new year’s hat (Photo credit: hownowdesign)
Make your resolutions, don your party hats and celebrate– October 1 marks the start of a new water year! Climatologists and hydrologists track surface water and accumulation of precipitation starting on October 1 each year. The water year is titled according to the calendar year in which it ends– yesterday we concluded Water Year 2012. Take a look at last year’s precipitation measurements around the state or compare previous water years.
Why October 1? According to a Stormtracker article:
October is used as the beginning of the water year because across much of the United States this is the time of year when water inputs begin to exceed loss to evaporation.During the cooler months, evaporation rates are very low, storms tend to be widespread and snow moisture will be reserved for later use. These factors allow for soil moisture to be recharged after the depletion during the warm season.
Not ready for the end of another year? Not to worry! Celebrate Water 2012 for the rest of the calendar year or cling to the next 30 days, October 31 marks the end of the irrigation year.
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