[freebeard]

science.slashdot.org: Study Finds Western Megadrought is the Worst in 1,200 Years (npr.org)
Posted by msmash on Monday February 14, 2022 @01:45PM from the closer-look dept

The Western U.S. and Northern Mexico are experiencing their driest period in at least 1,200 years, according to the new study published in the journal Nature Climate Change. The last comparable -- though not as severe -- multi-decade megadrought occurred in the 1500s, when the West was still largely inhabited by American Indian tribes. [snip] They sampled data collected from live trees, dead trees and wood beams preserved at Native American archeological sites. The tree rings gave Williams an insight into drought events dating back to the year 800 AD, around the same time Charlemagne was being crowned Emperor of Rome. He identified four other megadroughts in that time period, the most notable being a 23-year drought that ended in the late 1500's. There were hopes during a wet 2019 that the current megadrought was following a similar pattern, Williams said. "And then from summer 2020 through all of 2021, it was just exceptionally dry across the West...indicating that this drought is nowhere near done."

Is it time for the domed-over cities yet?