Chesapeake Bay Program’s Post

Atmospheric Rivers: Nature's Mighty Waterways Happy #ThirstyThursday everyone! In light of recent events on the West Coast, let's explore the powerful natural phenomenon known as atmospheric rivers. These massive streams of vapor in the atmosphere play a significant role in shaping weather patterns, especially in terms of precipitation and storm intensity. Did you know? Atmospheric rivers are capable of transporting an amount of water vapor roughly equivalent to the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River. When these vapors make landfall, they can result in torrential rains and severe flooding, as recently witnessed in California. While GWES may not directly plan for atmospheric rivers, understanding their impact is crucial for all involved in water management and environmental stewardship. These events highlight the need for resilient infrastructure and adaptive water resource strategies to mitigate flooding and ensure water availability during dry periods. This Thirsty Thursday, let's reflect on the challenges and lessons learned from atmospheric rivers, emphasizing the importance of preparedness and adaptability in facing extreme weather events. Stay informed about atmospheric rivers and their impacts: Reuters on California's Atmospheric River: https://lnkd.in/eUHAeBit NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration’s Atmospheric River Information: https://lnkd.in/es4gF8Pp. National Geographic on Atmospheric Rivers: https://lnkd.in/ew49QgCe. #ThirstyThursday #StayHydrated #AtmosphericRivers #ClimateAwareness #EnvironmentalStewardship #Resilience

According to NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, the average annual damage from winter storms reaches a staggering $1.9 billion. The year 2021 set a record high with $24 billion in damages, outdoing 1993's $10 billion. Moreover, State Farm's 2022 data reveals over $181 million paid in claims for frozen pipe damage alone, with each claim averaging over $20,000. As winter intensifies, so does its financial impact on communities. Stay informed, stay prepared. #WinterSafety #CommunityAwareness #PACTKC #insuranceclaims #frozenpipes #stormdamage

Atmospheric Rivers: Nature's Mighty Waterways Happy #ThirstyThursday everyone! In light of recent events on the West Coast, let's explore the powerful natural phenomenon known as atmospheric rivers. These massive streams of vapor in the atmosphere play a significant role in shaping weather patterns, especially in terms of precipitation and storm intensity. Did you know? Atmospheric rivers are capable of transporting an amount of water vapor roughly equivalent to the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River. When these vapors make landfall, they can result in torrential rains and severe flooding, as recently witnessed in California. While GWES may not directly plan for atmospheric rivers, understanding their impact is crucial for all involved in water management and environmental stewardship. These events highlight the need for resilient infrastructure and adaptive water resource strategies to mitigate flooding and ensure water availability during dry periods. This Thirsty Thursday, let's reflect on the challenges and lessons learned from atmospheric rivers, emphasizing the importance of preparedness and adaptability in facing extreme weather events. Stay informed about atmospheric rivers and their impacts: Reuters on California's Atmospheric River: https://lnkd.in/ec-5rdh7 NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration’s Atmospheric River Information: https://lnkd.in/e3-RQqWa. National Geographic on Atmospheric Rivers: https://lnkd.in/eWb5tfcJ. #ThirstyThursday #StayHydrated #AtmosphericRivers #ClimateAwareness #EnvironmentalStewardship #Resilience

【What is an Atmospheric River? 】 A powerful atmospheric river affecting the US West Coast was captured in this enhanced-color Air Mass imagery by NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's #GOESWest satellite on January 31, 2004. It drenched California on January 29th-30th. An atmospheric river is a long, narrow region in the atmosphere that transports a huge amount of moisture, comparable to the Amazon River's flow, from the tropics towards the poles. Imagine it as a giant "river" in the sky, carrying vast amounts of water vapor over long distances. Here are some key characteristics of atmospheric rivers: 1) Moisture content: They carry an exceptional amount of water vapor, equivalent to the flow of major rivers like the Mississippi or Amazon. 2) Length and width: They can stretch thousands of miles long and hundreds of miles wide, like narrow corridors in the sky. 3) Formation: They form over warm ocean waters when specific weather conditions align, allowing for the concentrated transport of moisture. 4) Impact: When they make landfall, they can unleash this moisture as intense precipitation, leading to heavy rain, snowfall, and potential flooding. Benefits and drawbacks: 1) Benefits: They play a crucial role in the global water cycle, delivering essential freshwater to many regions, replenishing water supplies, and contributing to snowpack in mountainous areas. 2) Drawbacks: When they stall or intensify, they can bring extreme weather events like floods, mudslides, and landslides, causing significant damage and disruption.

Historic torrential rainfall has swept across California, causing dangerous flooding and mudslides for millions of people. We are currently deploying nearly a dozen smart weather balloons every week from our launch site in South Korea to help gather key real-time data in the evolving atmospheric rivers (ARs) in partnership with NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration and Scripps Institution of Oceanography. These missions are part of a broader effort to improve AR forecasts and ultimately help everyone prepare for and navigate these severe ARs. As the intense rain continues, here are helpful tips from FEMA on how to safely respond to flash floods 👇 https://lnkd.in/gPq2hUmg https://lnkd.in/gna_irA4

A storm can vary from light to severe; we want to narrow unpredictability for better preparedness for first responders and others in harms way. With NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, our team is working to better alert those in affected areas and show what the impact may be on water resources at a faster rate. Learn more: https://rtxcorp.co/3xnKzuL

☀️ Stay safe during extreme heatwaves with tips from NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration! 🌡️ Before, during, and after the scorching temperatures, it's crucial to stay informed and prepared. Check out this comprehensive infographic for essential guidance on how to protect yourself and your property. Remember, BSA Claims collaborates with carriers to ensure swift and effective responses to weather-related challenges, keeping communities secure in any situation. #ExtremeHeat #SafetyTips #SummerSafety

Compaction is one of the drivers of flood events. Compacted soil is unable to absorb rainwater which causes water run-off and flooding. Long term sustainable answer to compaction is by increasing organic matter in soil (SOM). SOM changes the physical properties of soil. By virtue of microbial activity and root exudates, soil particles agglomerate to form small and large pores. These pores act like natural sponges and allow water to permeate through and create natural reservoirs of water - thereby reducing flood events. July 2023 brought record-high temperatures, devastating floods across the U.S. | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (noaa.gov) #sustainability #soilhealth #Soilorganicmatter #climatechange #floodrisk

Nice pattern change on tap for the Golden State, as a series of storm systems will move onshore. The first system arrives in the Sunday-Monday timeframe, with a follow-up system possible the latter portion of the upcoming week. The latest NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration 6-10 day outlook indicates increased odds for below-normal temps and above-normal precipitation. However, September is historically dry for California, and it really doesn't take a lot of rainfall to be considered "wetter than normal". That said, enjoy the break from the hot and dry conditions.

There's a lot of talk about atmospheric rivers. Knowing that rain is made from ocean water (did you see our last post?), it's easy to understand how coastal communities get the brunt of things. Atmospheric rivers are concentrated streams of water vapor in the middle and lower levels of the atmosphere. They bring a continuous channel of moisture which streams across the ocean without interruption until it encounters an obstacle--such as the coastal ranges of California. Obstacles like this force the shedding of moisture. For sailors on the West Coast residing in regions where mountain slopes face the sea, and areas that directly face the storm, you will likely experience the heaviest effects. Some atmospheric rivers are weak, some are large and powerful. On average, 30% to 50% of the West Coast's annual precipitation comes from just a few atmospheric rivers per year. 📸 Paul Duginski / Los Angeles Times #water #rain #atmosphericriver #weatherpatterns