What is an Atmospheric River and How do Alaska National Weather
Service Forecasters Monitor these Impactful Events on Communities and the H
ydrologic Cycle?
Aaron Jacobs, National Weather Service Junea
u and Martin Ralph, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Wednes
day, 21 August 2019
11:00 a.m. AKDT
At mospheric rivers (ARs) have the ability to transport large amounts of water vapor from the tropics poleward into the upper latitudes that can have pos itive and negative effects on the environment and society. For example, ARs events can cause dangerous flooding, debris flows, and large amounts of sn owfall but at the same time can be beneficial to the environment, especiall y areas that are in a drought. More than 20 years of research have increase d our understanding of the dynamics of ARs. At the same time the improved r emote sensing and better numerical weather prediction has given forecasters increased ability to monitor atmospheric rivers, although forecast challen ges associated with ARs remain. This talk will review what is known of ARs, how forecasters monitor these events, what type of impacts they can have o n communities of Alaska, and ongoing research particular to Alaska.
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or more information about this webinar, including registration and instruct
ions on how to join, go to:
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