California drought though is mainly caused by the lack of snow in the Sierras which isn't replenishing underground aquifers as it should. That lack of snow is directly correlated with global warming :(
But the Sierras could lack snow for either of at least two reasons:
1. It's too warm in the region, so water remains liquid and snow does not accumulate.
2. The moisture that normally falls out of the air as snow has gone somewhere else in the world.
I suspect the drought is due more to [2] than to [1] which makes the link between the drought and global warming less direct and more tenuous. But I would love it if someone who knows more about the relevant meteorology could share some facts about this.
1. It's too warm in the region, so water remains liquid and snow does not accumulate.
2. The moisture that normally falls out of the air as snow has gone somewhere else in the world.
I suspect the drought is due more to [2] than to [1] which makes the link between the drought and global warming less direct and more tenuous. But I would love it if someone who knows more about the relevant meteorology could share some facts about this.