New research reveals that atmospheric rivers, while known for causing heavy rainfall, also contribute to rising temperatures and heatwaves across the United States.
Atmospheric rivers, narrow bands of concentrated water vapor transported poleward from the tropics, deliver a deluge of rainfall but also play a key role in driving extreme heat events and warming winters across the United States, new research suggests. This winter has already kicked off with atmospheric rivers on both the East and West Coasts, causing widespread flooding, but also relieving drought conditions in some regions.
However, the new study also suggests these weather systems bring heat to the lower atmosphere, creating temperature anomalies 9–18 F above average. These impacts are especially pronounced in regions like the Pacific Northwest, Midwest and eastern U.S., where atmospheric rivers are linked to warm winters and extreme heatwaves. The findings underscore an overlooked consequence of atmospheric rivers in the U.S. and more broadly across the globe: their ability to amplify extreme temperatures, worsening heatwaves and creating unseasonably warm winters. With atmospheric rivers expected to become more intense and frequent due to climate change, their impact on temperature extremes could pose new challenges for infrastructure, agriculture and public health. Improved forecasting of AR-driven heat events could help communities prepare for these risks. The study found several significant regional impacts for the U.S. In the Pacific Northwest, an atmospheric river contributed to the record-breaking 2021 heatwaves, intensifying heat in the region. The researchers found a significant correlation between the frequency of atmospheric rivers and seasonal average temperatures. The impacts may not be limited to where an atmospheric river makes landfall, either. The 2021 heatwave showed lingering effects far from where it slammed into southeastern Alaska. Atmospheric rivers penetrate further inland in the Midwest, likely due to the absence of mountain barriers
Atmospheric Rivers Extreme Heat Climate Change Temperature Anomalies Weather Patterns
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