What would happen in North America if California became drier?

My question is mainly related to the impact on food production if the climate changes made agriculture more difficult in the state of California but also in the other American and Mexican states from both side of the border.

Context: If you live in the United Sates, in Canada or possibly in other countries as well, you might have noticed all the food produced by this region while shopping in the grocery store. They produce most of the fruits, vegetables and nuts that we eat:

California produces a sizable majority of many American fruits, vegetables, and nuts: 99 percent of artichokes, 99 percent of walnuts, 97 percent of kiwis, 97 percent of plums, 95 percent of celery, 95 percent of garlic, 89 percent of cauliflower, 71 percent of spinach, and 69 percent of carrots.

The problem: The climate changes are making the Hadley cell larger. The northern limit of that cell is dry. Right now, California is affected by this dry pattern only during the summer. While winter are more humid due to the influence of the polar front. South of the border,in Mexico, we have Baja California. It is mostly a dry desert because it is always affected by a dry weather. My guess is that the expansion of the Hadley cell could lead to the desertification of southern California and other states along the border.

• If the region suddenly became more arid, what would happen to the food production?
• Could farmers adapt to the drier climate with different crops or different agricultural techniques?
• Would the climate changes simply move the food production more to the north and could these states adapt to replace the lost production from the south?

For more information about how climate works : Creating a realistic world map - Currents, Precipitation and Climate

posted about 10 years ago

Vincent‭

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