Swings from snow drought to extreme winter rainfall make managing reservoirs, like the Oroville Dam, incredibly difficult. But what exactly is "snow drought"?
drought
Anthropogenic Drought: How Humans Affect the Global Ecosystem
Amir AghaKouchak discusses how human activity affects water supply and the environment.
U.S. Winter Outlook Sees No Drought Relief
A weak La Niña is expected to further dry out southwestern and Gulf Coast states.
Switching to Drought-Tolerant Plants Could Alter Urban Climates
In Los Angeles, replacing lawns with native plants that need less water could lead to hotter days and cooler nights.
Subterranean Caverns Hold Clues to Past Droughts
Cave formations offer highly resolved paleoclimate data that scientists plan to use to reconstruct California's ancient patterns of drought.
Monster El Niño Not Enough to Quench California Drought
New research shows that the Sierra Nevada snowpack will likely not recover from the current drought until 2019.
El Niño Will Increase Atmospheric Carbon to Historic Levels
Tropical fires and drought-stricken ecosystems that normally serve as sinks will release carbon, contributing to high atmospheric concentrations through 2016 and beyond.
Forecasting India's Water Future
The NORINDIA project sheds light on how climate change could affect monsoons, droughts, and glaciers in northern India.
Soil Crusts Play a Dual Role in Desertification
Rain falling on bare soil can form a hard crust that prevents further infiltration. But do these crusts worsen land degradation or help to prevent it?
California Is the Driest It's Been in 2000 Years
Scientists reconstruct the paleohydrology of Tulare Lake to unravel the region's long-term drought history.