Atmospheric Particles Exacerbate Dry and Wet Extremes

Aerosols—small atmospheric particles such as soot and dust—can alter precipitation frequency and intensity, according to a recent study published in Nature Geoscience. Science Daily explains that the scientists used atmospheric data collected in the Southern Great Plains of the U.S. and found that increased amounts of particulates in the atmosphere leads to reduced precipitation in dry regions and seasons, and increased precipitation in wet regions and seasons. These findings add urgency to the need to control emissions from power plants, manufacturing, and other industrial processes and invest in sustainable development, especially in regions susceptible to extreme events such as droughts and floods.