It seems to have been one wet summer so far, with hard rains
causing flooding across the state – at least twice in the Bradford
area -ðjust in the last couple of months.

But scientists are saying that the recent, unexpected hard rain
events, which fall on the heels of a drought watch in some parts of
the state, are the result of recent changes in the Earth’s climate
system. Apparently, it’s not that it’s raining more; it’s just
raining harder.

Jim Clark, extension educator at the McKean County office of the
Penn State Cooperative Extension in Smethport, explained the
precipitation and groundwater trend last week, citing a Web site,
www.climateandfarming.org, that detailed information he learned at
a workshop he attended in Connecticut recently.

A document by Art DeGaetano, associate professor at the
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Science at Cornell University
in Ithaca, N.Y., titled “General Overview of Climate Change
Science,” is available on the site, and explains the relationship
between changes in the planet’s climate system, temperature,
precipitation and groundwater levels.

Basically, changes in the Earth’s climate system over the last
100 years having driven temperatures up and producing trends in
precipitation where rainfall events are less frequent, but more
severe, DeGaetano wrote.

“Since the period of time between rainfall events increases,
drought may become more prevalent,” DeGaetano goes on. “But since
the rain events that do occur can be quite heavy, the increased
risk of flooding is also a concern.”

This idea has been illustrated perfectly this year in
Pennsylvania, where near drought conditions in late spring were
followed by floods in early summer.

Bryan Swistock, a Penn State Cooperative Extension water
resources specialist out of State College, voiced worries in
mid-April about an impending groundwater drought in Pennsylvania,
according to an article from the Cooperative Extension. Then,
floods at the end of June caused millions of dollars worth of
damage in the eastern part of the state.

Reports indicate April and May brought below-average amounts of
precipitation state-wide just before the June floods. State
officials had declared a drought watch in April after an unusually
warm, nearly snowless winter was followed by one of the driest
Marches on record, the article said.

Some scientists, like both DeGaetano and Swistock, blame the
sudden and extreme weather trends on global warming.

DeGaetano wrote that increases in greenhouse gasses is one human
factor affecting the climate system. He also cites land use changes
like deforestation and urbanization.

“I am personally convinced … the scientific evidence is
irrefutable … that global warming is happening and that it is
behind a lot of the extreme weather events that we have been seeing
over the last 10 years or so,” Swistock is quoted as saying.

Clark said predictions based on studies like DeGaetanos’
indicate the intensity of future rain events will continue to
grow.

“Although the exact magnitude of changes in precipitation are
uncertain, there is reason to believe that precipitation evens will
become more variable, leading to increases in both the frequency of
floods and droughts,” DeGaetano concludes.

That being the case, it might behoove residents to educate
themselves about dealing with both drought and flood conditions,
and be ready to switch at the drop of a hat.

One way residents can be prepared for both extreme conditions is
for those who have their own private water supply to monitor and
test their well or spring regularly.

Clark advises that during drought conditions, do not stick a
measuring device into a well to check the groundwater level. Not
only could one inadvertently cause contamination, but could also
damage the water pump, as well. Instead, Clark said, use the Web
site – http://pa.water.usgs.gov/durplots/well_duration.html, which
shows results for wells being monitored in every county in the
state. Information there can “indicate when trouble is ahead as far
as groundwater levels,” Clark said.

He said it is also important for residents with private water
supplies to have the water tested, especially when there are
drought or flood conditions, when water is drawn from strange or
new areas. Clark said it is a good idea to have springs tested
every year and wells, every three years. He advised saving the
results of the water tests, because it shows the water system is
being managed and could give legal standing in the case of
contamination. Clark also said to conduct the water tests at
different times during the year to get a better, truer reading.