In recent years, extreme weather events, such as so-called atmospheric rivers, have had a significant impact on various regions of the world, intensifying in frequency and strength.
According to a recent study published in the Journal of Climate, these phenomena have grown in size and humidity since 1980, coinciding with the increase in global temperatures.
What are atmospheric rivers?
An atmospheric river is a long and narrow band of water vapor that transports moisture from the oceans across the atmosphere, releasing large amounts of rain or snow on land.
According to the study, in recent decades, their area has increased between 6% and 9%, while their frequency has increased between 2% and 6%, also becoming more humid.
Scientists warn that as climate change warms the air, it has a greater capacity to retain moisture, which could lead to larger and more dangerous events in the future. Lexi Henny, author of the study, highlighted that although the increased intensity of these phenomena is not entirely attributed to climate change, their patterns align with the expectations of how they will evolve on a warming planet.
Dangers and global scope
While atmospheric rivers are crucial for alleviating droughts, they also pose serious risks when they are very intense. In California, they have caused devastating floods, landslides, and human losses. One significant event of this nature even led to relocating the state’s capital in the 1860s.
Furthermore, these phenomena are not limited to California. In 2023, an atmospheric river in New England caused flooding and strong winds, while in Alaska, in 2020, one of these events left over two meters of snow. Their global reach highlights the need to better understand their dynamics and effects.
Atmospheric rivers and their impact in Argentina
In our region, atmospheric rivers impact more frequently against the Andes in the Neuquén, Mendoza, and San Juan areas.
These atmospheric rivers, coming from the Pacific Ocean, ascend the mountain slopes and, thus, cool and condense to give rise to precipitation where, depending on the altitude, it falls as rain or snow. They are the main source of water resources in the lower regions adjacent to the Andes.
In 2023 alone, there were at least five precipitation events in northern Neuquén and Mendoza associated with atmospheric rivers.
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