A family’s home in southern Minnesota, standing for over half a century, was recently claimed by the Blue Earth River. This devastating event was the result of the river’s water flow tripling in merely three days due to heavy rainfall. The family watched, heartbroken, as their domicile was swept away in the flood, a stark reminder of the increasing frequency and intensity of such disasters across the United States. This event underscores the tangible consequences of climate change effects, which have been linked to the rise in flood incidents.
The increased rain and flooding are not isolated to Minnesota. In fact, these extreme weather events have become a common occurrence across the north-central U.S. Rivers like the Big and Little Sioux, the Des Moines River, and the Minnesota River are all feeling the effects, with over 200 stream gauges in various stages of flooding.
In response to the escalating climate change crisis, some states are taking proactive steps. Vermont, for instance, has introduced a groundbreaking climate action law known as the “climate superfund act”. This revolutionary legislation aims to recover the costs of climate disasters from large fossil fuel companies, holding them accountable for their contributions to climate change.
The intensification of rainfall, a major contributor to these floods, is a direct result of climate change. A report federally commissioned revealed that government calculations for maximum potential rainfall have become outdated due to this intensification. The warming air allows the atmosphere to hold more water, supercharging storms with moisture from warming oceans. This, in turn, leads to more frequent and intense flooding.
This is not just a prediction for the future; the change is already here. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have published a study indicating that climate change has already historically altered extreme rainfall patterns and warns of more significant changes in the future.
The study underscores the need to update estimates for extreme rainfall to reflect a warming world. This information is crucial, as it provides insights into the hazards of extreme rainfall and aids in improving modeling and formulas based on additional scientific research. As we continue to grapple with the effects of climate change, such information will be increasingly vital in our efforts to mitigate its impacts.
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