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Extreme Atmospheric Rivers: What will California’s Strongest Storms Look Like in a Warming Climate?

/in , , /by /WeatherWestby Daniel Swain

Atmospheric rivers (ARs)—long, sinuous corridors of water vapor in motion in the lower half of Earth’s atmosphere—are a key aspect of California’s cool-season climate. ARs are in many cases pretty unremarkable when they’re out over the open ocean, visible on satellite as a narrow ribbon of cloudiness and (usually) light precipitation. But when these moisture plumes attach themselves to wintertime low pressure systems and make landfall along the California coast, the consequences can be dramatic—prolonged heavy rain and mountain snow often result, along with sometimes powerful winds.

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As If the Pandemic Weren’t Enough, 2020 Might Be the Hottest Year Ever

/in , , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Sammy Roth

Welcome back to Boiling Point, a newsletter about climate change and the environment in California and the American West. If this is your first edition, we’re glad to have you.

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Utah Pipeline Likely Won’t Affect Lake Mead

/in , , /by /Boulder City Reviewby Celia Shortt Goodyear

A proposed pipeline in Utah could divert approximately 86,000 acre feet of water annually from Lake Mead, but it will most likely not harm the overall water level in the reservoir.

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Future Precipitation Increase from Very High Resolution Ensemble Downscaling of Extreme Atmospheric River Storms In California

/in , /by /Science Advancesby Xingying Huang, Daniel L. Swain, and Alex D. Hall

Precipitation extremes will likely intensify under climate change. However, much uncertainty surrounds intensification of high-magnitude events that are often inadequately resolved by global climate models. In this analysis, we develop a framework involving targeted dynamical downscaling of historical and future extreme precipitation events produced by a large ensemble of a global climate model.

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We Now Know How Many Billions of Gallons of Water Colorado Will Save by Closing Coal-Fired Power Plants

/in , /by /The Colorado Sunby Mark Jaffe

By 2031 water use for coal-fired power plants in Colorado will drop to 3.7 billion gallons – a 68% reduction, according to the Energy and Policy Institute.

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White House Loosens Environmental Law to Speed Up Infrastructure Projects

/in , , /by /Construction Diveby Kim Slowey

The White House’s Council on Environmental Quality today published its final rule to update the National Environmental Policy Act. The effective date is Sep. 14; however, it is subject to congressional review, which could delay or even prevent its implementation.

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Research: Non-Flushable Wipes are Flooding Source Water with Microplastics

/in , , /by /Water Onlineby Peter Chawaga

Though the public at large may continue to dispose of non-flushable wipes through their toilets, wastewater professionals are well aware of their propensity for clogging sewer systems and creating expensive issues. But even these professionals may not be aware of another water system problem that researchers are now tracing back to non-flushable wipes.

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Future Precipitation Increase from Very High Resolution Ensemble Downscaling of Extreme Atmospheric River Storms in California

/in , , /by /ScienceAdvances (AAAS)by Xingying Huang, Daniel L. Swain, and Alex D. Hall

Precipitation extremes will likely intensify under climate change. However, much uncertainty surrounds intensification of high-magnitude events that are often inadequately resolved by global climate models. In this analysis, we develop a framework involving targeted dynamical downscaling of historical and future extreme precipitation events produced by a large ensemble of a global climate model. This framework is applied to extreme “atmospheric river” storms in California.

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Imperial Irrigation District Seeks Salton Sea Consideration In Lawsuit Over Colorado River Water

/in , , /by /Desert Sun (Palm Springs)by Mark Olalde

The Imperial Irrigation District has filed its opening brief in a case against the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California that it launched last year in an attempt to halt the implementation of the Lower Basin Drought Contingency Plan for the Colorado River. IID wants to see it paused until the Salton Sea is also considered.

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Landmark Groundwater Act Enters a Crucial Period

/in , , /by /The Business Journalby Edward Smith

As Covid-19 and social unrest dominates news headlines, another problem beneath Central Valley residents’ feet is coming to surface. This was the first year plans had to be submitted for many irrigation districts through the state of California as part of 2014’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.

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