The Case of California's Disappearing Snow

This time last year, California was alive with verdant vegetation and ivory snow. The state has since undergone a drastic transformation: The Central Valley is now a basin of brown dust, and in the higher regions there's hardly any powder on the ground.

The persistent drought that is ravaging the West – California in particular experienced its driest year in known history in 2013 – has become so severe its effects are clearly visible from space. The Sierra Nevada mountains are normally loaded with snow; their very name derives from the Spanish for "snowy range." Look at how much snow had fallen halfway through January of last year in the left shot of this satellite montage, then contrast it to the barren badlands in the image at right from Monday: