According to the National Geographic Video in this weeks Module, a drought occurs when “more water is used than is replenished, a balance between supply and demand.” Droughts can last up to years and people are a main reason why droughts have been occurring more often. The video also explains that droughts are a natural occurrence but this is changing with more research into climate change. A New York Times article from the beginning of April explains how scientists say the drought in California is being worsened by global warming.

Unlike how the video explains that droughts are from water being used and not replaced at the same rate, this article argues that California’s drought is a result of not enough rain AND too much heat. Because of the feedback that exists when temperatures are warmer than normal, evaporation comes with that drying out rivers and the soil. The drought in California is the worst in 120 years with some studies suggesting it is the worst in more than a thousand years. Deke Arndt, the chief of the climate monitoring branch of the National Climatic Data Center explains that “unless something dramatic happens very soon, we’re realistically looking to next fall as the next opportunity for putting a big dent in the drought.”

Thinking about the drought from a policy standpoint, there is much that could be done to conserve water in California. Restrictions on when water can be used for recreational use and restricting how much water farmers can use for agriculture are ways to mitigate the water crisis. If nothing is done, the people of California will be forced to reduce their consumption because there will be no natural water left it will all have to be brought in and will be an expensive highly demanded product.

Reference: Fountain, Henry. “California Drought is Worsened by Global Warming, Scientists Say.” New York Times. 1 April 2015. Web. Retrieved: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/02/science/california-drought-is-worsened-by-global-warming-scientists-say.html