precipitation
Arctic rivers are facing major changes with a warming climate, permafrost thaw and an accelerating water cycle – the effects will have global implications
As the Arctic warms, its mighty rivers are changing in ways that could have enormous consequences – not just for the Arctic but for the world. Rivers represent the land branch of Earth’s hydrological cycle. As rain and snow fall, rivers transport freshwater runoff along with dissolved organic and particulate materials, including carbon, to coastal … Read more
The driest place on earth: the Atacama Desert in Chile
Located in northern Chile, the Atacama Desert is not just an arid region. It covers more than 600 miles (965 km) along the Pacific coast of South America and is one of the most extreme landscapes in the world. Thanks to certain oceanic conditions, there are areas where no rainfall has occurred in recorded history, … Read more