Geography

1 Artifact and Reflection 3 SLO 3

I chose my drought map analysis as my artifact for SLO 3. SLO 3 explores the
need for research questions and hypotheses to weigh in on, explore and help solve
complex real world geography problems. Within SLO 3 and its subsequent SPOs,
we learned the importance of asking questions we are curious to find the answers
to, and the ways the world can help make them better.
I believe that my drought map set is a perfect example of this SLO because I
am directly affected by the California drought. The current drought and global
warming is also a huge climate hazard that everyone in the world is facing in one
way or another. This directly relates back to SPO 7, which addresses the importance
of evaluation and purposed solutions to global hazards, such as the drought.
Although I did not know I was doing so at the time, I was forming the research
question Why is California affected by the drought and doing research to form a
hypothesis on this question. Through my research, I discovered proposed solutions
to this hazard. I used my map analysis skills and research skills to answer the
question I did not even know I was asking.
I learned a lot while putting together this artifact. In the case of the California
drought, I had never researched what is causing it. I had always just gone along with
the fact that there is a drought, and never questioned why it was happening beyond
the popular the world is getting warmer. Also, before this class, I did not ever
think about zooming in on a specific maps data to find a more pin pointed process
for that particular area. IE- Why Southern California is more effect by the drought
than Northern California. And why California is more effected than that rest of the
country. Lastly I learned a lot about the ways the Californians can help with the
drought. From fire safety to water conservation, everyone can do their fair part.

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Atmospheric Hazard: Drought

Drought Conditions June 13th, 2016 In Los Angeles, California (Local Scale)

Los Angeles County in California has officially hit the most severe drought
since the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. Because Los Angeles is at the lower end of the
state, and closer to the equator, warmer temperatures are normal in this area.
Ground temperatures and moisture in soil are major factors in causing a drought, so
it is no surprise that Los Angeles, a giant desert, is highly impacted. With conditions
ranging from extreme to exceptional, Los Angeles has been experiencing weather
that is, on average, 3 degrees warmer daily than past years. Due to the extreme heat
and dryness, Los Angeles has just experienced, and is still fighting, an enormous
brush fire in the San Gabriel Mountains that has burned over 5,500 acres. The fire
has not yet been 100% contained and is a result of 110 degree weather in parts of a
dry forest that have not been cleared. Los Angeles Forest Services should take extra
measures to clear dead and dry parts of the forest to prevent evens like this in the
future.

Drought Conditions June 13, 2016 Southern California (Regional Scale)

On a regional scale, we start to see that not every area looks as impacted by
the drought as Los Angeles County. As we go further inland, we go further away
from the high-pressure ridge that is preventing cold weather from entering
California. This results in the east side of the state not being as devastated by the
drought. However, what I have discovered upon research that the map does not
show, is the effect that even a not as extreme increase in heat can have on a specific
region. Joshua Tree National Park is severely threatened by the California drought.
Dr. Cameron Barrows says "The big, established trees can survive multiple years of

drought or heat, but it's the little guysthe seedlingswho can't handle this kind of
temperature or amount of rainfall.(3) If we are looking at another 200 year drought,
Barrow estimates that by 2100, 90% of Joshua Tree National Park will be dead.
Counties such as Santa Barbara and Tulare have added new restrictions to prevent
wildfires. Examples of new restrictions are requiring campers to have a fire permit,
and builders to have a permit to weld. Precautions such as these could greatly
decrease accidental fires. Also, the city and state mandated decrease in water use
should remain in effect until we are completely out of this drought.

Drought Conditions June 13, 2016 In California (Large Scale)

On a large scale that includes all of California, we are actually seeing some
major improvements as far as drought damage is concerned. The largest reason
California is experiencing a drought is due to the high-pressure ridge that is sitting
just off the coast, which deflects the cold weather and storms to the north. Because
California gains about 75% of its water supply through winter storms and snow, the
ridge is preventing the good majority of the water from ever making it into the state.
As we move further north, we also move further away from the dry desert lands that
are so severely impacted. In Northern California, the major reservoirs are almost
full. In fact, lake Shasta and Lake Orville are currently sitting above historical
average. Unfortunately, many of the central valley reservoirs are not doing so well.
The San Luis Reservoir is sitting as a depressing 18% capacity. Del Norte, Humboldt,
and Siskiyou counties at the very top of California have officially been declared as
not longer in drought. If Californians observe water conservation laws, and are
smart with their choices in regards to fire and fuel, we can all make surviving this
drought easier for everyone.

Sources

1. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-canyon-fire-heat-20160621snap-story.html
2. http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/NAmerDrought/NAmer_drough
t_2.php
3. http://www.outsideonline.com/2001361/will-californias-drought-endjoshua-tree
4. http://bakersfieldnow.com/news/fate-of-the-state-california-drought/blmadds-new-restrictions-in-response-to-wildfire-danger

5. http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cdecapp/resapp/getResGraphsMain.action
6. http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2016/05/06/california-drought-ends-for10-percent-of-state/
7. http://www.livescience.com/54266-california-droughts-blamed-onridiculously-resilient-ridge.html