PNNL Scientists Say Being a Californian Is Going to Suck

Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory study all kinds of stuff, but a surprising finding suggests anyone born in California right now is going to have a tough life.

Global climate change is expected to exacerbate the effects of El Nino and La Nina weather cycles. Most scientists believe California's droughts will worsen, but PNNL scientist Jin-Ho Yoon with cohorts with Utah State University discovered an interesting nuance:

If current warming trends continue, drought years will worsen and flooding years will be three times worse. In other words, predicted trends will become more extreme.

One problem pointed out is drought years damage plants that are supposed to soak up water in flood years. That means heavy rainfall will become more dangerous because of the droughts.

More extreme droughts mean it will be difficult to "catch up" water storage during flood years. And it means more extreme floods will cause more mud slides and erosion than normal.

Water management will become really difficult, putting major strains on society. In short, good luck Californians.