The Great Droughts of Y1K

Abstract or Long Description:
Less than a thousand years ago, two severe droughts, ending about AD 1100 and AD 1350, caused major ecological changes in the west. We can still see evidence of that time in, for instance, the tips of trees showing in Yosemite's Tenaya Lake — their roots still attached under 70 feet of water. Can such droughts return?

Drier times undoubtedly lie ahead.These may be anthropogenically induced, as we turn our atmosphere into an artifact. But with or without human inducement, episodic droughts, severe and persistent, will return, just as they have in the past. Such drought will take a severe toll on our infrastructures and institutions.

Resource URL:
http://yosemite.org/naturenotes/paleodrought1.htm

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Bibliographical Authors:

Stine, Scott

Contributing Organizations:

Purpose:

Keywords:
drought, paleodrought, medieval droughts, drought history, rooted stumps, regional droughts, global warming

Species Common Names:
Jeffrey Pine, Cedar

Species Latin Names:
Jeffrey Pine (Pinus jeffreyi), Cedar (Calocedrus decurrens)

Citation:
Stine, Scott. "The Great Droughts of Y1K." Sierra Nature Notes, Volume 1, May 2001

Publisher:

Yosemite Association - Sierra Nature Notes

Publication Date:
April 30, 2001 10:00 PM

Currentness:
Publication

Progress:
Complete

Update Frequency:
None planned

Information Resource Type:
Websites

Information Resource Specific Type:
Articles

Media Type:
Web Page / Link

Access Limitations:
Public

Use Limitations:
No Restrictions

To Obtain:

Common Place Names:
Mono Lake, Tenaya Lake, Owens Lake, West Walker River Canyon

Watersheds:
Mono, Owens

Counties:
Mono, Inyo

Cities and Urban Areas:

Resource and Special Districts:

Latitude:

Longitide:

GIS Location Polygon:

Merced River Watershed Portal

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