The Stream, May 20: California Agriculture Volunteers Water Cutbacks

The Global Rundown

California farmers are set to make a deal with state to cut water use. The U.S. military faces various climate change threats, and researchers think the Indian Ocean plays a large role in the global warming hiatus. The majority of Europe’s beaches met minimum water quality standards last year. South Africa is preparing for water restrictions this dry season.

“Climate change will shape how every one of our services plan, operate, train, equip, and protect their infrastructure, today and for the long term.”–U.S. President Barack Obama, in a prepared speech he is scheduled to give today discussing the effects of climate change on the U.S. military. The speech covers threats from floods, wildfires, and thawing permafrost. (Guardian)

By The Numbers

1/4 crops Number California farmers in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta volunteered to leave unplanted in a proposed deal with the state to cut water use. Another option in the proposal would give the farmers less water from the river. Associated Press

95 percent Bathing sites that met minimum standards in Europe’s 2014 survey of water quality for inland and coastal waters. Estonia, Ireland, and the Netherlands had the highest percentage of sites rated as ‘poor’. Reuters

Science, Studies, And Reports

The Indian Ocean is likely trapping a vast amount of heat from the atmosphere, helping to explain a pause in global warming, according to a study published in Nature Geoscience. Researchers predicted that heat moves from the atmosphere into the upper waters of the Pacific Ocean, then gets pushed into the Indian Ocean. Nature

On The Radar

South Africa is anticipating water restrictions during the next few months as the country enters its annual dry season. Water levels are down in the country’s dams due to a drought in the central and eastern regions. Bloomberg

Codi Kozacek

A news correspondent for Circle of Blue based out of Hawaii. She writes The Stream, Circle of Blue’s daily digest of international water news trends. Her interests include food security, ecology and the Great Lakes.
Contact Codi Kozacek