#USA DROUGHT

[vox-anglosphere]

Apocalypse-L.A.

[victusinveritas]

This is a Coen Brothers movie waiting to happen.

[xtruss]

Where Will Autumn's Colors Appear First? Reuters/Illustration USA Today

Fall Foliage Predictions: These Maps Show When And Where To See Peak Colors

— Doyle Rice and Janet Loehrke | September 01, 2024

The blistering summer of 2024 will soon be coming to an end, and that means fall leaf peeping can't be far behind.

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, leaves can change their color from as early as mid-September all the way through early November. "Typically, the second and third week of October are the peak times, but it shifts depending on where you live and your local weather conditions," the Almanac said.

Warm, sunny days are good for vibrant fall colors, but only if they are accompanied by cool nights, according to the Weather Channel. Precipitation can also affect the color show – extreme drought and excessive rainfall are both detrimental to foliage.

A warm period during fall will also lower the intensity of autumn colors, the U.S. Forest Service said. The latest forecast from the Climate Prediction Center shows that a warmer-than-average fall is likely for nearly the entire U.S.

Where and when leaves are predicted to change

Here's a county-by-county breakdown of how the 2023 foliage changed across the U.S.:

Source: Smoky Mountains 2023 Fall Foliage Prediction Map: Graphic Janet Lochrke/USA Today

New England boasts some of the most colorful fall foliage displays. Every year, about ten million leafpeepers visit the region to enjoy the beauty of fall. Typically, northern Vermont, New Hampshire, and northwest Maine experience peak early in October.

Parts of New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania must wait until late into October, according to ExploreFall.com.

A breakdown of how the foliage changed across the U.S. in 2023:

Source: Smokey Mountain.Com. Graphic Janet Loehrke/USA Today

Drought Can Affect Fall Colors

According to the U.S. Forest Service, a severe summer drought can delay the onset of fall color by a few weeks. Drought was particularly harsh in the mid-Atlantic and central Appalachians this summer, which could delay the fall foliage season there, according to AccuWeather meteorologist Paul Pastelok.

Source: U.S. Drought Monitor, as of August 29; Graphic Janet Loehrke/USA Today

How Leaves Change Color In The Fall

As the amount of daylight gets shorter in the fall, chlorophyll production in leaves slows down and eventually stops. Chlorophyll gives leaves a green color, so when these pigments are not visible, carotenoids, which produce yellow orange and brown colors, show through, according to the Virginia Department of Forestry.

Bright light and excess plant sugars are abundant during the season, and they help produce anthocyanins, which add red to plants.

Source: The National Forest Service, SmokyMountains.com, ExploreFall.com

[tornadoquest]

Tornado Quest Top Science Links For January 18 - 25, 2025 #science #weather #climate #climatechange #winter #wildfire #health

Greetings to all! I’m glad you stopped by. There’s a lot that has happened this week including a very rare snow event across several USA Gulf states and the ongoing California wildfires. Of course, I will continue with winter weather safety information, the latest US Drought Monitor update, and several very important climate and science reads, so let’s get started. Tornado Quest micro podcast…

[nando161mando]

"After around 20 years of drought, and in a climate that is slowly aridifying, California has seen an alarming number of megafires this century -- 18 of the 20 biggest fires in the state's recorded history have occurred in the last two decades."

[jmpphoto]

Light Traffic by James Marvin Phelps Via Flickr: Light Traffic Hoover Dam Nevada-Arizona

[riptidethegimpgs]

My 2024 bingo

[panicinthestudio]

Why misinformation about wildfires is spreading and how to combat it, June 17, 2023

As unprecedented wildfires continue to spread across parts of Canada, so does misinformation about them. Whatever the catalyst for any particular wildfire, the science clearly shows that climate change is making wildfire events more frequent and extreme, yet some media outlets and individuals are denying this reality for ideological and financial reasons, Michael Mann, director of Penn Center for Science, Sustainability and the Media, told CBC News. CBC News

@allthecanadianpolitics

[rabbitcruiser]

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought arises on June 17 of every year. The primary purpose of the day is to highlight the ways to prevent desertification and recover from the drought. The day also aims to increase the visibility of the drylands issue on the environmental agenda. World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is the perfect day to remind everybody that desertification can be efficiently tackled, that solutions are possible, and that key tools to this aim lay in strengthened community participation and co-operation at different levels.

“Without a long-term solution, desertification and land degradation will not only affect food supply but lead to increased migration and threaten the stability of many nations and regions. This is why world leaders made land degradation neutrality one of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals.” – General Ban Ki-moon

History of World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly announced June 17 as the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. The assembly recognized that desertification and drought were the main global problems as they affect all regions of the world. The meeting also realized that joint action by the international community was required to combat desertification and drought, particularly in Africa. The States were asked to devote the World Day to promoting awareness of the necessity for international participation to combat desertification and the effects of drought and also the implementation of the Convention to Conflict Desertification. After then, the country parties to the UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification), stakeholders and non-governmental organizations to celebrate the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought with some Worldwide activities on June 17 each year.

Themes of World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

The past Themes of World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought are listed below

2003: International Year of Deserts and Desertification (IYDD).

2004: Social Dimensions of Desertification: Migration and Poverty.

2005: Women and Desertification.

2006: The Beauty of Deserts – The Challenge of Desertification.

2007: Desertification and Climate Change – One Global Challenge.

2008: Combating land degradation for sustainable agriculture.

2009: Conserving land and energy = Securing our common future.

2015: Attainment of food security for all through sustainable food systems.

2016: Inclusive cooperation for achieving Land Degradation Neutrality.

2017: Link between land degradation and migration.

2018: Land has true value. Invest in it.

2019: Let’s Grow the Future Together

2020: Food. Feed.Fibre. – the links between consumption and land.

2021: Restoration, Land, and Recovery.

2022: Rising from drought together.

How to celebrate World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

On World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, promotional events may include the distribution of awareness raising materials, like fact sheets, calendars, posters, and postcards, to educational organizations and the general public. The day also features the educational case studies, forums or discussions on drought and desertification, its associations with society and steps to minimize the problem.

Source

[hanayakani]

Gravel in Los Angeles

An example of a mid-sized modern drought-tolerant, rock and full sun front yard gravel landscaping.

[crazyclau]

Los Angeles Landscape Rock Features

Ideas for a medium-sized, drought-tolerant, rock, and gravel front yard landscaping.

[dylanobrns]

Modern Landscape Los Angeles An example of a mid-sized modern drought-tolerant, rock and full sun front yard gravel landscaping.

[tornadoquest]

Tornado Quest Top Science Links For January 13 - 20, 2024 #science #weather #climate #climatechange #earthquake #wintersafety #windchill #droughtmonitor

Greetings everyone. This week, we have an interesting read on earthquake threat in the USA. We’ll also continue our look at winter weather safety and the latest US Drought Monitor. Infographic courtesy NOAA/NWS Infographic courtesy NWS Fort Worth, Texas Where are damaging earthquakes likely to occur in the USA? Take a look at this map. The climate of our planet has a substantial effect on…

[nando161mando]

Nearly half of mainland US is in a drought

https://www.wqad.com/video/weather/nearly-half-of-mainland-us-is-in-a-drought/526-564ff24e-cb71-469c-827f-8f03a6a8adf3

[jmpphoto]

Painters Cove by James Marvin Phelps Via Flickr: Painters Cove Black Canyon Hoover Dam Nevada - Arizona