Work

Atmospheric rivers are associated with nine out of every 10 floods in major global river basins

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The role of atmospheric rivers (ARs) in 119 major flood events across 50 global river basins was investigated. The ARs were linked to 74% of the flood areas and 89% of the full basins. Their contributions were evident during and before floods, with influences spanning mid-latitudes to tropical regions, causing human fatalities and population displacements. These findings underscore ARs as dominant and widespread drivers of extreme flood events worldwide.

Source: npj natural hazards.

DOI: 10.1038/s44304-026-00167-x

Authors: Milica Stojanovic, Albenis Pérez-Alarcón, Rogert Sorí, Raquel Nieto, Luis Gimeno

Institutions: Universidade de Vigo, University of Lisbon, Instituto Dom Luiz, Centro de Supercomputación de Galicia

Language: English

Topic: Flood Risk Assessment and Management

Subfield: Global and Planetary Change

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,090