A recent peer reviewed paper, in the journal Nature, shows that atmospheric rivers are causing Ice Shelf collapse. This is not included in current climate change models, meaning that polar ice will melt faster than expected, causing sea levels to rise faster than expected.
From Wikipedia: "An atmospheric river (AR) is a narrow corridor or filament of concentrated moisture in the atmosphere."
California was recently hit by an atmospheric river.
A Surge From an Atmospheric River Drove California’s Latest Climate Extremes - Inside Climate News
"Flooding rains and record snow in California last winter marked another extreme swing of the state’s climate pendulum. The widespread downpours triggered mudslides that damaged homes and roads near some of the huge fire scars from last summer, and also brought some of the water the state will need to end a months-long hot and dry streak and douse a record-setting wildfire season that extended into January. "
We were lucky this time. Fortunately this precipitation arrived as much needed snow and rain, and just a little flooding. In Nov 2021 the Pineapple Express hit British Columbia.
The scale of the disaster which unfolded in B.C. was unprecedented
The rains in British Columbia were so bad that the engineering rules of thumb have to be thrown out. Much of our existing infrastructure, designed with the old rules of thumb, is now at risk.
Shortly after that happened, my favorite climate scientist, Paul Beckwith predicted that soon the atmospheric rivers would be hitting the Arctic and Greenland, and causing massive ice melting.
And now just 4 months later he is proved right. Atmospheric rivers are indeed hitting Antarctica and accelerating ice loss. Here is what is happening.
You can listen to his excellent explanation of the science in the following video. When I watched it my stomach was in knots. You can also sense how stressed he is by it.
Climate change models do not account for this phenomenon, meaning that seal level rise will be faster than expected.
All the more reason to support the recent Green Party of the United States call for the "US to Halt Fossil Fuel Emissions and Enact a Green New Deal".
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