A team of climate specialists from the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research, Climate and Global Dynamics Lab, Texas A&M University, and Pennsylvania State University has found evidence for a rise in ocean levels during future atmospheric rivers (ARs) that form in the Pacific Ocean and make their way to the North American coast. In their paper published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, the group describes their study of previous ARs and how they applied what they learned to ARs of the future, when taking into account global warming. Over the next century, dramatic changes to the world’s climate are expected, from warming temperatures to more rain in some places and less in others. Another aspect of climate change that has not received as much press is the ongoing changes to the world’s oceans. In addition to warmer air over the oceans, the water temperature is also growing warmer.

Other weather and research articles:

• Record Searchlight: What NOAA, Old Farmer’s Almanac, AccuWeather say about La Niña in Redding this winter
• San Francisco Chronicle: Northern California in store for a big weather shift
• Simon Fraser University: Study: Impacts of heatwaves on river flows to change rapidly under climate change
• The Squamish Chief: Heatwaves are reshaping Squamish rivers—what it means for the community