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Atmospheric Rivers pp 141–177Cite as

Effects of Atmospheric Rivers

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Abstract

This chapter discusses the intensity of the precipitation ARs often bring, and their unique combinations of durations, geometries, winds, and temperatures which make ARs important and unique pieces of the climatology and landscapes that affect both natural systems and human societies. Mountains profoundly affect AR conditions and processes, for instance, especially because ARs transport vast quantities of water vapor, which can result in huge amounts of precipitation. These vast quantities pose risks (flooding) and provide benefits (water resources) as well as affect aquatic ecosystems, terrestrial landscapes, surface winds, and coastal sea levels. Section 5.5 reviews the distinct regional patterns of AR effects across North America, Europe, South America, New Zealand, and the Arctic and Antarctica. Section 5.6 summarizes the key meteorological and land characteristics of ARs that most strongly determine the consequences of their landfalls and inland penetrations. Improvements in forecasting AR storms and conditions offer significant opportunities for improved ecosystem, resource, and disaster management across all sorts of landscapes and societal needs. But because ARs have their own physical and statistical properties relative to other storms and weather phenomena, recognition of their special roles in these systems will allow more targeted responses to both the risks and benefits of ARs.

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Acknowledgements

Alexandre M. Ramos was supported by the Scientific Employment Stimulus 2017 from the Portuguese Science Foundation (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, FCT), Portugal (CEECIND/00027/2017). Irina V. Gorodetskaya thanks FCT/ MCTES for the financial support to CESAM (UIDP/50017/2020+UIDB/50017/2020) through national funds.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Retired, U.S. Geological Survey, Carson City, NV, USA

    Michael D. Dettinger

  2. European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), Reading, UK

    David A. Lavers

  3. Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado–Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA

    Gilbert P. Compo & William Neff

  4. Physical Sciences Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Earth System Research Laboratory, Boulder, CO, USA

    Gilbert P. Compo & William Neff

  5. Department of Physics, Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal

    Irina V. Gorodetskaya

  6. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Earth System Research Laboratory, Boulder, CO, USA

    Paul J. Neiman & Allen B. White

  7. Instituto Dom Luiz, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal

    Alexandre M. Ramos

  8. Science and Technology Infusion Division, National Weather Service, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Jonathan J. Rutz

  9. Argentinean Institute for Snow, Glaciology and Environmental Science, (IANIGLA - CONICET), Mendoza, Argentina

    Maximiliano Viale

  10. University of Reading, Reading, UK

    Andrew J. Wade

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  11. Allen B. White
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Correspondence to Michael D. Dettinger .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California–San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA

    F. Martin Ralph

  2. Retired, U.S. Geological Survey, Carson City, NV, USA

    Michael D. Dettinger

  3. Science and Technology Infusion Division, National Weather Service, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Jonathan J. Rutz

  4. Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA

    Duane E. Waliser

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Dettinger, M.D. et al. (2020). Effects of Atmospheric Rivers. In: Ralph, F., Dettinger, M., Rutz, J., Waliser, D. (eds) Atmospheric Rivers. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28906-5_5

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