the intense rainfall is due to what are known as atmospheric rivers. according to a report in the washington post, these ‘rivers’ concentrate large amounts of moisture into thin stretches of clouds. when these clouds hit land, intense rain follows. extreme amounts of damage soon followed, with usgs reporting over 500 landslides being just a fraction of the destruction caused. 

as detrimental as this damage is, it is made worse by the fact that many parts of california simply don’t have the proper infrastructure to capture, funnel, or store such a huge influx of water at once. the state desperately needs to refill aquifers and reservoirs, especially due to its persistent drought conditions, however, according to kurt schwabe, associate dean at uc riverside’s school of public policy, the infrastructure simply wasn’t up to the task. this failure is because many areas were overwhelmed by the sheer amount of rainfall that occurred, i.e. california’s system simply wasn’t built for this amount of rainfall. 

the green infrastructure solution

one solution that can significantly mitigate this problem, however, is green infrastructure. green infrastructure is a series of supports that protect waterways by mimicking the natural water cycle. such an approach has the ability to reduce flooding, increase the water supply, help with smog and heat mitigation, provide health benefits, reduce costs, and provide quality of life improvements. fortunately, there isn’t just one type of green infrastructure to choose from – there are rain gardens, bioswales, green roofs, urban tree canopies, permeable pavements, and other structures as well, all allowing cities and states to choose what is best for their needs and circumstances. 

despite many state politicians’ vocal support of increased environmental protections, california is surprisingly very limited in its amount of green infrastructure. however, good models do exist, like a bioswale in san francisco that was built prior to the recent rainfall, as it demonstrated just how helpful green infrastructure can be. 

a bioswale is an aesthetically pleasing green infrastructure option that captures rainwater and runoff that can also be used to create habitats for native species, birds, or other plants; they can also filter out pollutants as they capture water. the san francisco bioswale held up extremely well against the record storms and slowed down the flow of water enough so as to not overwhelm the drainage system. this example illustrates a key aspect of green infrastructure when it comes to stormwater management, which is that it allows the water to infiltrate into the ground to decrease overflow. 

the benefits of bioswales

according to the epa, bioswales can also be extremely cost-effective. this is because they reduce the need for gutters, pipes, basins, and other hard systems that come with traditional infrastructure. in addition, they are simply placed on an existing area of land and thus are relatively easy to install and maintain. perhaps most importantly, since bioswales also contribute to a reduction in overflow, they potentially reduce other costs that are associated with flooding such as road or property damage. 

stormwater infrastructure is not only essential for properly draining and potentially storing water, but it also helps to maintain the stability of roadways and of the land, which was clearly an issue in the recent rain events (it was estimated that there was $31-$34 billion worth of damage due to the excess amounts of water). experts like andrew fisher, a professor at uc santa cruz, indicate that the key to stormwater management is mitigating hazards (like landslides or mudslides) and viewing the excess water as a potential resource. therefore, this type of infrastructure will continue to be essential for california to implement for its roads and waterways. stormwater harvesting, including through bioswales, won’t completely solve the california drought on its own, but it can be a valuable piece of the solution. 

california has been in a severe drought for many years, and a few storms, however strong they are, won’t solve the problem. preparedness for both wet and dry spells is essential to mitigating weatherization issues. by implementing better stormwater and green infrastructure, california will be able to better protect its people, roads, and waterways, in addition to saving money in the long run and potentially capturing some of the excess water that the state so desperately needs.

since 2002, the greenland ice sheet, a vast body of ice that covers 80% of the island, has been losing 273 billion metric tons of ice per year. this immense number signals that the ice sheet is in a negative mass balance, meaning that the ice is melting faster than it can be replenished. according to inger seierstad, an ice core scientist who lives in denmark and took part in greenland ice core drillings, there have been periods of unusual warmth in greenland in recent years and melting events so major that they have occurred at the top of the ice sheet – which is historically extremely rare.

it is no secret that this ice melt is due to the effects of climate change, which are causing the oceans and air temperatures to become significantly warmer, especially in the arctic regions. as a result, greenland is seeing immense changes, from thinning ice and glacial front retreat to new areas opening up for resource extraction. 

with greenland’s ice melting away, the extraction of several different kinds of resources has become an increasingly important topic of recent debate. according to multiple sources, three of the main resources in contention are metals (such as nickel and cobalt), glacial flour (a mix of sediments deposited by the glacier), and trade routes. 

heavy metal mining

mining for nickel and cobalt has only become a possibility in recent years due to the fact that the ice melt is exposing more land, making it easier to mine. metals like nickel and cobalt are used in the production of certain technologies, such as batteries, and thus are essential for electric cars and renewable energy sources. thus, many have argued that mining in greenland could actually help mitigate the climate crisis by allowing us to produce more sustainable energy opportunities. billionaires have flocked to greenland in a “treasure hunt” for these metals with the promise that this will end up being beneficial for the planet. 

however, it is also important to note the consequences of mining for metals such as these. these mines not only cause significant pollution, but also damage the previously pristine landscape. one study on a few of greenland’s former mines shows that these areas are still polluted with metals decades later. the study strongly advocates for environmental impact assessments (the process that evaluates likely environmental impacts of a project), especially in areas such as the arctic where the ecosystems are so delicate. 

glacial flour: greenland’s next export? 

glacial flour, or the sediment that is directly deposited by the glacier itself, is also a valuable resource that many are hoping to extract given its growing availability as a result of increasing glacial melt. the sand that the glacier pumps out is actually the perfect consistency for making concrete. the sediment also has the potential to be added onto farms as a kind of fertilizer. according to the ipcc, climate change is also affecting our food systems thus, using this glacial flour to create nutrient-rich soil could be extremely beneficial for our future. even though this idea is still in the early stages, scientists have stated that the extraction process wouldn’t be as invasive as mining for metals because glacial flour often accumulates on the banks of glacial lakes and rivers, where digging is not necessary to extract it.

a new global route

as the greenland ice sheet melts, the trade routes around the area become more navigable for longer periods of time. a variety of different routes will open up, allowing for ships to more efficiently take northern routes instead of the traditional southern ones. researchers at brown university have pointed out some of the positives of an increased diversity of trade routes, noting that a lot of these arctic trade routes can be shorter than typical ones like through the suez canal. these shorter routes would save fuel, thereby reducing carbon emissions and contributing less to our already increasing climate change problem. however, the arctic is extremely remote, and there are minimal emergency response systems in place. therefore, accidents in the arctic have an even greater impact on an already delicate area. if a shipping accident or oil spill were to occur along these new routes, it would be incredibly difficult for greenland and other arctic stakeholders to respond quickly. 

conservation versus fiscal independence

when examining arctic issues, it is essential to also address the indigenous population in the area. greenland has a complex and difficult history, and it is ultimately still part of the kingdom of denmark. thus, in any of these decisions surrounding mining, sand extraction, or trade routes, it is important to consider the greenlandic perspective. it is worth mentioning that the population of greenland is 88% inuit. the dilemma that greenlanders have to weigh is the conflicting goals of preserving the intrinsic beauty of their land and the pristine nature of the island versus increasing their financial independence from denmark. 

a recent survey, however, showed that 75% of greenlanders would support the extraction of the sand deposited by the glaciers. crucially, the majority of those surveyed prefer that this extraction is done so that greenlandic people are able to receive the profits, thus leading to greater financial independence from denmark. 

even though greenland’s melting ice is clearly dire, many are seeing an opportunity to leverage this situation to promote initiatives that could ironically mitigate our global climate impact. however, ice core scientist seierstad takes a broader perspective. she notes that these proposed initiatives like mining, sand extraction, and re-routing of trade routes are “not solutions to the climate crisis.” rather, she puts the emphasis on the big picture: “we need to find a way to reduce our carbon emissions drastically by moving away from fossil fuels, and we will need to carbon capture as well.” 

while caught up in the growing excitement around resource extraction, we can’t lose sight of the larger picture that greenland’s melting ice is an anthropogenic tragedy, or one that has been caused by humans. seierstad also said that, “climate change is happening extremely fast in the arctic – so fast in fact that greenlanders can see it almost from year to year.” seierstad is also witnessing how glaciers are shrinking and how sea ice is thinning or disappearing since her first visit to greenland in 2001.

this ice melt is affecting the livelihoods of many, if not all, of those that live in the arctic. should we choose to extract, we should bring all stakeholders to the table and run environmental impact assessments to know exactly how any new initiative would affect the area. and for greenland’s sake in particular, let’s not take our focus away from the broader, global solutions that will make the largest impact. 

conservation has become a part of our daily lives in the golden state, to the point where there are laws, daily habits, and lifestyle changes that californians overwhelmingly abide by to cope with this drought. i still remember when i was five or six years old being told “don’t shower for more than five minutes” and definitely “don’t leave the water on when you brush your teeth.”

i have heard about low-flow appliances and filling the dishwater all the way before you run it since before i could talk. all of my life i had known nothing but living in a drought, and only until traveling across the country for college, did i realize how abnormal that lifestyle is. 

the issue of grass

a big concern that has always come up surrounding droughts has been the issue of grass, and more specifically, people’s yards. having a green grass-filled front yard has long been considered wasteful in california. for example, a lawn needs about 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week, which for even a small lawn, is thousands of gallons of water per year. only recently have people started to acknowledge this waste and make a change.

alternatives include drought-resistant plants, stones or a hard surface, or simply choosing not to water your lawn at all. although some people are reluctant to leave their green grasses behind, many californians are now fond of the phrase “brown is the new green” when it comes to their front yards. 

in my household, we finally decided to make the transition a few years ago, as shown in the pictures below. 

we went from the wasteful green grass to a mulch-covered area with drought-resistant plants. in addition, we also got rid of our sprinklers (another big water waster) and added drip irrigation. although there was a small cost to changing our sprinkler systems to perforated hoses, we ended up saving money in the long run with a lower monthly water bill. importantly, drip irrigation only works when you have plants or trees and is less efficient on grass. this is just an example of one of the many ways californians have had to adapt their everyday lives and homes to the worsening water crisis. 

the time for action in california is now

for as much progress that is being made now, drought conditions are a long-standing problem in my state — longer than i have been alive. it’s only recently that people have started to make changes as, in the past, the responsibility was thought to have fallen on the agriculture industry, which uses 70% of the world’s freshwater on average. 

indeed, it is true that agriculture and other sectors must also apply changes and adapt to the water crisis in california and elsewhere, but studies have shown that every single person has a role to play. for example, a government plan that would help to reduce 25% of personal water use over three years would save 1.5 million acre-feet of water. this is substantial when compared to the 8 million acre-feet of water total that goes to the residential sector or the 30 million acre-feet of water that goes to the agricultural sector in california every year.

despite the discussion of this issue for decades, many californians didn’t consider the issue of water waste really personal until more recently, as the effects of climate change are likely to worsen water supply in the coming years.  

a lot of progress has been made by individual californians to conserve water in their own homes, however, there are still major concerns over water use in the state. there are still massive golf courses, places like resorts in palm springs (which are built literally in the middle of a desert), and snowmaking — all critical areas of vast amounts of water waste. the most reasonable next step is to spread sustainable water ideas to businesses and cities in california, and even to individuals around the country.

from the examples embodied by many californians, we have learned that it is vital for people to take responsibility for their water and to acknowledge that lifestyle changes for the sake of conservation are not only reasonable, but can be beautiful too.