What is an atmospheric river? A hydrologist explains the good and bad of these flood-prone storms and how they’re changing

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🗞️ Driving the news: Atmospheric rivers are narrow corridors of concentrated water vapor in the atmosphere, resembling sky-bound rivers, and can produce intense rainfall or snowfall
• These phenomena are essential for water supply but also pose significant flood risks, especially when occurring consecutively as "AR families"

🔭 The context: Forming over warm tropical oceans and guided by jet streams, atmospheric rivers are common in mid-latitudes
• They play a crucial role in transporting moisture and are particularly impactful along the U.S. West Coast, where they contribute significantly to annual precipitation and snowpack, crucial for water resources

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: While atmospheric rivers are vital for ending droughts and supplying water, their increasing intensity and frequency due to global warming pose challenges
• They contribute to extreme weather events, affecting water management, reservoir regulation, and climate resilience.

⏭️ What's next: Research focuses on improving atmospheric river forecasts and understanding their evolving patterns under climate change
• This knowledge is vital for water management and preparing for the increased risk of flooding and water variability.

💬 One quote: "Atmospheric rivers have been responsible for ending more than a third of the region’s major droughts, including the severe California drought of 2012-16." - Research Hydrologist

📈 One stat: Atmospheric rivers provide 30% to 50% of the West Coast’s annual precipitation and contribute about 30% to 40% of the Sierra Nevada’s seasonal snow accumulation.

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