Climate change is creating a seesaw effect in many regions of the world, with drought followed by heavy rains, according to a new study.
The study, published in Geophysical Research Letters, said the link between extreme weather events needs to be closely examined because it could help communities better prepare and ultimately adapt to climate change. Study authors cited Australia as an example of so-called “double whammy” weather. Traditionally they have been viewed separately.
“Extreme dry and wet conditions are increasingly making global headlines. However, existing studies generally treat them in a separate way, ” said study lead author Xiaogang He, a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford’s Water in the West program who did the research while at Princeton University. “Their consecutive occurrence, especially in the same location within a short period, magnifies impact on local populations, and therefore deserves more attention.” Read more here.
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