Texas Drought Term Paper - Phys Geography
Explaining the 2011 Record Drought in Texas
By Marco Gamez
Physical Geography
1. Worst Drought According to the National Weather Service, in 2011 Texas endured the single worst drought in it 's history. During the drought, which began in October 2010, wildfires burned thousands of square miles and may have killed as much as half a billion trees (Tam 1). The weather was hot and dry with very little rain throughout the year. August 2010 through July 2011 saw the brunt of the worst drought with abnormally low rainfall. Many ranchers had to cull their cattle and many farmers suffered record low yields in crops. The rains were so few that rivers dried, lake levels dropped by incredible degrees, and the economy of Texas took a huge hit to the tune of billions of dollars.
2. Causes So what caused such a drought in the southern US? The answer is not simple and there are many factors involved when trying to discern the facts from the all the possible culprits. Dr John Nielsen-Gammon, the State Climatologist who is also a professor of at Texas A&M University where he teaches atmospheric sciences points the finger to three patterns that are largely responsible for the 2011 drought.
The Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, a temperature variation that became warm during the mid 1990 's.
The Pacific Decadal Oscillation, a similar pattern which began cooling Pacific in the tropics during 2009, and
The El Niño/La Niña Southern Oscillation. In mid 2010, La Niña developed from the previous weather pattern of El Niño. Dr. Nielsen-Gammon stated that the 1950 's and early 60 's was the last time the weather patterns aligned causing a drought that lasted almost 10 years (Combs 3).
3. Blame it on La Niña During a time when the east coast has had a flood of rain, Texas has been suffocating under a drought not seen in at least a hundred years. According to an article on New Scientist, the drought and the high temperatures were caused by the “lingering effects”
By Marco Gamez
Physical Geography
1. Worst Drought According to the National Weather Service, in 2011 Texas endured the single worst drought in it 's history. During the drought, which began in October 2010, wildfires burned thousands of square miles and may have killed as much as half a billion trees (Tam 1). The weather was hot and dry with very little rain throughout the year. August 2010 through July 2011 saw the brunt of the worst drought with abnormally low rainfall. Many ranchers had to cull their cattle and many farmers suffered record low yields in crops. The rains were so few that rivers dried, lake levels dropped by incredible degrees, and the economy of Texas took a huge hit to the tune of billions of dollars.
2. Causes So what caused such a drought in the southern US? The answer is not simple and there are many factors involved when trying to discern the facts from the all the possible culprits. Dr John Nielsen-Gammon, the State Climatologist who is also a professor of at Texas A&M University where he teaches atmospheric sciences points the finger to three patterns that are largely responsible for the 2011 drought.
The Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, a temperature variation that became warm during the mid 1990 's.
The Pacific Decadal Oscillation, a similar pattern which began cooling Pacific in the tropics during 2009, and
The El Niño/La Niña Southern Oscillation. In mid 2010, La Niña developed from the previous weather pattern of El Niño. Dr. Nielsen-Gammon stated that the 1950 's and early 60 's was the last time the weather patterns aligned causing a drought that lasted almost 10 years (Combs 3).
3. Blame it on La Niña During a time when the east coast has had a flood of rain, Texas has been suffocating under a drought not seen in at least a hundred years. According to an article on New Scientist, the drought and the high temperatures were caused by the “lingering effects”
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