Thread by @RogerPielkeJr

I was curious
So I graphed percent of CONUS in drought according to the US drought monitor, data is weekly from 1/2000
droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap.aspx

Here from US EPA is the same data by drought category
epa.gov/climate-indica…

And here from EPA is a longer time series, 1895-2020 for CONUS
Note: On this graph up means wetter, down means dryer
epa.gov/climate-indica…

And here is the percent in drought (D0-D4) of the Colorado River Basin over Jan 2000 to present
droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap.aspx

And here is Colorado River Basin drought 1901-2015
via McCabe et al 2020
journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/…

And for a much longer perspective, here is Colorado River Basin drought over the past 1800 years
Also from McCabe et al 2020

TL;DR
Here are the conclusions of McCabe et al 2020
Well worth reading carefully

And here is what the US National Climate Assessment concluded on drought in 2018
nca2018.globalchange.gov/chapter/2/

PS
A side note
For accurately citing peer reviewed literature & US NCA on drought trends in 2013 Congressional testimony, I earned the distinction of being the only US researcher in history to be attacked by the president's science advisor (Holdren) in a White House blog post 😎

PPS
Holdren is still wrong
The IPCC, USNCA & peer reviewed literature that they rely on is still correct

Climate change is real, and aggressive mitigation & adaptation policies make good sense

The reality of climate change doesn't mean scientific integrity can be ignored

/END

Oh, I guess I should point out Holdren's false claims about me posted on White House website were basis for a subsequent Congressional investigation of me that turned my life upside down & almost ended my career
But I'm still here
And that kids is how I came to understand tenure