DESERT-DROUGHT OR DROUGHT-DESERT ? WHAT ARE WE IN?

Are we in a desert-drought or a drought-desert?

That question will be addressed at the next Friends of the University Libraries Lecture at Utah State University. Leading the discussion is Donald Jensen, climatologist for the Utah Climate Center and professor in the Department of Plants, Soils and Biometeorology at Utah State.

Jensen speaks Thursday, June 20, at 4 p.m. in the Eccles Science Learning Center room 046 on the Utah State campus. ?Utah and Arizona — Weather, Climate and Drought Cycles? is the title of Jensen?s presentation.

The Friends of the University Libraries summer lecture series is open to all and free to those holding a Utah State Summer Citizen or Friends of the Libraries card. A nominal $1 charge admits everyone else.

Jensen will discuss the varied definitions of drought. For instance, what is drought in the desert and what is drought along the coast? He will focus primarily on deserts, including how drought cycles vary in the desert. His presentation will also feature a discussion of ?deseretification? or how climates changes, including those caused by humans, create deserts.

The Friends summer lecture series promotes a connection between the university, the libraries and the community, said John Elsweiler, series coordinator and associate director for public services for University Libraries. University and community experts are featured in a non-academic setting. Most lectures include the presentation followed by a question and answer session.

The next lecture is June 27, when Bruce Bugbee?s topic is ?Feeding People in Space ? USU Apogee Wheat on the International Space Station.?