Are We Still In a Drought?
By Erica Grow on July 9, 2012, 5:22pm
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As you probably know, the first half of 2012 was drier than average; in Bridgeport, we're about 20% below average rainfall, and in Hartford, the deficit is about 25%. We made up some ground in May and June, with more than 4 inches of rainfall at Bridgeport's airport in both months, but obviously we're still in shortfall mode right now.
Up until the start of July, we were actually doing fine here in Connecticut, despite the rainfall deficit. That's because the driest month of 2012, March, is a time of year when we really don't need the rain as badly as we do in the summer. The plants haven't started growing yet, and even more important, the trees haven't started to leaf out yet in March. Those tree leaves need a lot of water to stay green, so when the trees are still brown, our moisture needs aren't as great.
Another factor is the sun angle. Our latest dry spell is happening at a time of year when the sun angle is at its highest. All those rays beating down on the ground allow for more evaporation. For instance, we got about 14 hours of sunlight today, but in March, we only get approximately 12 hours of sun. And, warmer temperatures in July cause evaporation to happen at a faster pace. Local reservoirs get depleted a lot quicker in the summer because of the higher evaporation, and the higher need for water.
The late-winter drought was not too damaging for Connecticut, but if this summer drought continues through the rest of July, then I think it will be a problem for local farmers and it might even have an impact on our water supply.
My advice is to start conserving water now! Take your car to the automatic carwash instead of washing it in your driveway, because the automatic wash can save as much as 100 gallons of water versus using the garden hose! Also, make sure to water outdoor plants, lawns and gardens during the early-morning hours if possible, because this allows more of the water to soak into the ground and less water gets lost to evaporation. We can all do our part to prevent a water shortage!
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