Driest Desert | Atacama Desert, Chile Driest Place: Atacama Desert, Chile Even the Driest Place on Earth has Water These incredibly dry mountains see an average of less than .004 inches/.01cm of rain per year. Many times this area will go without rainfall at all for years. Some places in the Atacama Desert have not had rainfall for over 400 years. The Atacama desert is found along the coast of Chile, South America - right next to the Pacific Ocean - the biggest body of water in the world. Much of the desert extends up into the Andes mountains and is very high in elevation. Unlike more familiar deserts, like the Sahara desert in Africa and the Mojave in California, the Atacama is actually a pretty cold place, with average daily temperatures ranging between 0°C and 25°C. The annual rainfall (or lack of it) defines a desert, but that doesn't mean that it never rains in Atacama. Every so often a warming effect over the Pacific Ocean around the equator changes the weather the world over and even places like the driest desert in the world can become doused with drenching storms.

Even though Atacama gets almost no rainfall, there is water in this arid place and you'll find it in the following places: Salt Lakes During years of heavy rainfall in the distant past, enough water accumulated in basins found throughout the Andes to create lakes. Some of the lakes got their water from melting glaciers at the end of the last ice age. But in some lakes in the Andes mountains, such as Atacama, more water is lost through evaporation than is replaced by rainfall so the lakes are drying up. As the water evaporates, the mineral salts in the water become more concentrated, creating very salty water. Snow In the higher elevations when precipitation comes to Atacama snow falls instead of rain. There are small patches of unmelted snow in the mountain tops where in never gets warm enough to melt the snow. Underground Anywhere you go in the world, regardless of how much or little it rains, there is always water underground. After it rains, some of the rainwater evaporates back into the air, but much of it trickles down into the ground and stays there - even in the desert.

How much water and where depends on a number of things; soil composition, air and soil surface temperature, amount and frequency of rainfall/precipitation, and drainage. Since the Andes is a volcanically active mountain range, the magma beneath the ground will heat the groundwater in certain places causing geysers to erupt. Fog and Dew This mummy of a girl is from the Atacama Desert. Her remains are estimated to be about 800 years old. Find out more about mummies. Most of the precipitation that comes to the Atacama is in the form of fog that blows in the from the Pacific. Fog is essentially very low clouds, consisting of water vapor cooling and beginning to condense. If you've ever been in fog you know that it can leave you a little moist. When the air temperature reaches dew point the water vapor in the air condenses to leave little droplets of water behind. The few things that are able to survive in the Atacama live on the combined moisture from fog and dew. Does Anything Live There? Many people have the view that deserts are places forsaken by Mother Nature and that no living thing would possibly want to set up camp in a place so dry.

Although it is tough to find anything living in the Atacama there are isolated pockets and small patches of plants, which support life for animals and insects. Some plant species have adapted well to this dry environment by developing tap roots that run very deep into the ground gathering water from below. There are flocks of flamingos that live in and around the salt lakes feeding on red algae that grows in the waters. There are even people living in the Atacama. There is a town called Calama in the desert which is complete with motels, restaurants and shops, but it is definitely not the norm. For the most part, Atacama is a pretty lonely place. Humans have lived in the Atacama for many thousands of years, based on the cultural relics and artifacts that archaeologists have found. The South American Indians who have set up housekeeping in the desert over the millennia have left relics from their culture and even themselves. Because the Atacama is so bone-dry the bodies of the buried indians have dried perfectly preserved turning them into mummies. Some of the oldest mummies found anywhere on earth have come from the Atacama Desert and have been dated to be 9,000 years old! What Causes Deserts?

One reason is that the high atmospheric pressure in this region over the Andes can cause dry, cold air from the upper altitudes to compress and come down to earth. This dry air has almost no water vapor so it can be easily heated by the sun, causing high ground temperatures with very low humidity. Another reason that the Atacama doesn't get enough rainfall is because of a phenomenon called rainshadow. The warm, moist tropical air that blows on the tradewinds from the east, which douse the South American rainforest, get hung-up on the east side of the Andes. The mountains are so high in altitude that the air cools, condenses and rains (or snows) on the mountains. As the air descends the other side of the mountain range it warms, holding in its moisture preventing rain from falling on to the ground below. This is one of the reasons why the Amazon basin and river are the largest anywhere in the world. The mountains that cause the Amazon to be the largest river from collecting all the rainfall are also responsible for preventing the Atacama from ever receiving any rainfall. The driest and one of the wettest places in the world are right next to each other! Get Your Degree!

Driest place on Earth: Atacama desert in Chile buried under feet of snow | Watts Up With That? Watts Up With That? The world's most viewed site on global warming and climate change Menu Atacama Desert Weather Post by Dr. Ryan Maue The Atacama desert in Chile described as the driest place on Earth just got walloped by an extreme cold front (climate change) and was buried in snow. From NDTV : (with video coverage ) According to the national emergency centre in Chile, the area had not seen this amount of snow in close to 20 years. Some areas received up to 80 centimeters (32 inches) of snow, leading to closed roads and stuck vehicles. The temperature in Santiago, Chile dropped to as low as -8.5 degrees Celsius on Wednesday. Other countries in Latin America such as Uruguay and Argentina have also been affected by the cold front. Indeed, temperatures over much of middle-latitudes South America have been averaging 5°-10° C below normal for the past week.

From Wikipedia’s excellent article on the Atacama Desert: Some parts of Atacama Desert, especially, surroundings of the abandoned Yungay town(in Antofagasta Region, Chile) are arguably the driest places on Earth,and are virtually sterile because they are blocked from moisture on both sides by the Andes mountains and by the Chilean Coast Range. A coastal inversion layer created by the cold Humboldt Current and the anticyclone of the Pacific is essential to keeping the climate of the Atacama dry. The average rainfall in the Chilean region of Antofagasta is just 1 millimetre (0.04 in) per year. Some weather stations in the Atacama have never received rain. Evidence suggests that the Atacama may not have had any significant rainfall from 1570 to 1971.

It is so arid that mountains that reach as high as 6,885 metres (22,589 ft) are completely free of glaciers and, in the southern part from 25°S to 27°S, may have been glacier-free throughout the Quaternary, though permafrost extends down to an altitude of 4,400 metres (14,400 ft) and is continuous above 5,600 metres (18,400 ft). Studies by a group of British scientists have suggested that some river beds have been dry for 120,000 years. —- In order to get moisture into the desert, it must get into the so-called rainshadow. A possible route is from the NNW, which would require a slug of high-precipitable water or moist air to travel poleward along the South American west coast. Currently, a cut-off low or upper-level potential vorticity anomaly is spinning happily off the Chilean coast — and the clockwise flow (cyclonic in the Southern Hemisphere) is distinctly opposite to the typical anti-cyclone situated in that location.

From the most recent week of Precipitable Water animation: all sorts of extreme weather can be found, including Tropical Storm Arlene, it’s landfall and remnants flooding the American Southwest (thunderstorms fueling haboobs), as well as the Atacama snowfall. Click on the image to watch the last week (Java Animation) of precipitable water and low-level wind flow from FSU Maps site. Atmospheric Precipitable Water (inches) from NCEP CDAS1 (Real-Time CFS Reanalysis): Click for 4 time daily animation of last week. The July 7, 00Z NCEP GFS global model forecast has additional snowfall for Chile during the next week: Image Link … Rate this: Chile | Australia's Chile Experts Santiago, Valparaiso and Central Chile Santiago provides a gateway to many of Chile’s natural wonders. Most people agree that two or three days is the perfect amount of time to stay in Santiago during your South America holiday. Santiago presents a mixture of first world infrastructure and old world charm, while at the same time providing a gateway to many of Chile’s natural wonders.

The spectacular backdrop of the Andes looming high above the city is home to a number of ski resorts, all within half an hour’s drive. Santiago itself boasts many fine museums, parks, restaurants and bars. There are quite a few must-see attractions in this city, such as: visiting the historic Plaza de Armas (main square), witnessing the changing of the guard at the Presidential Palace (every other day at 10am), the Fine Arts Museum (Museo Bellas Artes), Pablo Neruda’s Home (one of the world’s most famous poets), Santiago’s Sculpture Park along the banks of the Mapocho River, Cerro San Cristobal or Cerro Santa Lucia (for the best views of Santiago) and Mercado Central (to see the large variety of seafood Chile has to offer). We recommend breaking your day of site-seeing at one of the local restaurants inside the market-place with a fresh seafood lunch and glass of sauvignon blanc! Make sure you also visit the university suburb of Bellavista, known for its funky little shops, restaurants, bars and clubs. Barrio Italia and Barrio Lastarria are two other great areas to visit for chic restaurants, cafes, bars and designer shops.

All these places are easy to arrive via Santiago’s efficient metro system. An interesting contrast to Santiago (and located only 2 hours drive away) is the portside city of Valparaiso, well worth a visit for the day or an overnight stay if time allows. In the 19th century Valparaiso was a major port town for trade between the Pacific and Atlantic and became known as "Little San Francisco". It was home to Latin America’s first stock exchange and the worlds longest continuously printed Spanish language newspaper. During your visit we recommend for you to hop on a tram and explore the old historic centre with Victorian architecture and bohemian bars. Then, take a funicular to the quirky suburbs above, wander the narrow streets decorated by local street artists and relax over a delicious lunch, overlooking the busy port below. Finally, a trip to Chile would not be complete without visiting one of their world-class wineries. Some of the best are located right near Santiago and are easy to visit as a half day or full day tour.

While you’re there, make sure you sample a drop (or two) of Carmenere; a red wine grape which was previously thought to be extinct, but is now one of the most admired red wines coming from South America. When to Visit Santiago, Valparaiso and Central Chile Santiago and Valparaiso enjoy a Mediterranean climate with 4 well-defined seasons and comfortable temperatures. You can visit this region year-round, but it’s arguably at its best during the spring/summer months of October to March - when temperatures are warmer, rainfall is lower and free concerts are often put on during the nights. The rainy season begins in April, but reaches its peak during June and July, although the annual rainfall for Santiago City is only 15 inches. The Atacama Desert and Northern Chile The Atacama Desert is often compared to the surface of Mars. It certainly feels like being on another planet. The Atacama Desert, stretching over 1000km into southern Peru, is often compared to the surface of Mars. It certainly feels like being on another planet. Being so dry and remote it has one of the clearest skies on the planet and is an excellent place to stargaze.

Highlights in this region include sand-boarding on the sand dunes, discovering ancient petroglyphs (indigenous rock art), hiking, horseback riding, moonlight walks, visiting bleached-white salt flats, lakes speckled with flamingos, llamas, alpacas, vicunas and indigenous communities. Many travellers decide to base themselves in the small oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama, attracted by its magnetic charm and natural mystic. This town, which was built almost entirely of adobe bricks, is a great base for exploring the vibrant landscapes of the surrounding desert. The day tours out to Moon Valley, Death Valley and Dinosaur Valley with their unique rock formations and surrounding volcanoes reaching heights of almost 7,000 metres will leave you speechless. We also recommend a tour to the El Tatio geysers, where you can take a dip in warm thermal pools amidst incredible views. It’s well worth getting up at 4am for!

San Pedro can be reached by bus from Argentina (Salta or Juyjuy), jeep from Bolivia (a 4 or 5-day tour over the salt flats from Uyuni to San Pedro) or a flight into the nearby city of Calama and then a one hour private transfer (98 kilometres) to San Pedro. For those who wish to explore Chile’s northern Pacific coast, the coastal cities of Arica, Iquique, Antofagasta, Coquimbo and La Serena all have nearby airports and come with their own unique attractions, good restaurants, nightlife, beaches, water sports and warm climates. When to Visit the Atacama Desert and Northern Chile Being the driest and highest desert in the world the temperatures can be pretty intense in this region. The days can be very hot and the nights very cold, although the coldest it would get in the town of San Pedro would generally be 4 degrees Celsius in the winter and the nights are not so cold when not at altitude, such as along the Pacific coast. Winters bring consistent blue skies for the entire region. It rarely rains, but when it does (most likely between September and March) the region breaks out into a spectacular bloom.

Note: San Pedro is located at only 2,438 metres above sea level, a comfortable altitude, but some tours from here might take you to more than 4,000 metres above sea level. If you’re not already acclimatised to this altitude we recommend that you take it easy and don’t push yourself beyond your limits. As with everywhere else it’s also a good idea to keep hydrated with plenty of water. The Lake District and Northern Patagonia The Lake District is a natural playground of glimmering glacial lakes, raging rivers and ancient forests. Moving south, the panorama becomes increasingly greener and reaches its climax in the Lake District – a natural playground of glimmering glacial lakes, raging rivers and ancient forests. Chile’s Lake District presents a picture-postcard of perfect, conical volcanoes, beautiful blue lakes, pretty little towns and rolling green hills. Modern highways join all the major cities of this region: Chillan, Concepcion, Temuco, Valdivia, Osorno, Puerto Varas and Puerto Montt.

The smaller towns of Villarrica and Pucon offer skiing in the winter and a wide range of water-based activities during the summer (from white-water rafting to kayaking and fishing). Another popular activity is climbing the active and smoking Villarrica Volcano. It’s not a technical climb, so as long as you’re of a reasonable fitness level you should manage just fine. If, however, that’s not for you, perhaps a soak in some hot, therapeutic thermal pools would be more your thing? Puerto Varas (the town) and Puerto Montt (the city) are known for their German-influenced architecture and customs which resulted from large amounts of Germans immigrating here in the 19th Century. Puerto Varas, located only 23 kilometres from Puerto Montt, is a lovely, relaxing town to stay in. Make sure you book a hotel overlooking the gorgeous Llanquihue Lake and its snow-capped volcanoes: Osorno and Calbuco. The famous Andean Lake Crossing begins and ends here (between Bariloche, Argentina and Puerto Varas, Chile).

A short ferry ride from Puerto Montt, at the southern edge of the Lake District, is the island of Chiloe: a rural island and generally not on the tourist trail, but well worth a visit. It’s known for its unique wooden houses on stilts, its ancient traditions and local mythology, its fabulous wildlife observation and its signature dish, Curanto: smoked meats, potatoes and shellfish slow-cooked in an earth-pit, with hot stones and leaves. Absolutely delicious! When to Visit the Lake District and Northern Patagonia The ski fields generally open from May to October, but if you didn’t come here to ski you’d be best to visit outside winter if possible, as many businesses close down for the winter. Summer (Dec-Mar) is peak season and the best time to visit in terms of warmer temperatures, but in fact the weather, scenery and lack of huge crowds in the spring-time (November and early December) is also particularly lovely. Southern Patagonia The Torres del Paine are probably one of Chile’s most defining tourism images. The southern region of Patagonia is a popular addition to any South American itinerary and the towering peaks of Torres del Paine are probably one of Chile’s most defining tourism images.

You can access this national park via El Calafate in Argentina or Puero Natales in Chile. The magnificent granite spires of Torres del Paine massif are a magnet for hikers and climbers. The 450,000 acres of this national park were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The towers themselves are just one jewel in an area that has huge amounts to offer: colossal glaciers and lakes, unique wildlife and constantly changing, dramatic and virtually untouched landscapes. Some highlights of this area include: Las Torres (the Towers), Cuernos del Paine (Horns of the mountain tops), Grey Glacier, Lago Grey and the lakes of Sarmiento, Nordenskjold and Pehoe, Amarga Lagoon, Paine Waterfall, Serrano River and the Milodon Cave (where remains of a giant, prehistoric sloth were found). The capital and gateway to this southern region is Punta Arenas, on the shores of the Strait of Magellan. Most travellers pass through here for at least a night or two.

A hospitable city with surprisingly good restaurants, Punta Arenas is well-located for continuing or coming from Argentina, Torres del Paine or taking some side trips to the local attractions. Options include visits to various different penguin colonies at Seno Otway, Isla Magdalena and Tierra del Fuego, a visit to Bulnes Fortress or the Pali-Aike Cave (where archaeological remains have been found from approximately 11,000 years ago), hiking to Cabo Froward (the southernmost point on the mainland), mountain-biking through the Magallanes Forest Reserve (only 8 kilometres from town) or even whale-watching from various observations points. The town itself is also worth exploring, particularly the Punta Arenas Cemetery (known for its impressive mausoleums, architecture and sculptured pine trees), La Cruz Lookout Hill, Austral Brewery and the Regional Museum. Punta Arenas is a major port for cruise ships during the summer high season, from November through to March.

The distance between Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales is 246 Kilometres (3 hrs drive), then from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine National Park is another couple of hour’s drive, depending on which part of the Park you’re visiting. Some of the region’s attractions can also be visited from Puerto Natales, such as the Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers and Bernardo O'Higgins National Park (with opportunities to see cormorants, sea lions and condors). When to Visit Southern Patagonia Patagonia is best visited in the summer months of October to March. Some areas remain open year round, but in winter the range of activities is much more limited. There is no ‘dry season’ as such in Patagonia. Expect moderate rainy weather, high winds, and average temperatures of 10 to 18 degrees Celsius during the summer (although nights can get colder and days hotter, depending on where you are). Take into account that certain activities can only be done in the summer months, for example the Otway Inlet Penguin Colony can only be visited from October 15 to February 28.

Rain - The Full Wiki The Full Wiki Tornado Did you know ... the 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix was stopped after just 33 laps, out of 56, when torrential rain hit the circuit ? a 1970s weather forecast of "low goat pressure" on radio station KRSB in Roseburg, Oregon , was a sure sign of rain ahead? tree frogs have been used as barometers because they respond to approaching rain by croaking? From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This article is about precipitation. For other uses, see Rain (disambiguation) . A rain shaft at the base of a thunderstorm Rain is liquid precipitation , as opposed to other kinds of precipitation such as snow , hail and sleet . . On Earth, it is the condensation of atmospheric water vapor into drops of water heavy enough to fall, often making it to the surface. ^ Contrary to what is suggested in the popular media, it is water that is the most important greenhouse gas in Earth's atmosphere, not the small amount of demonized CO 2 ... Climate Debate Daily 10 February 2010 13:31 UTC [Source type: News] .

Two processes, possibly acting together, can lead to air becoming saturated leading to rainfall: cooling the air or adding water vapour to the air. ^ More over, a consensus among the countries, which are affected by the climate change, becomes essential for a pragmatic culmination of the negotiation process that is leading to the final round of climate change negotiation in the forthcoming Copenhagen summit . Global Warming/Climate Change Home Page 10 February 2010 13:31 UTC [Source type: News] Virga is precipitation that begins falling to the earth but evaporates before reaching the surface; it is one of the ways air can become saturated. Precipitation forms via collision with other rain drops or ice crystals within a cloud . . Rain drops range in size from oblate, pancake-like shapes for larger drops, to small spheres for smaller drops. ^ It was not like our soft English rain that drops gently on the earth; it was unmerciful and somehow terrible; you felt in it the malignancy of the primitive powers of nature. Rain by W.

Somerset Maugham: Rain 16 January 2010 19:19 UTC maugham.classicauthors.net [Source type: Original source] Unpolluted rainfall has a pH level of 5.2, making it slightly acidic. Moisture overriding associated with weather fronts is an overall major method of rain production. If enough moisture and upward motion is present, precipitation falls from convective clouds such as cumulonimbus and can organize into narrow rainbands . In mountainous areas, heavy precipitation is possible where upslope flow is maximized within windward sides of the terrain at elevation. . On the leeward side of mountains, desert climates can exist due to the dry air caused by compressional heating. ^ But this episode is generating more heat than light and is likely to lead to more public confusion over the causes of climate change . Global Warming/Climate Change Home Page 10 February 2010 13:31 UTC [Source type: News] The movement of the monsoon trough , or intertropical convergence zone , brings rainy seasons to savannah climes . .

Rain is the primary source of fresh water for most areas of the world, providing suitable conditions for diverse ecosystems , as well as water for hydroelectric power plants and crop irrigation . ^ Wind, water and solar technologies can provide 100 % of the world ' s energy by 2030, using only technologies that work or are close to working today on a large scale ... Climate Debate Daily 10 February 2010 13:31 UTC [Source type: News] The METAR code for rain is RA. Rainfall is measured through the use of rain gages . Rainfall amounts are estimated actively by weather radar and passively by weather satellites . Part of the Nature series on Late-summer rainstorm in Denmark Air contains water vapour, measured in grams of water per kilogram of dry air (g/kg), [1] but most commonly reported as a relative humidity . How much water vapour a parcel of air can contain before it becomes saturated (100% relative humidity) depends on its temperature. . Warmer air can contain more water vapour than cooler air before becoming saturated.

^ They noted that a warmer ocean would tend to evaporate more of its carbon dioxide gas ( CO 2 ) and also water vapor into the air, whereas a colder ocean would tend to absorb both gases. Ocean Currents and Climate 10 February 2010 13:31 UTC [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES] Therefore, one way to saturate a parcel of air is to cool it. The dew point is the temperature to which a parcel must be cooled in order to become saturated. [2] Water vapour normally begins to condense on condensation nuclei such as dust, ice, and salt in order to form clouds. An elevated portion of a frontal zone forces broad areas of lift, which form clouds decks such as altostratus or cirrostratus . . Stratus is a stable cloud deck which tends to form when a cool, stable air mass is trapped underneath a warm air mass. ^ Applications of the Precautionary Principle tend to rest on the premise that global warming is more dangerous, or more to be feared, than global cooling.

Climate Debate Daily 10 February 2010 13:31 UTC [Source type: News] It can also form due to the lifting of advection fog during breezy conditions. [3] There are four main mechanisms for cooling the air to its dew point: adiabatic cooling, conductive cooling, radiational cooling, and evaporative cooling. Adiabatic cooling occurs when air rises and expands. [4] The air can rise due to convection , large-scale atmospheric motions, or a physical barrier such as a mountain ( orographic lift ). . Conductive cooling occurs when the air comes into contact with a colder surface, [5] usually by being blown from one surface to another, for example from a liquid water surface to colder land. ^ UK Hadley Center: 'I don't think anybody is surprised that we're going to get one model that suggests it's going to cool and another that suggests it's going to warm' . Climate Depot 10 February 2010 13:31 UTC [Source type: News] Radiational cooling occurs due to the emission of infrared radiation , either by the air or by the surface underneath.

[6] Evaporative cooling occurs when moisture is added to the air through evaporation, which forces the air temperature to cool to its wet-bulb temperature , or until it reaches saturation. [7] . The main ways water vapour is added to the air are: wind convergence into areas of upward motion, [8] precipitation or virga falling from above, [9] daytime heating evaporating water from the surface of oceans, water bodies or wet land, [10] transpiration from plants, [11] cool or dry air moving over warmer water, [12] and lifting air over mountains. ^ They saw that the vast mass of water that gradually creeps northward near the surface of the Atlantic is as important in carrying heat as the familiar and visible Gulf Stream. Ocean Currents and Climate [13] Formation Raindrops are not tear-shaped. Very small raindrops are nearly spherical As raindrops increase in size, they become flattened at the bottom due to air resistance. The largest raindrops split into smaller raindrops due to air resistance. Coalescence occurs when water droplets fuse to create larger water droplets, or when water droplets freeze onto an ice crystal, which is known as the Bergeron process .

Air resistance typically causes the water droplets in a cloud to remain stationary. When air turbulence occurs, water droplets collide, producing larger droplets. As these larger water droplets descend, coalescence continues, so that drops become heavy enough to overcome air resistance and fall as rain. . Coalescence generally happens most often in clouds above freezing, and is also known as the warm rain process. ^ The Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum is one of the most dramatic bouts of global warming known to science . Climate Debate Daily [15] Raindrops have sizes ranging from 0.1 millimetres (0.0039 in) to 9 millimetres (0.35 in) mean diameter, above which they tend to break up. Smaller drops are called cloud droplets, and their shape is spherical. As a raindrop increases in size, its shape becomes more oblate, with its largest cross-section facing the oncoming airflow. . Large rain drops become increasingly flattened on the bottom, like hamburger buns; very large ones are shaped like parachutes .

^ It was not like our soft English rain that drops gently on the earth; it was unmerciful and somehow terrible; you felt in it the malignancy of the primitive powers of nature. Rain by W. Somerset Maugham: Rain 16 January 2010 19:19 UTC maugham.classicauthors.net [Source type: Original source] [16] Contrary to popular belief, their shape does not resemble a teardrop. [17] The biggest raindrops on Earth were recorded over Brazil and the Marshall Islands in 2004 — some of them were as large as 10 mm. The large size is explained by condensation on large smoke particles or by collisions between drops in small regions with particularly high content of liquid water. [18] Intensity and duration of rainfall are usually inversely related, i.e., high intensity storms are likely to be of short duration and low intensity storms can have a long duration. [19] [20] Rain drops associated with melting hail tend to be larger than other rain drops. [21] Raindrops impact at their terminal velocity , which is greater for larger drops due to their larger mass.

At sea level and without wind, 0.5 mm drizzle impacts at about 2 m/s, while large 5 mm drops impact at around 9 m/s. [22] The sound of raindrops hitting water is caused by bubbles of air oscillating underwater. The METAR code for rain is RA, while the coding for rain showers is SHRA. [23] Acidity Rainfall with low pH levels , or acid rain , is also a frequent risk produced by lightning within thunderstorms. . Distilled water , which contains no carbon dioxide , has a neutral pH of 7. Liquids with a pH less than 7 are acidic, and those with a pH greater than 7 are bases. ^ Carbon-dioxide emissions are turning the waters of the Arctic Ocean into acid at an unprecedented rate, scientists have discovered. Global Warming/Climate Change Home Page 10 February 2010 13:31 UTC [Source type: News] Main article: Weather fronts Stratiform or dynamic precipitation occurs as a consequence of slow ascent of air in synoptic systems (on the order of cm/s), such as over surface cold fronts , and over and ahead of warm fronts .

Similar ascent is seen around tropical cyclones outside of the eyewall , and in comma-head precipitation patterns around mid-latitude cyclones . [28] A wide variety of weather can be found along an occluded front, with thunderstorms possible, but usually their passage is associated with a drying of the air mass. Occluded fronts usually form around mature low-pressure areas. [29] Convection Convective precipitation Convective rain , or showery precipitation, occurs from convective clouds, e.g., cumulonimbus or cumulus congestus . It falls as showers with rapidly changing intensity. Convective precipitation falls over a certain area for a relatively short time, as convective clouds have limited horizontal extent. Most precipitation in the tropics appears to be convective; however, it has been suggested that stratiform precipitation also occurs. [28] [30] Graupel and hail indicate convection. [31] In mid-latitudes, convective precipitation is intermittent and often associated with baroclinic boundaries such as cold fronts , squall lines , and warm fronts.

[32] Orographic effects Main articles: Orographic lift , Precipitation types (meteorology) , and United States rainfall climatology Orographic precipitation Orographic precipitation occurs on the windward side of mountains and is caused by the rising air motion of a large-scale flow of moist air across the mountain ridge, resulting in adiabatic cooling and condensation. . In mountainous parts of the world subjected to relatively consistent winds (for example, the trade winds ), a more moist climate usually prevails on the windward side of a mountain than on the leeward or downwind side. ^ Climate Scare Fading: 'More Americans believe in haunted houses than man-made global warming' - 37% vs. . Climate Depot 10 February 2010 13:31 UTC [Source type: News] Moisture is removed by orographic lift, leaving drier air (see katabatic wind ) on the descending and generally warming, leeward side where a rain shadow is observed. [13] .

In Hawaii , Mount Waiʻaleʻale , on the island of Kauai, is notable for its extreme rainfall, as it has the second highest average annual rainfall on Earth, with 460 inches (12,000 mm). ^ Ice-cores reveal that Mount Kilimanjaro has been covered in glaciers for almost 12,000 years. Climate Debate Daily 10 February 2010 13:31 UTC [Source type: News] [33] Systems known as Kona storms affect the state with heavy rains between October and April. [34] Local climates vary considerably on each island due to their topography, divisible into windward (Koʻolau) and leeward (Kona) regions based upon location relative to the higher mountains. Windward sides face the east to northeast trade winds and receive much more rainfall; leeward sides are drier and sunnier, with less rain and less cloud cover. [35] In South America, the Andes mountain range blocks Pacific moisture that arrives in that continent, resulting in a desertlike climate just downwind across western Argentina.

[36] The Sierra Nevada range creates the same effect in North America forming the Great Basin and Mojave Deserts . [37] [38] Within the tropics 10 February 2010 13:31 UTC [Source type: News] [39] The term green season is also sometimes used as a euphemism by tourist authorities. [40] Areas with wet seasons are dispersed across portions of the tropics and subtropics . [41] Savanna climates and areas with monsoon regimes have wet summers and dry winters. Tropical rainforests technically do not have dry or wet seasons, since their rainfall is equally distributed through the year. [42] Some areas with pronounced rainy seasons will see a break in rainfall mid-season when the intertropical convergence zone or monsoon trough move poleward of their location during the middle of the warm season. [19] When the wet season occurs during the warm season, or summer , rain falls mainly during the late afternoon and early evening hours. The wet season is a time when air quality improves, [43] freshwater quality improves, [44] [45] and vegetation grows significantly.

Tropical cyclones, a source of very heavy rainfall, consist of large air masses several hundred miles across with low pressure at the centre and with winds blowing inward towards the centre in either a clockwise direction (southern hemisphere) or counterclockwise (northern hemisphere). [46] . Although cyclones can take an enormous toll in lives and personal property, they may be important factors in the precipitation regimes of places they impact, as they may bring much-needed precipitation to otherwise dry regions. ^ But I think, sidebar tab headers and browser tabs are too high, they take up too much of window space. mozdev.org - themes: themes/rain 16 January 2010 19:19 UTC themes.mozdev.org [Source type: General] ^ There are one or two traders, of course, but we take care to make them behave, and if they don`t we make the place so hot for them they`re glad to go." Rain by W.

Somerset Maugham: Rain 16 January 2010 19:19 UTC maugham.classicauthors.net [Source type: Original source] [47] Areas in their path can receive a year's worth of rainfall from a tropical cyclone passage. [48] Human influence Image of Atlanta, Georgia showing temperature distribution, with blue showing cool temperatures, red warm, and hot areas appear white. See also: Global warming and Urban heat island The fine particulate matter produced by car exhaust and other human sources of pollution forms cloud condensation nuclei , leads to the production of clouds and increases the likelihood of rain. As commuters and commercial traffic cause pollution to build up over the course of the week, the likelihood of rain increases: it peaks by Saturday, after five days of weekday pollution has been built up. In heavily populated areas that are near the coast, such as the United States' Eastern Seaboard , the effect can be dramatic: there is a 22% higher chance of rain on Saturdays than on Mondays.

[49] The urban heat island effect warms cities 0.6 °C (1.1 °F) to 5.6 °C (10.1 °F) above surrounding suburbs and rural areas. This extra heat leads to greater upward motion, which can induce additional shower and thunderstorm activity. Rainfall rates downwind of cities are increased between 48% and 116%. . Partly as a result of this warming, monthly rainfall is about 28% greater between 20 miles (32 km) to 40 miles (64 km) downwind of cities, compared with upwind. ^ Global warming theory 'is falling to bits': '2 recent results published by top scientists cast doubt on the UN IPCC's theory about link between atmospheric CO2 and global warming' . Climate Depot 10 February 2010 13:31 UTC [Source type: News] [50] Some cities induce a total precipitation increase of 51%.

[51] Mean surface temperature anomalies during the period 1999 to 2008 with respect to the average temperatures from 1940 to 1980 Increasing temperatures tend to increase evaporation which leads to more precipitation. . As average global temperatures have risen, average global precipitation has also increased. ^ Scientists 'puzzled as to why average global temperatures have stopped rising over the last 10 years' . Climate Depot 10 February 2010 13:31 UTC [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES] Hawaii was the only region to show a decrease (-9.25 percent). [52] Patterns Main article: Rainband Rainbands are cloud and precipitation areas which are significantly elongated. Rainbands can be stratiform or convective , [53] and are generated by differences in temperature. When noted on weather radar imagery, this precipitation elongation is referred to as banded structure. [54] Rainbands in advance of warm occluded fronts and warm fronts are associated with weak upward motion, [55] and tend to be wide and stratiform in nature.

[56] Rainbands spawned near and ahead of cold fronts can be squall lines which are able to produce tornadoes . [57] Rainbands associated with cold fronts can be warped by mountain barriers perpendicular to the front's orientation due to the formation of a low-level barrier jet . [58] Bands of thunderstorms can form with sea breeze and land breeze boundaries, if enough moisture is present. If sea breeze rainbands become active enough just ahead of a cold front, they can mask the location of the cold front itself. [59] Banding within the comma head precipitation pattern of an extratropical cyclone can yield significant amounts of rain. [60] Behind extratropical cyclones, rainbands can form downwind of relative warm bodies of water such as the Great Lakes . Downwind of islands, bands of showers and thunderstorms can develop due to low level wind convergence downwind of the island edges. Offshore California , this has been noted in the wake of cold fronts. [61] Rainbands within tropical cyclones are curved in orientation. Tropical cyclone rainbands contain showers and thunderstorms that, together with the eyewall and the eye, constitute a hurricane or tropical storm .

The extent of rainbands around a tropical cyclone can help determine the cyclone's intensity. [62] Measurement See also: Rain gauge , Disdrometer , and Snow gauge The standard way of measuring rainfall or snowfall is the standard rain gauge, which can be found in 100-mm (4-in) plastic and 200-mm (8-in) metal varieties. [63] The inner cylinder is filled by 25 mm (1 in) of rain, with overflow flowing into the outer cylinder. Plastic gages have markings on the inner cylinder down to 0.25 mm (0.01 in) resolution, while metal gauges require use of a stick designed with the appropriate 0.25 mm (0.01 in) markings. After the inner cylinder is filled, the amount inside it is discarded, then filled with the remaining rainfall in the outer cylinder until all the fluid in the outer cylinder is gone, adding to the overall total until the outer cylinder is empty. [64] Other types of gauges include the popular wedge gauge (the cheapest rain gauge and most fragile), the tipping bucket rain gauge, and the weighing rain gauge. [65] .

For those looking to measure rainfall the most inexpensively, a can that is cylindrical with straight sides will act as a rain gauge if left out in the open, but its accuracy will depend on what ruler you use to measure the rain with. ^ Answer is no : classic use OS X aqua ruler but every other theme I tried based on it got the same bug as "Rain". mozdev.org - themes: themes/rain 16 January 2010 19:19 UTC themes.mozdev.org [Source type: General] Any of the above rain gauges can be made at home, with enough know-how. [66] . When a precipitation measurement is made, various networks exist across the United States and elsewhere where rainfall measurements can be submitted through the Internet, such as CoCoRAHS or GLOBE. [67] [68] If a network is not available in the area where one lives, the nearest local weather office will likely be interested in the measurement. ^ "In weather like this a native hut must be a rather uncomfortable place to live in." Rain by W.

Somerset Maugham: Rain 16 January 2010 19:19 UTC maugham.classicauthors.net [Source type: Original source] See also: Weather radar Twenty-four hour rainfall accumulation on the Val d'Irène radar in Eastern Canada. Zones without data in the east and southwest are caused by beam blocking from mountains. (Source: Environment Canada) One of the main uses of weather radar is to be able to assess the amount of precipitations fallen over large basins for hydrological purposes. [70] For instance, river flood control, sewer management and dam construction are all areas where planners use rainfall accumulation data. Radar-derived rainfall estimates compliment surface station data which can be used for calibration. To produce radar accumulations, rain rates over a point are estimated by using the value of reflectivity data at individual grid points. A radar equation is then used, which is, Z = ARb, where Z represents the radar reflectivity, R represents the rainfall rate, and A and b are constants. [71] Satellite derived rainfall estimates use passive microwave instruments aboard polar orbiting as well as geostationary weather satellites to indirectly measure rainfall rates. [72] .

If one wants for a accumulate rainfall over a time period, one has to add up all the accumulations from each grid box within the images during that time. ^ For Want of Water: Quenching Las Vegas' Thirst Desert dwellers find summer sizzle, little rainfall Desert oasis drying up Las Vegas weather can be a gamble . Current Weather Conditions - Las Vegas Sun 17 January 2010 8:29 UTC [Source type: Reference] ^ The notification box shows up where it should, when it should, but there is no image in it.

mozdev.org - themes: themes/rain Rainfall intensity is classified according to the rate of precipitation: Light rain — when the precipitation rate is < 2.5 millimetres (0.098 in) per hour Moderate rain — when the precipitation rate is between 2.5 millimetres (0.098 in) - 7.6 millimetres (0.30 in) per hour Heavy rain — when the precipitation rate is > 7.6 millimetres (0.30 in) per hour [73] Return period See also: 100-year flood The likelihood or probability of an event with a specified intensity and duration, is called the return period or frequency. [74] The intensity of a storm can be predicted for any return period and storm duration, from charts based on historic data for the location. [75] . The term 1 in 10 year storm describes a rainfall event which is rare and is only likely to occur once every 10 years, so it has a 10 percent likelihood any given year. ^ National Weather Service records showed that snowfall that sticks around in the valley occurs on average every 20 years.

Current Weather Conditions - Las Vegas Sun 17 January 2010 8:29 UTC [Source type: Reference] . The rainfall will be greater and the flooding will be worse than the worst storm expected in any single year. ^ 'Oceans have a much greater capacity to absorb CO2 than had been previously expected' . Climate Depot 10 February 2010 13:31 UTC [Source type: News] The term 1 in 100 year storm describes a rainfall event which is extremely rare and which will occur with a likelihood of only once in a century, so has a 1 percent likelihood in any given year. . The rainfall will be extreme and flooding to be worse than a 1 in 10 year event. ^ 'Gore can't tell time – thinks most recent Climategate email is more than 10 years old' . Climate Depot 10 February 2010 13:31 UTC [Source type: News] As with all probability events, it is possible to have multiple "1 in 100 Year Storms" in a single year.

[76] Effect on agriculture Rainfall estimates for southern Japan and the surrounding region from July 20–27, 2009. Precipitation , especially rain, has a dramatic effect on agriculture . All plants need at least some water to survive, therefore rain (being the most effective means of watering) is important to agriculture . While a regular rain pattern is usually vital to healthy plants , too much or too little rainfall can be harmful, even devastating to crops . Drought can kill crops and increase erosion, [77] while overly wet weather can cause harmful fungus growth. [78] Plants need varying amounts of rainfall to survive. . For example, certain cacti require small amounts of water, [79] while tropical plants may need up to hundreds of inches of rain per year to survive. ^ We have three hundred inches in the year. Rain by W.

Somerset Maugham: Rain 16 January 2010 19:19 UTC maugham.classicauthors.net [Source type: Original source] ^ 10 February 2010 13:31 UTC [Source type: News] In areas with wet and dry seasons, soil nutrients diminish and erosion increases during the wet season. [19] Animals have adaptation and survival strategies for the wetter regime. The previous dry season leads to food shortages into the wet season, as the crops have yet to mature. [80] Developing countries have noted that their populations show seasonal weight fluctuations due to food shortages seen before the first harvest, which occurs late in the wet season. [81] Rain may be harvested through the use of rainwater tanks or for non-potable use indoors or for irrigation, [82] as a form of greywater . Excessive rain during short periods of time can cause flash floods . [83] Culture Cultural attitudes towards rain differ across the world. . In temperate climates , people tend to be more stressed when the weather is unstable or cloudy, with its impact greater on men than women.

^ Climate Scare Fading: 'More Americans believe in haunted houses than man-made global warming' - 37% vs. . Climate Depot 10 February 2010 13:31 UTC [Source type: News] [88] Many people find the scent during and immediately after rain pleasant or distinctive. The source of this scent is petrichor , an oil produced by plants, then absorbed by rocks and soil, and later released into the air during rainfall. [89] Forecasting Main article: Quantitative precipitation forecast Example of a five day rainfall forecast from the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center The Quantitative Precipitation Forecast (abbreviated QPF) is the expected amount of liquid precipitation accumulated over a specified time period over a specified area. [90] A QPF will be specified when a measurable precipitation type reaching a minimum threshold is forecast for any hour during a QPF valid period. Precipitation forecasts tend to be bound by synoptic hours such as 0000, 0600, 1200 and 1800 GMT .

Terrain is considered in QPFs by use of topography or based upon climatological precipitation patterns from observations with fine detail. [91] Starting in the mid to late 1990s, QPFs were used within hydrologic forecast models to simulate impact to rivers throughout the United States. [92] Forecast models show significant sensitivity to humidity levels within the planetary boundary layer , or in the lowest levels of the atmosphere, which decreases with height. [93] QPF can be generated on a quantitative, forecasting amounts, or a qualitative, forecasting the probability of a specific amount, basis. [94] . Radar imagery forecasting techniques show higher skill than model forecasts within 6 to 7 hours of the time of the radar image. ^ Peer-Research Determines Gulf of Mexico Medieval Warming Had Higher Temperatures Than Modern Times . Climate Depot 10 February 2010 13:31 UTC [Source type: News] The forecasts can be verified through use of rain gage measurements, weather radar estimates, or a combination of both. Various skill scores can be determined to measure the value of the rainfall forecast.

[95] Role in Köppen climate classification Updated Köppen-Geiger climate map [96] Main article: Köppen climate classification The Köppen classification depends on average monthly values of temperature and precipitation. The most commonly used form of the Köppen classification has five primary types labeled A through E. Specifically, the primary types are A, tropical; B, dry; C, mild mid-latitude; D, cold mid-latitude; and E, polar. The five primary classifications can be further divided into secondary classifications such as rain forest , monsoon , tropical savanna , humid subtropical , humid continental , oceanic climate , Mediterranean climate , steppe , subarctic climate , tundra , polar ice cap , and desert . Rain forests are characterized by high rainfall , with definitions setting minimum normal annual rainfall between 1,750 millimetres (69 in) and 2,000 millimetres (79 in). [97] .

A tropical savanna is a grassland biome located in semi-arid to semi- humid climate regions of subtropical and tropical latitudes , with rainfall between 750 millimetres (30 in) and 1,270 millimetres (50 in) a year. ^ Peer-reviewed study shakes climate debate: '50 years of global cooling predicted' -- Finds CO2 NOT 'major culprit' in temps . Climate Depot 10 February 2010 13:31 UTC [Source type: News] They are widespread on Africa , and are also found in India , the northern parts of South America , Malaysia , and Australia . [98] The humid subtropical climate zone where winter rainfall (and sometimes snowfall ) is associated with large storms that the westerlies steer from west to east. Most summer rainfall occurs during thunderstorms and from occasional tropical cyclones . [99] Humid subtropical climates lie on the east side continents, roughly between latitudes 20° and 40° degrees away from the equator.

[100] An oceanic (or maritime) climate is typically found along the west coasts at the middle latitudes of all the world's continents, bordering cool oceans, as well as southeastern Australia , and is accompanied by plentiful precipitation year round. [101] The Mediterranean climate regime resembles the climate of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin , parts of western North America , parts of Western and South Australia , in southwestern South Africa and in parts of central Chile . The climate is characterized by hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. [102] A steppe is a dry grassland . [103] . Subarctic climates are cold with continuous permafrost and little precipitation. ^ Chris Mooney: 'The Continuing, Unfortunate Effectiveness of Climate Depot's Morano...a leading nemesis of climate progress...there is, in my mind, little effective counter' . Climate Depot Main article: Desert Largest deserts The northern half of Africa is primarily desert or arid , containing the Sahara . Across Asia, a large annual rainfall minimum, composed primarily of deserts, stretches from the Gobi desert in Mongolia west-southwest through Pakistan and Iran into the Arabian desert in Saudi Arabia.

Most of Australia is semi-arid or desert, [109] making it the world's driest continent . In South America, the Andes mountain range blocks Pacific moisture that arrives in that continent, resulting in a desertlike climate just downwind across western Argentina. [36] The drier areas of the United States are regions where the Sonoran desert overspreads the Desert Southwest, the Great Basin, central Wyoming, and the Willamette Valley. [110] Wetlands See also: Monsoon and Monsoon trough The equatorial region near the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), or monsoon trough , is the wettest portion of the world's continents. Annually, the rain belt within the tropics marches northward by August, then moves back southward into the Southern Hemisphere by February and March. [111] Within Asia, rainfall is favored across its southern portion from India east and northeast across the Philippines and southern China into Japan due to the monsoon advecting moisture primarily from the Indian Ocean into the region. [112] The monsoon trough can reach as far north as the 40th parallel in East Asia during August before moving southward thereafter.

Its poleward progression is accelerated by the onset of the summer monsoon which is characterized by the development of lower air pressure (a thermal low ) over the warmest part of Asia. [113] [114] [115] Similar, but weaker, monsoon circulations are present over North America and Australia . [116] [117] . During the summer, the Southwest monsoon combined with Gulf of California and Gulf of Mexico moisture moving around the subtropical ridge in the Atlantic ocean bring the promise of afternoon and evening thunderstorms to the southern tier of the United States as well as the Great Plains . ^ New Peer-Reviewed Research: Atlantic Ocean Was 2.7°C Warmer During Roman Warm Period, 2.2°C Warmer During MWP . Climate Depot 10 February 2010 13:31 UTC [Source type: News] [118] The eastern half of the contiguous United States east of the 98th meridian , the mountains of the Pacific Northwest , and the Sierra Nevada range are the wetter portions of the nation, with average rainfall exceeding 30 inches (760 mm) per year.

[110] Equatorward of the subtropical ridge, tropical cyclones enhance precipitation across southern and eastern sections of the United States, as well as Puerto Rico , the United States Virgin Islands , [119] the Northern Mariana Islands , [120] Guam , and American Samoa . Impact of the Westerlies See also: Westerlies . Westerly flow from the mild north Atlantic leads to wetness across western Europe, in particular the United Kingdom , where the western coasts can receive between 1000 mm (40 in, at sea-level) and 2500 mm (100 in, on the mountains) of rain per year. ^ North Carolina Sea Levels Rising 3mm a year? Climate Depot 10 February 2010 13:31 UTC [Source type: News] During the fall, winter, and spring , Pacific storm systems bring most of Hawaii and the western United States much of their precipitation. [118] Over the top of the ridge, the jet stream brings a summer precipitation maximum to the Great Lakes . .

Large thunderstorm areas known as mesoscale convective complexes move through the Plains, Midwest, and Great Lakes during the warm season, contributing up to 10% of the annual precipitation to the region. ^ Rush Limbaugh Praises Climate Depot: 'It's a great place to keep up on the global warming debate' . Climate Depot 10 February 2010 13:31 UTC [Source type: News] It has been promoted in tourist literature for many years as the wettest spot in the world. [128] Lloró , a town situated in Chocó , Colombia , is probably the place with the largest measured rainfall in the world, averaging 13,300 mm per year (523.6 in). [129] The Department of Chocó is extraordinarily humid. Tutunendo, a small town situated in the same department, is one of the wettest places on earth, averaging 11,394 mm per year (448 in); in 1974 the town received 26,303 mm (86 ft 3½ in), the largest annual rainfall measured in Colombia.

Unlike Cherrapunji, which receives most of its rainfall between April and September, Tutunendo receives rain almost uniformly distributed throughout the year. [130] . Quibdó , the capital of Chocó, receives the most rain in the world among cities with over 100,000 inhabitants: 9000 mm (29 ft 6 in) per year. ^ 'Takes between 100 to 1,000 years for a golf ball to decompose naturally' -- '300 million balls are lost or discarded in U.S. alone' . Climate Depot 10 February 2010 13:31 UTC [Source type: News] Storms in Chocó can drop 500 mm (19.7 in) of rainfall in a day. . This amount is more than falls in many cities in a year's time. ^ After many years of married life he had learned that it was more conducive to peace to leave his wife with the last word. Rain by W.

Somerset Maugham: Rain 16 January 2010 19:19 UTC maugham.classicauthors.net [Source type: Original source] ^ The RAIN Report for 11-23-2006 . The RAIN Report 16 January 2010 19:19 UTC [Source type: News] ^ This Week: Part two of "WLS - A Retrospective" with author and former RAIN reader, Scott Childers, W9CHI. (13 minutes) . The RAIN Report 16 January 2010 19:19 UTC [Source type: News] Jer 3 : 3 ), and continue to fall heavily for two months. Then the heavy "winter rains" fall from the middle of December to March. . There is no prolonged fair weather in Palestine between October and March. ^ In the Copenhagen Accord there are no deadlines, no assurances, and talk of keeping below 2C makes no link between science and the reality of continued pollution.

Global Warming/Climate Change Home Page 10 February 2010 13:31 UTC [Source type: News] ^ THIS WEEK: Due to technical reasons beyond our control there is no RAIN Report for the week of March 13-19. The RAIN Report 16 January 2010 19:19 UTC [Source type: News] ^ 'It appears from the details of the scandal that there is no relationship whatsoever between human activities and climate change' . Climate Depot 10 February 2010 13:31 UTC [Source type: News] . The "latter" or spring rains fall in March and April, and serve to swell the grain then coming to maturity ( Deut 11 : 14 ; Hos 6 : 3 ). ^ The RAIN Report for 11-14-2008 . The RAIN Report 16 January 2010 19:19 UTC [Source type: News] . After this there is ordinarily no rain, the sky being bright and cloudless till October or November.

^ HURRICANES The official Atlantic hurricane season generally extends from June 1 through November 30, with peaks from mid-August till mid-October. Aruba Weather 17 January 2010 8:29 UTC [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES] ^ THIS WEEK: Due to technical reasons beyond our control there is no RAIN Report for the week of March 13-19. The RAIN Report Climate Change Induced Drought and Fire at Critical Stage in Chile — Construction of 12 Desalination Plants Underway | robertscribbler Climate Change Induced Drought and Fire at Critical Stage in Chile — Construction of 12 Desalination Plants Underway In the National Forests of Chile, it’s been burning since February. An intense upshot of the stifling of water supplies through month after month of heat and lack of rainfall. A kind of intense onset, persistent drought that has become all too common in a world in which atmosphere, ice and ocean temperatures keep rocketing on to new record highs. Starting February 17th, massive fires erupted, spreading swiftly through Chile’s forested mountainsides and valleys, threatening protected woods and endangered species.

The fires have continued off and on now for more than a month — fueled by hot winds and a record drought that has forced the nation to build 12 desalination plants in a desperate effort to restore the country’s ebbing water supply. (Side by side frames of same region of Chile on February 17 [left frame] and March 24 [right frame]. For reference, bottom edge of frame is approximately 100 miles. Right frame is slightly off-set toward the east. Image source: Lance-Modis .) Reports from BBC indicated that today’s fires are burning in three protected national parks: China Muerta National Reserve, Nalca Lolco National Reserve and Conguillio National Park. The fires threaten ancient growth forest that is the abode of the majestic Araucaria araucana trees. A kind of pine that can live up to a thousand years. Over 4,500 hectares are now burning and the smoke is plainly visible in the NASA satellite shot (right frame in the image sequence above). Fully fifteen fire brigades are involved in what is currently a massive firefighting effort.

Overall, the fires that have been raging for more than a month throughout Chile have consumed an exceptional 91,000 hectares — nearly double the 59,000 hectare per year average over the last five years. Years that themselves experienced increased heat, drought, and burning. This extreme burning comes as Chile faces a ramping, multi-decadal water shortage set off by human warming. Climate scientists there have indicated a high risk of drastically increased drying throughout Chile over the next 35 years through to 2050 due to climate change related impacts. According to President Michele Bachelet the country’s current drought situation is already at critical stages. Bachelet recently announced millions of dollars in funds to drill for underground water and to construct desalination plants to provide drinking water to fight ramping drought conditions with the ugly prospect of more to come.

In a report today from BBC , Bachelet noted that the situation was now endemic and expected to worsen: “Faced with this critical situation, there is no choice but to assume that the lack of water resources is a reality that is here to stay and that puts at risk the development of important regions of our country.” Though climate change is expected to continue to ratchet down on drought impacts to Chile — increasing heat, melting critical glacial ice, and drying out forestlands — this year, at least, there appears to be some hope for an end to the stifling heat and the ongoing fires. Hints of the first rains of autumn have now begun to show up in Central and Northern Chile. But by 2050 with the world expected to be between 1.5 and 2.5 degrees Celsius hotter than 1880s averages, the autumn rains will have been brutally beaten back — retreating further and further into fall. In that time, the heat and dryness of spring and summer will come early and the great glaciers upon which Chile depends so much for its water will be but wan shadows of former grandeur. If they exist at all. Links:

Question: The area with the world's lowest rainfall (less than 0.2mm per year is the Antofagasta region, of which country?
Answer: Chile