4 ms·
The western U.S. is locked in the grips of the first human-caused megadrought
- pcdoodle 6y agoFrom the article: Humans "Contributed", Not caused. Agenda much here on HN?
- readarticle 6y agoAnthropogenic trends in temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation estimated from 31 climate models account for 47% (model interquartiles of 35 to 105%) of the 2000–2018 drought severity, pushing an otherwise moderate drought onto a trajectory comparable to the worst SWNA megadroughts since 800 CE. From the abstract. If I’m reading this correctly, the contribution itself is what tipped us over into mega drought territory.
- raxxorrax 6y agoThis was prophezised at least 20 years ago and I am not even from the US. Certain developments were inevitable, but agriculture certainly had a large effect in a way you very likely wouldn't have a drought without it.
- rukittenme 6y agoSource: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/368/6488/314 https://science.sciencemag.org/content/368/6488/314
- rukittenme 6y agoWhats the word on desalinization? How expensive would it be; how much water can it produce? Anyone here in the field?
- gumby 6y agoDesal is not only energy intensive but generates a problem of what to do with the resulting increased-salinity brine which is toxic to the draw area. And your plant has to be designed to handle corrosive source and effluviant. Likely it will ultimately needed but we are a long way from it being viable at scale. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desalination#Considerations_and_criticism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desalination#Considerations_an...
- foolzcrow 6y agoLook up JFK weather satellite speech.