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Science Friday > Archives > 2002 >
March
> March 29, 2002:
Hour One: Drought / El
Nino
US Drought Monitor. For latest data, go to http://drought.unl.edu/monitor/monitor.html
East coast states from Maine to Georgia, and western states
from Montana down through Texas are facing drought conditions -- and
climate forecasters don't see much relief on the way. In many parts
of the country, folks won't be filling up the pool, hosing down the
car, or watering their lawns this spring, as water restrictions are
in effect in many towns.
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Of course, a drought can have more consequences than a dusty
car. Farmers are worried about crops in some areas -- and some
researchers are concerned that low water levels may alter the
biology of the Great Lakes.
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Lake Michigan, Old Mission Point Lighthouse.
Greg Lang photo. courtesy GLERL
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In this hour of Science Friday, we'll take a look at what causes droughts,
the long-range climate forecast for the country, and the El Nino connection.
Plus, we'll check in on water levels in the Great Lakes. Will April
showers bail us all out? Call in with your comments and questions at
1-800-989-8255, and share your opinions online in our Listeners' Lounge (registration required).
Guests:
Donald A. Wilhite
Director, National Drought Mitigation
Center
International
Drought Information Center
Associate Director and Professor, School
of Natural Resource Sciences
University of Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
Tony Barnston
Head, Forecast Operations
International Research Institute
for Climate Prediction
Lamont Dougherty Earth Observatory
of Columbia University
Palisades, New York
Joseph Atkinson
Professor, Department of Civil,
Structural and Environmental Engineering
Director, Great Lakes
Program
University at Buffalo, State University
of New York
Buffalo, New York
Books/Articles Discussed:
Related Links:
NOAA Drought Information Center
National Drought Mitigation Center
March
28, 2002, Drought Monitor
US
Drought Impacts, February 9 - March 15, 2002
ENSO
Update
IRI
Net Assessment Forecasts, most recent
ENSO
AND DROUGHT
El
Niño: Research, Forecasts and Observations
Great
Lakes Water Levels
As
the Great Lakes shrink, a wave of alarm swells
This segment produced
by: Charles Bergquist
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