A scenic desert wide-angle view from travels between Van Horn, TX and Alamogordo, NM. Due to climate change, average annual temperatures are projected to rise an additional 3.5°F to 9.5°F by the end of this century. Drought conditions are already common in the Southwest and drought periods are expected to become more frequent, intense, and longer. Drought will affect important water sources, including the Colorado River Basin. Combined with expected population growth, climate change will exacerbate existing stresses. Desert scrubland such as that in the image above may become more barren.