Document Details
Precipitation History of the Mojave Desert Region, 1893–2001
Richard Hereford, Robert H. Webb, Claire I. Longpre | July 1st, 2004
The Mojave Desert region covers 152,000 square km of the Southwestern United States. Recent studies by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and other scientists suggest that the region may become drier for the next 2 to 3 decades, in a pattern similar to mid-20th century dry conditions. Because the region’s population has increased rapidly since the mid-1950s, a repeat of such a dry episode could have severe consequences not only for residents but also for the desert’s diverse and fragile ecosystems.
Keywords
climate change, ecosystem management, water supply forecasting