reedak
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 1, 2014
- Messages
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In my hypothesis "The Law of Global Water Equilibrium", the extreme weather events of droughts/heat waves/wildfires and floods have a cause-and-effect relationship. They are analogous to two urchins of equal weight playing on a seesaw.
1. DROUGHTS
In the US there were several notable droughts in 1971:-
* Florida – The worst drought on record resulted in 400,000 acres of the Everglades burned by fires.
* Texas – Worst drought since the 1950’s.
* Maryland – The 1958-71 drought produced the largest recorded annual departures from average stream discharge.
* California – The summer of 1971 was “extra hot and long. Rainfall did not completely wet the (tree) root zones the winter of 1971-72 (sic)”. The same report in 1978 stated “the rate of development (of dieback of tree limbs) has been accentuated in recent years”.
* Hawaii – The drought on Maui was described as the worst in 22 years.
* North Carolina – The Air Force Bombing Range Fire destroyed 29300 acres of forest.
* Minnesota – The Little Sioux Fire destroyed 14000 acres following “a period of abnormally dry weather”.
* In total there were 108398 wildfires in the US in 1971 affecting 4.2 million acres. ( Figures for 2010 were 71971 fires and 3.4 million acres).
In the rest of the world there many more:-
* Australia – In Victoria what was described as a severe drought began that would last to 1973.
* Ethiopia – 1971 saw the start of a 2 year drought that would claim 300,000 lives.
* Kenya – 150,000 people were affected in what was described in 2006 as even worse than the 2005 drought, itself one of the worst on record.
* Sahel – Mali, Chad, Nigeria and Burkina were in the middle of a drought that lasted from 1967-88 and which was described in Nigeria as the worst since 1913.
* Okinawa – Experienced the worst drought in history.
* China – Much of Northern China was in the grip of what in Beijing was on record as the worst drought ever (before or since).
* Afghanistan – This was the worst in the country’s history.
* Iraq – This severe drought led to the mercury poisoning tragedy. Iran was also affected. No drought there has been as bad since.
* India – The 1971-72 drought affected many states and ranked as the 5th worst since records began in 1876.
* Argentina – The 1971 drought was worse than anything since.
2. FLOODS
* North Vietnam – The Red River flood was an absolutely terrible disaster leaving 100,000 dead. It was listed by NOAA as one of the century’s top weather events and described as a 250 year event.
* India – Orissa was hit by a cyclone which left 10,800 dead. (19). Also, in Central India the Bundelkhand district was hit by floods (which were followed in 1972 by droughts).
* Malaysia – 32 people were killed and 180,000 affected in the Kuala Lumpur floods in the worst floods since 1926.
* Australia – In January the Canberra flood claimed 7 lives followed a month later by floods in Victoria which were called a 100 year event. In Queensland every month from January to May saw major floods and significant flooding returned in December.
* New Zealand – The New Plymouth area was hit by their worst ever flood after 11.4 inches of rain fell in 24 hours.
* Brazil – 130 dead in Rio de Janeiro floods.
* Quebec – Heavy rainfall caused a massive landslide at the village of Saint-Jean-Vianney, leaving 31 dead.
* Spain – 19 died in floods in Barcelona after 308mm of rain in 24 hours.
* USA – Alaska suffered a major flood, only exceeded by the 1986 flood in the last 50 years.
* USA – In February significant flooding occurred in Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin.
* USA – In March Southeastern States were affected with Georgia recording record levels in some areas.
* USA – May and June brought significant flooding to Utah, Idaho, Nebraska and Wyoming. The discharge from the Bear River in Utah was considered a 75 year event.
* USA – Significant flooding hit Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia in June and July.
* USA – In August Baltimore was struck by one of the most damaging thunderstorms in 50 years and 14 died from the resulting floods.
* USA – Widespread flooding followed Tropical Storm Doria up the coast from North Carolina to Maine in August. Some streams in New Jersey and Pennsylvania registered record floods.
* USA – Extended flooding occurred in September and October affecting Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma.
* USA – More significant flooding hits Oklahoma and Arkansas in December.
Source: https://notalotofpeopleknowthat.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/is-our-climate-becoming-more-extreme/
Additional Reference: https://notalotofpeopleknowthat.wordpress.com/2021/07/31/extreme-weather-in-1971/
1. DROUGHTS
In the US there were several notable droughts in 1971:-
* Florida – The worst drought on record resulted in 400,000 acres of the Everglades burned by fires.
* Texas – Worst drought since the 1950’s.
* Maryland – The 1958-71 drought produced the largest recorded annual departures from average stream discharge.
* California – The summer of 1971 was “extra hot and long. Rainfall did not completely wet the (tree) root zones the winter of 1971-72 (sic)”. The same report in 1978 stated “the rate of development (of dieback of tree limbs) has been accentuated in recent years”.
* Hawaii – The drought on Maui was described as the worst in 22 years.
* North Carolina – The Air Force Bombing Range Fire destroyed 29300 acres of forest.
* Minnesota – The Little Sioux Fire destroyed 14000 acres following “a period of abnormally dry weather”.
* In total there were 108398 wildfires in the US in 1971 affecting 4.2 million acres. ( Figures for 2010 were 71971 fires and 3.4 million acres).
In the rest of the world there many more:-
* Australia – In Victoria what was described as a severe drought began that would last to 1973.
* Ethiopia – 1971 saw the start of a 2 year drought that would claim 300,000 lives.
* Kenya – 150,000 people were affected in what was described in 2006 as even worse than the 2005 drought, itself one of the worst on record.
* Sahel – Mali, Chad, Nigeria and Burkina were in the middle of a drought that lasted from 1967-88 and which was described in Nigeria as the worst since 1913.
* Okinawa – Experienced the worst drought in history.
* China – Much of Northern China was in the grip of what in Beijing was on record as the worst drought ever (before or since).
* Afghanistan – This was the worst in the country’s history.
* Iraq – This severe drought led to the mercury poisoning tragedy. Iran was also affected. No drought there has been as bad since.
* India – The 1971-72 drought affected many states and ranked as the 5th worst since records began in 1876.
* Argentina – The 1971 drought was worse than anything since.
2. FLOODS
* North Vietnam – The Red River flood was an absolutely terrible disaster leaving 100,000 dead. It was listed by NOAA as one of the century’s top weather events and described as a 250 year event.
* India – Orissa was hit by a cyclone which left 10,800 dead. (19). Also, in Central India the Bundelkhand district was hit by floods (which were followed in 1972 by droughts).
* Malaysia – 32 people were killed and 180,000 affected in the Kuala Lumpur floods in the worst floods since 1926.
* Australia – In January the Canberra flood claimed 7 lives followed a month later by floods in Victoria which were called a 100 year event. In Queensland every month from January to May saw major floods and significant flooding returned in December.
* New Zealand – The New Plymouth area was hit by their worst ever flood after 11.4 inches of rain fell in 24 hours.
* Brazil – 130 dead in Rio de Janeiro floods.
* Quebec – Heavy rainfall caused a massive landslide at the village of Saint-Jean-Vianney, leaving 31 dead.
* Spain – 19 died in floods in Barcelona after 308mm of rain in 24 hours.
* USA – Alaska suffered a major flood, only exceeded by the 1986 flood in the last 50 years.
* USA – In February significant flooding occurred in Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin.
* USA – In March Southeastern States were affected with Georgia recording record levels in some areas.
* USA – May and June brought significant flooding to Utah, Idaho, Nebraska and Wyoming. The discharge from the Bear River in Utah was considered a 75 year event.
* USA – Significant flooding hit Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia in June and July.
* USA – In August Baltimore was struck by one of the most damaging thunderstorms in 50 years and 14 died from the resulting floods.
* USA – Widespread flooding followed Tropical Storm Doria up the coast from North Carolina to Maine in August. Some streams in New Jersey and Pennsylvania registered record floods.
* USA – Extended flooding occurred in September and October affecting Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma.
* USA – More significant flooding hits Oklahoma and Arkansas in December.
Source: https://notalotofpeopleknowthat.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/is-our-climate-becoming-more-extreme/
Additional Reference: https://notalotofpeopleknowthat.wordpress.com/2021/07/31/extreme-weather-in-1971/
