![]() ![]() A meteorological drought may be short lived without causing disturbance but when longer lasting may enter other categories according to its impacts. There are five major categories of drought: (1) Meteorological, (2) Agricultural, (3) Hydrological, (4) Socioeconomic, and (5) Ecological. California is not only the most populous state and largest agricultural producer in the United States, it is also the most biodiverse as such, drought in California can have a far reaching economic and environmental impacts. ![]() Since the California water supply is attained from numerous sources, fulfilled by varied and intricate weather patterns, there is no one cause of drought. Drought is generally defined as “a deficiency of precipitation over an extended period of time (usually a season or more), resulting in a water shortage.” A lack of rainfall (or snowfall) or precipitation in meager quantities, higher than average temperatures and dry air masses in the atmosphere commonly underlie drought conditions these natural factors are further complicated by increases in populations and water demands. The historical and ongoing droughts in California result from various complex meteorological phenomena, some of which are not fully understood by scientists. Resilient ridges in the winter can cause periods of drought and heat, and even during wet years, high pressure will return periodically - especially in Southern California - ushering in welcome periods of sunshine.Percent area in U.S. During these times, the only sources of moisture that can reach Southern California come from occasional monsoonal storms to the southwest.īut then comes winter, and this ridge generally begins to break down, allowing storms to move on a more southerly track and soak the Golden State with some much-needed rain and snow. In California, high pressure during the summer steers storms well clear of the state. Persistent high pressure shapes many of the world’s subtropical deserts. These systems cause winds to blow outward from them toward areas with lower pressure. High pressure systems, also known as anticyclones, are areas in the atmosphere where the pressure is greater than its surrounding regions. The summer months in the state are marked by the presence of an incredibly durable ridge of high pressure to the immediate west of California. These sorts of storms basically always occur during late autumn, winter and spring because of California’s mediterranean climate. In some years, these bands of moisture provide us with up to half of all the precipitation we’ll get in a wet season. When they come into contact with a landmass, atmospheric rivers will often release their vapor, resulting in rainfall and snowfall at higher elevations.Ĭalifornia owes much of its rain and snow to atmospheric rivers which barrel toward the state throughout the colder months, generally from November to April. These bands occur globally and are responsible for moving much of the water vapor that flows outside of the tropics, especially on the west coast of the U.S. Atmospheric rivers are long, narrow bands of condensed moisture in the atmosphere that transport water vapor - sometimes a lot of water vapor - from one place to another. Last week’s storm was a moderate but slow-moving atmospheric river. Such a downpour was a welcome contrast from a very dry November, wherein storms often bypassed the Golden State. ![]()
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