Climate Drought
All Stories
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What’s driving the catastrophic wildfires in Georgia
Drought conditions have been worsening for months in the Southeast. Now tens of thousands of acres are burning, displacing people and destroying dozens of homes.
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This simple metal tube helps scientists predict drought before it happens
We’re in a perilous moment for water. But the Church Sampler is one of the many devices scientists can use help us make better decisions.
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![Cattle belonging to rancher Mike Wintz stand in a pasture 20 miles north of Ashby where they were relocated to after the Morrill Fire burned much of the rangeland where Wintz’s cattle previously grazed.]()
![Cattle belonging to rancher Mike Wintz stand in a pasture 20 miles north of Ashby where they were relocated to after the Morrill Fire burned much of the rangeland where Wintz’s cattle previously grazed.]()
In Nebraska, wildfires are turning cattle ranching into a tricky business
Nearly a million acres in the state have burned this year. One expert calls it ‘a new kind of wildfire era.’
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![A man stands looking at his phone next to the open door of a truck, with a power plant spewing smoke in the background]()
![A man stands looking at his phone next to the open door of a truck, with a power plant spewing smoke in the background]()
In Texas, Corpus Christi’s water crisis may be a glimpse into the future
A 5-year drought, a failed desalination plant, and poor planning may force the city to choose between residents and the oil and gas industry.
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![A tractor rolls over an agricultural field]()
![A tractor rolls over an agricultural field]()
Fiber optic cables reveal a serious problem at the heart of modern farming
Tilling helps farmers control weeds and boost soil fertility. But that also degrades a field's ability to hold water and carbon.
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Why thinning a forest could get you more drinking water
Scientists have shown how actively managing forests to prevent wildfires can also boost the snowpack, a critical source of hydration in the American west.
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![Construction of the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company "megafab" plant in Phoenix. The Taiwanese company is investing $165 billion in multiple plants in the region.]()
![Construction of the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company "megafab" plant in Phoenix. The Taiwanese company is investing $165 billion in multiple plants in the region.]()
Arizona’s water is drying up. That’s not stopping the data center rush.
Though tech companies are secretive about their water usage, Arizona’s 150-plus data centers and chip factories use a tiny fraction of the state’s supply.
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![Image of the colorado river with a cutout of the Colorado River upside down and superimposed over it]()
![Image of the colorado river with a cutout of the Colorado River upside down and superimposed over it]()
The Colorado River is nearing collapse. It’s Trump’s problem now.
The Interior Department must force seven bickering states to agree on drastic water cuts — after the driest winter in decades.
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![Snow guns blow snow over skiers at Sugarloaf Mountain.]()
![Snow guns blow snow over skiers at Sugarloaf Mountain.]()
Ski resorts are increasingly reliant on snowmaking. But at what cost?
As the climate changes, mountains and nordic facilities have begun relying more on energy and water-intensive machine-made snow.
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![Low angle of an irrigation canal with farm equipment on either side, and drought-ridden land]()
![Low angle of an irrigation canal with farm equipment on either side, and drought-ridden land]()
Did the USDA just forget about $400M in drought aid for farmers?
More than a year later, not a dollar has been spent — and no one knows what happened to the money.
