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News From the Field

Chronic 2000-04 Drought, Worst in 800 Years, May Be the 'New Normal'


July 29, 2012

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The chronic drought that hit western North America from 2000 to 2004 left dying forests and depleted river basins in its wake and was the strongest in 800 years, scientists have concluded, but they say those conditions will become the "new normal" for most of the coming century. Such climatic extremes have increased as a result of global warming, and as bad as conditions were during the 2000-04 drought, they may eventually be seen as the good old days.Full Story

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Oregon State University

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