The difference between a Drought and Reduced Snowpack
The following anonymous comment appeared at my previous post:
Very well put.
By the PDN's own rainfall statistics, this area has had ABOVE normal precipitation for the past 5 to 6 months. Even aside from the statistics, this area has had landslides and minor flooding that are not indications of a "drought."
As the commenter stated, the abnormally high temperatures have caused most of the precipitation to fall as rain instead of snow. We're probably facing water shortages this summer because of the vastly reduced snowpack; but a "drought" has nothing to do with it.
There's a crystal clear difference between a "drought" and the unusually high winter temperatures that have caused our above-normal precipitation to fall as rain instead of snow. Is the PDN really this clueless about this clear distinction, or are they just trying to dodge the climate change issue while pretending to confront it?
"In today's PDN, we see another poll.
Demonstrating how poorly they understand the issues, the poll asks something like "Do you believe the current drought in the Olympics is caused by climate change".
There is no "drought in the Olympics". The area has received the normal amount of precipitation, and in fact, in some places, above average. Yes, it has been raining, as any of us who have been paying attention for the last few months will remember.
The problem is that it has been abnormally WARM, and the precipitation has been falling as rain, instead of snow. The problem is that there is no stored water in the form of snow for later in the year, when THEN it is anticipated there will be drought conditions in the area.
Anyways, what do you think the results of that poll will be?"
Very well put.
By the PDN's own rainfall statistics, this area has had ABOVE normal precipitation for the past 5 to 6 months. Even aside from the statistics, this area has had landslides and minor flooding that are not indications of a "drought."
As the commenter stated, the abnormally high temperatures have caused most of the precipitation to fall as rain instead of snow. We're probably facing water shortages this summer because of the vastly reduced snowpack; but a "drought" has nothing to do with it.
There's a crystal clear difference between a "drought" and the unusually high winter temperatures that have caused our above-normal precipitation to fall as rain instead of snow. Is the PDN really this clueless about this clear distinction, or are they just trying to dodge the climate change issue while pretending to confront it?
posted by Tom Harper at 3:47 PM
14 Comments:
Excellent points, both by the anonymous commenter and the blog guy. We need to make these distinctions, and make sure the science behind this is not blurred (read "denied") --
Thanks, Tom, for another timely post.
You can't take the data from one year and call it science. You won't have a real water problem until you over populate this area with more monkeys moving here. And that will happen because the leaders don't have enough brains to put a moratorium on growth.
INVITE MORE WEALTHY PEOPLE HERE...
Yes. Thanks Tom.
Pretty hard to address problems facing our community, if one of the primary sources of area specific information is so clueless. With serious issues skewed so badly, as this example demonstrates, no wonder the powers-that-be twirl around in circles, accomplishing next to nothing year after year.
Billy sez: "You won't have a real water problem until you over populate this area with more monkeys moving here."
Well, I'm not so sure. If the weather turns warm like it did last year and things dry out, without the snow pack to keep the rivers full through the summer and into the Fall, where is the water going to come from?
Like that article in the Port O Call said, Port Angeles doesn't have any reservoirs. Once the water from the rains runs out to the Strait, without a snow pack, we got no water.
And, look at California. They are going into their fourth year of extreme drought. The data for the changes spans many years now. It isn't just one year, as Billy suggests.
Things are changing in very extreme ways. The Pacific Ocean, off our coast, is abnormally warm, too.
I think we better start paying attention.
In other parts of the world, countries are taking climate change very seriously. On the Olympic Peninsula, as with much of North America, making money in the short term is way more important.
Despite politicians saying they are concerned, America's number one product is oil. Fossil fuels continue to dominate America's economy. By contrast, 50 countries around the world produce 90% or better of their electricity without fossil fuels.
So, California goes into it's 4 th year of extreme drought, and Clallam faces water shortages, but the oil companies keep fracking away.
So, Tom, what were the final results of that PDN poll?
Anon. 8:57 a.m.: The poll question was so pointless (deliberately) that I didn't bother following it or clicking on any of the answers. Tomorrow's PDN should have the final poll results.
Thanks, Tom. Like you, I didn't click on it, either.
Will be interesting to see, anyways.
We DO need to do things differently, both locally, regionally and beyond. Locally, we can make a difference. We have to support our local producers of things we need, instead of supporting "globalization", all the stuff shipped in from who knows where.
By supporting our local producers, we have real "economic development". The more we support the local folks, more folks will see they can make a living doing what they love to do, too.
It isn't that hard.
The radio had an interview this morning with a geology professor, talking about the impacts of the warm weather we have been having for the last number of months. Their conversation was about the lack of a protecting blanket of new snow on the area's remaining glaciers, and how that was going to result in both the accelerated melting of the glaciers, and changes in the water temperatures in streams, creeks and rivers.
Without the chilling effects of the snow melt, these streams, creeks and rivers will be warmer than normal, and that will affect the fish that live in them. Like salmon.
http://www.king5.com/story/tech/science/environment/2015/03/13/washington-drought-emergency-declared/70276974/
“Looking out at the Olympics each day, it is amazing just how low the snow pack is this year. While we enjoy the warm weather and an earlier start to the hiking season, it could spell trouble to some of our salmon and steelhead populations on Peninsula rivers.
When we have low stream flows, the water is likely going to get warmer, holding less oxygen. Low flows also can mean less rearing space, meaning fewer smolts. Additionally, some of the food sources for juvenile salmon may dwindle as a result of the higher temperatures.
To give an idea on just how big of an impact these things are on our fish, you can look back to 2001 in the Columbia River. Many juvenile salmon were stranded by low flow and never made it out to the ocean. As a result, anglers didn’t have a chance to fish for spring Chinook in 2005, and for a few years after."
http://outdoor-society.com/the-lack-of-snow-in-the-olympic-mountains-could-be-terrible-news-for-salmon/
Geez. According to the Dept of Ecology:
"The winter of ’04-’05 was one of the warmest, driest winters on record for Washington State. By early March the mountain snow pack was just 26% of normal. Many rivers and creeks across the state flowed at or near record-low levels."
Looks like we're setting new records, again. We set records for warmest Dec and Jan here, and now have only 4% of normal snow pack.
Will be interesting to see how this evolves as the year progresses.
Please. There is no low snowfall. It's all just made up by scientists who are looking for grant money.
@ Anon 3:18 Yeah, I was up snowboarding in Olympics just yesterday. Of course, I had to hike in, because there was so much snow, snow level was so low, and the roads were all blocked. Had to shovel my driveway first, just to get out.
The early flowers everywhere are pretty, though.
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