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How Much More Rain Will Global Warming Bring?

TitleHow Much More Rain Will Global Warming Bring?
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2007
AuthorsWentz, F. J., L. Ricciardulli, K. Hilburn, and C. Mears
JournalScience
Volume317
Issue5835
Pagination233-235
Date PublishedJUL 13 2007
ISBN Number0036-8075
Keywordsclimate, HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE, MODEL INTERCOMPARISON PROJECT, sensitivity, temperature
Abstract

Climate models and satellite observations both indicate that the total amount of water in the atmosphere will increase at a rate of 7% per kelvin of surface warming. However, the climate models predict that global precipitation will increase at a much slower rate of 1 to 3% per kelvin. A recent analysis of satellite observations does not support this prediction of a muted response of precipitation to global warming. Rather, the observations suggest that precipitation and total atmospheric water have increased at about the same rate over the past two decades.

DOIDOI 10.1126/science.1140746
Reference number

77

Short TitleHow Much More Rain Will Global Warming Bring?
Citation Key77