Prolonged dehydration, forest fires and water shortages. Heavy rains overpowering dams and causing catastrophic floods.
All over the world, High temperatures Climate change increases the possibilities of both severe dehydration and heavier rains that cause chaos on people and the environment.
Rain can disappear only for years to return with revenge, as it did in California in 2023, with rain and fall. This led to the growth of heavy vegetation I made fuel For destroyed forest fires in January in Los Angeles after the return of drought.
But how can global warming each of the most dry and moisture parties cause? This is what experts say.
Everything about the water cycle
The water is constantly moving between the Earth and its face. But this system – which is called the hydrological cycle – accelerates as global temperatures increase, due primarily to burning fossil fuels such as coal and gas.
A hotter atmosphere absorbs more water vapor than water surfaces, vegetable lid and soil.
On the ground, this demand in the atmosphere and the loss of surface moisture leads to a longer and more dense dry dryness, which leads to the expansion of some arid areas. Although rain falls often, when it is so, it is often in an intense and devastating occurrence.
This is because the atmosphere carries a rate of 7 % of water vapor per degree.
“Basically, global warming turns into a larger sponge so that he can absorb more moisture … and then when the conditions are suitable for rain, it is like this sponge,” said Jonathan Over, a climate scientist at the University of Michigan. “You get more moisture comes out faster.”
The oceans play a big role
The oceans absorb most of the additional heat of the planet. This causes water to be expanded, the ice melts on the poles, and raises sea levels. The warmer water also provides fuel for the largest Hurricanes And hurricanes that can get rid of huge amounts of water in a short time.
In 2023, for example, Daniel caused a huge flood in eastern Libya in eastern Libya in eastern Libya in eastern Libya Sadin overwhelmedSend a wall of water through The coastal city of Derna, which destroyed the entire neighborhoods Bridges, cars and people were washed away at sea. Climate scientists say that climate change made that storm far away probably.
Snow decreases
Climate change is also It affects the ice pack, A critical part of the hydrological cycle.
Snow solid helps fill tanks and waterways, including drinking and agriculture. But snow is less decreased in general, and what is often absorbed with thirsty soil.
What is more, because winter has become more warmer in general, the growth season is longer, which means that the melting snow is also lost through the evaporation of plants. However, just like rain, climate change can also cause snowstorms more dense and sometimes harmful.
“All of these things are linked to confusion, which we know with complete confidence, almost all due to human activity,” said Overpeck. “The good news is, we know how to stop it if we want it.”
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