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September 9, 2014

Report: Southwestern U.S. at Higher Risk of "Megadrought" 
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A study on climate change has warned the southwestern United States is
at an increased risk of devastating drought. Cornell University
professor Toby Ault discussed the results on Monday.

Toby Ault: "The risk of a decade-long drought is normally about 50
percent, but with climate change it goes up to about 80 or 90 percent,
according to our results. And for a multiple-decade-long drought, a
megadrought, the risk is normally in the order of 5 to 15 percent, but
with climate change it goes up to between 20 and 50 percent for a lot of
the Southwest."

California is in the midst of an epic three-year drought with more than
58 percent of the state deemed to be in "exceptional drought," the most
severe category possible.

 

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