A Climatological Analysis of Drought and Flood Conditions in California

Keywords: Drought; California; Flood; Atmospheric River
Abstract Type: Poster Abstract

Abstract

Although drought in California has been studied, there is a research gap in the comprehensive analysis of climate patterns that influence both drought and flood conditions. In 2023, California experienced a drastic shift from persistent drought conditions to severe flooding. As a result, much of the drought was gradually alleviated state-wide, but severe damage was sustained, creating a multitude of hazards. This research analyzes the influence that climatological variables (such as temperature and circulation patterns) have on drought and flood events on the West Coast in California. The analysis will consist of Pearsons’ R test of association between temperature data and standardized precipitation index (SPI) over a 50-year span, tested specifically on anomalous dry years, as will be derived from SPI data. The sliding/rolling window correlation will be used to test for association between both drought and flood conditions, based on anomalous wet and dry years derived from SPI calculations, and each climate/ocean index pertinent to the West Coast. These results will provide a comprehensive understanding of how climatological variables impact both drought and flood conditions.