A new study published by the journal Nature Climate Change reports that the world’s dry and wet regions will be receiving more intense rainfall. Using global climate models paired with observational data, researchers that conducted the study concluded that extreme daily precipitation in both dry and wet regions of the world showed a remarkable increase over the past sixty years. The climate projections used in the study demonstrated a continuation of this trend. The main risk associated with increased precipitation is flooding.
Despite no real changes in precipitation totals, major increases in precipitation were found. Bloomberg Business reported that this finding is interesting because for some time it has been thought that climate change would cause drier regions to become drier and wetter regions to become wetter – not the case, at least not according to this study.
According to Phys.org, areas that are not use to receiving large amounts of rain are at risk for flash flooding. A flash flood is a weather event in which a rapid increase in precipitation can cause swift and extreme flooding. Because flash floods happen so quickly, hence the “flash”, its victims are unable to evacuate or take precautionary measures in time.
More rainfall does not mean more water availability for arid regions.
More rainfall does not mean more water availability for arid regions. Due to global warming, the precipitation that does fall will evaporate rapidly and unfortunately flash flooding will not influence water storage, according to Phys.org. Echoing Bloomberg Business, Phys.org reports that the real problem with increased precipitation in dry areas of the world is the lack of resources to manage flooding. Dry arid regions must develop ways to deal with the increase in precipitation and are at risk for dangerous floods.
