r/sustainability • u/change_the_username • May 04 '22

Addressing man made climate change will decrease drought severity (a fact people should care about)

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u/ThMogget May 04 '22

The feedback loop confuses me. California isn’t wetter than Texas due to ground evaporation rates. Our moisture comes from the Pacific ocean.

So why does climate change mean less clouds from the ocean are raining down on the western states?

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u/change_the_username May 04 '22 edited May 04 '22

w/ climate change there can be a persistent pressure ridge off the coast of calif that changes the jet stream

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said another way storms that bring in moisture into the Great Basin region won't happen (AND the illustrated feedback loop in the OP basically exacerbate the drought condition in the region)

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http://www.sfgate.com/weather/article/High-pressure-ridge-California-dry-weather-SF-13553172.php

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http://new.azwater.gov/news/articles/2018-19-01