Scientists Warn Alaska Thunderstorms Could Triple

According to the team led by researchers from the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the Paris Sciences and Letters University, the open water proved crucial in computer simulations, estimations that deemed Alaska's previous weather data and predictions of future sea-ice cover and temperature conditions.

(Photo : Frank Cone)

The increase in Air Tempreture

Colorado National Center for Atmospheric Research's climate researcher and co-author Andreas Prein explained that in Alaska, it's just like you are broadening the ocean next to the state.   

A group of researchers warns tha  Alaska might need to prop for more thunderstorms including the wildfires, floods, landslides, they can bring along - if present climate movements persist. 
Two research suggest the fast warming State in America could experience a triple number of thunderstorms by the edge of this century. As the air temperature increase, the atmosphere carries more moisture and can also cause more unexpected updrafts - two main factors in lightening. 

ALSO READ: Death by Indoor Lightning: Yes, It's Possible 

Arctic Sea Ice

Alaska is also impacted by the increased retreat of Arctic sea ice, which is disclosing more open water close-by, enabling more water vapor to enter the air, the researchers describe in the two similar papers released in the Climate Dynamics journal. The initial one was released in September and the recent one on Tuesday. 

Open water proved crucial in computer simulation and estimations that considered Alaska's previous weather data and predictions of future coming sea-ice cover and temperature conditions, the research team further explained. 

Andres Prein revealed that in Alaska, it's practically like you are adding the ocean next to the state, once the ice is set in motion, the ocean is increasing a lot of moisture into the atmosphere. The connection between lightning and climate change is still being examined. 

2014 Journal Science Study

Another science group released one research in the journal Science in 2014 implying there is approximately 12% more lightning for each degree Celsius of atmospheric warming above preindustrial temperature. 

With heightened thunderstorms, the recent study projects a rise in severe rainfall by 37% by 2100. Future rainfall will be brief bursts of heavy rain, followed by extended periods of dry weather.  

Such massive rainfall incorporated with dry periods poses possible hazards, including regions already exposed to permafrost thaw, he further said he wished the worst of projections established on presumptions that carbon emissions will remain at the current level of business as usual won't come true. I'm expecting that we can prevent some of that.

(Photo : Dmitry Zvolskiy)

New Weather Structures in Alaska 

The National Weather Service in Anchorage with Climatologist Brian Brettschneider illustrated the current study findings as a variety of theory, forming, and planning for the worst. It lays some edges on what might happen in the likeliest drastic scenario, Brian was never included in the research. That knowledge is profitable for emergency planning, infrastructure management, and public policy decisions, often the worst-case scenarios do occur. 

"New weather structures in Alaska endorse the research' findings to some extent," he said. Thunderstorms have also been frequent in current years in regions where they were formerly unusual. 

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