Key facts
- A study published in Nature Geoscience has found a link between heat on the Tibetan Plateau and record rainfall in California.
- The research indicates that warming temperatures on the Tibetan Plateau intensify atmospheric rivers.
- These intensified atmospheric rivers are associated with more extreme precipitation events in California.
A study published in the journal Nature Geoscience has identified a connection between rising temperatures on the Tibetan Plateau and the occurrence of record-breaking rainfall in California. The research suggests that the heat in this high-altitude region plays a significant role in intensifying atmospheric rivers, which are vast corridors of water vapor in the atmosphere. These intensified rivers then deliver more extreme precipitation to California, contributing to events like the heavy rains that have impacted the state.