long range could be strength of El Nino. http://www.climate.gov/sites/default/files/ENSO_USimpacts_precip_lrg.jpg has precipitation record for US of all El Ninos since 1950. Better hope for a very strong El Nino then get flooded other then that prospects don't look good.
"All truth passes through three stages: First, it is ridiculed; Second,  it is violently opposed; and Third, it is accepted as self-evident."
       - Arthur Schopenhauer

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25761
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #124 on: June 19, 2014, 03:04:43 AM »
Trucking fish: too little, too late?  California fish hatcheries are "evacuating" fish to waterways due to the extreme heat.

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/06/18/3450380/california-drought-fish-catastrophic-losses/
« Last Edit: June 19, 2014, 03:27:45 AM by Sigmetnow »
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25761
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #125 on: June 20, 2014, 12:55:45 AM »
One-third of California is now in "exceptional" drought—the highest of the 4 categories—up from one-fourth last week.
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25761
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #126 on: June 22, 2014, 09:00:24 PM »
Engaging story following water flowing from California snowpack to the sea -- and its users and effects.
http://www.mercurynews.com/drought/ci_26009266/california-drought-snowmelt-path-shows-impact-sierras-pacific
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25761
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #127 on: June 24, 2014, 02:56:16 AM »
Quote
This week in… Water Rights

On Friday, the State Water Resources Control Board released proposed emergency regulations that would streamline the process for curtailing diversions by junior water rights holders in order to protect the supply for senior rights holders. The new emergency legislation outlines criteria the State Board will use in order to determine whether water is available under a diverter’s priority of right. If the water is not available, the State Board may issue curtailment orders, which – unlike curtailment notices – can incur fines for noncompliance.

In its Findings of Emergency, the State Board outlined why these regulations are needed to effectively curtail diversions and to expedite water transfers, something the Governor’s April drought declaration required the State Board to do. Under existing regulations, water users lack sufficient incentive to comply with curtailment orders. This lack of incentive, in addition to administrative delays related to the curtailment process, could result in continued diversions, impacting senior water rights holders.

Within seven days of being issued a curtailment notice, water rights holders must submit a compliance certification form, indicating they have complied with the curtailment order. As of June 20, only 21% have submitted the form.
http://pacinst.org/news/update-from-the-pacific-institute-california-drought-response-group-june-23/
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Laurent

  • Young ice
  • Posts: 2546
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 13
  • Likes Given: 50
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #128 on: June 24, 2014, 05:01:00 PM »
Tumbling weeds: The rolling invasion of the US
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22229740.100-tumbling-weeds-the-rolling-invasion-of-the-us.html?cmpid=RSS|NSNS|2012-GLOBAL|environment#.U6mRPVFJzlc

Laurent

  • Young ice
  • Posts: 2546
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 13
  • Likes Given: 50
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #129 on: July 02, 2014, 12:27:49 PM »
Brown Is The New Green In California’s Drought
http://www.momscleanairforce.org/california-drought-brown-new-green/

Shared Humanity

  • Guest
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #130 on: July 02, 2014, 03:35:53 PM »
Brown Is The New Green In California’s Drought
http://www.momscleanairforce.org/california-drought-brown-new-green/

California, all of the Southwest actually, needs to eliminate all non-native landscaping unless the non-native plants have been drawn from semi arid and/or arid areas of the world and can survive without any watering.

These are pictures of 2 separate Tucson yards. The 1st should be how every yard looks. The 2nd should be illegal.

I have a brother-in-law who lives in Tucson. His yard has cactus and other desert plants. Yardwork involves going out and raking the stones which are different colors and laid out in his front yard in a pattern. He never waters anywhere.

jbatteen

  • New ice
  • Posts: 83
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #131 on: July 02, 2014, 05:11:33 PM »
These are pictures of 2 separate Tucson yards. The 1st should be how every yard looks. The 2nd should be illegal.

Agreed!  I am in Arizona during the school year and it's interesting to see first-hand.  Tucson is lightyears ahead of Phoenix in terms of sensible yards.  Very few have grass in Tucson, while everyone in Phoenix has their own private golf course and pool it seems.  They irrigate so much in Phoenix that it measurably raises the dewpoint.

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25761
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #132 on: July 03, 2014, 08:46:48 PM »
Los Angeles and Orange County are now officially in “exceptional drought,” the worst category. http://t.co/xhB0kR5nrz
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Laurent

  • Young ice
  • Posts: 2546
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 13
  • Likes Given: 50
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #133 on: July 06, 2014, 08:17:23 PM »
Video about the drought, impressive almond trees, I am not sure if they are dead thought...a tree may seem dead but it is just mmhh stalled...may be anyway if the drought continue that will really be a gigantic disaster...
http://www.nytimes.com/video/us/100000002980095/californias-extreme-drought-explained.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Californians Keep Up With Joneses’ Water Use
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/05/us/californians-keep-up-with-joneses-water-use.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
« Last Edit: July 08, 2014, 09:13:33 PM by Laurent »

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25761
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #134 on: July 08, 2014, 05:41:27 PM »
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Buddy

  • Young ice
  • Posts: 3379
  • Go DUCKS!!
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 49
  • Likes Given: 34
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #135 on: July 08, 2014, 09:38:06 PM »
OMG........THAT is the last straw.... ;D
FOX (RT) News....."The Trump Channel.....where truth and journalism are dead."

Yuha

  • Frazil ice
  • Posts: 368
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 78
  • Likes Given: 34
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #136 on: July 10, 2014, 11:51:59 AM »
The California water season from July 2013 to June 2014 was the third driest on record:

http://www.wunderground.com/blog/weatherhistorian/comment.html?entrynum=288

Laurent

  • Young ice
  • Posts: 2546
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 13
  • Likes Given: 50
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #137 on: July 10, 2014, 12:13:36 PM »

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25761
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #138 on: July 11, 2014, 02:49:23 AM »
LA Times:  without a few successive winters of above-average precipitation, California has only 12 to 18 months of water left.

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-famiglietti-southern-california-drought-20140709-story.html
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

ritter

  • Grease ice
  • Posts: 573
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 24
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #139 on: July 11, 2014, 05:40:13 PM »
LA Times:  without a few successive winters of above-average precipitation, California has only 12 to 18 months of water left.

Scary to contemplate. The article is somewhat over simplistic in that various parts of California have varied water sources and storage capacities/techniques. It is spot on in its critique of the lack of conservation though. Why LA still has green lawns is beyond me. Can anyone imagine what it would require to relocated the population of the greater LA area should drought continue to worsen? Talk about climate refuges and logistical nightmares!

Laurent

  • Young ice
  • Posts: 2546
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 13
  • Likes Given: 50
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #140 on: July 16, 2014, 09:12:50 AM »

Shared Humanity

  • Guest
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #141 on: July 16, 2014, 03:45:30 PM »
LA Times:  without a few successive winters of above-average precipitation, California has only 12 to 18 months of water left.

Scary to contemplate. The article is somewhat over simplistic in that various parts of California have varied water sources and storage capacities/techniques. It is spot on in its critique of the lack of conservation though. Why LA still has green lawns is beyond me. Can anyone imagine what it would require to relocated the population of the greater LA area should drought continue to worsen? Talk about climate refuges and logistical nightmares!

No cities or communities will be relocated as a result of water shortages. As California continues its inevitable march towards permanent shortages and can no longer support existing demands, agriculture and other outdoor uses will be stopped or banned. In the link provided by Laurent, 75% of water use is agriculture and half of residential water use in the state is outside the home. (landscape, pools etc.). Indoor residential uses will rule (drinking, cooking, cleaning, toilets) and, eventually, outdoor residential use will be banned and agricultural use will  simply wither away.

pikaia

  • Frazil ice
  • Posts: 395
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 121
  • Likes Given: 39
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #142 on: July 18, 2014, 10:52:22 AM »
These photos show the browning of California and the loss of snow in the mountains over the last three years:-

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=84032

Buddy

  • Young ice
  • Posts: 3379
  • Go DUCKS!!
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 49
  • Likes Given: 34
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #143 on: July 18, 2014, 12:32:54 PM »
WOW.  The difference is incredible.  Many of the lakes, rivers, reservoirs.......just disappear.
FOX (RT) News....."The Trump Channel.....where truth and journalism are dead."

solartim27

  • Grease ice
  • Posts: 599
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 42
  • Likes Given: 75
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #144 on: July 18, 2014, 05:27:19 PM »
The real problem is the lack of groundwater regulation:
http://climatecrocks.com/2014/07/16/desperation-drilling-in-california/

Of course this is nationwide.
http://rglennon.com/books/unquenchable/
FNORD

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25761
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #145 on: July 24, 2014, 07:53:00 PM »
Water for agriculture in California selling for 10 times the normal price -- if you can get it.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-07-24/california-water-prices-soar-for-farmers-as-drought-grows.html
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Yuha

  • Frazil ice
  • Posts: 368
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 78
  • Likes Given: 34
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #146 on: July 31, 2014, 03:44:09 PM »
More than half, 58.41%, of California is now in the highest category of drought:

http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Home/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?CA

Sigmetnow

  • Multi-year ice
  • Posts: 25761
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 1153
  • Likes Given: 430
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #147 on: August 05, 2014, 02:15:24 PM »
People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Tor Bejnar

  • Young ice
  • Posts: 4606
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 879
  • Likes Given: 826
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #148 on: August 07, 2014, 09:19:47 PM »
The easternmost 'corner' of California is now 'only' in D1 - Moderate Drought! (yes, all of 1/5th of 1% of the state)
http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/Home/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?CA
Arctic ice is healthy for children and other living things because "we cannot negotiate with the melting point of ice"

wili

  • Young ice
  • Posts: 3342
    • View Profile
  • Liked: 602
  • Likes Given: 409
Re: CA Drought Emergency Declared
« Reply #149 on: August 07, 2014, 10:41:44 PM »
"The easternmost 'corner' of California is now 'only' in D1 - Moderate Drought! (yes, all of 1/5th of 1% of the state)"

Note that, even without drought, that corner of CA is bone-dry desert, averaging only 2-8 inches of rain in a whole year. So even if they got a fraction of an inch, it probably improved the relative level of drought,but it's still a desert wasteland (beautiful, but no kind of agricultural area).


http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fromickinoakley.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F10%2F08%2Fcalifornia-water-rights-in-the-beginning%2F&h=0&w=0&tbnid=5CnC7FQQ6XqarM&zoom=1&tbnh=190&tbnw=266&docid=xEtQoz7QPOCX2M&tbm=isch&client=firefox-a&ei=uOPjU_7DJo79yQSUwYKADQ&ved=0CBEQsCUoBQ
"A force de chercher de bonnes raisons, on en trouve; on les dit; et après on y tient, non pas tant parce qu'elles sont bonnes que pour ne pas se démentir." Choderlos de Laclos "You struggle to come up with some valid reasons, then cling to them, not because they're good, but just to not back down."