Drought Continues to Worsen in the Southwest

EDO’s Bill Smith is a co-author on a newly released drought study. The study, which looked at southern California, Arizona, and New Mexico, utilized daily meteorological data from over 300 weather stations in the region. Primary findings suggest that extreme-duration drought is becoming more common and increasing dry period lengths are to be expected. More specifically, the study found that total rainfall decreased by 19 millimeters per decade with average temperatures increasing by .2 degrees Celsius per decade. The combination of these factors presents significant threats for both the environment and society. 

Following this study, the team behind the study is working on a new rangeland tool “Grass-Cast”. This tool was created to provide forecasts of future productivity for rangeland managers and ranchers.