Kent Pitman<p>This is an interesting article, worth a full read, on an aspect of Climate not always talked about in much detail.</p><p>«… The drying out of soil “increases the severity and frequency” of major droughts …, explains Dr Benjamin Cook, an … Earth system scientist … “Droughts are one of the most impactful, expensive natural hazards out there, because they are typically persistent and long lasting. Everything needs water – ecosystems need water, agriculture needs water. People need water. If you don’t have enough water – you’re in trouble.” … The study points to two factors driving gradual depletion of soil moisture over the last quarter century: fluctuations to rainfall patterns and increasing “evaporative demand”. … the atmosphere’s “thirst” for water …»</p><p>When I read about these things, I think of the danger to the food system and human society. It saddens me beyond measure that we've got a society run by capitalists who, like locusts, just want to efficiently consume every last resource the planet has to offer with no apparent regard for the future.</p><p>The article also mentions it will be expensive, though. Does that matter to any of you capitalists? I know risk of societal collapse is not a worthy concern to you, just something to monetize. But it could affect prices along the way. Is THAT perhaps a concern, at least? Sigh. </p><p><a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/global-soil-moisture-in-permanent-decline-due-to-climate-change/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">carbonbrief.org/global-soil-mo</span><span class="invisible">isture-in-permanent-decline-due-to-climate-change/</span></a></p><p><a href="https://climatejustice.social/tags/climate" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>climate</span></a> <a href="https://climatejustice.social/tags/ClimateChange" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>ClimateChange</span></a> <a href="https://climatejustice.social/tags/environment" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>environment</span></a> <a href="https://climatejustice.social/tags/water" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>water</span></a> <a href="https://climatejustice.social/tags/drought" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>drought</span></a> <a href="https://climatejustice.social/tags/soil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>soil</span></a> <a href="https://climatejustice.social/tags/evaporation" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>evaporation</span></a> <a href="https://climatejustice.social/tags/EvaporativeDemand" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>EvaporativeDemand</span></a> <a href="https://climatejustice.social/tags/food" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>food</span></a> <a href="https://climatejustice.social/tags/FoodSecurity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>FoodSecurity</span></a></p>
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Texas farmers, ranchers lose billions to 2024 weather disasters
The total incurred damages in Texas was over $3.4 billion.
Drought and excessive heat contributed to more than 66% of Texas’ losses. The most severe drought impacts occurred between June and September.
Texas cotton farmers saw $1.8 billion in losses, and there was a loss of $768 million in forage and rangeland damage and $257 million in wheat losses from drought.
Early in 2024, the Smokehouse Creek Fire caused $123 million in losses, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. It was the largest wildfire in Texas and burned more than 1.2 million of acres in the Panhandle.
#Texas #drought #weather #cotton #fire #agriculture
https://texasfarmbureau.org/texas-farmers-ranchers-lose-billions-to-2024-weather-disasters/
This week’s CMOR photo is from Goshen County, Wyoming.
“Rangeland is blowing and there is limited grass coming up.”
Submit your photos: https://go.unl.edu/cmor_drought
Scientists believed that plants lost most of their water through their pores to cool down. They could then simply close these pores in extreme heat.
The study, published in the scientific journal New Phytologist in December, shows that with rising temperatures, plants lose more water through their cuticle, the waxy layer on their leaves, than through their pores. The thinner the cuticle, the greater the water loss.
#phytology #botany #plants #drought #ClimateChange
https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.20346
![Research shows that plants lose much more water than scientists previously thought [picture of a plant].](https://cdn.mastodon.coffee/media_attachments/files/114/214/802/366/677/392/original/e8b569139a031e9c.jpg "Research shows that plants lose much more water than scientists previously thought [picture of a plant].")
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Droughts are increasing. Global warning dries out continents, increases coastal formed storms. Canada's forests burning, farms failing, dust storms growing.
Map of U.S. droughts
Extreme weather last year including typhoons, heat waves and flooding led to the biggest displacement of people since 2008, and exacerbated a food crisis in more than a dozen countries, according to a report. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/environment/2025/03/19/climate-change/extreme-weather-2024-16-years/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #environment #climatechange #climatechange #drought #floods #typhoons #heatwaves
The Japan Times · Extreme weather in 2024 forced most people to flee in 16 years
'Muddy rain' is carrying dust from drought-stricken southwestern U.S.
Much of the Midwest has experienced a rather rare weather phenomenon to blame, driven by extreme #drought in the U.S. southwest. Meteorologists say it's a classic case of 'dirty rain' or 'dust rain' this morning.
West Kentucky StarToday's 'muddy rain' is carrying dust from drought-stricken southwestern U.S.If your car or truck was out in the rain this morning, you're probably planning a trip through the car wash soon.
Much of the Midwest has experienced a rather rare weather phenomenon to blame, driven by extreme drought in the U.S. southwest.
Exclusive: #ArmyCorps knew #Trump order would waste #California #water, memo shows
The #ArmyCorpsOfEngineers colonel responsible for releasing #reservoir water at Trump’s direction knew it wouldn’t reach Southern California as he promised, a memo obtained by The Post shows.
#FactCheck #TrumpLies #Climate #ClimateCrisis #ClimateChange #science #wildfires #drought #agriculture #farms #crops #DrinkingWater #USpol #idiocracy
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2025/03/07/trump-water-release-california-fires/
The Washington Post · Army Corps knew Trump order would waste California water, memo shows
U.S. Drought Monitor staff preparing for #NOAA disruptions
A climatologist at the National Drought Mitigation Center says he’s closely following how staffing cuts at #USDA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration could impact work.
https://www.brownfieldagnews.com/news/u-s-drought-monitor-staff-preparing-for-noaa-disruptions/
Brownfield Ag NewsU.S. Drought Monitor staff preparing for NOAA disruptions - Brownfield Ag NewsA climatologist at the National Drought Mitigation Center says he’s closely following how staffing cuts at USDA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) could impact work. Brian Fuchs tells Brownfield, “When we see some of these agencies starting to get some of their people cut, you really need to understand what that trickle […]
Firefighters on Tuesday were battling Japan's worst wildfire in half a century, which has left one dead and forced the evacuation of nearly 4,000 local residents. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/03/04/japan/japan-wildfire-continues/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #wildfires #drought #iwate #ofunato
The Japan Times · Japan's worst wildfire in half a century spreads
(Update: Sold out of plants as of 1130!) Drought tolerant, native plant sale in Thousand Oaks, California today. 3/1/25
Kings Watershed Snowpack Starts Season Well Below Average
"Kings River Watermaster Steve Haugen said the snowpack water content is only about 8.8 inches, 52% of average for February 1, and represents only 32% of what would be expected when snow conditions typically peak around April 1.
Snow depths averaged 32.5 inches this year compared with 53 inches in an average winter."
https://californiaagnet.com/2025/02/06/kings-watershed-snowpack-starts-season-well-below-average/ #Water #Drought #ClimateChange #California
California Ag Network · Kings Watershed Snowpack Starts Season Well Below Average - California Ag Network4888 EAST JENSEN AVENUE FRESNO, CALIFORNIA 93725 TELEPHONE (559) 266-0767 SIERRA SNOWPACK CONDITIONS within the Kings River watershed are low, but marginally higher than last year. Those were the findings of this season’s first measurements by Kings River Water Association (KRWA) and other California Cooperative Snow Survey partners in the mountains of eastern Fresno and Tulare …
Trump's musings on 'very large faucet' in Canada part of looming water crisis, say researchers
Aging infrastructure and changing climate could put pressure on long-standing treaties
Joel Dryden · CBC News · Posted: Feb 18, 2025 8:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 4 hours ago
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/donald-trump-water-canada-peter-lougheed-1.7459583 #water #agriculture #hydrology #economy #drought #climatechange #geopolitics
CBCTrump's musings on 'very large faucet' in Canada part of looming water crisis, say researchers | CBC NewsFor water experts, there’s worry that climate change and shifting U.S. policies could put pressure on long-standing cross-border water agreements.
Monitor de Sequía de los Estados Unidos
Mapa publicado: febrero 13, 2025
Water scarcity isn’t just a Western U.S. issue. In 2024, NYC and Boston urged water cuts, Philly faced saltwater threats, and wildfires spread. Experts warn #climatechange is reshaping U.S. water security: https://theconversation.com/drought-can-hit-almost-anywhere-how-5-cities-that-nearly-ran-dry-got-water-use-under-control-248760 #Drought
The ConversationDrought can hit almost anywhere: How 5 cities that nearly ran dry got water use under controlCities across the normally wet Northeast scrambled to reduce water use amid a 2024 drought. It was a reminder that drought isn’t a problem only in the West.
Fire danger is HIGH in the Lincoln National Forest of southern New Mexico.
This is bad for the middle of winter. As springtime approaches, it will only get worse...and windier.
Water scarcity isn’t just a Western U.S. issue. In 2024, NYC and Boston urged water cuts, Philly faced saltwater threats, and wildfires spread. Experts warn #climatechange is reshaping U.S. water security: https://theconversation.com/drought-can-hit-almost-anywhere-how-5-cities-that-nearly-ran-dry-got-water-use-under-control-248760 #Drought
US Drought Monitor 1-30-25
For the 50 states and Puerto Rico, the US Drought Monitor shows 33.22% in moderate drought or worse, compared to 31.5% last week.
