Washington, Feb 17 : A newly published study suggests the megadrought that has ravaged the US for the past 22 years is the worst in at least 1,200 years.
After exceptional drought severity in 2021, 19 per cent of which is attributable to anthropogenic climate trends, the years from 2000 to 2021 was the driest 22-year period since at least 800 AD, according to the study published in the journal Nature Climate Change.
This drought will very likely persist through 2022, matching the duration of the late 1500s megadrought, according to the study.From 2000 to 2021, the precipitation in southwestern North America was 8.3 per cent below the average from 1950 to 1999, and temperature was 0.91 degrees Celcius above average.No other 22-year period since at least 1901 was as dry or as hot, according to the study.
Aridity has dominated the region since 2000, as evidenced by declines in two of North Americas largest reservoirs, Lakes Mead and Powell, both on the Colorado River.In summer 2021, these reservoirs reached their lowest levels on record, triggering unprecedented restrictions on the Colorado River, said the study.
"Without climate change, this would not be even close to as bad as one of those historical megadroughts," said Park Williams, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the studys lead author."The thing that is really remarkable about this drought period is that temperatures have been warmer than average in all of the years but one," he said.
ksk/ In the summer of 2021, the reservoirs hit their lowest levels in history which led to new restrictions for the Colorado River, said the study."Without climate change, this wouldnt be the severity of one of the megadroughts of the past," said Park Williams who is a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles and the studys lead writer.
"The thing thats extraordinary about this drought is that it has been much higher than the average in every one of the years, with the exception of one," he said.
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