The scientific predictions based on computer modeling that global warming would disturb upper-level wind patterns and bring more extreme weather and intense storms is proving disasterously accurate. California is suffering the effects of
a drought not seen in 1200 years. Peversely, the northeast region is buried this winter under record snowfalls and
life-threatening Arctic temperatures. The map shows that in the last half-century heavy precipitation has increased by 71% in the northeast according to the
2014 National Climate Assessment.
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| Lake Oroville, CA |
California's drought has been intensified by about 36% due to
increased high temperatures. NASA has made
a study showing that droughts will only get worse as the planet warms. Future droughts maybe even more severe than the Medieval Climate Anomaly (1000-1300AD) that might have been responsbile for the desmise of several palaeo-indian cultures in the Western Hemispshere. Mega droughts are predicted to affect the both the California and Midwest "breadbasket" of the United States under the
status quo ante climate policies--essentially no significant slowing of the rate of greenhouse emissions--agricultural water requirements will be unable to be met. Droughts will always occur naturally, but it is the warmer atmospheric temperatures caused by man that intensify droughts by increasing moisture evaporation. Like the man said, "It's a dry heat."
The scientific predictions based on computer modeling that global warming would disturb upper-level wind patterns and bring more extreme weather and intense storms is proving disasterously accurate. California is suffering the effects of a drought not seen in 1200 years. Peversely, the northeast region is buried this winter under record snowfalls and life-threatening Arctic temperatures. The map shows that in the last half-century heavy precipitation has increased by 71% in the northeast according to the 2014 National Climate Assessment.