Understanding atmospheric rivers: A guide to the weather phenomenon heading to California
What is an atmospheric river?
An atmospheric river is a long, narrow band of air in the atmosphere that carries a lot of water vapor. This water vapor can be in the form of clouds, rain, or snow, depending on the temperature.
Atmospheric rivers are important because they can bring a lot of precipitation to a particular area in a short amount of time. This can be really helpful if an area is experiencing a drought, because the atmospheric river can help replenish the water supply. However, if it brings too much precipitation, it can also cause flooding.
California – the perfect storm
What’s happening in California right now is a great example of why atmospheric rivers can cause plenty of trouble. Much of California is unable to soak up large amount of rain that pours down all at once. When this happens, irrigation systems get overwhelmed and there can be massive flooding.
Atmospheric rivers are usually found in the mid-latitudes, which is an area between the tropics and the polar regions. They can be thousands of miles long and a few hundred miles wide. When an atmospheric river hits the land, it can cause the water vapor to fall from the clouds as rain or snow.
Scientists study atmospheric rivers to better understand how they form and how they can affect the weather. They use satellites, weather balloons, and other tools to track atmospheric rivers and predict how much precipitation they might bring.
It’s important to keep an eye on atmospheric rivers, because they can bring much needed water to an area, but they can also cause problems if they bring too much precipitation. Understanding atmospheric rivers can help us be better prepared for the weather they bring.
