US southwest could see 60-year drought: study

AFP ^ | December 13, 2010 | Unknown

[SunkenCiv]

It's a bit subtle, but it's there. :') Ah well, meanwhile, here's an oldie:

Caves reveal clues to UK weather
by Tom Heap

At Pooles Cavern in Derbyshire, it was discovered that the stalagmites grow faster in the winter months when it rains more. Alan Walker, who guides visitors through the caves, says the changes in rainfall are recorded in the stalactites and stalagmites like the growth rings in trees. Stalagmites from a number of caves have now been analysed by Dr Andy Baker at Newcastle University. After splitting and polishing the rock, he can measure its growth precisely and has built up a precipitation history going back thousands of years. His study suggests this autumn's rainfall is not at all unusual when looked at over such a timescale but is well within historic variations. He believes politicians find it expedient to blame a man-made change in our weather rather than addressing the complex scientific picture.

[txhurl]

Yeah, here in Volente.

We’ve only had ONE ‘normal’ (non-tropical) rain day all year...
Sandwiched between two back-to-back tropical systems in July.

I follow Bob Rose (LCRA) and his weather postings. He confirms for us what we already know..

Remember summer ‘07, when those two lows on the eastern and western borders of TX gave us the summer of rain? We could pray for another setup like that.

[blue7053]

The avg. flow of the Colorado through the Grand Canyon was 85,000CFS during the month of June, before the dams. Presently, due to the dams, it is about 30,000 CFS.
Max. flood (flushing) is 250,000 CFS.
At Page, AZ., the river gage fluctuates daily, due to hydroelectric requirements, from 4,000 to 8,000 CFS.
The present use of water from these river systems is agricultural and hydroelectric.
I don’t know for sure, but I think if you change the crops (no corn or cotton)and add solar, you wouldn’t notice a drought.

[wolfcreek]

We’re praying.

[steelyourfaith]

Thanx decimon !

 

Beam me to Planet Gore !

[bert]

The voters gave it to the unions. The Mexicans will have to bargain for it

[palmer]

In the mid-12th century, a six-decade-long heat and dry spell covered most of the western United States and northern Mexico, the researchers found.

Essentially the SW has been in a 10,000 year drought (since the end of the ice age). If that drought ends, then we are in big trouble.

[decimon]

Essentially the SW has been in a 10,000 year drought (since the end of the ice age).

That may be so.

If that drought ends, then we are in big trouble.

The ending of the drought signaling the next ice age? I don't know if climate is ever that simple. I could pull out of...somewhere...a theory that there are alternate dry and wet periods between ice ages.

[The Theophilus]

a theory that there are alternate dry and wet periods between ice ages.

Except there was only ONE ice-age and that came immediately after and as a result of a profoundly wet period - Christians call that event "The Great Deluge"

[decimon]

...Christians call that event "The Great Deluge"

So did Louis XV.

[colorado tanker]

It’s good to live in a headwaters state. :-))

[txhurl]

bttt

[txhurl]

Drought outlook through March. Really looks more Southeast than Southwest?

[Windflier]

Drought outlook through March. Really looks more Southeast than Southwest?

It definitely does, per that map.

It's not perfect though. It shows Dallas - Ft Worth being in a No Drought area, but we're definitely way behind on normal precipitation.

[decimon]

Yeah, I think the southeast has been on the edge of drought for several years.

[Nervous Tick]

>> Really looks more Southeast than Southwest?

IF you believe their map (a big if), and IF Texas is considered southwest, then it looks significantly Southwest too.

But who knows how it’ll all shake out. We could have a sixty year drought, or monkeys could fly out of my butt, or anything in between.

Pray for rain! It’s a Texas way of life. :-)

[basil]

We're already seeing it in the Lake Travis area---it's really sad. Don't know if we can handle a drought so soon, as we had a bad one year before last. According to some of the "powers that be" around here, the Edwards Acquifier is in danger of drying up, also, and I think that is part of the Austin city water system.

Please pray for rain for us------

[txhurl]

I’m always praying for rain.

We’ve had some bad drought over the last 20 years, but this one has me really worried about wildfires, especially here in centex. The grass and underbrush is tall from TS Hermine in September, but the grass is dessicated straw, 4 ft tall, tinderbox.

I know, just one more thing to worry about. :(

[Arrowhead1952]

Thanks gal. I’d heard something about this during the week too.

[SunkenCiv]

• Decline of West Coast fog brought higher coastal temperatures last 60 years