Warmer temperatures have a dramatic effect on rainfall patterns, heightening the risk of flash floods, according to an Australian study published on Monday.
In research published in the journal Nature Geoscience, civil engineers at the University of New South Wales analysed nearly 40,000 storms that occurred in Australia over a 30-year span.
As temperatures rose, so did the risk of more intense downpours, in which larger volumes of water are dumped over a shorter time.
"These more intense patterns are leading to more destructive storms, which can significantly influence the severity of flood flows," said lead author Conrad Wasko.
"The climate zones we studied in Australia are representative of most global climates, so it's very likely these same trends will be observed around the world."
The United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says that given present emissions trends, the planet could be up to 4.8 degrees Celsius (40 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer by 2100.
UN members, meeting in the former West German capital of Bonn, have vowed to keep warming to 2 degrees Celsius or less compared to pre-industrial times.
They intend to seal the deal at a conference in Paris in December.
Source: AFP
GMT 14:48 2018 Wednesday ,17 January
The Romanian sheep nibbling away at US securityGMT 13:45 2018 Tuesday ,16 January
China races to prevent environmental disasterGMT 13:59 2018 Sunday ,14 January
Sea levels off Dutch coast highest ever recordedGMT 17:34 2018 Saturday ,13 January
Dozens still unaccounted for in California mudslidesGMT 12:35 2018 Friday ,12 January
Campaigners slam UK plans on cutting plastic wasteGMT 14:12 2018 Wednesday ,10 January
Alpine air at work? Delhi eyes novel ways to battle smogGMT 15:37 2018 Tuesday ,09 January
2017 the costliest year in US history for natural disastersGMT 15:30 2018 Tuesday ,09 January
Power stacked against SE Asia's poor as China dams MekongMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor