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On the calendar today …
- MEETING: Central Valley Flood Protection Board from 9am to 3pm. Agenda items include Presentation of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ levee inspection results for the Reclamation District 349 – Sutter Island Levee System and Reclamation District (RD) 2058 & RD 2095 – Paradise Cut Levee System, and staff activity reports. Click here for the agenda and meeting materials.
In California water news today …
Though Klamath River Dam deconstruction is nearly finished, habitat restoration work continues
“As the deconstruction portion of dam removal on the Klamath River winds down, the nonprofit spearheading the effort is on track to achieve fish passage by the end of next month, a representative said. Meanwhile, the firm tasked with habitat restoration in partnership with the tribes that have relied on the river since time immemorial, will fly several hundred large trees into the area via helicopter in August. Those trees, with their root wads intact, will be placed in fish-bearing streams for salmon and steelhead. But for the Yurok Tribe, removing the four dams — JC Boyle, Iron Gate, Copco No. 1 and No. 2 — is part of a larger vision to fix the entire Klamath River basin. … ” Read more from the Lost Coast Outpost.
Klamath dam removal and river restoration ahead of schedule
“The project removing the four dams on the Klamath River and restoring the natural habitat is ahead of schedule, according to a Thursday news conference. Parts of the JC Boyle and Copco No. 1 dams will likely be broken next week and the copper dam — which diverts river flows into a series of tunnels — at Iron Gate is set for demolition in the last week of August, said Ren Brownell, a spokesperson for the Klamath River Renewal Corporation. “I do want to emphasize that this is a very weather-dependent project, so extreme temperatures can cause delays. Our crews aren’t going to be out there working and it’s above 108 degrees. Severe smoke could impact it, wildfires, things like that. But we’re presently way ahead of schedule, which is very good news for fish,” Brownell said. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard (gift article).
Kern subbasin’s third try at groundwater plan fails to avert state enforcement action
“Noting that Kern County residents could suffer “urgent impacts” to their drinking water from continued agricultural groundwater overpumping, staff at the state Water Resources Control Board announced Thursday they are recommending the entire Kern subbasin be put on probation. Probation is the first step toward a possible state pumping take over. A hearing before the Water Board is set for Feb. 20, 2025. The finding was a blow to area water managers who had hoped a new groundwater plan submitted in May would address concerns about its 2022 plan, which was deemed inadequate in 2023. Managers of Kern’s 20 groundwater sustainability agencies had worked since then to revamp the plan. … ” Read more from SJV Water.
SEE ALSO: Water Board to hold probationary hearing for Kern County Subbasin under Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, press release from the State Water Resources Control Board
Parched Central Valley farms depend on Sierra for groundwater
“New research shows that California’s Central Valley, known as America’s breadbasket, gets as much as half of its groundwater from the Sierra Nevadas. This is significant for a farming region that, in some parts, relies almost entirely on groundwater for irrigation.
While it is easy to see above-ground reservoirs rise and fall with the rain and snow, aquifers are a natural water source hidden out of sight, in some cases hundreds of feet underground. “They are like giant bathtubs full of water and sediment,” said UC Riverside associate professor of groundwater hydrology Hoori Ajami. Scientists have long recognized that the Sierras are a key water source for the Central Valley aquifer, but this new UC Riverside-led study is the first to quantify the groundwater contribution from the mountains. … ” Read more from UC Riverside.
SEE ALSO: Using mixed telemetry methods to measure soil moisture for improving runoff forecasting in the Sierra Nevada, from the USGS
White House looks to safeguard groundwater supplies as aquifers decline nationwide
“In the middle of summer in the nation’s hottest city, water experts from local governments, tribal nations, universities and industry groups gathered Monday to discuss how the federal government could help local communities sustainably manage their declining aquifers. The White House is taking the initial steps to create potential policies to better understand and protect the scarce underground water resources vital to families, farms and industrial operations throughout the country. Nationwide, overconsumption is depleting aquifers that supply communities with fresh water. In some areas, fertilizers used in farming or chemicals used in industry or mining are contaminating the underground reservoirs. In the Southwest, including Arizona, it’s particularly concerning as new research shows how rapidly declining groundwater and surface water supplies—which are governed differently—are interconnected. The workshop, which provided a preview of what federal help might look like, was held by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), a group of experts from outside the federal government tasked with making policy recommendations to the president. … ” Read more from Inside Climate News.
Press release: Biden administration policies have Hoopa Tribe’s Trinity River coho fishery on path to extinction
“Today, following American Rivers named California’s Trinty River to its top-ten list of endangered American rivers. https://www.americanrivers.org/media-item/trinity-river-named-among-americas-most-endangered-rivers-of-2024/, the Hoopa Valley Tribe (Hoopa) charged the United States Bureau of Reclamation (“Reclamation”) and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (“CDFW”) with violation of the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”). Hoopa filed what is known as a 60-day notice of intent to take legal action. The notice gives Reclamation, which operates dams on the Trinity River that divert water to industrial agriculture and other uses in the Central Valley, time to meet its responsibilities to enforce the ESA short of litigation. “Both Reclamation and CDFW are unlawfully taking Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast (SONCC) Coho Salmon in violation of the ESA through their ongoing operations of the Trintiy River Hatchery,” said the Hoopa Valley Tribe’s Fishery Director Michael W. Orcutt. … ” Continue reading from the Hoopa Valley Tribe.
Drought returns to California after 9-month hiatus amid hot weather, wildfires. Here’s where
“Drought is back in California for the first time in nearly a year. The update from the U.S. Drought Monitor comes as firefighters battle the state’s largest wildfire of 2024 near Chico. As of midday Thursday, the Park Fire had burned more than 71,000 acres across Butte and Tehama counties and was approximately 3% contained. According to Thursday’s update, “moderate drought” is isolated to Northern California, while “abnormally dry” spots are scattered across the state. Here’s what drought conditions look like across California. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
SEE ALSO: California-Nevada Drought & Climate Outlook webinar summary, from NIDIS
The benefits of integrating solar energy with agriculture
“Integrating solar energy with agricultural production can bring economic and environmental benefits for farmers and rural communities, according to a new fact sheet released today by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). The fact sheet focuses on how agrivoltaic and ecovoltaic solar energy systems can increase renewable energy production, reduce agricultural water use, and provide financial benefits for landowners and farmers. Agrivoltaic systems promote sustainable agriculture by allowing different cropping options, improving soil health, and reducing pesticide, fertilizer, and water use, while ecovoltaic systems combine renewable energy with environmental conservation, supporting habitat restoration and aquifer recharge. “These systems can contribute to the economic resilience of farms, particularly during periods of drought or a drop in crop prices,” says Angel S. Fernandez-Bou, a UCS western states senior climate scientist and a co-author of the fact sheet. … ” Read more from the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Farmers can gain from tracking water use with satellites
“Communities throughout California have had to come together in recent years to address an important challenge: Develop and implement plans to manage groundwater sustainably. This communal task originates from the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), a law passed by the California Legislation in 2014. That year followed a multiyear drought that resulted in many wells in the state going dry as groundwater levels receded. SGMA includes estimating the water volumes that recharge and are extracted from the underground aquifers. Estimates typically rely on computer models, groundwater level measurements, and pumping data. However, an important component in estimating ground water use is the amount of water lost to the atmosphere by evapotranspiration (ET) from crops, rangeland, and wild lands.Satellite based observation has become a critical tool for evaluating ET at the landscape scale. … ” Read more from Growing Produce.
A new approach to the problem of water affordability
“Soaring water utility bills force many households to ration water use for essential needs while still falling behind on payments. Stanford scientists offer a new approach to measuring water affordability that could help utilities and government agencies identify and aid those most at risk. Rising water prices are forcing many households in the United States to choose between rationing water or risking shutoff by leaving bills unpaid. A new study in Environmental Research Letters shows government agencies and water utilities may be underestimating the true number of households at risk of losing affordable access to basic water service – and offers a solution. “Water affordability is a growing problem and we need new tools to better address it,” said senior study author Sarah Fletcher, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability and School of Engineering. Aging water infrastructure, climate change, extreme droughts, and increasing costs tied to water quality maintenance all threaten to exacerbate the challenge, which disproportionately affects low-income households and communities of color. … ” Read more from Stanford News.
Garamendi secures wins for Bay Area and Delta in Water Resources Development Act
“Today, U.S. Representative John Garamendi (D-CA08), a senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, secured key provisions in the “Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024” (H.R.8812) for the Bay Area and California Delta. The bipartisan legislation passed the House of Representatives and is expected to become law this year. “The biennial Water Resources Development Act will upgrade our water infrastructure, harden our communities to climate change, and restore aquatic ecosystems across the Bay Area and California Delta,” Garamendi said.”As a longstanding member of the House Committee that writes this law, I secured key provisions in this year’s bill to dredge the Mare Island Strait, restore Lake Tahoe, and authorize the Army Corps to remove abandoned and derelict vessels. I expect President Biden to sign this bipartisan bill into law once we negotiate a final compromise with the Senate.” … ” Read more from Congressman Garamendi.
CDFW Completes 2024 Waterfowl Breeding Population Survey
“The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has completed its 2024 waterfowl breeding population survey. The resulting data indicate the overall number of breeding ducks has decreased by 25 percent, while mallards decreased 12 percent, the most abundant duck in the survey. “Despite another good water year, the lack of adequate nesting habitat, particularly in the Central Valley, continues to restrict waterfowl population growth in California,” said CDFW Waterfowl Program Biologist Melanie Weaver. The complete 2024 California Waterfowl Breeding Population Survey Report is available at the CDFW website. The total numbers of ducks (all species combined) decreased from 495,438 in 2023 to 373,864 this year. This estimate is 30 percent below the long-term average. … ” Read more from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
California’s fracking ban goes into effect in October
“California’s Geologic Energy Management Division is in the midst of finalizing regulations to ban fracking across the state, which will officially go into effect on October 1. The department submitted its rule-making package for the ban to the state’s Office of Administrative Law on July 15, where it will be given a final review. It’s the last step needed to formalize the regulation, which would prohibit CalGEM from issuing fracking permits for oil and gas wells. “This regulatory proposal aims to protect life; property; public health and safety; and environmental quality, including mitigating greenhouse emissions associated with the development of hydrocarbon resources,” said CalGEM in an emailed statement to CapRadio. … ” Read more from Capital Public Radio.
Dragonflies reveal path of mercury pollution
“To track the sources of mercury pollution across wildlands in the U.S., scientists have turned to an unlikely indictor: dragonfly larvae. As mercury settles in water and soil, it is taken up by wildlife. Mercury becomes more concentrated as it moves up the food chain, as larger creatures, such as tuna, accumulate the toxin by consuming smaller creatures, such as sardines, en masse. Past studies have focused on the higher end of the food chain, measuring mercury in fish and birds, but the new research looks toward the bottom. Though nearer the source of mercury, dragonflies have the advantage of being found almost everywhere — in lakes, rivers, forests, wetlands, and deserts. … ” Read more from Yale e360.
Night vision, new helicopters are pushing the frontiers of fighting wildfires in California
“The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection boasts the largest civil firefighting aviation unit in the world and, as fires become more destructive and frequent, it’s only getting bigger. With more than 60 helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft used in tandem to monitor and attack fires, Cal Fire has been able to extinguish thousands of wildfires every year. But recent fire seasons have shattered records for the largest, deadliest and most destructive fires in California, and 2024’s fire season is already more active than the year-to-date average of the last five years. To meet the state’s need for firefighting operations, the agency has been bringing in new members to its aviation units who are keeping Cal Fire on the edge of faster responses. Cal Fire’s newest addition to its helicopter fleet is the Fire Hawk — a Sikorsky S70i Black Hawk retrofitted to drop water or fire retardant, as well as conduct hoist rescue and night operations. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
Extreme wildfires are getting more extreme and occurring more often
“With near-constant reports of wildfire catastrophes in the media, it seems like extreme fires are occurring more regularly. And a recent study in Nature Ecology and Evolution confirms it—showing that intense wildfires are now twice as common as they were 2 decades ago. Many scientists had suspected that extreme fires were getting worse, said Calum Cunningham, a pyrogeographer from the University of Tasmania who led the study. “But we’ve not had the evidence to prove this at a global scale before,” he said. Periodic, small wildfires can help maintain healthy ecosystems by clearing dead vegetation. But extreme blazes burn hotter and more uncontrollably, causing significant damage to the environment, people’s health, and economies. Large wildfires also emit vast stores of carbon, exacerbating global warming—in turn fueling conditions for more wildfires. … ” Read more from EOS.
In commentary today …
Sites Reservoir: When is a multibillion-dollar water project not worth it?
Sofia Prado-Irwin, a staff scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity, writes, “… Gov. Gavin Newsom has fast-tracked Sites Reservoir, lauding the proposed project northwest of Sacramento as a panacea for a California that still remembers the challenges of an extreme drought. But big water storage and conveyance projects such as Sites and the Delta tunnel, another massive boondoggle, pose huge environmental and financial risks. These are old ideas that claim to respond to climate change when in fact they destroy intact ecosystems and wildlife habitats. The Sites Reservoir aims to store about 1.5 million acre-feet of water, requiring an enormous amount of water to be diverted from the Sacramento River system. This would further damage a fragile ecosystem that’s home to federally protected salmon and steelhead. Big projects also leave Californians with a heavy, lasting burden…. ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
Red tape is getting in the way of storing more water underground. The state must lead
“California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act was enacted a decade ago to address one of the state’s oldest water problems: the over-exploitation of groundwater aquifers on which many cities, towns and agricultural operations depend. SGMA requires the state to bring aquifers into balance so that for every drop of water taken out, an equal amount is put underground into the same aquifer. Optimally managing basins means recharging them with water when it’s available. Some regulatory red tape is getting in the way. … A win-win solution seems obvious: We propose that all excess water in California’s hydrological system (all water not already obligated for municipal, agricultural or environmental use) should be claimed by the state and made available for groundwater recharge as aquifer needs and regional conveyance/recharge systems permit. All of it. … ” Read the full commentary at the Sacramento Bee. | Read via AOL News.
Are there ways to use avian flu control concepts to deal with California’s water problem?
“Water availability and its scarcity affect our lives and livelihoods. This is a case of applying the experience acquired in one area of human activities to another despite the great differences between the two areas. As improbably as it may appear, it may make sense to apply the lessons learned in controlling Avian flu to solve California’s almond production issue. But first, the facts about almonds and water. About 80% of the world’s supply of almonds is produced in California. Essential nutrients are those that the body cannot produce on its own or in sufficient quantities to meet its needs. Almonds, while nutritious, do not contain any nutrients that exclusively fulfil a common definition of “essential nutrients,” i.e., those the body cannot produce on its own or in sufficient quantities to meet its needs. … ” Read more from Impakter.
In regional water news and commentary today …
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
The Narrows Hydroelectric Project and Englebright Dam: SYRCL joins Agencies and YWA on a site visit
“Recently, our dedicated team from the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) had the opportunity to join the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), state agencies, and the Yuba Water Agency (YWA) on a site visit to the Narrows 1 powerhouse. As many of you may know, SYRCL has been deeply involved in the relicensing process of the Narrows Hydroelectric Project. Our current aim is to advocate for comprehensive studies and environmental analyses that will shed light on the project’s impacts on the Yuba River watershed, especially impacts to habitat and native fisheries on the Lower Yuba River. Since licenses to operate hydroelectric dams occur only once every 50 years, we view relicensing as a unique opportunity to reassess dam operations and negotiate conditions that can mitigate the effects of hydroelectric operations and aid in restoring flows and habitats for salmon and native fisheries. We see it as being about finding a balance between hydroelectric generation and the long-term health and resilience of our rivers and ecosystems. … ” Read more from the South Yuba River Citizens League.
Lake Tahoe beach reopens one week after sewage spill, health advisory area reduced
“One week after about 85,000 gallons of untreated waste was spilled near Lake Tahoe, which caused a health advisory to go into effect, affected areas have begun to reopen to the public. The North Tahoe Public Utility District said after days of conducting water quality tests at Patton Landing Beach and the area east of the original spill site, the bacteria levels in the water have “returned to a normal range and are within California beach water quality standards.” As a result, Patton Landing Beach has reopened to the public as of 5 p.m. on Thursday. … ” Read more from Fox 40.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Del Oro water treatment plant gets OK from state
“After a decade of planning, Del Oro Water Company has officially started up their new water treatment plant. However, it has not made the splash local residents have hoped it would, considering the company’s “Do Not Drink” order is still in effect. On July 23, Del Oro announced that the long awaited River Island Treatment Plant is now operational. According to the announcement, the State Water Resources Control Board Department of Drinking Water completed a site-visit to the treatment plant and gave Del Oro the greenlight to begin delivering water from the treatment plant. “We’re hoping that it goes smoothly…we’ll be posting more information as things change…so we’re just following the orders of the state waterboard,” Janice Hanna, director of corporate accounting and regulatory affairs for Del Oro said in an interview with The Sun-Gazette. … ” Read more from The Sun-Gazette.
‘I don’t trust the water still’: Bakersfield residents living in fear after water shutdown
“An east Bakersfield community left without water for days last month, managed to get the water back on but not without fears of a shutoff happening again. Residents of the Shirley Lane community voiced concerns at a town hall meeting Wednesday night. “Consolidation agreements were sent out to consolidated water systems last week,” said Melissa Bergen, of Self-Help Enterprises. A community overwhelmed with water woes was overjoyed to hear the news of a larger water system potentially taking over the smaller system. Once finding out the consolidation won’t be for potentially another two years after the plan has already been in the works since 2016, more frustrations rose to the surface. … ” Read more from KGET.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
California environmental group sues Port of Los Angeles for years of pollution
“Environment California announced on July 23, 2024, that it has filed a federal lawsuit against the Port of Los Angeles for allegedly violating the federal Clean Water Act with over 2,000 illegal discharges of pollution over the last five years. The group charges that the Port has routinely exceeded legal limits on fecal bacteria, copper, and several other harmful pollutants it discharges into San Pedro Bay. Environment California also alleges that the Port’s stormwater treatment system is drastically undersized and that, as a result, untreated wastewater frequently bypasses the system entirely, in violation of federal law. … ” Read more from Storm Water Solutions.
SAN DIEGO
State lawmakers continue calls for feds to move San Onofre’s nuclear waste
“Lawmakers and scientists gathered at UC San Diego Wednesday to discuss risks and solutions for nuclear waste storage at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. The plant was shut down in 2013 after a small leak of radioactive steam. Its owner, Southern California Edison, has been dismantling it for the last few years. More than 3.5 million pounds of nuclear waste is still stored there in steel canisters surrounded by concrete. “This fuel sits just 100 feet from the Pacific Ocean, on an active fault line, near Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, and near San Diego and Los Angeles,” Rep. Mike Levin (D-Oceanside) told Wednesday’s event attendees. “It’s neither the safest nor most effective long-term solution for our spent nuclear fuel.” … ” Read more from KPBS.
Water rates will rise, but hurt less than expected
“San Diego’s main water seller OK’d a less-doomy price increase than the region was expecting, setting it at 14 percent on Thursday. To make that work, the San Diego County Water Authority will have to find $2 million it can cut from its budget and delay some anti-earthquake-related upgrades to its biggest aqueducts. Those cuts save ratepayers from an anticipated 18 percent beginning January 1. But 14 percent is still the largest annual rate increase on the wholesale price of San Diego water since 2011, Water Authority records show. Now each of San Diego’s 22 separate water districts will have to figure out how to shoulder that cost or pass it onto customers, depending on the health of their own budgets. … ” Read more from the Voice of San Diego.
SEE ALSO: Wholesale water rates won’t rise as high as once feared. Here’s why that could still cost ratepayers, from the San Diego Union-Tribune
Tijuana to pay $5 million to import water from California
“The state of Baja California will get 200 liters of water per second from the San Diego County Water Authority to help Tijuana residents during the hot summer months. The water will be delivered through an international line that crosses the border from San Diego to Tijuana. “There is a greater demand when it gets hot,” said Carlos Alberto Machado Parra, director in Tijuana for Baja’s Public Service and Planning Commission (CESPT). “We always maintain this binational connection so we can supply neighborhoods that may be short on supply, we’ll store it in the Carrizo Dam.” … ” Read more from Fox 40.
Along the Colorado River …
Babbitt blasts Biden admin for ‘sitting on the bench’ in Colorado River talks
“Former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt is warning that negotiations over how to share a drought-stricken Colorado River among Western states are moving too slowly — creating a potential melee over dwindling supplies — and blaming the Biden administration for failing to aggressively intervene. A series of existing agreements for management of the Colorado River will expire at the end of 2026, which prompted officials from the seven states that share the river to begin formal negotiations more than a year ago. Those discussions largely center on how the states will share the pain of a shrinking water supply. Some estimates suggest the 1,450-mile-long river contains 20 percent less water than it did in 2000 due to persistent drought. … ” Read more from E&E News.
Tribal leaders advocate for historic water rights settlement in DC
“Leaders of the Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe traveled up to Washington, D.C. to testify before the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee to urge the passing of bills that would bring water to their communities. Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren testified that right now, about a third of Navajo households lack running water. “Thousands of our people continue to haul water over 30 miles roundtrip to meet daily water demands,” Nygren said. “Congress must act to end the water crisis on the Navajo Nation. This made the pandemic devastating to my people and holds us back from the that other Americans take for granted.” … ” Read more from Arizona Public Media.
Commentary: You may soon drink purified wastewater. Here’s how Arizona will ensure it’s safe
Opinion columnist Joanna Allhands writes, “You might think that if we’re going to drink recycled wastewater, we should throw as many regulations at it as possible. But a mound of stipulations and fail-safes won’t do anyone any good if they make it too expensive, confusing or impractical to tap this renewable, relatively drought-proof water source. Luckily, Arizona understands that you need both — rigorous standards and flexibility for how communities meet them — to make Advanced Water Purification doable all over the state. Because that’s exactly what we need: To make this a viable option for communities all over the state. … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
Drought returns to Utah, but storms forecast for state’s driest region
“Utah’s droughtless streak didn’t last very long, but the section now in drought could get some much-needed rain over the next few days. About 5% of the state — almost entirely in Tooele County — is back in moderate drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor’s weekly report released on Thursday. It comes three weeks after the Beehive State was drought-free for the first time since 2019. But Utah’s current drought situation is still far better than other parts of the West. “Warmer temperatures and below-normal precipitation resulted in the introduction of exceptional drought in western Montana, as well as the expansion of drought in other parts of Montana, across much of Oregon into northern California, while moderate drought was introduced in northwest Utah,” wrote Rocky Bilotta, a physical scientist National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in the report. … ” Read more from KSL.
In national water news today …
EPA releases draft strategy to better protect endangered species from insecticides
“Today, July 25, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its draft Insecticide Strategy for public comment, another milestone in the agency’s work to adopt early, practical protections for federally endangered and threatened (listed) species. The draft strategy identifies protections that EPA will consider when it registers a new insecticide or reevaluates an existing one. In developing this draft strategy, EPA identified protections to address potential impacts for more than 850 species listed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS). “Ensuring the safe use of insecticides is a critical part of EPA’s mission to protect endangered species and the environment,” said Deputy Assistant Administrator for Pesticide Programs for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Jake Li. “This draft strategy is another major step in the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to protect endangered species, support farmers and other insecticide users, and provide critical environmental protections for communities across the country.” … ” Read more from the EPA.
Erratic changes in rainfall patterns linked to humans
“When it rains, it pours — and scientists warn that pattern has become more volatile due to global warming. Rainfall variability, the uneven distribution of rain over time, has been on the rise since the 1900s. A team of scientists attributed the change to human-induced climate change, namely through greenhouse gas emissions. According to a study published Thursday in the journal Science, rainfall variability has increased across the globe, meaning greater fluctuations between wet and dry periods, or more intense downpours followed by long periods of dry conditions. Researchers used multiple observational data sets to get a wider picture than previous studies and found approximately 75% of land area has shown an increase in precipitation variability since the 1900s, with variability particularly picking up since the 1950s. Europe, North America and Australia had the largest increases. … ” Read more from Courthouse News.
