The content on this page is retained only for recordkeeping, historical reference, or research. These materials are preserved in their original form and may not meet current WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards.

These archived materials are not required to be remediated. However, we remain committed to equitable access. If you need an accessible version of any archived item to participate in our current programs and services, we will provide one when feasible upon request at caesweb@uga.edu.

A recent study by NASA scientists shows that climatologists may be underestimating the amount of rain that might fall in the future because of underestimates in the loss of high-level clouds in the tropics.  You might think that less clouds means less rain, not more, but because these high clouds can change the energy balance in the atmosphere, they can actually lead to more rain.  This relationship between clouds, temperature, and humidity is one of the things that makes climate modeling so difficult. You can read more about this counter-intuitive idea at https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2596/nasa-data-suggest-future-may-be-rainier-than-expected/. This study is aimed primarily at tropical rainfall, so the same relationships may not hold true for the mid-latitudes.  It could cause more southern parts of the region to see more rain but not necessarily the northernmost areas in the region.

Tropical rainfall may increase more than previously thought as the climate warms. Credit: teresaaaa, CC BY-ND 2.0.