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California drought: Natural patterns, not human-caused climate change, federal study finds

Mercury News: Natural patterns, not human-caused climate change, produced one of California's worst droughts, researchers have concluded. An atmospheric ridge over the North Pacific, which limited rain and snowfall over the past three years, was "due to natural variations of ocean systems, with sea surface temperatures largely responsible," said Richard Seager, lead author of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-sponsored study, in a Monday news conference. The conditions that led to the drought,...

Climate change threatens Tahoe’s snow levels, lake clarity

Mercury News: Lake Tahoe is "the fairest picture the whole earth affords," Mark Twain once wrote. Its crystal blue waters, surrounded by stunning snowy mountains, define one of California's crown jewels as an American landmark. It attracts 3 million skiers, boaters, campers, hikers and other visitors each year. But it could look very different in 100 years. Climate change could profoundly affect the Tahoe area, scientists say, taking the snow out of the mountains and the blue out of the water. Last winter's...