Wettest Storms Linked to Planetary-Scale Waves

Some of the wettest storms in the Northwest are “atmospheric rivers.” This is a catchy name for a phenomenon in which an elongated band of warm moist air intersects with the Pacific coast of North America. Researchers long have known that atmospheric river events are linked to their subtropical moisture source. But a new look…

Coastal Upwelling Winds Have Intensified on the Pacific Coast

Summer upwelling winds along the U.S. Pacific Coast have intensified since the 1940s, a recent data analysis shows. This trend has implications for marine life and fisheries, as well as for hypoxia (dead zones) and ocean acidification. In a “study of studies” (also known as a “meta-analysis”), a team of scientists reviewed more than 20…

Past Observations May Greatly Underestimate Future Damage

It is no secret that we get big storms and big waves in the Pacific Northwest. In fact, some are so big that “storm watching” is even considered an important recreational activity by those who keep track of coastal tourism. But for property owners, these storms are serious business. For example, in the winter of…

Mild River Basins More Prone to Flooding as Region Warms

As the Northwest warms, most river basins will become more prone to flooding, while others will remain relatively unchanged, a study from the University of Washington suggests. Flood risks appear to be linked to winter temperatures (which are largely determined by elevation). Lower-elevation, warmer-winter basins in Oregon and Washington could tend to flood more as…

Finding the Best Indices of Drought in the Northwest

Sometimes a simple approach works pretty well. That’s what CIRC researcher John Abatzoglou at University of Idaho and his colleagues found when they held a scoring contest to gauge the streamflow estimating power of four drought indices in the Pacific Northwest — something that, of course, can be done at much more expense and time…