NASA images show devastating effects of California's drought

[turbinetree]

CBS News
Sophie Lewis
Fri, July 16, 2021, 10:23 AM·3 min read

New images taken by NASA satellites highlight the devastating effects of the persistent drought plaguing California, as the state faces dry conditions not seen since the late 1970s.

Several images, taken by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer on the space agency's Terra satellite, show the progression of melting snow in the Sierra Nevada, a key source of water. After a below-average snowfall season, the snow melted away completely nearly a month ahead of schedule.

The unusual melt has left reservoirs without their usual inflow of freshwater needed to sustain the state during the dry months of summer and autumn.

https://news.yahoo.com/nasa-images-show-devastating-effects-142324048.html

[CrispyQ]

1. The images are pretty stark.

Hard not to believe we're on our way to full on FUBAR.

[hlthe2b]

2. We are all choking on it. Some days worse than others, but even a spectacular red sunrise

underscores what is happening throughout the West (created by the haze of not so distant fires)



If anything makes me not so unhappy to be getting older, it is that. Not that I don't feel the need to act for the young. I do feel motivated to do so. But it is depressing as hell.

[Amishman]

3. Have to wonder if CA's agriculture is viable long term

Groundwater won't last forever, and desalinization might make sense for human use, but likely will not be economical for the scale of water needed for agriculture.

[Tree Lady]

5. As much as I love almonds and almond milk

I would give it up if CA stopped growing them. They take more water than any crop in CA.

[Lancero]

7. Actually, that label goes to alfafa.

https://pacinst.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/CA-Ag-Water-Use-1.pdf

Certain economic interests love pushing the idea that almonds are horrific for the environment since it gets people to overlook just what they're doing. The economic interest, in this case, being the cattle industry.

https://www.businessinsider.com/real-villain-in-the-california-drought-isnt-almonds--its-red-meat-2015-4

Still, with droughts having become common place we really should reconsider just what crops we grow for export.

[Tree Lady]

8. Many many years ago probably at least

30 yrs I started eating red meat rarely, I haven't completely stopped but its hardly at all and since its so rare we buy grass fed. I could completely give it up if I had to.

They have done such a good job of hooking Americans to red meat with added sodium and sugar products it would take non partisan everyone agreeing to slow down meat use.

[Tree Lady]

4. I drove down hwy 5 end of April past mt Shasta

And only a few patches of snow left on top, that time of year it's usually filled before the heat starts. I was worried then.