drought

Recent Aspen Mortality Due to Dehydration

Date Posted: 
January 13, 2012
Publisher: 
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

The recent widespread aspen forest mortality in western North America was due to dehydration of the trees caused by drought, a new study finds. The four-year drought, from 2000 to 2004, caused the vascular systems that carry water through aspen stands to break down.

Dry Conditions to Continue Through March

Date Posted: 
January 13, 2012
Publisher: 
NOAA/CLIMAS

Temperatures throughout the West and Southwest were cooler than average during December, with some areas reporting temperatures 6-10 degrees F below normal, according to the December State of the Climate from NOAA. Most of Texas was wetter than average, improving drought conditions in the northern part of the state.

2011 Breaks Records

Date Posted: 
January 6, 2012
Publisher: 
The Guardian

According to The Guardian, 2011 “rewrote the record books” with the highest ever recorded global greenhouse gas levels (394 parts per million at Mauna Loa in May), world population reaching 7 billion, and record investments in renewable energy ($211 billion since 2004), to name a few of the

Drought Conditions Improve Slightly in AZ and NM

Date Posted: 
December 24, 2011
Publisher: 
CLIMAS

Over the last month, drought conditions persisted throughout Arizona and New Mexico. However, several early winter storms improved conditions slightly throughout most of the region.

Texas Drought Kills Over 100 Million Trees

Date Posted: 
December 24, 2011
Publisher: 
Texas Forest Service

The past year’s drought in Texas resulted in the deaths of an estimated 100 to 500 million trees, according to an ongoing study by the Texas Forest Service.

November Rains Bring Some Relief to SW Drought, Record Number of $B Disasters

Date Posted: 
December 16, 2011
Publisher: 
NOAA

West of the Rockies, temperatures were slightly below to well below normal this month, but regions of the Southwest east of Rockies saw temperatures near to slightly above average, according to the newest State of the Climate from NOAA.

Drought Conditions to Persist in Arizona and New Mexico

Date Posted: 
December 9, 2011
Publisher: 
CLIMAS

Drought conditions in most of Arizona and New Mexico are forecasted to persist or intensify through the winter, according to the latest La Niña Drought Tracker from CLIMAS. La Niña conditions are also likely to persist through the winter, leading to increased chances of below-average precipitation.

Mexico Enduring Worst Drought in 70 Years

Date Posted: 
December 1, 2011
Publisher: 
Reuters

Mexico has lost tens of thousands of acres of crops and hundreds of thousands of cattle as the worst drought in 70 years persists throughout the country, according to

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  • Texas Groundwater Levels Surpass 60-Year Low

    Date Posted: 
    December 1, 2011
    Publisher: 
    NASA

    The latest groundwater storage map based on data from NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites shows severely depressed groundwater levels spanning the region from Arizona to Florida.

    Atmospheric Particles Exacerbate Dry and Wet Extremes

    Date Posted: 
    November 16, 2011
    Publisher: 
    Nature Geoscience

    Aerosols—small atmospheric particles such as soot and dust—can alter precipitation frequency and intensity, according to a recent study published in Nature Geoscience. Science Daily explains that the scientists used at