Current Climate Models Underestimate Growth of Extreme Rainfall Due to Global Warming

The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) has posted a blog discussing a recently released study which found that current climate models are significantly underestimating how much global warming intensifies extreme rainfall events.

Researchers compared historical rainfall data with projected rainfall levels due to global warming predicted by current climate models, only to find that those models “underestimate [rainfall levels] compared to historical observations.” Tropical regions and high-latitude regions will see the most extreme changes if current trends continue, such as Southeast Asia or Northern Canada, but all land-areas will see “increases in both the intensity and frequency of extremes.” The paper’s authors emphasize the importance of organizations utilizing the highest level of rainfall estimates to prepare for the future. Read more at PIK.