What would cause Austin to turn into a desert? (San Angelo: moving, land)

[AD1985]

I was doing some reading on the Austin heat and it seems some people believe Austin is turning into a desert. Interesting because I've never heard of a place actually change its climate like that.

What human related factors would cause Austin to turn into a desert?

Thanks

[XLadylawX]

My understanding of physical geography leads me to believe that a large mountain range would have to rise on the western edge of Texas along the border with New Mexico.

[centralaustinite]

Originally Posted by XLadylawX

My understanding of physical geography leads me to believe that a large mountain range would have to rise on the western edge of Texas along the border with New Mexico.

Um . . . aren't there mountains in that exact location already? The Davis Mountains, the Christmas Mountains, etc. Not the Rockies for sure but perhaps enough to affect the rain patterns?

Animals and plant species are moving northward, I have heard that Austin may have a climate more like San Angelo in the next 20 years.

[die Eichkatze]

Most of the world's deserts are located at 30* N/S, which is exactly where we sit. Our saving grace is the massive warm body of water called the Gulf of Mexico. The only way to turn us into a desert is to get rid of the gulf. Yes, we may have some dry periods, but the gulf will keep that in check.

[JohnHenrySDM]

Originally Posted by AD1985

What human related factors would cause Austin to turn into a desert?

I think it's pretty well known that absolutely nothing humans do is in any way capable of affecting the climate. Everyone agrees with this, except the experts.

And in the words of Don McLeroy, "Somebody's got to stand up to experts!"

[wehotex]

Originally Posted by AD1985

I was doing some reading on the Austin heat and it seems some people believe Austin is turning into a desert. Interesting because I've never heard of a place actually change its climate like that.

What human related factors would cause Austin to turn into a desert?

Thanks

too many Californians

[JohnHenrySDM]

From a report by the World Meteorological Organization:

"Carbon dioxide-induced climate change and desertification
remain inextricably linked because of feedbacks
between land degradation and precipitation. Water
resources are inextricably linked with climate. Annual
average river runoff and water availability are projected
to increase by 10-40% at high latitudes and in some wet
tropical areas, and decrease by 10-30% over some dry
regions at mid-latitudes and in the dry tropics."

[Trainwreck20]

I think the projections you are referring to indicate that central Texas may become Semi-arid, not desert.

[atxcio]

I guess whatever we did in the 1950s (last time this happened) we must be doing again.

[JayBrown80]

I think we are just going thru a drought. We have gone thru them before, in about 40 year cycles. We are going thru one now. It will eventually end. We just have to be patient