The atmospheric river moves toward the Earth’s poles

In recent decades, the atmospheric rivers that transport water vapor in the Earth’s upper reaches have changed location – a fundamental change that could impact weather patterns and rainfall on Earth. whole planet.

Scientists at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) found that atmospheric rivers in both hemispheres have moved approximately 6° to 10° poleward over the past 40 years. This means that the areas affected by this phenomenon are now located further north in the Northern Hemisphere and further south in the Southern Hemisphere than before. The study was published in the journal Science Advances.

The team explains that the underlying cause of this shift is the cooling of the eastern tropical Pacific over the past four decades, although they note that the sequence of events “remains to be fully explored.” “.

Atmospheric rivers are streams of water vapor flowing in the Earth’s atmosphere, which have a major impact on rain and snow levels. Their size and intensity can vary widely, but the average atmospheric river can transport as much water vapor as the water at the mouth of the Mississippi River.

One of the famous atmospheric rivers is called the “Pineapple Express”, a powerful atmospheric river that transports moisture from the tropical Pacific around Hawai’i towards the west coast of the US and Canada. When this band of warm, wet air reaches the West Coast, it could cause heavy rains across California, as well as Oregon, Washington and British Columbia.

An estimated 50% of the rain and snow on the US West Coast is carried by atmospheric rivers. However, they are not just a North American phenomenon; Atmospheric rivers influence weather and precipitation distribution worldwide.

New research indicates that the recent shift of atmospheric rivers toward the poles could have a profound effect on the world’s weather systems in the coming years.

Areas that previously relied on atmospheric rivers for rainfall may face increased droughts and heat waves, while areas at higher latitudes will likely experience heavier rainfall, Stronger storms and increased risk of flooding.

For a region like southern California, atmospheric rivers moving north could further reduce precipitation, leading to more problems with water scarcity, drought and wildfires. Meanwhile, regions like the Pacific Northwest will likely see wetter weather, causing problems such as flooding.

However, much remains unknown about the more widespread effects of atmospheric rivers moving poleward. One of them is that it can bring unpredictable consequences to the world’s oceans.