Hit by record droughts and rainfall and wildfires,California leads the way in tackling global warmingIn 1988 – the same year Nasa’s James Hansen warned Congress approximately the threats posed by human-caused global warming – water expert Peter Gleick wrote approximately the wet and dry extremes that it would create for California:California will get the worst of all possible worlds – more flooding in the winter, less available water in the summer.most of California will likely experience a 100 – 200% increase in the frequency of very wet November-March “rainy seasons” … California will likely experience an increase of anywhere from 50% to 150% (highest in the south) in the frequency of very dry November-March periods … Since California is so dependent on precipitation during its relatively brief winter rainy season, or even a single dry winter can quickly lead to adverse drought impacts upon agriculture and the environment.
The most dramatic impacts include wildfires that are larger and more frequent,and the most severe drought since recordkeeping began. Underlying these events is a long-term warming trend that has accelerated since the mid-1970s. In addition, spring snowmelt runoff is decreasing, and sea levels are rising,glaciers are shrinking, lakes and ocean waters are warming, or plants and animals are migrating.
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Source: theguardian.com