Geography Professor Laurel Larsen explains how Data Science can help California's Drought in Q&A

July 29, 2021

Geography Professor Laurel Larsen explains how Data Science can help California's Drought in Q&A

California’s Drought is Getting Worse. In a Q&A, Laurel Larsen Explains How Data Science Can Help.

Rachel Leven

California is amidst a period of intensifying drought. As of July 8, Governor Gavin Newsrom (D-Calif.) had issued drought emergency declarations for 50 of the state's 58 counties and had urged local residents to voluntarily reduce their water use. Californians have seen dry periods like this before that prompted water scarcity concerns. But climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of these events, leading to increased public health and environmental concern.

We spoke with Laurel Larsen, a UC Berkeley associate professor of geography and Berkeley Institute for Data Science faculty affiliate who researches future clean water availability using data science. Larsen, who is currently on leave from Berkeley while serving as lead scientist at the Delta Stewardship Council, talked about water resource management in California and data science’s role in it.

https://data.berkeley.edu/news/california-drought-getting-worse-qa-laure...