Global warming is defined as one of the main causes of environmental changes and disasters such as floods and droughts worldwide. Now, A new study by NASA scientists, global warming responsible for producing more. rains and the most severe droughts in the world.
published in scientific journal nature waterThe study was led by two NASA scientists who analyzed 20 years of data from the GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) and GRACE-FO (GRACE-Follow-On) satellites to understand whether global warming is responsible for more rain and more. severe drought periods. Thus, they realized that these extreme events are closely linked to global warming.
The researchers counted four extreme drought and precipitation events per year between 2015 and 2021, with a record three per year in the previous 13 years. The period also recorded the seven warmest years on modern record; Heat is consistent with the data, as warm weather helps to retain more moisture during periods of snowfall and rain, as well as quickly evaporate moisture and cause more droughts, according to scientists.
Global warming
“The idea of climate change can be abstract. While it may not seem a few degrees warmer, the effects of the water cycle are palpable. “Global warming will cause more intense droughts and rainy periods, affecting people, the economy and agriculture around the world,” said Matt Rodell, a hydrologist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and co-author of the study.
The scientists analyzed a total of 1,056 events that occurred between 2002 and 2021 and analyzed water storage anomalies such as aquifers, lakes, rivers, and places with snow and ice. According to Rodell, much like watching the water level in the tub, you can see the level go up and down even without knowing the exact amount of water in the tub.
The analysis also revealed that 20% of economic losses in the United States are the result of floods and droughts caused by weather events. However, the scientists point out that the economic effects are similar around the world, depending on each person’s class – the poorest suffer the most.
Check out a NASA video presenting the drought and rain cycles of the last 20 years:
Source: Tec Mundo
I’m Blaine Morgan, an experienced journalist and writer with over 8 years of experience in the tech industry. My expertise lies in writing about technology news and trends, covering everything from cutting-edge gadgets to emerging software developments. I’ve written for several leading publications including Gadget Onus where I am an author.
