California drought: Scientists puzzled by persistence of blocking 'ridge'

The Christian Science Monitor ^ | 1-21-14 | Gloria Goodale

[afraidfortherepublic]

While much of the United States has experienced a weather year with fewer extremes and an easing drought, the record-breaking California drought – the worst since 1895 – is not leaving the region anytime soon, according to climatologists.

The unseasonal balmy but dry weather is the result of an equally unprecedented high pressure ridge lurking offshore and blocking the typical winter storms needed to drop precipitation all along the West Coast.

This ridge has persisted for 13 months and the longer it lingers, the less likely it is to leave, points out climatologist Brian Fuchs, from the National Drought Mitigation Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. This high pressure ridge system is feeding on itself, “creating a sort of perfect environment for perpetuating the dry conditions” it creates, he says.

[Eagles6]

I think it’s called weather. We are presently in an interglacial period. Before too long everything north of 48 degrees will be under a mile of ice. I guarantee it.

[caww]

I have read, from sometime back we were headed into colder temperatures for a time...some say possible ten years, maybe less. But as in all weather they can only speculate for the most part. Indications might “point to” possibilities but it’s pretty difficult to be accurate in the ways people demand today.

The Jet Stream will move as it does and certainly affects all areas....always has...but there are many things which affect weather patterns and changes from my understanding...no one thing will determine the outcome.

[Paladin2]

If they are surprised, they are not Scientists.

QED.

[Paladin2]

"Kinda wish we had gone for some desalinization plants, instead of the “high speed rail” project."

Too smart/intelligent/etc. you are.

[Conservative4Ever]

Our wet winter weather here in the I.E. begins usually around February through April/May. Yes, and sometimes snow.

[Mastador1]

Though God causes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust alike, California is a state that has infected the entire world with pornography, homosexuality, drugs, adultery, cults, you name it. And when you do blatent feces like this:

Wow!, then I guess God is using the freeze technique to deal with all the crap coming out of the east coast Huh? blather much?

[Jeff Chandler]

Hey, Cali,
.
You ain’t gettin’ our Colorado River water.
.
Love and kisses,
Arizona

[Bratch]

The unseasonal balmy but dry weather is the result of an equally unprecedented high pressure ridge...

Hyperbole much?

[Jeff Chandler]

Looking forward to the late February storm that pretty much always brings snow to Oak Glen

Some of my life's most fond memories were formed in Oak Glen.

Wanting to share my childhood memories with my children, I took them to Oak Glen one year. Several months later, our beloved Golden/German Shepherd mix dog was intensely interested in one of our suitcases. We dug into it and found some beef jerky we had bought at Oak Glen.

We gave it to her.

[INVAR]

And I will set my face against you, and you shall be slain before your enemies: those that hate you shall reign over you; and you shall flee when no one pursues you. And if you refuse to listen to me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your sky as iron, and your earth as brass: - Leviticus 26:17-19

[chessplayer]

This ridge has persisted for 13 months and the longer it lingers, the less likely it is to leave, points out climatologist Brian Fuchs, from the National Drought Mitigation Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. This high pressure ridge system is feeding on itself, “creating a sort of perfect environment for perpetuating the dry conditions” it creates, he says.

---

Yup. The longer it goes on without a break, the more it will feed on itself and become even more difficult to end. This drought isn’t going to end anytime soon,,,and by soon I mean years. I seriously believe in the coming years every forest/woodland in CA will be destroyed by wildfires.

[Leroy S. Mort]

Fukushima.

and the horse you rode in on...

[Eagles6]

True but if you look at what are called the "Ice Ages" we, in the Northern Hemisphere are between big freezes. It most certainly will happen again.

Milankovitch cycles.

[ETL]

“It’s always difficult to know if a specific disaster or storm is tied to climate change,” he says, but over the course of decades it is possible to see large trends moving in a certain direction. “You can’t really pinpoint one thing, but you can say that over a period of decades there is less snow accumulation and warmer temperatures, and climate change is playing a part in that,” he adds."

But I thought so-called "man-made climate change" was responsible for colder and harsher winters? Wasn't this the reasoning behind the switch from "global warming" to "climate change"?

[gunsequalfreedom]

He set it all in motion eons ago. Its called the normal cycle of nature.

...and California is neither the originator of the things you mention or unique in there existence. Enough of the malarky.

[Domangart]

That is the jet stream.

[Redcloak]

Maybe it’s being caused by the big piles of hope and change we’ve left laying around.

[octex]

ManBearPig’s fault.
****************************
lol... Very late Sunday night I saw the rerun of the ManBearPig episode of Southpark, where the kids were trapped in the caverns.

[Fai Mao]

Maybe God is punishing them

At least one could always hope

[Drago]

Persistent “La Niña” high pressure ridge/Northerly jet stream is caused by the global cooling trend? Maybe I should apply for some federal grant $$ to study it!