[crude_intentions]

US farmers fear the return of the Dust Bowl
For years the Ogallala Aquifer, the world’s largest underground body of fresh water, has irrigated thousands of square miles of American farmland. Now it is running dry

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/8359076/US-farmers-fear-the-return-of-the-Dust-Bowl.html

The irrigated Plains grow 20 per cent of American grain and corn (maize), and America's 'industrial' agriculture dominates international markets. A collapse of those markets would lead to starvation in Africa and anywhere else where a meal depends on cheap American exports. 'The Ogallala supply is going to run out and the Plains will become uneconomical to farm,' Brauer says. 'That is beyond reasonable argument. Our goal now is to engineer a soft landing. That's all we can do.'

Not A happy story not a happy story at all.

[scas]

Groundwater is depleting, glaciers are melting, rivers and lakes are drying and deserts are extending. How will we manage this? Well, with a runaway methane condition we're likely to see the pictured conditions a lot sooner. But I figure it won't be an issue. Notice how there's so much rain at the top? Gravity will make all that water flood downwards and irrigate the dry areas. Problem solved.

[nobodypanic]

Notice how there's so much rain at the top? Gravity will make all that water flood downwards and irrigate the dry areas. Problem solved.

you're kidding, right?

[Livewire713]

Groundwater is depleting, glaciers are melting, rivers and lakes are drying and deserts are extending. How will we manage this? Well, with a runaway methane condition we're likely to see the pictured conditions a lot sooner. But I figure it won't be an issue. Notice how there's so much rain at the top? Gravity will make all that water flood downwards and irrigate the dry areas. Problem solved.

In the picture there's still ice on Greenland! Hope lives!!

[nobodypanic]

just look at the scale of it (the aquifer in question). and it'll be gone in this century.

wow, what a triumph of capitalism.

[scas]

wow, what a triumph of capitalism.

so is this. go alberta!

[mos6507]

wow, what a triumph of capitalism.

Like communist countries have a better environmental track-record?

[Beery]

wow, what a triumph of capitalism.

Like communist countries have a better environmental track-record?

So are you suggesting that capitalists sell their philosophy with the phrase: "Hey, at least we're only as bad as the communists!"? I'm just not sure that's such a great rallying cry. Maybe the capitalists need to hire a new marketing firm.

Clearly, the photo above tells us that when the chips are down, capitalism can make a toxic wasteland just as easily as communism.

[Pretorian]

wow, what a triumph of capitalism.

Like communist countries have a better environmental track-record?

So are you suggesting that capitalists sell their philosophy with the phrase: "Hey, at least we're only as bad as the communists!"? I'm just not sure that's such a great rallying cry. Maybe the capitalists need to hire a new marketing firm.

Clearly, the photo above tells us that when the chips are down, capitalism can make a toxic wasteland just as easily as communism.

no, not just as easily. You can't sue yourself , but you can sue any capitalist.