Petty Getty examines the potential for a megadrought that could occur in Western parts of the US over the coming decades. As Peter points out, the climate change could affect the possibility of the megadrought.

1. Are we on
the verge of
a
megadrought?
Peter Getty
@Peter_Getty

2. Remember the Medieval
Era in Europe?

3. Remember the Medieval
Era in Europe?
What about how it
looked in the United
States?

4. Due to a megadrought, it
resembled this.

5. Due to a megadrought, it
resembled this.
But what is a megadrought?

6. According to Martin Hoerling , a meteorologist at the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration...
“Megadroughts are defined more by their duration than
their severity. They are extreme dry spells that can last
for a decade or longer…”

7. In the wake of California declaring a statewide drought
emergency this past year, researchers and scientists began
taking a serious look at the state’s risk of experiencing a
megadrought.

8. Last summer, the drought lead to the drop in the reservoir
storage levels

9. Last summer, the drought lead to the drop in the reservoir
storage levels
Hitting a record low of 59% as of last August.

10. So what does this mean for the western areas of the United States?

11. More than 70 million people inhabit the areas affected by the
coming droughts as compared to the societies inhabiting the same
areas during the 12th Century in the Western US.

12. More than 70 million people inhabit the areas affected by the
coming droughts as compared to the societies inhabiting the same
areas during the 12th Century in the Western US.
What would this drought look like in California?

13. Not good.

14. An ongoing megadrought could result in...

15. ecosystem damage

16. out-migration

17. ghost towns

18. How would California handle a drought?

19. The state might have to take a cue
from Santa Fe, restricting housing
developments from being built by
demanding they arrive with their
own water supply.

20. Simply, California will need to use water efficiently.

21. What role does climate change play?

22. Let's take a look.

23. The earth has been warming across the board.

24. The earth has been warming across the board.
This widespread warming only increases the
overall chances of a megadrought occuring.

25. So, what is our impact on the potential megadrought?

26. According to Cornell University scientist Toby Ault, the
the rise of megadroughts is linked to global warming.
“As we add greenhouse gases into the atmosphere —
and we haven't put the brakes on stopping this — we
are weighting the dice for megadrought conditions.”

27. According to Cornell University scientist Toby Ault, the
the rise of megadroughts is linked to global warming.
“As we add greenhouse gases into the atmosphere —
and we haven't put the brakes on stopping this — we
are weighting the dice for megadrought conditions.”
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