Study: Global Warming Responsible for Western Droughts

[hunter]

Here we go again...

Study: Global Warming Responsible for Western Droughts

By Marc Kaufman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, January 31, 2008; 2:00 PM

The persistent and dramatic decline in the snowpack of the mountains of the West is caused primarily by human-induced global warming and not the result of natural variability of weather patterns in the region, researchers reported today.

Using data collected over the past 50 years, the scientists confirmed that the mountains are getting more rain and less snow, that the snowpack is breaking up faster, and that more rivers are running dry by summer.

The study, published online today by the journal Science, looked at possible causes of the changes -- including natural variability in temperatures and precipitation, volcanic activity around the globe and climate change driven by the release of greenhouse gases. Their computer models showed that the explanation that best fit the data was clearly climate change.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/31/AR2008013101868.html?hpid=moreheadlines

...more bad news.

[kestrel91316]

1. Gosh. Who knew?