One of the most obvious indicators of global warming is the increase in extreme weather events around the planet.
As the world gets warmer, the extra heat increases evaporation and intensifies the water cycle, increasing the likelihood and ferocity of downpours.
THE SCIENCE
•Water molecules are constantly changing from onhe state to the next, and the movement of these water molecules are ound the world is the water cycle.
•The transition from liquid to gas is known as “evaporation,” and from gas to liquid is “condensation” – which, in the atmosphere, creates clouds and falls as precipitation (rain, snow).
•The amount of evaporated water the air can hold is affected by how warm the air is.
•For each one degree Celsius of warming, the air’s holding capacity for water vapor goes up by almost 7 percent.
•With more water vapor in the air, there is more water available to precipitate in extreme, single-event downpours.
STORMS AND FLOODING
Heavy downpours are instances when the amount of rain or snow exceeds what is normal, which varies by location and season, and these events are on the rise with climate change.
•In the US, extreme downpours are now happening 30 percent more often than in 1948 (taking place every nine months rather than every 12 months).
•These downpours are also 10 percent more intense on average, nationwide.
•Projections show downpours will become more frequent and intense as temperatures continue to rise.
Warmer oceans increase the frequency and intensity of hurricanes and tropical storms.
DROUGHT AND FIRE
