When rivers run low, they threaten ecosystems, economies, and the communities who depend on them. Scientists need to determine how climate change alters this process, but to do so, they'll have to abandon a long-held assumption.
Drought
Posted inNews
Report Makes a Case for Geology's Role in Policy Decisions
Scientific societies in the United Kingdom and Europe strive to raise awareness among decision makers about geology's relevance to key societal challenges.
Posted inNews
White House Focuses on Drought and Wildfire Threats
Funding for water and land management, crop insurance relief, and jobs aims to lessen drought impacts and improve protection from wildfires.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
When Predicting Drought Risk, Do Not Overlook Temperature
Through analysis of 2014's record dryness in California, a study suggests that a risk of similar droughts depends not just on precipitation but also on temperature.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
California's 2012–2014 Drought Unusual for Last Millennium
Soil moisture estimates, inferred from thousands of tree rings spanning the past 12 centuries, highlight the severity of the recent record-breaking drought.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Microbial Activity in Dry Soils
Researchers investigate how microbes respire in dry conditions.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Could Farmers have Dodged the 2012 Great Plains Drought?
A decision-making model to turn seasonal climate forecasts into information farmers actually need.
Posted inNews
Satellites Show True Extent of California Drought
Since 2011, California’s water supply has lost 4 trillion gallons per year and the Sierra Nevada snowpack has hit record lows.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
A Simple Model to Calculate When Drought Causes Plants to Die
Scientists create a mathematical model to predict when drought pushes plants to die.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Large Volcanic Eruptions Cause Drought in Eastern China
In a study with implications for geoengineering, large Northern Hemispheric volcanic eruptions are found to cause strong droughts in much of eastern China.