We're introducing a new podcast series that focuses on quick and timely reporting on important climate news and information. We will emphasize stories that relate to the southwest, but we'll also include other climate related news that illustrate the impact of climate on national or global scales. And Mike, Zack, and Ben will still take a deeper look at southwestern climate issues in the monthly CLIMAS Southwest Climate Podcast. This episode, we're focused on record warm temperatures, drought, and snowpack across the west, along with a few stories that illustrate the downstream impact of these conditions.
This podcast is also available as a video podcast
See our blog post detailing the information from the podcast: http://www.climas.arizona.edu/blog/mini-podcastnews-southwest-climate-update-may-1-2015
Image & Story Credits - Podcast & Blog Post
2014 and 2015 Record Temperatures
- National Climate Data Center (NCDC) - State of the Climate - Overview
- 2014 Warmest Year on Record
- Figure: Decadal Averages - Annual & Decadal Global Mean Temperatures - Source: NCDC/NESDIS/NOAA
- Figure: Statewide Average Temperature Ranks - Jan - Dec 2014 - Source: NCDC
- Figure: Statewide Average Temperature Ranks - Jan - Mar 2015 - Source: NCDC
- Figure: Westwide SNOTEL Current Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) % of Normal - Source: NRCS
State of the Drought
- Drought is leading AZ to think about Water Planning
- Figure: U.S. Drought Monitor Weekly Update - April 21, 2015 - Source: USDM
- Figure: Northern Sierra Precip - 8-Station Index - Source: CA Dept of Water Resources
- Figure: Central Arizona Project Systems Map - Source: CAP
- Figure: Agricultural Use by Crop - Source: Mother Jones
- Figure: Central Arizona Project Sytems Map - Source: CAP
- Figure: Lake Mead Elevation - Source: CLIMAS (using Bureau of Reclamation Data)
- Figure: Tier 1 Shortage - Source: April 10, 2015 UA Water Forum
- Figure: Tucson Water Use - Source: Tucson Water
Bark Beetles, Tree Stress, and Climate Change
- Bark Beetles Are Decimating Our Forests. That Might Actually Be a Good Thing. (Mother Jones)
- Figure: Rocky Mountain Region Bark Beetle - Source: U.S. Forest Service
- Figure: Arizona & New Mexico Bark Beetle Mortality - Source: U.S. Forest Service
- Figure: Percentage of Trees Seen With Damage - Source: U.S. Forest Service & Karen Minot (Mother Jones)
Record Low Snowpack Across the West
- Record low snowpack and drought - California water restrictions (Weather.com)
- Figure: Snow Water Equivalent - Source: NRCS
- Figure: California Snowpack - Source: California Department of Water Resources
- FIgure: California Water Restrictions Press Conference - Source: Weather.com
Snowpack, Drought, & Energy
- Information & Figures: California drought leads to less hydropower, increased natural gas generation - U.S. Energy Information Administration
Climate Change, Temperature & Precipitation Records, and Pollen
- Information & Figures: Warm temperatures and a wet fall resulted in a very heavy pollen season this year. Source: http://www.earthgauge.net/2015/climate-change-pollen-and-allergy-season