Antarctic 'Sky Rivers' Deliver up to 90% of Snowfall, 3D Algorithm Suggests

Antarctic 'sky rivers' deliver up to 90% of snowfall, 3D algorithm suggests

Atmospheric rivers act like "rivers in the sky," shuttling intense bands of warm, heavy moisture from lower to higher latitudes. When an atmospheric river encounters cold air or mountainous terrain, the moisture it carries condenses and falls as heavy rain or snow. In Antarctica, the arrival of an atmospheric river can help build surface ice mass. Much of Antarctica is very dry; an atmospheric river can bring the moisture needed to potentially o…

New 3D Algorithm Reveals That Massive Snowfall in Antarctica Is Driven by Invisible Atmospheric Rivers

A new study shows that atmospheric rivers may be responsible for up to 90% of Antarctica’s annual precipitation.

Rivers in the Antarctic Sky, Captured in 3D

Source: Geophysical Research Letters Atmospheric rivers act like “rivers in the sky,” shuttling intense bands of warm, heavy moisture from lower to higher latitudes. When an atmospheric river encounters cold air or mountainous terrain, the moisture it carries condenses and falls as heavy rain or snow. In Antarctica, the arrival of an atmospheric river can help build surface ice mass. Much of Antarctica is very dry; an atmospheric river can bring…