Environment

Heavy rains and extreme droughts: according to climate models, these two weather events will occur more frequently. They will also be longer and more severe. All because of anthropogenic (man-caused) global warming.

An observational study now reveals, for the first time, evidence that this worrying phenomenon is already happening.

Researchers at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP) and the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), as well as the UK Met Office, have shown a systematic increase - over 75% of terrestrial regions - in rainfall variability since the beginning of the 20th century, reports the Futura-Sciences media outlet. Europe is particularly affected by this phenomenon, on global and regional scales, as well as on a daily and inter-seasonal basis. Climatologists blame our greenhouse gas emissions for this, which have transformed the nature of the atmosphere by making it wetter and warmer.

But what is precipitation variability?

According to the researchers, it refers to the distribution of rainfall over time. High variability could mean long periods of drought, or a year's worth of rainfall in just a few days. A phenomenon that greatly complicates forecasting the consequences of global warming.

The study's lead author, Tianjun Zhou, sounds the alarm:

"The future we were worried about is in fact already here. These rapid and extreme changes not only pose problems for populations, but also for the resilience of infrastructures, economic development and the functioning of ecosystems and carbon sinks. Immediate adaptation measures are essential to meet these challenges."

(AsD - Source : Futura-sciences - Illustration : Pixabay)