Researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara have noted that California's current drought has been exacerbated by the effects of global warming. California is accustomed to drought, but the combination of dry conditions and warm temperatures have had major ecological implications. As stores of water in the West are reduced — whether by usage in drought, evapotranspiration in heat or both — warming temperatures also see the snowpack on the wane. The two phenomena together could put extreme strain on water supplies, which holds implications for ecosystems, industries and people alike. University of California, Santa Barbara