Climate simulations suggest that land-atmosphere feedbacks involving soil moisture effects on atmospheric temperature and humidity can increase the frequency and intensity of atmospheric aridity, leading to a high probability of concurrent soil drought and extreme aridity in the present climate and more frequent and intense drought and aridity in the coming century, with potentially large human and ecological impacts, according to a study.
Article #19-04955: "Land-atmosphere feedbacks exacerbate concurrent soil drought and atmospheric aridity," by Sha Zhou et al.
MEDIA CONTACT: Sha Zhou, Columbia University, NY; tel: 917-847-3845; e-mail: sz2766@columbia.edu
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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences