Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'drought'

Argentine Farmers Try To Weather Economic Woes

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:30:00 EST

Until just a few months ago, farmers in Argentina were thriving like never before. Now, they are facing the pressures of a worsening international economy, as well as drought. Demand for crops is plummeting as costs for fertilizers, herbicides and other necessities have gone up.

Failing Wheat Crop Causes Afghan Food Crisis

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:39:00 EDT

A lingering drought in Afghanistan has led to the smallest wheat harvest in the country in years. The diminished crop has thrown farmers and residents into a food crisis. Many point to the government for not coming to the farmers' aid fast enough.

Study: Elephants' Memory Key To Their Survival

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:00:00 EDT

A new study in The Royal Society's Biology Letters claims that elephant memories may be key to the animals' survival during times of extreme drought. In particular, older female elephants appear to have the knowledge necessary to keep herds alive.

Can Humans Control The Clouds...

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:00:00 EDT

Beijing is trying to seed clouds to bring some rain and clear the air before the Olympics. And California is too, for a different reason; L.A. County civil engineers are working on a drought relief project that seeds clouds over the San Gabriel mountains to ward off fires. Like all gambles, the project could pay big or prove disastrous.

Farming Is Latest Casualty In Drought-Stricken Iraq

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 06:00:00 EDT

A record drought, made worse by razing of fields and greenbelts to limit havens for insurgents, is plaguing farmers across Iraq. The drought has particularly hit hard in Diyala, a province where fighting still rages.

Tough Economic Times In Fresno

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:00:00 EDT

For some people in California's central valley, life resembles scenes from The Grapes of Wrath. A report called "Measure of America" names Fresno, Calif., the least economically developed part of the country. Opportunities to make a decent living can be very hard to find there due to drought and unemployment.

Fires Pose Risks For Archaeological Sites

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 16:00:00 EDT

With drought, high temperatures and bark beetle infestations, conditions are ripe across the West for catastrophic forest fires. And that's making archaeologists very nervous. Fires may destroy thousands of ancient Native American artifacts and may expose other sites to looters.

Green Couple In Calif. Fined For Brown Lawn

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 06:00:00 EDT

Anne Hartridge and Matt George are about as "green" as it gets. They bike to work, have solar panels, dry their laundry on a line. So when they stopped watering their lawn in drought-stricken California, who would have thought they'd get fined more than $700 for letting their grass go brown.

Conservation Deja Vu in California

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EDT

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a drought emergency for his state. This isn't the first water emergency California has faced or the first time consumers have been urged to cut back. A reporter remembers the lifelong habits instilled by the powerful messages of her youth.

How to Use a Waterless Urinal

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EDT

Because of the drought, efficiency and conservation efforts are ramping into high gear in California. Since the last drought emergency in 1992, the state's population has grown by more than 20 percent, but advances in technology have led to new ways of conserving water.

Green Sci-Fi from Bacigalupi's 'Pump Six'

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 11:01:00 EDT

Sci-fi writer Paolo Bacigalupi uses real environmental science as a starting point for his stories. His collection, called Pump Six, describes a near future where massive droughts create a black market for calories.

Drought Hits California's Already Tight Water Supply

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 06:00:00 EDT

California is in the midst of its driest spring on record. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last week declared a drought — the first in nearly 20 years. Now California residents who have been living on a dwindling supply of water are being urged to conserve even more. Andrew Phelps reports from member station KPBS in San Diego.

Deepening Water, Food Shortages Squeeze Yemen

Mon, 12 May 2008 15:40:00 EDT

Already one of the poorest countries by many measures, Yemen — a nation of roughly 22 million people — has been struck by severe droughts and depleted water supplies in recent years. Some Yemenis are calling the situation a potential time bomb.

Georgia Wetlands Offer Cure for Drought

Thu, 01 May 2008 15:52:00 EDT

The drought that has dogged the Southeastern U.S. hasn't hurt one county in Georgia. Clayton County's reservoirs are full, thanks to a unique water treatment system. "It's raining everyday in Clayton County," the water authority's general manager says.

World Bank Chief: Biofuels Boosting Food Prices

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:01:00 EDT

Demand for ethanol and other biofuels is a "significant contributor" to soaring food prices around the world, World Bank President Robert Zoellick says. Droughts, financial market speculators and increased demand for food have also helped create "a perfect storm" that has boosted those prices, he says.

Horses Require Rescue as Georgia Drought Persists

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 10:29:00 EDT

As a record drought persists in the Southeast, residents have realized they can no longer properly care for their animals. Horses, in particular, are being turned in to a rescue operation in north Georgia.

Do Trees Worsen Droughts...

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:00:00 EDT

In places where climate change will likely mean less rain, scientists are studying whether trees may actually worsen drought conditions by siphoning off the water table and releasing the moisture into the atmosphere.

Bear Stearns' Woes Shake Silicon Valley Ventures

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 06:00:00 EDT

Wall Street's worries following the Bear Stearns meltdown are having a chilling effect on some Silicon Valley startup ventures as they search for capital to get off the ground. Experts say investor money hasn't completely dried up, but there's a definite drought.

Biofuel Rush Makes Drought a Bigger Economic Risk

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:28:00 EDT

As grain prices rise and ethanol makes up an increasing portion of the nation's fuel supply, a major drought in the Plains states could pose a significant threat to the U.S. economy. Agricultural economists are warning that El Nino could cause grain shortages that could reverberate in an unprecedented way through the economy.

Clinton Faces a Painful Drought of Victories

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 08:53:00 EST

Democrat Hillary Clinton entered Tuesday's Potomac Primaries with a slim lead and left smarting with three losses to Barack Obama. Jim VandeHei of Politico.com says she's not favored again until March 4 -- and that's a long time to wait for a chance to win.

Calif. Farmers Struggle with Reduced Water Supply

Sat, 09 Feb 2008 13:57:00 EST

Severe droughts have combined with an unexpected culprit -- a tiny fish -- to put the squeeze on Southern California's water supply. Avocado and citrus farmers feeling the pinch are considering planting new crops that use less water.

Drought May Keep Georgia Pools Shut for Summer

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 16:00:00 EST

A splashless summer? That's what may happen in Georgia, where an almost two-year drought has called into question whether thousands of outdoor pools in 61 counties will open this summer.

Big Apple Celebrates Giants' Super Bowl Triumph

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:08:00 EST

It's the third time the Giants have won the Super Bowl. After the two previous victories, New York City couldn't bring itself to honor a team that plays its home games in New Jersey. Now, after a seven-year championship drought, the city has come to realize it loves a parade.

Sierra Mountain Snow to Ease California Drought

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 08:27:00 EST

A recent blizzard in the Sierra Mountains brings hope to drought-stricken California. The blizzard bolsters the mountain snowpack, which serves as vast reservoir during the dry months by gradually letting its water drain into the San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers.

Harvesting Rainwater by Not Letting It Go to Waste

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:01:00 EST

Instead of letting rainwater flow off their roofs and yards, more people are looking at ways to capture and reuse it. In drought-prone areas, wastewater from sinks and washing machines can also be rerouted for landscaping.