What is an “Atmospheric River”?

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WB Staff
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Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2012 10:56 am

What is an “Atmospheric River”?

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atmosphericrivers_final.jpg
Quick Atmospheric River (AR) Facts:
On average, about 30-50% of annual precipitation in the West Coast States occurs in just a few AR events each year
A strong AR transports an amount of water vapor roughly equal equivalent to 7.5-1.5 times the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River
ARs are approximately 250-375 miles wide on average
ARs are a primary feature in the entire global water cycle and are tied closely to both water supply and flood risks, particularly in the western US
ARs moves with the weather and are present somewhere on Earth at any given time
https://snowbrains.com/what-is-an-atmospheric-river/


Learn more about these rivers in the sky
https://www.noaa.gov/stories/what-are-a ... ric-rivers
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