Rising Temperatures Intensify Drought in Colorado Despite Rainfall

A new study by UCLA and NOAA reveals that rising temperatures are exacerbating drought conditions in the western United States, including Colorado, even during years of normal precipitation. The research shows that from 2020 to 2022, evaporation accounted for over half of drought severity, illustrating how climate change is altering traditional metrics used to assess drought and urging a reevaluation of water management strategies.

A recent study conducted by scientists from UCLA and NOAA reveals a concerning new trend regarding drought in the western United States, where extreme heat contributes to drought conditions even during years with substantial rainfall. From 2020 to 2022, a significant drought in Colorado confirmed that elevated temperatures are evaporating more water from the landscape than the lack of precipitation itself. As summer temperatures continue to rise, the region will increasingly suffer from drought, irrespective of any precipitation levels. Joel Lisonbee, a regional drought information coordinator at NOAA, noted, “It is becoming the reality of the world that we’re living in.” The researchers emphasize that, to sustain healthy ecosystems, adequate moisture levels are essential, reliant on both precipitation and the demand exerted by evaporation. Elevated temperatures permit the atmosphere to absorb more moisture, worsening drought conditions. Rong Fu, a UCLA atmospheric sciences professor, elaborated on this phenomenon: “Even if precipitation looks normal, we can still have drought because moisture demand has increased so much.” The study indicates that from 2000 to 2022, a historic megadrought emerged, with evaporation contributing 61 percent to drought severity compared to only 39 percent from reduced precipitation. The analysis indicates that the typical causes of drought have shifted dramatically, highlighting a worrying trend for arid regions. Since the dawn of the 21st century, areas considered traditionally vulnerable to drought due to evaporation have increased significantly, suggesting that the nature of drought is evolving drastically in response to climate change. Lisonbee posits that the definition of drought may need reevaluation to reflect these changes, posing a philosophical question about how best to capture the realities of modern dryness.

The recent findings regarding droughts in the western United States are primarily situated in the context of ongoing climate change. Historical patterns have indicated that periods of drought are often attributed mainly to insufficient precipitation. However, the evidence now suggests a shift in this dynamic, where hotter atmospheric conditions lead to heightened evaporation rates, consequently exacerbating droughts not solely due to a lack of rainfall. This necessitates a reevaluation of the traditional metrics used to define drought, as the standards established in the past may no longer apply appropriately in today’s climate-affected conditions. The analysis by UCLA and NOAA has broader implications for water management and environmental preservation in an era where climate change introduces new challenges. The increased evaporative demand requires updated strategies for water conservation and resource management in drought-prone regions, which need to be proactively addressed in light of the accelerating impacts of global warming.

In summary, the study conducted by UCLA and NOAA outlines a pivotal change in how droughts in the western United States are emerging, primarily driven by heightened temperatures and the subsequent increase in evaporation. As Joel Lisonbee succinctly remarked, this represents a profound shift in our lived reality regarding climatic conditions. The findings call for urgent reassessment of drought definitions and water management strategies to effectively respond to the ongoing and expanding threats posed by climate change.

Original Source: coloradosun.com