The Southwest United States is currently facing its worst megadrought of the past 1,200 years.
The Southwest United States is currently facing its worst megadrought of the past 1,200 years. According to a recent study from The University of Texas at Austin, the drought could continue at least until the end of the century, if not longer.
Although some scientists anticipate that natural climate variability will bring relief, new research suggests that ongoing warming could be disrupting the natural rhythm of an important climate cycle that brings needed rain to the region.
Much like the seven-year El Niño and La Niña climate patterns, the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) has been a dependable ocean climate cycle that alternately brings long phases of drought and rains to the Southwest U.S. every 20 to 30 years. However, a study published in Nature Geoscience that analyzed the area’s climate record going back for millennia suggests that this is not necessarily the case.
Read More: University of Texas - Austin
Lyman Lake in Arizona stores water from the Little Colorado River. Pictured here in 2021, the lake was 30 feet below capacity. (Photo Credit: Ted Wood/The Water Desk)
