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Persistent drought turns Golden State brown

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Climate Cast
Every Thursday, MPR meteorologist Paul Huttner joins The Daily Circuit to talk about the latest research on our changing climate and the consequences we're seeing here in Minnesota and worldwide.
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Last year was California's driest on record. So far, 2014 is no better.

The American Meteorological Society plans to investigate the current California drought to determine whether climate change is playing a role. California has received no rain since the beginning of the year.

Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a drought emergency.

If Minnesotans are tempted to think that a California drought isn't their problem, they may want to think again. Bill Patzert, climatologist with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, reminds us that California feeds the whole country.

"Some places in California, we get three crops a year," he said. "Tomatoes, almonds, lettuce, an awful lot of fruits and vegetables." That produce goes to all the states and all over the world, he said.

"The bottom line is: Less water, less crops, higher prices at the grocery store," he told The Daily Circuit.

Kerri Miller and Paul Huttner hear from Patzert and talk about the browning of California in this week's Climate Cast.