{"id":440644,"date":"2026-04-20T12:04:18","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T19:04:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=440644"},"modified":"2026-04-20T12:04:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T19:04:20","slug":"ancient-lake-spillover-new-evidence-shows-how-the-colorado-river-carved-the-grand-canyon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=440644","title":{"rendered":"Ancient Lake Spillover: New Evidence Shows How the Colorado River Carved the Grand Canyon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"723\" height=\"485\" data-attachment-id=\"440645\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=440645\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0-Ancient-Lake-Spillover-New-Evidence-Shows-How-the-Colorado-River-Carved-the-Grand-Canyon.jpg?fit=1168%2C784&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1168,784\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"0 Ancient Lake Spillover  New Evidence Shows How the Colorado River Carved the Grand Canyon\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0-Ancient-Lake-Spillover-New-Evidence-Shows-How-the-Colorado-River-Carved-the-Grand-Canyon.jpg?fit=723%2C485&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0-Ancient-Lake-Spillover-New-Evidence-Shows-How-the-Colorado-River-Carved-the-Grand-Canyon.jpg?resize=723%2C485&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-440645\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0-Ancient-Lake-Spillover-New-Evidence-Shows-How-the-Colorado-River-Carved-the-Grand-Canyon.jpg?resize=1024%2C687&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0-Ancient-Lake-Spillover-New-Evidence-Shows-How-the-Colorado-River-Carved-the-Grand-Canyon.jpg?resize=300%2C201&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0-Ancient-Lake-Spillover-New-Evidence-Shows-How-the-Colorado-River-Carved-the-Grand-Canyon.jpg?resize=768%2C516&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0-Ancient-Lake-Spillover-New-Evidence-Shows-How-the-Colorado-River-Carved-the-Grand-Canyon.jpg?resize=640%2C430&amp;ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0-Ancient-Lake-Spillover-New-Evidence-Shows-How-the-Colorado-River-Carved-the-Grand-Canyon.jpg?w=1168&amp;ssl=1 1168w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Geologists broadly agree the modern Grand Canyon (the deep, river-integrated version we see today) is relatively &#8220;young&#8221; in geologic terms\u2014primarily carved starting ~5\u20136 million years ago. Earlier ideas of a 70-million-year-old canyon (from the Laramide orogeny era) have largely been set aside in favor of this younger timeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The big question has always been the mechanism during that ~5-million-year gap (after the river existed upstream ~11 Ma but before it exited the canyon area ~5.6 Ma).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Proposed ideas included:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Gradual headward erosion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Groundwater sapping\/karst collapse.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>River capture.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Or this lake-spillover model.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">New research article published in Science on April 16, 2026, titled<strong> &#8220;Late Miocene Colorado River arrival in the Bidahochi basin supports spillover origin of Grand Canyon&#8221;<\/strong> by John J. Y. He and colleagues (including Ryan Crow of the USGS and others from UCLA, Arizona Geological Survey, and additional institutions).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The study provides new geochemical and sedimentological data showing that by <strong>~6.6 million years ago<\/strong> (late Miocene), the ancestral Colorado River (already present upstream in western Colorado by ~11 Ma) was delivering water and sediment into the <strong>Bidahochi basin<\/strong> in northeastern Arizona (largely on Navajo Nation land, east\/southeast of the modern Grand Canyon).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Key lines of evidence include:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology:<\/strong> Thousands of zircon grains from upper Bidahochi Formation sandstones show a distinctive age &#8220;fingerprint&#8221; (notably a population of 40\u201325 Ma grains) that matches sediments from the upper Colorado\u2013Green River system, including the Browns Park Formation. This signature appears abruptly around 6.6 Ma and is absent or rare in older deposits below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Increased sedimentation rate:<\/strong> An order-of-magnitude jump in deposition at that time, consistent with a major river input.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Strontium isotopes (\u2078\u2077Sr\/\u2078\u2076Sr):<\/strong> Shifts in carbonate ratios indicating a new water source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Sedimentology and fossils:<\/strong> Rippled layers suggesting a strong river flowing into standing lake water; appearance of large fish species typical of fast-flowing river environments (not just a closed lake).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Together, these indicate the proto-Colorado River fed into a large paleolake (Lake Bidahochi or Hopi Lake) for hundreds of thousands to over a million years, gradually filling it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once the lake rose high enough, it overtopped a topographic barrier (associated with the<strong> Kaibab<\/strong> Arch\/plateau) to the west. This spillover established (or accelerated) the river&#8217;s integration through the future Grand Canyon, with the river reaching its modern outlet to the Gulf of California <strong>around 5.6\u20135 Ma<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The authors argue this makes <strong>lake spillover<\/strong> the simplest and most likely primary mechanism for integrating the Colorado River across the Colorado Plateau and initiating major canyon incision\u2014rather than purely headward erosion, groundwater sapping, or river capture alone. Other processes may have played supporting roles, but the new data strengthen the spillover model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Context in the broader debate<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The modern Grand Canyon<\/strong> (the deep, fully integrated gorge) is considered relatively young geologically (~5\u20136 Ma for its final integration phase). Earlier ideas of a much older (70+ Ma) canyon have been largely discounted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A 5-million-year &#8220;gap&#8221; existed between the river&#8217;s upstream presence (11 Ma) and its downstream exit (~5.6 Ma). This study fills part of that gap by confirming the river reached the Bidahochi basin by 6.6 Ma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The spillover idea isn&#8217;t entirely new (proposed decades ago), but it has been contested. This paper provides direct sedimentary &#8220;fingerprint&#8221; evidence that was previously missing, prompting a reevaluation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not all geologists are fully convinced\u2014some note that hybrid models (spillover plus other erosional or tectonic factors) may still apply, and debates about exact timing, lake size, and overflow mechanics continue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is a solid incremental advance in understanding one of North America&#8217;s most iconic landscapes. The work relies heavily on field sampling from the Bidahochi Formation (with permissions on Navajo land) and high-precision lab analysis of mineral grains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">_____________________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Late Miocene Colorado River arrival in the Bidahochi basin supports spillover origin of Grand Canyon<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Title:<\/strong> Late Miocene Colorado River arrival in the Bidahochi basin supports spillover origin of Grand Canyon<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Authors:<\/strong> John J. Y. He et al. (lead author John J. Y. He; key co-authors include Ryan S. Crow of the USGS, with contributions from researchers at UCLA, Arizona Geological Survey, University of Washington, and others)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Journal: <\/strong>Science<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Publication date:<\/strong> 16 April 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Volume\/Issue:<\/strong> Vol. 392, Issue 6795<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pages:<\/strong> 289\u2013295<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>DOI:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/science.adz6826\">DOI: 10.1126\/science.adz6826<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the full research article (not a perspective or news piece) that appeared on the cover of that issue of Science. It presents new detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology data from the Bidahochi Formation, along with supporting sedimentological, isotopic (\u2078\u2077Sr\/\u2078\u2076Sr), depositional rate, and paleontological evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Quick recap of the core contribution<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The ancestral Colorado River (already present upstream by 11 Ma) began delivering its distinctive sediment (with a clear &#8220;fingerprint&#8221; matching the Browns Park Formation) into the Bidahochi paleolake basin by **6.6 Ma**.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This arrival coincides with:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A sharp increase in sedimentation rate (order-of-magnitude jump).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shifts in strontium isotopes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sediment structures indicating a strong river inflow into standing lake water.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Appearance of large river-adapted fish fossils.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The lake filled over time and eventually spilled westward over the Kaibab Arch\/plateau, integrating the river through the future Grand Canyon and reaching its outlet to the Gulf of California by ~5.6\u20135 Ma.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The authors conclude that <strong>lake spillover<\/strong> was the primary (though not necessarily exclusive) mechanism linking the upper and lower river systems, providing the simplest explanation supported by the new &#8220;fingerprint&#8221; data. Other processes (e.g., some headward erosion or karst features) may have contributed locally, but the Bidahochi connection fills a critical gap in the ~5-million-year interval that had been debated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The work involved extensive fieldwork on Navajo Nation land (with proper permissions) and high-precision lab analysis of thousands of zircon grains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This paper has generated significant coverage because it strengthens one of the leading hypotheses for one of geology&#8217;s classic puzzles. The article is behind the Science paywall, but abstracts and many news summaries are freely available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>PDF<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.science.org\/doi\/pdf\/10.1126\/science.adz6826\"> science.org\/doi\/pdf\/10.1126\/science.adz6826<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Geologists broadly agree the modern Grand Canyon (the deep, river-integrated version we see today) is relatively &#8220;young&#8221; in geologic terms\u2014primarily carved starting ~5\u20136 million years ago. Earlier ideas of a 70-million-year-old canyon (from the Laramide orogeny era) have largely been set aside in favor of this younger timeline.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":440645,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691824274,691842397,691842400,691842393,691842399,691842392,691842398,691842396,691842391],"class_list":{"0":"post-440644","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"hentry","7":"category-uncategorized","8":"tag-colorado-river","9":"tag-extensive-fieldwork","10":"tag-grand-canyon","11":"tag-hopi-lake","12":"tag-kaibab-arch-plateau","13":"tag-lake-bidahochi","14":"tag-late-miocene","15":"tag-navajo-nation-land","16":"tag-proto-colorado-river","18":"fallback-thumbnail"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0-Ancient-Lake-Spillover-New-Evidence-Shows-How-the-Colorado-River-Carved-the-Grand-Canyon.jpg?fit=1168%2C784&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-1QDa","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":359738,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=359738","url_meta":{"origin":440644,"position":0},"title":"U.S. Water Woes \u2013 Southwest","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"30\/12\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"One of the iconic geographical features of the American west is the\u00a0Great Salt Lake\u00a0(GSL).\u00a0 Now the GSL is not a reservoir, but it can serve us here as a lesson about the reservoirs of the Southwestern US.","rel":"","context":"In \"drought in the Great Southwest\"","block_context":{"text":"drought in the Great Southwest","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=drought-in-the-great-southwest"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/0usa-2075213_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/0usa-2075213_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/0usa-2075213_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/0usa-2075213_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/0usa-2075213_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":286535,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=286535","url_meta":{"origin":440644,"position":1},"title":"Colorado River Flow Data Disproves \u201cClimate Change Warming\u201d Computer Model Flow Reduction Claims","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"04\/11\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The next question is, does climate change even predict future reductions of precipitation over the Colorado River watershed? The following plot shows an average of 183 climate model simulations of average yearly precipitation in an area approximating the Colorado River watershed. The models suggest a slight increase in total precipitation\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"climate change warming\u201d\"","block_context":{"text":"climate change warming\u201d","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=climate-change-warming"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/0horseshoe-bend-iconic_s.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/0horseshoe-bend-iconic_s.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/0horseshoe-bend-iconic_s.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/0horseshoe-bend-iconic_s.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/0horseshoe-bend-iconic_s.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":275055,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=275055","url_meta":{"origin":440644,"position":2},"title":"New Grand Canyon Monument stirs controversy with 1.1 million acre designation","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"22\/08\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"In Episode 378 of District of Conservation, Gabriella focuses on two important stories from Arizona that have national relevance. These include the designation of the Baaj Nwaavjo I\u2019tah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument and the delisting of the Apache trout\u2013 Arizona\u2019s state trout.","rel":"","context":"In \"Biden Administration\"","block_context":{"text":"Biden Administration","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=biden-administration"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/0wp5610945.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/0wp5610945.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/0wp5610945.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/0wp5610945.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/0wp5610945.jpg?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":215299,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=215299","url_meta":{"origin":440644,"position":3},"title":"Watch new Conservation Nation: \u201cMotoring through the Grand Canyon State\u201d","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"24\/08\/2022","format":false,"excerpt":"In the newest episode of CFACT\u2019s Conservation Nation YouTube series, host Gabriella Hoffman\u00a0traverses the Grand Canyon State, exploring Agua Fria national monument, Horseshoe Bend, and of course, the Grand Canyon. Along the way, she talks to various stakeholders giving their take on whether Arizona needs more national monuments, or is\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-1027.png?fit=848%2C565&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-1027.png?fit=848%2C565&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-1027.png?fit=848%2C565&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-1027.png?fit=848%2C565&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":199277,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=199277","url_meta":{"origin":440644,"position":4},"title":"Newly Discovered Lake May Hold Secret to Antarctic Ice Sheet\u2019s Rise and Fall","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"10\/05\/2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Peer-Reviewed Publication UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN IMAGE:\u00a0THE COAST OF ANTARCTICA\u2019S PRINCESS ELIZABETH LAND, NEAR WHERE THE ICE SHEET MEETS THE SEA. NEWLY DISCOVERED LAKE SNOW EAGLE LIES A FEW HUNDRED MILES INLAND, UNDER THE SAME ICE SHEET.\u00a0view\u00a0more\u00a0CREDIT: SHUAI YAN\/UT JACKSON SCHOOL OF GEOSCIENCES Scientists investigating the underside of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/0Screenshot-2022-05-10-202622.png?fit=1051%2C525&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/0Screenshot-2022-05-10-202622.png?fit=1051%2C525&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/0Screenshot-2022-05-10-202622.png?fit=1051%2C525&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/0Screenshot-2022-05-10-202622.png?fit=1051%2C525&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/0Screenshot-2022-05-10-202622.png?fit=1051%2C525&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":215755,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=215755","url_meta":{"origin":440644,"position":5},"title":"Lake Mead Low Water Levels, Part 2: Colorado River Inflow Variations and Trend","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"26\/08\/2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The popular narrative that drought due to climate change is causing Lake Mead to have less water available to it is incorrect.","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-1195.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-1195.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-1195.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-1195.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/image-1195.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/440644","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=440644"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/440644\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":440666,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/440644\/revisions\/440666"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/440645"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=440644"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=440644"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=440644"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}