3 days Ago By Brigid Brown
Extended periods of drought , wildfires, and water shortages are becoming more common. Similarly, torrential rains that overwhelm dams and cause catastrophic flooding are also on the rise. These extreme weather conditions are being seen worldwide, with climate change and rising temperatures increasing the likelihood of both severe droughts and heavier precipitation.
These events wreak havoc on people and the environment alike, reports the Associated Press. Musk exposes Trump's brutal 3-word 'scalpel' advice in DOGE cuts briefing Stephen Hawking's end-of-world prediction supported by NASA In 2023, California experienced this first-hand when a period of prolonged drought was followed by record-setting rain and snowfall. This led to an overgrowth of vegetation, which later served as fuel for devastating wildfires in Los Angeles when the drought returned.
But how can global warming lead to both drier and wetter extremes? Here's what the experts have to say: Water is constantly cycling between the Earth and its atmosphere. However, this system - known as the hydrological cycle - is accelerating as global temperatures rise, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal and gas. As the atmosphere heats up, it absorbs more water vapor from bodies of water, vegetation, and soil.
Over land, this increased atmospheric demand and loss of surface moisture result in longer and more intense droughts, even causing some arid areas to expand. Although rainfall becomes less frequent, when it does occur, it often results in intense and destructive downpours. This is because for every degree Celsius increase in temperature, the atmosphere can hold 7% more water vapor.
DON'T MISS: Horror map details US states in drought including one 'exceptional' shortage Wildfires kill at least 24 In South Korea as 27,000 forced to evacuate Atlanta water shortage triggers state of emergency as aging pipes burst Jonathan Overpeck, a climate scientist at the University of Michigan, said: "Basically, global warming is turning the atmosphere into a bigger sponge so it can soak up more moisture ...
and then when the conditions are right for rainfall, it's like squeezing that sponge." He added: "You get more moisture coming out faster." According to experts, oceans are absorbing the majority of the extra heat on our planet.
This leads to water expansion and polar ice melting which, in turn, causes sea levels to rise. Additionally, the heated waters energize larger storms, such as hurricanes and cyclones, which have the potential to unleash overwhelming amounts of rain rapidly. In 2023, for instance, heavy one-day rains from Mediterranean storm Daniel triggered devastating floods in eastern Libya, leading to the collapse of two dams and a torrent rushing through coastal Derna, demolishing entire neighborhoods and sweeping away bridges, vehicles, and individuals into the sea.
Climate specialists contend that climate change significantly increased the likelihood of such a destructive storm. Moreover, climate change is impacting the snowpack, an essential component of the water cycle. Snowmelt plays a vital role in replenishing reservoirs and waterways that provide drinking water and irrigation.
However, there is a decline in overall snowfall, and the snow that does fall is often absorbed by dry soil. With winters growing milder, the warmer weather elongates the growing period, which means that a portion of the precious snowmelt disappears through the evapotranspiration of plants. Yet, similar to rainfall, climate change can also spur more severe, occasionally harmful, snowstorms.
"All this stuff is related to warming, which we know with perfect confidence is almost all due to human activity," Overpeck stated. "The good news is, we know how to stop it if we want to.".
