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Flooding On California's Russian River: Role of Atmospheric Rivers

Abstract

Experimental observations collected during meteorological field studies conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration near the Russian River of coastal northern California are combined with SSM/I satellite observations offshore to examine the role of landfalling atmospheric rivers in the creation of flooding. While recent studies have documented the characteristics and importance of narrow regions of strong meridional water vapor transport over the eastern Pacific Ocean (recently referred to as atmospheric rivers), this study describes their impact when they strike the U. S. West Coast. A detailed case study is presented, along with an assessment of all 7 floods on the Russian River since the experimental data were first available in October 1997. In all 7 floods, atmospheric river conditions were present and caused heavy rainfall through orographic precipitation. Not only do atmospheric rivers play a crucial role in the global water budget, they can also lead to heavy coastal rainfall and flooding, and thus represent a key phenomenon linking weather and climate.}

Article / Publication Data
Active/Online
YES
ISSN
0094-8276
Volume
33
Available Metadata
DOI ↗
Fiscal Year
Publication Name
Geophysical Research Letters
Published On
July 01, 2006
Publisher Name
Amer Geophysical Union
Print Volume
33
Print Number
13

Institutions

Not available

Author

Authors who have authored or contributed to this publication.