American Rivers Are Changing Color
American rivers just aren’t what they used to be. In addition to being decimated by drought, findings published earlier this year show that a third of rivers in the U.S. have changed color. The research uses satellite data spanning from 1984 to 2018 to catalog rivers across the country spanning more than 1.25 miles (2 kilometers) in length.
The results show big shifts afoot. While the research doesn’t probe the causal connections, the scientists’ best guess for the shifts include agricultural runoff, changes in river flowing, and rising water temperature. The researchers note that the changes in color don’t necessarily mean rivers are degrading before our very eyes. But don’t worry, there are plenty of other signs showing American waterways are in trouble. 🙁
