Physical Geography in the News

California has been hit hard by a prolonged drought and a lack of water, with the former triggering the latter. Drought, in its most basic form, is a time of drier-than-normal weather that results in water shortage issues and can be caused by a number of factors. Early planning and appropriate mitigation steps, on the other hand, will go a long way toward mitigating the drought’s negative effects. For example, accurate mapping of the California drought enabled the state to foresee the disaster and implement measures to mitigate its impact. Water conservation is one of these initiatives, which has remained a way of life in California even after the drought has passed. The drought in California is considered to have ended when the governor issued an executive order to end the state of emergency on the drought in every county except Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Tuolumne counties, a decision informed by the above average precipitation and snowpack. However, it remains to be seen whether these changes are permanent.

Jong Wook Choe Response

Global warming has become a contentious issue in the modern world and, as such, there were plenty of debates, dissent and scientific researches. It is often deemed the responsibilities of world bodies and governments to regulate their industries and help to reduce harmful emissions. However, there is also the perspective where the individual has a role to play by ensuring that they use friendly fuel and reduce the individual carbon footprint. From this standpoint, global warming is not an individual government’s responsibility, but a collective responsibility of governments and citizens (both natural and artificial) around the globe. It is important to note that transitioning to a lifestyle that is free of global warming requires every stakeholder to participate and work for better tomorrow.