Sierra Nevada Snowpack Shrinks
Sierra Nevada Snowpack Shrinks to Lowest Level in 500 Years.
By: Elizabeth Newbern
California has been experiencing a long drought; it appears that due to the warming temperatures, even water reservoirs such as the snowpack on the Sierra Nevada. Researchers gathered data that suggests how drastically the environment is changing in a short period of time. Valerie Trouet is a dendrochronologist; a person that studies the rings of trees which often indicates the annual growth. Trouet and some of her colleagues decided to have a study on the dwindling water resource in Sierra Nevada. The researchers concluded that if the drought persists, it will eventually create a disarray throughout he ecosystem. The snowpack is a key part of the environment because it replenishes the lakes, streams, and groundwater, however due to rising temperatures, the reserved water will no longer available, which adds on to the water shortages in California. Tree rings can also provide the amount of precipitation the tree got throughout the year, and studies suggest that there is more rain than snow fall which contradicts the history of how the trees get their water. Trouet states, " The problem there is that you can't store the water later in the season so that it melts and sustains the water supply throughout the summer." The researchers agree that the drought will continue to alter the ecosystems that rely on Sierra Nevada for survival.
It is unnerving to think that so much of the ecosystem can rely on the snowpack that happens to replenish the reservoirs throughout the year. It's frightening that global warming can have drastic consequences to the environment, and that humans play a big role in doing so. Living in California, it's hard to realize that water is a scarce for it seems to be easily accessible. Knowing something is occurring and realizing that it is happening are two completely different things, I think people don't feel the effects of the limited resource of water just yet. There aren't a lot of options when it comes to reversing this event, specially because it as been happening for years. Furthermore it seems that people cannot grasp the concept of limited resources; people will continue to pollute the environment, and cut off trees because they cannot live without the benefits of those very pollutants. The only way to stop this immediately is if people are willing to make drastic changes on their lifestyle, however they reuse to give it up, despite the impending future that they may face because of it. I believe if people would lessen their waste product even for a little while, there might be a chance to reverse the loss of snowpack; however this action is too drastic for people to accept, hence the drought will persist and California will continue to dry up.
By: Elizabeth Newbern
California has been experiencing a long drought; it appears that due to the warming temperatures, even water reservoirs such as the snowpack on the Sierra Nevada. Researchers gathered data that suggests how drastically the environment is changing in a short period of time. Valerie Trouet is a dendrochronologist; a person that studies the rings of trees which often indicates the annual growth. Trouet and some of her colleagues decided to have a study on the dwindling water resource in Sierra Nevada. The researchers concluded that if the drought persists, it will eventually create a disarray throughout he ecosystem. The snowpack is a key part of the environment because it replenishes the lakes, streams, and groundwater, however due to rising temperatures, the reserved water will no longer available, which adds on to the water shortages in California. Tree rings can also provide the amount of precipitation the tree got throughout the year, and studies suggest that there is more rain than snow fall which contradicts the history of how the trees get their water. Trouet states, " The problem there is that you can't store the water later in the season so that it melts and sustains the water supply throughout the summer." The researchers agree that the drought will continue to alter the ecosystems that rely on Sierra Nevada for survival.
It is unnerving to think that so much of the ecosystem can rely on the snowpack that happens to replenish the reservoirs throughout the year. It's frightening that global warming can have drastic consequences to the environment, and that humans play a big role in doing so. Living in California, it's hard to realize that water is a scarce for it seems to be easily accessible. Knowing something is occurring and realizing that it is happening are two completely different things, I think people don't feel the effects of the limited resource of water just yet. There aren't a lot of options when it comes to reversing this event, specially because it as been happening for years. Furthermore it seems that people cannot grasp the concept of limited resources; people will continue to pollute the environment, and cut off trees because they cannot live without the benefits of those very pollutants. The only way to stop this immediately is if people are willing to make drastic changes on their lifestyle, however they reuse to give it up, despite the impending future that they may face because of it. I believe if people would lessen their waste product even for a little while, there might be a chance to reverse the loss of snowpack; however this action is too drastic for people to accept, hence the drought will persist and California will continue to dry up.