What Is an Atmospheric River? Explained Simply
• Atmospheric rivers are concentrated bands of water vapor that transport moisture from the tropics, crucial for global water transport.
• These 'rivers in the sky' can cause heavy rain or snow, leading to flooding and landslides, especially when they hit mountainous areas.
• Climate change is intensifying atmospheric rivers, making them stronger and more frequent, which increases the risk of extreme weather events.
Concentrated water vapor bands transporting moisture
Atmospheric rivers are elongated bands of concentrated water vapor in the atmosphere, primarily transporting moisture from the tropics towards higher latitudes. These phenomena are responsible for a significant portion of global water transport and play a crucial role in regional precipitation patterns, especially on the western coasts of continents.
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