Feedback Loop Between Extreme Weather and Fossil Fuels Makes the Case for Clean Energy

As clean energy continues to grow storms continue to highlight the dangers of oil and gas. Fossil fuels and storms are locked in a perilous relationship that sees each contribute to the destructive force of the other. Extreme weather events have repeatedly ravaged Texas oil infrastructure.

Storms wreak havoc with both the economy and the environment. Preliminary estimates put the economic cost of Hurricane Harvey at $190 billion, making it the costliest natural disaster in US history. There are also costs in the fossil fuel sector associated with Hurricane Harvey passing right through the hub of the US petroleum and natural gas industries in southeast Texas.

Mother Nature Strikes Back: A Review of Extreme Weather in 2016

Extreme weather is a deadly corollary of climate change. A UN study found that between 1995 and 2015, 600,000 people died from natural disasters. Global warming is known to exacerbate the intensity of extreme weather events. We are already seeing clear evidence of climate change playing a role in a growing number of natural disasters. Thanks to advances in attribution science we can now see the role that climate change plays in driving a succession of increasingly severe extreme weather events.

The Eye of the Storm: Hurricane Matthew, Attribution Science and Climate Change (Video)

It is widely accepted that warmer seas contribute to hurricanes but there are also a number of other factors that contribute to extreme weather events. Here is a review of the evidence linking climate change and Hurricane Matthew.

Matthew has already wreaked havoc in Cuba and the Bahamas and it has killed almost one thousand people in Haiti. Four Americans are known to have died due to the storm. There are currently states of emergency in effect in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.

Although Matthew has been downgraded from a level 5 to a level 1 hurricane it still packs a punch.  It looks as though central Florida was spared the worst, but cities along the East Coast are bracing for the storm.

Video - Drought in California: No Rain in San Francisco

Drought is making life difficult in areas all over the world and one of the worst hit areas is California. As a sign California's persistent drought, downtown San Francisco recorded no measurable rain in January 2015, this is the first time this has happened in at least 165 years. The National Weather Service also said Santa Cruz recorded no rain in January for the first time since 1893. Normal rainfall for that city in January is more than 6 inches. For the Bay Area as a whole, last month was the driest January on record, the weather service said.

Climate Change Increases the Risk of Megadroughts

If we do not take the appropriate actions to stave off climate change the number of megadroughts will significantly increase.

New research has quantified the risks from climate change and provided insights into the prospects of megadroughts in the US and around the world. The  study is titled, "Assessing the risk of persistent drought using climate model simulations and paleoclimate data."

Climate Change Induced Drought Threatens Brazil's Carnival

Climate change induced drought is forcing Brazil to scale back its iconic Carnival celebrations. The worst drought in over 80 years is killing crops and depriving millions of Brazilians of drinking water. The current drought began in 2005, and with no end in site it is being called a megadrought. This type of chronic water shortage has been shown to have played a pivotal role in the demise of at least 5 civilizations.

Infographic - Civilizations that have Succumbed to Megadrought

Drought in California and Heat in Alaska

The beginning of this year recorded unprecedented drought and heat in the US. Record setting droughts have been ravaging California while Alaska is setting its own records for anomalous warm temperatures.

California has been experiencing a persistent drought. The Bay Area recorded its driest January on record. In the month of January the city of San Francisco recorded no measurable rain for the first time in 165 years.

Other cities in California have also suffered from an absence of rain in January. This includes the city of Santa Cruz which recorded no rain during the month for the first time since 1893 (normal rainfall for that city in January is more than 6 inches). Even in northern California the month of January was unusually dry and warm.

Infographic - US Megadroughts this Century

Charts and Graphs - US Drought Severity

The Drought in California is a Global Warning

While many places in the U.S. suffer from drought, no state is suffering more than California. For three years, the nation's most populace state has been enduring one of the worst droughts since record-keeping started in 1885.

The long stretch of subnormal precipitation dates back to 2011. In 2012, the drought had already reached historic proportions throughout the U.S. In 2013, California experienced the driest year on record. As of the start of 2014, nearly two thirds of the American West was suffering and most of California was in a state of extreme drought.

The period from December to March is supposed to be the region’s wet season, but with the exception of some rain and snow in northern and central California early in February, there was virtually no precipitation this year. Since the start of the year, the situation has grown progressively worse. As of April, drought plagued the entire state and in May the situation deteriorated further still. Midway through 2014, the state is well on its way to recording the driest year in about a century.

Republicans Object to Federal Drought Aid and Refuse to Help Fight Wildfires

Droughts and related wildfires are two serious problems in the US, particularly in California. President Obama and the Democrats have been working to provide much needed federal aid to for these climate related disasters. Despite Republican objections, in May Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) succeeded in securing the support she needed to pass the California Emergency Drought Relief Act of 2014. However, in August, Republicans stonewalled legislation that would have provided financial support to assist California in its effort to fight wildfires.

Fracking Operations Shut Down to Protect Drinking Water in California

California has forced the emergency shut-down of 11 oil and gas waste injection sites and a review of more than 100 others due to concerns that these companies may be poisoning aquifers. Cease and desist orders were issued on July 7th to oil and gas companies in drought wracked Central Valley.

California has been criticized for its oversight of its underground water resources. Many aquifers have already been contaminated by drilling operations in the state.

Some of these aquifers are protected but others are not. According to the government of California at least seven injection wells are likely pumping waste into fresh water aquifers protected by the law.

Drought Impacts California's Wine and Beer Industries

The drought in California is making it much harder for the state's wine and beer industries. Drought increases the costs for a wide range of businesses in California as well as in other water deprived regions of the world. Less water often translates to shortages and ultimately higher commodity prices. Some of the commodities impacted by drought include vegetable produce, meat, dairy, wine and beer.

California is the most widely regarded wine growing region in the US, however, the combination of global warming and drought could cut wine production in half within 30 years. It may also diminish the quality of the vineyards that remain. A good wine is determined in large part by the climate in which the grapes grow. As these grapes are forced to grow in warmer temperatures with less water it will impact the quality of the wines produced from them.

Video - Drought Causes Farmers to use Candy as Feedstock

Climate change decreases agricultural yields through drought, extreme weather and insect infestations. Commodities like corn are staples of animal feed and they are being threatened by climate-related drought and flooding, and the corn earworm. As the cost of corn and other feedstock increases, farmers are looking for cheaper ways of feeding their livestock. One Kentucky farmer has started feeding his animals candy rejected for human consumption, an ethanol byproduct and a mineral nutrient. As a consequence of this bizarre feedstock, these animals are more prone to developing E. coli.

Video - River obstruction and Drought

Less water due to drought makes some rivers impassible to boat traffic including billions of dollars worth of cargo. This point was illustrated by the Mississippi River this summer which recorded all time low water levels. Water levels near Memphis were 12 feet lower than normal, forcing the closure of an 11 mile stretch of the river.

Video - Suicide and Drought

While studies have documented the value of green spaces to psychological health, research reveals that climate change may pose serious risks to mental health. The 2012 Drought in Gujarat India caused around a dozen farmers to commit suicide in Saurashtra region alone. The connection between drought and suicide was evinced in a recent study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Researchers found that in rural Australia there was a 15 percent increase in suicides in men ages 30 to 49.

Video - California Drought Folson Lake

Folson Lake, northeast of Sacramento California, has lost 80 percent of its water in 2.5 years.Low water levels associated with drought make it difficult or impossible for hydroelectric facilities to generate power. This summer, California’s hydroelectric power plants have been producing far less electricity due to the ongoing severe drought.

Graphics: The Drought in California

Source: Think Progress

Graphics - East Coast Flooding: Miami and New York City