Groundwater in the Central Valley

This article very much reminds me of my book, Cadillac Desert. California's irrigation within the Central Valley uses an absurd amount of water from both aquifers, and surface water.

Groundwater Availability of the Central Valley Aquifer, California
By Claudia C. Faunt, editor
Executive Summary
California’s Central Valley covers about 20,000 square miles and is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world. More than 250 different crops are grown in the Central Valley with an estimated value of $17 billion per year. This irrigated agriculture relies heavily on surface-water diversions and groundwater pumpage. Approximately one-sixth of the Nation’s irrigated land is in the Central Valley, and about one-fifth of the Nation’s groundwater demand is supplied from its aquifers.

The Central Valley also is rapidly becoming an important area for California’s expanding urban population. Since 1980, the population of the Central Valley has nearly doubled from 2 million to 3.8 million people. The Census Bureau projects that the Central Valley’s population will increase to 6 million people by 2020. This surge in population has increased the competition for water resources within the Central Valley and statewide, which likely will be exacerbated by anticipated reductions in deliveries of Colorado River water to southern California. In response to this competition for water, a number of water-related issues have gained prominence: conservation of agricultural land, conjunctive use, artificial recharge, hydrologic implications of land-use change, and effects of climate variability.

To provide information to stakeholders addressing these issues, the USGS Groundwater Resources Program made a detailed assessment of groundwater availability of the Central Valley aquifer system, that includes: (1) the present status of groundwater resources; (2) how these resources have changed over time; and (3) tools to assess system responses to stresses from future human uses and climate variability and change. This effort builds on previous investigations, such as the USGS Central Valley Regional Aquifer System and Analysis (CV-RASA) project and several other groundwater studies in the Valley completed by Federal, State and local agencies at differing scales. The principal product of this new assessment is a tool referred to as the Central Valley Hydrologic Model (CVHM) that accounts for integrated, variable water supply and demand, and simulates surface-water and groundwater-flow across the entire Central Valley system.

The development of the CVHM comprised four major elements: (1) a comprehensive Geographic Information System (GIS) to compile, analyze and visualize data; (2) a texture model to characterize the aquifer system;(3) estimates of water-budget components by numerically modeling the hydrologic system with the Farm Process (FMP); and (4) simulations to assess and quantify hydrologic conditions

Lahar caused by Mount Merapi eruption.

A lahar caused by Mount Merapi added even more damage to the volcano's vacinity. Hundreds of homes were flooded along the Code River forcing thousands to evacuate. Evacuation proved difficult as the lahar also damaged several bridges and roads in its path. As we learned in class the path of lahars is quite predictable. Had Yogyakarta been aware of this hazard im sure much of the damages could have been avoided.

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/flooding-pushes-yogyakarta-into-a-state-of-emergency/409395

Tungurahua Volcano Eruption

(CNN) -- Ecuador's Tungurahua volcano erupted Saturday, sending ash and lava spewing nearly a mile into the sky.

Residents evacuated the area after the country's National Agency of Risk Control issued a "red alert." The warning was later downgraded to orange, as the volcano became less active.

Activity at Tungurahua -- which means "throat of fire" in the native Quechua language -- peaked Saturday between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., according to the Geological Institute in Quito.

At one point, the ash cloud reached nearly 3 km (1.9 miles) above the volcano's crater, according to the institute, and lava flowed about 2 km from the crater.

The glacier-capped, 16,478-foot (5,023-meter) volcano has erupted periodically since 1999, when increased activity led to the temporary evacuation of the city of Banos at the foot of the volcano. Major eruptions also occurred in August 2006 and February 2008, according to the government's emergency management agency.

Prior to this more recent activity, the last major eruption was between 1916 and 1918. Relatively minor activity continued until 1925, the Smithsonian Institution said on its volcano website.

The volcano is 140 km south of Quito, Ecuador's capital.

Landslide Season in Seattle

An official in Seattle, WA, declared that landslide season will soon be underway in this hilly region. The majority of landslides in this region occur during the January month after months of water begins to penetrate into the ground. Mitigation efforts include educating the populace that the majority of landslides are human induced.

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/111326539.html

Armistice Day Blizzard

Although this isn't a recent hazard I find it a perfect example of the complexity paradigm. On November 11, 1940 the early afternoon temperature was 60 degrees f over much of the midwest. In a short period of time the temp. dropped 50 degrees and record low pressures were recorded in La Crosse, WI. The result was an intense blizzard with snow accumulation up to 27in and drifts up to 20ft. 145 people were killed by the storm, most of them being duck hunters along the Mississippi. Those who survived described 1000's of ducks flying across the river most of them being blown through the air by the wind. This event is often ranked among the top weather events in the 20th century.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armistice_Day_Blizzard

Columbia Landslide

A landslide in Columbia causes a death toll of atleast 50 with many more still missing. Evacuation has been ordered to surrounding neighborhoods and the President promised unlimited funds to the people who lost everything as a result of the disaster. Below is a film of the immediate aftermath and rescue attempts.

The End of Coral Reefs

J.E.N. Veron, scientist of the Australian Institute of Marine Science, is strongly convinced that "the biggest structure ever made by life on Earth," The Great Barrier Reef, is in great peril. According to Veron, at the current rate of depletion the massive reef may not be around by the end of our Children's generation. In his article he speaks very clearly about his concern and uses many scientific observations to strengthen his argument.

http://e360.yale.edu/feature/is_the_end_in_sight_for_the_worlds_coral_reefs_/2347/