Rapid intensification of the emerging southwestern North American megadrought in 2020–2021

A. Park Williams (), Benjamin I. Cook and Jason E. Smerdon
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A. Park Williams: University of California, Los Angeles
Benjamin I. Cook: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University
Jason E. Smerdon: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University

Nature Climate Change, 2022, vol. 12, issue 3, 232-234

Abstract: Abstract A previous reconstruction back to 800 ce indicated that the 2000–2018 soil moisture deficit in southwestern North America was exceeded during one megadrought in the late-1500s. Here, we show that after exceptional drought severity in 2021, ~19% of which is attributable to anthropogenic climate trends, 2000–2021 was the driest 22-yr period since at least 800. This drought will very likely persist through 2022, matching the duration of the late-1500s megadrought.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41558-022-01290-z

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