Western US Entering Worst Drought in 1,200 Years, Study Says

Western US Entering Worst Drought in 1,200 Years, Study Says

Western US Entering Worst Drought in 1,200 Years, Study Says The study from Columbia University used tree ring data and climate models.

The information let them measure moisture changes dating back to a big drought in the late 800s.

Since then, they discovered there were three more periods of "extreme dryness" after that.

Lead author Park Williams, via CBS News Over the last two decades, the west has been mired in one of its most drier periods.

In that time, climate change has increased temperatures by 2.2 degrees Fahrenheit.

The study adds that the modern drought will affect a wider area due to the warming climate.

Researchers add that its fast pace is half due to human-caused climate change.

Lead author Park Williams, via CBS News