Climate Change Intensifies Rainfall and Flooding: A Call for Adaptation
This week, a family's home of more than 50 years was swept away by a flood into the Blue Earth River in southern Minnesota. The river's water flow tripled in just three days after an unprecedented 11 to 18 inches of rain fell in a little over a week. This flood threatened the Rapidan Dam and a nearby store, highlighting the increasing frequency and intensity of such events.
Similar intense rains have affected much of the north-central U.S. in June, causing major flooding in rivers like the Big and Little Sioux, the Des Moines, and the Minnesota. These events underscore a trend of record-breaking rainfall brought on by climate change. Warmer air holds more water, and storms are supercharged by moisture from warming oceans, leading to more frequent and severe flooding.
Communities are facing growing pressure to adapt to this new reality. Two significant developments in the past month reflect this urgency. Vermont passed a groundbreaking climate action law, and a federally commissioned report revealed that the government's rainfall calculations are outdated due to climate change.
In Vermont, a 9-inch deluge last July caused $1 billion in damages, prompting state legislators to approve the "climate superfund act." This law seeks payments from fossil fuel companies to cover the costs of climate-related impacts in Vermont, dating back to 1995. The funds will be used for climate adaptation projects.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine published a study, commissioned by NOAA, which found that current maximum potential rainfall estimates are no longer valid. These estimates are crucial for designing infrastructure like dams and nuclear power plants to withstand extreme rainfall. The study recommends updating these estimates to reflect the changing climate, ensuring infrastructure resilience.
Kevin Reed, an associate provost at Stony Brook University, emphasizes that climate change is leading to wetter and more extreme precipitation events. With over 200 stream gauges in the North Central U.S. reporting flooding, the need for updated rainfall estimates is clear.
The new study suggests that combining high-tech observations with advanced modeling can transform rainfall estimates to account for extremes in a warming world. This approach will provide crucial information about hazards such as coastal storm surge and compound flooding, helping to design more resilient infrastructure.
John Nielsen-Gammon, a Texas State Climatologist, points out that failing to account for climate change underestimates the risk of extreme rainfall, which is increasing globally. The study recommends incorporating future climate change impacts into precipitation estimates, ensuring infrastructure and society can withstand these changing events.
NOAA aims to issue the first updated estimates by 2030, with subsequent updates every ten years. These updates will help communities and engineers design structures that can better withstand extreme weather, reducing the risk of catastrophic flooding.
- In southern Minnesota, a family’s home was destroyed by a flood after unprecedented rainfall caused the Blue Earth River to swell and reroute around a dam.
- Intense rainfall in the north-central U.S. has led to significant flooding, highlighting a trend of increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events due to climate change.
- Warmer air and oceans contribute to heavier rainfall, causing more frequent and severe flooding.
- Communities are under pressure to adapt to these changes, as reflected in recent legislative actions and reports.
- Vermont passed a groundbreaking climate action law to address and fund recovery from climate-related disasters, holding fossil fuel companies accountable.
- A federally commissioned report finds current maximum potential rainfall estimates outdated, recommending updates to incorporate climate change impacts.
FAQs
How is climate change impacting rainfall and flooding? Climate change is leading to more extreme weather events, with warmer air and oceans causing heavier and more frequent rainfall. This results in increased flooding, as seen in the north-central U.S. and other regions.
What recent legislative actions have been taken to address climate-related disasters? Vermont passed a new law, dubbed the "climate superfund act," aiming to recover costs from climate disasters by holding fossil fuel companies accountable for their contribution to climate change. This law funds climate adaptation projects to help communities cope with the impacts.
What is the significance of the new rainfall study by the National Academies? The study, commissioned by NOAA, highlights the need to update the nation’s rainfall estimates to reflect the changing climate. These updates are crucial for designing infrastructure that can withstand extreme weather, reducing the risk of catastrophic flooding.
Why are current rainfall estimates considered outdated? Current estimates do not account for the increased frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall driven by climate change. The new study recommends incorporating future climate impacts into these estimates to ensure infrastructure resilience.
How are communities and governments responding to increased flooding risks? Communities are under pressure to prepare for more frequent flooding, leading to new legislation and updated engineering standards. Vermont’s new law and the federal report are examples of efforts to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of extreme weather.
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