Megadrought in the American south-west: a climate disaster unseen in 1,200 years
Megadrought in the American south-west: a climate disaster unseen in 1,200 years

Megadrought in the American south-west: a climate disaster unseen in 1,200 years

As heat, fires and water wars become the norm, we explore the fallout of prolonged drought

When the Nasa climatologist James Hansen testified before Congress in June 1988 about a warming planet, the temperature in Washington DC hit a record 100F. It was a summer of unprecedented heatwaves, and 40 states were grappling with drought.

His warning was seen as a historic wake-up call – but instead of heeding the existential smoke alarm, the US removed the batteries and kept on cooking.

Nearly four decades later, the consequences of a sweltering Earth are hitting home in the US south-west and mountain west – comprising states from California to Colorado. Over the past two decades, extreme heat and dwindling moisture levels have converged to create a “megadrought” deemed the driest period in 1,200 years.

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