DROUGHT AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change made the drought worse, scientists say
Colin McDonald, March 5, 2012 (San Antonio Express-News)

"Several scientists at NASA and the state climatologist say the record-setting heat and drought of last summer in Texas was made worse by climate change…[T]hat conclusion adds another layer of uncertainty for water planners.

"Some water utilities across the state are still struggling to meet demand because of the drought, which set the record for a single year. But many more are not ready for a repeat of the drought of the 1950s, which lasted seven years and is considered the worst long-term one on record. Adding climate change on top of that will make planning more difficult, as high temperatures mean more evaporation and less water going into rivers, reservoirs and aquifers."

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"…The San Antonio Water System, Edwards Aquifer Authority and the state use [the 1950s drought] to model what is considered the worst-case scenario and then plan accordingly…[but studies show more severe droughts have occurred…Last summer is held up as evidence that climate change is already making droughts more extreme] by state climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon and [climate scientist James Hansen of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies and Columbia University's Earth Institute]…Both scientists agree that the year would have been hot and dry no matter what, but that climate change made it worse…

"Across the Panhandle, reservoirs went dry as increased temperatures accelerated evaporation, and rains have not been enough to refill them…And that was just from a one-year drought…The 2012 State Water Plan projects losses of $11.9 billion if a drought similar to the 1950s were to occur and projects in the plan are not funded. The estimated cost rises to $115.7 billion annually by 2060, with more than 1 million jobs lost…[T]he Legislature has not funded the $53 billion plan, which covers only a quarter of the state's [50 year] needs…"