How atmospheric dryness limits increases in typhoon rainfall
Under global warming, scientists have widely expected tropical cyclones (including typhoons and hurricanes) to bring more intense and frequent rainfall.
Under global warming, scientists have widely expected tropical cyclones (including typhoons and hurricanes) to bring more intense and frequent rainfall.
The short version
- The underlying physics seems intuitive: Rising temperatures allow the atmosphere to hold more moisture, which, combined with intensifying storms, should theoretically trigger more destructive downpours.
- However, when researchers analyze climate model projections, they encounter a puzzling phenomenon.
- This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies .
What happened
Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Under global warming, scientists have widely expected tropical cyclones (including typhoons and hurricanes) to bring more intense and frequent rainfall. Some models project rainfall increases far lower than thermodynamics alone would predict.
Why it matters
This uncertainty has long hindered the scientific community's ability to accurately project future tropical cyclone precipitation and assess associated flood risks.
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