That's how much rain is expected to fall in California in the coming week - ten trillion gallons of water.
Yeah, that California, the state that's endured years of severe drought along with brush and forest fires until la nina showed up with atmospheric rivers to essentially drown the place.
Years ago I read of a nomadic pastoralist (herder) in sub Saharan Africa. He lost half his herd one year to flash floods only to lose the remaining half the next year to severe drought. He gathered up his family and their possessions and made off for the nearest city to look for ways to survive.
Now California is the poster child for climate change and global weirding.
It is feared that areas that have been previously hit by forest fires could be more susceptible to mud slides as there is less vegetation to break the flow of running water.
Terry Anzur of KFI News told the BBC the dry, scorched ground that had been "saturated" with the heavy downpour was turning streets in to "rivers of mud".
After five years of drought, a series of storms have filled state reservoirs.
In a season of heavy storms, the latest is expected to be the heaviest by far.
3 comments:
What do you think of this plan to re-freeze the arctic?
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/12/plan-to-refreeze-arctic-before-ice-goes-for-good-climate-change
I've read about it, Hugh, but I'm not sold.
The first problem is the massive cost. Who will put up that money? If there really was the sort of consensus of affluent nations that would require, what other options might there be for that funding? Are there other initiatives that might be more effective at mitigating climate change?
These ideas always seem to play into the hands of fossil fuelers eager to defend their $27-trillion in proven fossil reserves. They'll happily go "problem solved" as soon as this is approved which means ever more fossil energy, ever more greenhouse gas emissions. Why, given the cost of this project and the vastly greater value of their booked assets, aren't they funding this as a cost of doing business?
This sounds as good as every miracle cure for cancer that we hear of two or three times a year like clockwork.
I'm not opposed to exploring this idea but only when it's done in conjunction with an abrupt transition from fossil energy and action on the long ignored need for adaptation measures. Anything less is surely irrational.
"It is feared that areas that have been previously hit by forest fires could be more susceptible to mud slides as there is less vegetation to break the flow of running water."
No doubt. Also "national parks" that have been clearcut.
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