When torrential rains and strong winds hit coastal regions, they can cause significant damage. With enough warning, governments and residents can prepare for these events. A major cause of such weather is atmospheric rivers, which are regions of concentrated water vapor transported by strong winds.

In a recent study published in Nature Communications, researchers Da Yang from the University of Chicago and Hing Ong from Argonne National Laboratory introduced a new equation to better understand atmospheric rivers. The authors aim to improve predictions of these phenomena, particularly in extreme weather conditions and amidst climate change.

Atmospheric rivers are narrow bands that carry moisture from tropical areas toward the poles. They can transport substantial amounts of water and are responsible for a large portion of California's annual rainfall. While often beneficial in alleviating droughts, they can also lead to destructive floods.

Yang explained that current monitoring uses integrated vapor transport (IVT), but his team's new framework introduces integrated vapor kinetic energy (IVKE). This provides insights into how atmospheric rivers gain strength or dissipate over time. "The added benefit," Yang noted, is that this governing equation "can tell us what makes an atmospheric river stronger" and how it moves eastward.

The research aligns with efforts by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to enhance weather forecasting through real-time diagnostics based on physical principles. Understanding climate change's impact on atmospheric rivers remains a priority for future studies.

Yang's work builds on his expertise in tropical storms, with plans to further explore midlatitude storm systems following his move to higher latitudes.

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