Study Warns California Continues to Face Threat of Megadrought

Study Warns California , Continues to Face , Threat of Megadrought.
'Newsweek' reports that California may
not have cured the state's water woes,
despite several years of snow-heavy winters. .
According to NASA satellite data, recent snowfall has been insufficient to offset the impact of an ongoing megadrought across the western states. .
A new paper published in the journal, 'Geophysical Research
Letters', details how groundwater supplies remain
concerning for both domestic and agricultural use.
Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites
revealed that the entire Great Basin groundwater supply
has dropped by 16.5 cubic miles in the last 20 years.
The data highlights that while snowmelt does
help resupply groundwater levels, it is not
enough to replenish the current diminished levels.
In years like the 2022-23 winter,
I expected that the record amount
of snowfall would really help to
replenish the groundwater supply.
But overall, the decline continued, Dorothy Hall, Study co-author and University
of Maryland earth scientist, via NASA statement.
'Newsweek' reports that the U.S. southwest
has been facing a megadrought since
the beginning of the millennium. .
A megadrought is a drought
that lasts two or more decades. , Jonathan Overpeck, Dean of environmental studies at the University of Michigan, via 'Newsweek'.
The current southwest
megadrought started in 1999
and has become the longest
drought in U.S. history, and also the
most severe in at least 1,200 years, Jonathan Overpeck, Dean of environmental studies at the University of Michigan, via 'Newsweek'.
With the ongoing threat of
drought, farmers downstream
often can't get enough water.
The ultimate solution will have to
include wiser water management, Dorothy Hall, Study co-author and University
of Maryland earth scientist, via NASA statement