CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -Lake Mead water levels continue to drop, exposing volcanic ash from 12 million years ago. LAS VEGAS (KTNV)-As Lake Mead’s water level continues to drop, scientists at UNLV have discovered sedimentary rock laced with volcanic ash that hasn’t been visible since the 30s.

Detailed explanation-2: -Mead is a large reservoir on the main stem of the Colorado River. Hoover Dam, which formed Lake Mead, is located in Black Canyon approximately 30 miles east of Las Vegas, NV in the Mojave Desert, Arizona-Nevada (Figure 1).

Detailed explanation-3: -Without Lake Mead, Las Vegas would lose access to 90 percent of its water sources. If Lake Mead were to reach dead pool, it would technically still be able to supply drinking water to Las Vegas. But there will not be enough water for agricultural activities.

Detailed explanation-4: -“Rain in the Las Vegas valley does help with Lake Mead’s water levels. However, it is more like a drop in the bucket compared to the contribution from the snowpack in the Upper Colorado River Basin in E Utah, W Colorado, & SW Wyoming.”

Detailed explanation-5: -The Lunar Crater volcanic field is located in Nye County, in the central part of the state of Nevada. The field lies almost north from Rachel, 62 miles (100 km) east-northeast from Tonopah and 250 miles (400 km) north of Las Vegas.