Rainfall varies with elevation, and such precipitation gradients can have profound and often counterintuitive effects on topography.
rain
Understanding Rare Rain Events in the Driest Desert on Earth
A new study reveals the atmospheric paths of storm events that can deliver a decade’s worth of rain in a few hours to the Atacama Desert.
Rainy Days Dampen Economic Growth
Research reveals the connection between a country’s day-to-day weather and its production.
No Relief from Rain: Climate Change Fuels Compound Disasters
Climate change is increasing the risk of fire-rain events, raising mudslide concerns in fire-prone communities.
Importance of High Clouds and Moisture in Rainstorm Aggregation
A study of the impacts of radiative interactions with different cloud types on aggregation of rainstorms finds that interactions with high-clouds and water vapor are key.
Raising Central American Orography Improves Climate Simulation
Elevation of Central American orography significantly reduces the pervasive tropical rainfall bias by blocking the easterlies and consequently warming the northeastern tropical Pacific.
Climate Clues from One of the Rainiest Places on Earth
One of the world’s rainiest places lies off Colombia’s Pacific coast. New field research sheds light on the Chocó low-level jet, a phenomenon responsible for the region’s precipitation.
New Global Mesoscale Convective System Tracking Database
A 20-year high-resolution global mesoscale convective system tracking database reveals the characteristics of mesoscale convective systems and their significant contributions to global rainfall.
Landslides Mar the “Pearl of Africa”
Behind Uganda’s lavish beauty, climate change has taken its toll: Death, destroyed properties, and displaced communities increase as above-normal rainfall floods the country.
Extreme Rainfall Statistics May Shift as U.S. Climate Warms
Precipitation data and high-resolution modeling suggest that extreme rainfall events under a changing climate will be shorter, more intense, and more widely spread out.