Following the hottest year on record, complete with a megadrought in Arizona that led to construction restrictions to reserve groundwater around Phoenix, Arizona has added a new chief heat officer to its Department of Health Services. The officer’s role is to help with extreme heat preparedness in the state. Dr. Eugene Livar, a physician who […]
Los Angeles County’s Board of Supervisors has voted for a plan to improve stormwater capture, with a goal of capturing more stormwater for local reuse rather than importing water from other regions. The L.A. County Water Plan aims to increase the local water supply by 580,000 acre-feet per year by 2045 so that 80% of […]
Earlier this week, the U.S. Global Change Research Program released the United States’ Fifth National Climate Assessment, an overview of the effects climate change is having on the country. The main message of the assessment is clear: Every part of the country will experience weather extremes due to climate change. “There is not a part […]
The U.S. has released its fifth National Climate Assessment report, which outlines how the country is addressing climate change, major climate risks and actions by region and how climate change is already impacting the country. The report found that both new and existing risks are impacting every part of the U.S., while some regions may […]
Quick Key Facts What Is a Drought? A meteorological drought is when there is a severe lack of precipitation in a given area for a notable amount of time. But as the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska explains, whether or not an area is experiencing a drought is “in relation to […]
Drought is usually associated with lack of rainfall, but there are other factors, like snowmelt and groundwater, that can affect the water levels of streams and rivers. In a new study, researchers from University of California, Riverside (UCR), found that drought impact can persist for as long as three-and-a-half years in rivers and streams despite […]
A major port in Manaus, Brazil has hit its lowest water level since records began in 1902 as a long drought continues in the region. The new low surpassed the last lowest recording from 2010. Manaus, Brazil is a connecting point for the Rio Negro and the Amazon River. As of Oct. 16, the Rio […]
Lager, ale or bitter? Many beer drinkers have a preference, but the taste profile of beer in general is known to be hoppy and at least somewhat bitter compared to other beverages. But that may be changing due to the climate crisis. According to a new study, climate change threatens European cultivation of the aromatic […]
Over 100 Amazon river dolphins were found dead in Lake Tefé over the past week, the Mamirauá Institute for Sustainable Development, a social organization under Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, reported. Thousands of dead fish were also found, with experts concerned that the record-breaking high water temperatures and ongoing drought in the region […]