… What looks like prolonged drought may actually be something more permanent in the Southwest, a shift toward a drier baseline driven by rising temperatures. Even when rain and snow return, the landscape holds less water than it once did. Scientists have a term for this larger shift: aridification. Unlike drought, which is defined by below-average precipitation over months to decades, aridification describes a long-term transformation of the climate system itself. Warming temperatures increase evaporation from soils, plants and snowpack, meaning the same amount of precipitation now produces less usable water. … Over the long term, aridification favors fast-growing, non-native species over slow-growing natives adapted to historic rainfall patterns. Invasive grasses fill the gaps, increasing fire risk and reducing biodiversity.

Other drought and wildfire news:

• YubaNet (Nevada City, Calif.): $120 million available for projects that promote healthy forests and reduce wildfire risk
• EurekAlert! (AAAS): Modern twist on wildfire management methods found also to have a bonus feature that protects water supplies