Watch CBS News

Climate Change Warming Lake Tahoe At 14 Times Normal Rate

LAKE TAHOE (AP) — An annual report on Lake Tahoe says the United States' largest alpine lake is still warming at 14 times the historic average.

The finding is in Thursday's yearly report by the University of California at Davis on the condition of Lake Tahoe, which straddles the California and Nevada borders.

Researchers say the giant lake is still warming by half of a degree Fahrenheit each year, continuing a four-year trend driven by climate change.

ALSO READ: Rare Carnivorous Plants On View In Sierra After Century Behind Locked Gates

The yearly report cites other signs of climate change at Lake Tahoe, including a first spring snow melt at the lake that started 19 days earlier in March than it did in 1961.

The university researchers say climate change is contributing to the growth of algae in the lake in summer, reducing the lake's famous clarity.

© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.