Rainfall Extremes Linked to Global Warming

A new study has found that incidents of extreme rainfall have had a direct impact on global warming.

Researchers from the University of Adelaide have discovered a the link between extreme rainfall and its effect on the atmospheric temperature. The study was conducted by taking into account data from more than 8,000 weather gauging stations around the world.

"The results are that rainfall extremes are increasing on average globally. They show that there is a 7% increase in extreme rainfall intensity for every degree increase in global atmospheric temperature," lead author Dr. Seth Westra said. "Assuming an increase in global average temperature by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius by the end of the 21st century, this could mean very substantial increases in rainfall intensity as a result of climate change."

Dr. Westra, a senior lecturer with the University of Adelaide's School of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering and member of the Environment Institute said that incidents of rainfall extremes were being studied to find out whether they were becoming more frequent or more intense.

He and his colleagues found that rainfall extremes increased over the period from 1900 to 2000 and were seen to increase global warming by more than a degree at the time it took place. He also stated that if this trend continued, people can expect more floods worldwide. He said such cases were most common in tropical countries.

"Most of these tropical countries are very poor and thus not well placed to adapt to the increased risk of flooding, which puts them in a larger threat of devastation," Dr. Westra said.

The study was published in the Journal of Climate.