climate change and drought

[JDMS]

"The short answer for why these seemingly opposite things are happening at once is that climate change is making our atmosphere thirstier. Or, in more scientific terms, as the Earth warms, its atmosphere can hold more water vapor. This happens at an exponential rate: The back-of-the-napkin math is that the atmosphere can store about 7 percent more water per degree Celsius of warming, and we’re currently at about 1.2°C above pre-industrial temperatures. The result is an atmosphere that takes longer to get saturated with water, which means fewer rainstorms, but when they do occur, those storms dump more water at once, resulting in floods.

Paradoxically, our changing atmosphere is also a perfect recipe for drought. Higher temperatures mean water evaporates faster, and when it falls, it’s less likely to fall as the snow that has historically fed many of the American West’s rivers and streams. The rain isn’t very helpful either, since lifting a drought requires a combination of snowfall and long, sustained rainy seasons instead of short, extreme bursts."

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vo...ky-flood-lake-mead-california-arizona-drought

 

[Stevicus]

With more ice melting, that means more liquid water.

Drought is all over and happening in many countries. The rivers, lakes, reservoirs, etc. are low in many places.

Water doesn't leave earth so where is all the water?

I'm no meteorologist but I would think more water + hotter temps would lead to more evaporation thus more rain, but droughts are all over.

We had a little rain earlier, but overall the Western U.S. has been in a megadrought. Lake Mead and Lake Powell water levels are at the lowest they've ever been. I've been reading about droughts and floods in multiple spots throughout the world. Way too much water in some areas, and not enough in others.

 

[Revoltingest]

With more ice melting, that means more liquid water.

Drought is all over and happening in many countries. The rivers, lakes, reservoirs, etc. are low in many places.

Water doesn't leave earth so where is all the water?

I'm no meteorologist but I would think more water + hotter temps would lead to more evaporation thus more rain, but droughts are all over.

Oceans.
They're big.
And getting bigger.