As temperatures rise, more water evaporates from soils, plants, oceans and waterways — this becomes vapor. How much more? One study even predicts a number of major US cities — including Salt Lake City, Utah; Nashville, Tennessee; and New York, New York — could experience extreme precipitation events that are up to 20 percent more intense and twice as frequent in future years. Severe flooding has triggered some of the worst humanitarian disasters in history.
Ordinarily, more rain is a blessing. We need it to fill lakes and streams, which provide sources of drinking water and crop irrigation. But excessive rainfall — especially at fast rates — can do more harm than good. Instead, stormwater runoff collects and flows through yards and roadways, increasing the risk of floods and soil erosion.
Localized flooding can disrupt transportation, damage infrastructure and cause power outages. In other regions, severe flooding has triggered some of the worst humanitarian disasters in history.
In the summer of , record monsoon rains and flash flooding in Pakistan affected some 20 million people and left over 1, dead. Around 14 million were left without homes, and the destruction of crops and other infrastructure left millions more vulnerable to malnutrition and waterborne illness. Clean drinking water is also at risk. Contact us Sign up for newsletters. Log In Register now My account. Why is the weather so bad in ? By Georgina Littlejohn. The freshest exclusives and sharpest analysis, curated for your inbox Email address is invalid Thank you for subscribing!
Sorry, there was a problem. More from News. This water, known as stormwater runoff, instead collects and flows through yards, roadways, and over other surfaces, increasing the risk of floods and soil erosion.
Localized flooding can close roads, disrupt mass transit, and damage infrastructure. As the stormwater rushes toward low-lying areas, it picks up sediments, chemicals, heavy metals, trash, and debris. Eventually, the stormwater drains through gutters and storm sewers and is discharged into nearby waterways.
This process degrades water quality, both for human use and in ecosystems. Of the million Americans living in the United States, as many as 41 million may live in a year floodplain or special flood hazard area, according to the Association of State Floodplain Managers. Add in those who live in a year floodplain, and that number increases to over 60 million. Although you may not be able to stop global-warming-related downpours, you can reduce the impacts of heavy precipitation by taking these steps:.
According to a study in the journal Water Resources Research, a number of major U. Small but mighty acts like those outlined above will prove increasingly essential to helping hold back the downpour-caused deluges. Also see: What you need to know about the link between sea-level rise and coastal flooding. Before becoming a writer, she was a meteorologist.
Her stories distill science news and concepts in a relatable More by Tiffany Means. Skip to content When it rains, it pours.
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