A rare atmospheric phenomenon that transports large quantities of water vapor into the coastal watersheds of the western USA is responsible for up to 10–20% of intense snowmelt events in the region.
Extreme events
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Extreme Precipitation Expected to Increase with Warming Planet
A new analysis indicates that the frequency and magnitude of extreme precipitation events are expected to increase as Earth continues to warm.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Role of Humans in Past Hurricane Potential Intensity Is Unclear
In recent decades, there have been more intense North Atlantic hurricanes. A new study compares climate models to see whether they can attribute increasing potential intensity to human activity.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
As Sea Levels Rise, Expect More Floods
A new study unveils the increasing exposure of coastal communities to minor and extreme floods as sea levels rise.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
If Precipitation Extremes Are Increasing, Why Aren’t Floods?
Improving our understanding of the relationship between changes in precipitation and flooding due to rising temperature is a new grand challenge for the scientific community, argue the authors of a recent commentary.
Posted inFeatures
Making Sense of Landslide Danger After Kerala’s Floods
Scientists traveled to Kerala, a state in India recently devastated by severe monsoon rains. They found a vulnerable population that will soon face fresh landslide risks as a new monsoon approaches.
Posted inOpinions
Millions More Americans Face Flood Risks Than Previously Thought
A different modeling approach fills large gaps in the U.S. government’s flood risk estimates, revealing previously overlooked at-risk areas often surrounding small flood-prone streams.
Posted inScience Updates
Lightning: A New Essential Climate Variable
Lightning is a symptom and a cause of climate change. A recently established task team is working to make lightning data available and useful for climate science and service applications.
Posted inFeatures
When Environmental Forces Collide
Multiple factors often interact to amplify the effects of severe storms, droughts, and other extreme water-related events.
Posted inScience Updates
Satellites and Cell Phones Form a Cholera Early-Warning System
A new initiative combines satellite data with ground observations to assess and predict the risk of cholera outbreaks in Bangladesh’s vulnerable populations.