Lack of Moisture Connected to Drought Propagation

news image
Special Stories
20 Jun 2019 12:23 AM
[Countless lakes across the Southwest United States went dry in 2012, including this one, Teller Lake No.5, in eastern Boulder County, Colorado. Credit: UCAR, photo by Carlye Calvin.] [NOAA] Droughts have disastrous impacts on the agricultural, economic, and public health sectors. With the formation of droughts still being researched, scientists ability to forecast droughts for North America has been greatly affected. In a new research paper, Julio E. Herrera‐Estrada and co-authors used reanalysis data from 1980-2016 in combination with a moisture-tracking model to identify the effects that reduced moisture transport has in drought formation and dissemination in North America. They found that a decrease in moisture transport upwind resulted in more droughts across the United States. Also, they found that due to a lack of moisture exports, agricultural droughts upwind caused significant droughts downwind. In particular, the decreased moisture transport from land areas accounted for 62% of the precipitation deficiency in the high-profile Midwest drought of 2012. Furthermore, a decline in recycled moisture within a region corresponded to a decrease of transported moisture to that region. These results suggest that land‐surface may contain useful information for drought prediction, and highlight the importance of sustainable land‐use and of regional cooperation for drought risk management. Edited for WeatherNation by Meteorologist Mace Michaels
All Weather News
More
Rafael Fuels Lingering Flood Risk in the South

Rafael Fuels Lingering Flood Risk in the South

Widespread flash flooding developed in Louisi

10 Nov 2024 12:55 PM
Rafael Moves into the Gulf Threatening Rainfall for Central Gulf States

Rafael Moves into the Gulf Threatening Rainfall for Central Gulf States

Hurricane Rafael made landfall as a Category

10 Nov 2024 11:40 AM
Atmospheric River Setup to Begin in Northwest

Atmospheric River Setup to Begin in Northwest

A parade of systems will keep the Northwest a

10 Nov 2024 10:00 AM
Historic November Snow Storm Ends in the Rockies

Historic November Snow Storm Ends in the Rockies

COLORADO— The record-breaking snowstorm event

10 Nov 2024 9:00 AM
Severe Storms in Texas Continue Friday

Severe Storms in Texas Continue Friday

The threat of severe weather continues this F

9 Nov 2024 2:50 AM
Dangerous Santa Ana Winds Prompt Mandatory Evacuations

Dangerous Santa Ana Winds Prompt Mandatory Evacuations

VENTURA COUNTY, CA - The Mountain Fire has be

8 Nov 2024 5:30 PM
Record Warm Election Day in the Northeast

Record Warm Election Day in the Northeast

NORTHEAST - It's been a warm stretch of weath

6 Nov 2024 2:20 AM