Precipitation in a Changing Climate– More Floods and Droughts in the Future

Evidence is building that human-induced climate change— or global warming—has a direct influence on changes in precipitation and the hydrological cycle. While precipitation amount is most commonly considered, even bigger changes occur in its intensity, frequency and type (rain vs. snow). A warmer climate increases risks of both drought and flood, but at different times and/or places. These aspects have enormous implications for agriculture, hydrology and water resources, yet they have not been adequately appreciated or addressed in many studies of climate change impacts. Because natural variability in weather provides resilience, the biggest impacts occur through changes in extremes.