Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2025
06:27
Simulating Impacts of Ice Storms on Forest Ecosystems
Published on: June 30, 2020
7.0K
Atmospheric rivers over eastern US affected by Pacific/North America pattern
Wenhao Dong1,2, Ming Zhao2, Zhihong Tan3
1Cooperative Programs for the Advancement of Earth System Science, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, USA.
Science Advances
|January 24, 2024
Summary
Winter atmospheric rivers (ARs) are increasing in the eastern US. This trend is linked to the Pacific/North America (PNA) pattern, aiding extreme weather prediction.
Area of Science:
- Atmospheric science
- Climate dynamics
- Extreme weather events
Background:
- Atmospheric rivers (ARs) significantly impact US weather, yet their behavior in the eastern US (EUS) is understudied.
- Previous research focused on ARs in the western US, leaving a knowledge gap for the EUS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the trends and variability of ARs in the eastern US.
- To understand the connection between ARs and climate patterns in the EUS.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of observational data and climate model simulations.
- Statistical modeling to assess the relationship between AR frequency and climate indices.
Main Results:
- A significant increase in winter AR frequency in the EUS over the past four decades (~10% per decade).
- A strong correlation between AR occurrence and the Pacific/North America (PNA) teleconnection pattern.
- Demonstrated effectiveness of a statistical model in predicting AR frequency using the PNA index.
Conclusions:
- The PNA pattern and a poleward shift in the jet stream are linked to increased ARs in the EUS.
- Findings provide a basis for improved prediction of AR-associated extreme precipitation and flooding in the EUS.
Related Concept Videos
01:12Precipitation Processes
451
The experimental conditions in a gravimetric analysis should be optimized to maximize the particle size and purity of the obtained precipitate. Ideally, the concentration of the precipitating reagent should be low with effective stirring to maintain low relative supersaturation for the growth of large crystals. In homogeneous precipitation, the precipitant is slowly generated by a chemical reaction in the solution to avoid local reagent excesses. For example, urea decomposes gradually to...
451
01:10Types of Coprecipitation
619
Coprecipitation is the contamination of a precipitate by otherwise soluble species and occurs via different processes. In colloidal precipitates, coprecipitation occurs via surface adsorption. For instance, barium sulfate has a primary layer of adsorbed barium ions and a secondary layer of nitrate counterions. This results in contamination of the precipitate by barium nitrate.
Sometimes, ions in a crystal lattice can undergo isomorphous replacement by inclusions of similar charge and size. For...
Sometimes, ions in a crystal lattice can undergo isomorphous replacement by inclusions of similar charge and size. For...
619
01:17Precipitation and Co-precipitation
1.8K
Precipitation and coprecipitation methods can be used to separate a mixture of ions in a solution. In qualitative inorganic analysis, ions that form sparingly soluble precipitates with the same reagent are separated based on the differences in solubility products. For example, consider the separation of Cu(II) and Fe(II) ions by precipitation as insoluble sulfides. First, copper(II) sulfide is precipitated by the addition of acidic H2S, where the dissociation of H2S is suppressed. Adding H2S...
1.8K
01:18Variation of Atmospheric Pressure
2.2K
Change in atmospheric pressure with height is particularly interesting. The decrease in atmospheric pressure with increasing altitude is due to the decreasing gravitational force per unit area as we move away from the surface of the earth.
Assuming the air temperature is constant at a given altitude and that the ideal gas law of thermodynamics describes the atmosphere to a good approximation, one can find the variation of atmospheric pressure with height.
Let p(y) be the atmospheric pressure at...
Assuming the air temperature is constant at a given altitude and that the ideal gas law of thermodynamics describes the atmosphere to a good approximation, one can find the variation of atmospheric pressure with height.
Let p(y) be the atmospheric pressure at...
2.2K
01:26General External Flow Characteristics
164
The study of external flow is essential for creating structures and objects that interact efficiently and safely with moving fluids, such as air or water. When a body is immersed in a flowing fluid, it experiences two primary forces: drag, which opposes motion along the flow direction, and lift, which acts perpendicular to the flow. The shape, size, and orientation of the object influence these forces.Streamlined and Blunt Bodies in External FlowObjects in fluid flow are classified as...
164
01:24Rapidly Varying Flow
62
Rapidly varying flow (RVF) in open channels is characterized by abrupt changes in flow depth over a short distance, with the rate of depth change relative to distance often approaching unity. These flows are inherently complex due to their transient and multi-dimensional nature, making exact analysis difficult. However, approximate solutions using simplified models provide valuable insights into their behavior.Key Features of Rapidly Varying FlowRVF is commonly observed in scenarios involving...
62