Atmospheric rivers can be thought of as “rivers in the sky” because they are long, narrow, often meander like rivers on land, and carry a lot of water! A typical atmospheric river transports more than double the flow of the Amazon river through our atmosphere, and when they make landfall, can produce heavy rain or snow. As the climate continues to warm, atmospheric rivers will change. Figuring out how global warming will alter this important part of Earth’s water cycle is a key challenge not only for weather scientists, but also for local communities who need to plan for their future water resources. In this Explorer Series lecture, Christine Shields of NCAR’s Climate & Global Dynamics Lab will talk about what atmospheric rivers are, their importance in the climate system, and how they may change in the future.
