Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Atmospheric rivers (ARs) are key drivers of extreme precipitation in the Western U.S. Using regionally downscaled thermodynamic global warming (TGW) simulations, we examine how ARs with varying wind and moisture characteristics respond to warming. We classified 812 historical AR events into Gusty‐Wet, Gusty‐Dry, Calm‐Wet, and Calm‐Dry groups to evaluate differences in precipitation behavior. ARs with stronger winds and higher moisture content exhibit higher precipitation efficiency (PE) and greater integrated water vapor (IWV). Regionally, Calm ARs show higher IWV accumulation due to slower inland transport and reduced PE. Projections indicate increases in storm‐total (sub‐Clausius‐Clapeyron (CC) scaling) and maximum 3‐hourly precipitation (super‐CC scaling) across all groups, with the most pronounced changes in Gusty‐Wet and Calm‐Wet ARs. Spatial differences in surface runoff, PE, and inland reach highlight the importance of AR subtype in shaping future flood hazards. These results offer insights into event‐level and regional‐scale precipitation changes under evolving environmental conditions.
Source: Geophysical Research Letters
DOI: 10.1029/2025gl117548
Institution: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Language: English
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Climate action
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,190
Awards: G1079818582, G1143651532, G122673668, G1286236842, G1337544421, G1677143136, G223002938, G3083819904, G3558020343, G419881185, G42916606, G4501827968, G498139845, G5076365615, G519493796, G6652958823, AN INTEGRATED EVALUATION OF THE SIMULATED HYDROCLIMATE SYSTEM OF THE CONTINENTAL US, G7354628648, G7787287669, G8334816866, AN INTEGRATED EVALUATION OF THE SIMULATED HYDROCLIMATE SYSTEM OF THE CONTINENTAL US, G969889393
OpenAlex ID: W4415507980