Climate change this year has brought marked changes to the weather patterns in the northern hemisphere. While Europe is sweltering under heatwaves with drought-like conditions emerging in several countries, the US, on the other hand, is about to experience quite the opposite.

A new study by Science Advances has predicted that exceedingly rare megafloods will become more common and more catastrophic in California, with the chances of the disaster developing in the next 40 years.

A megaflood is "a very severe flood event across a broad region that has the potential to bring catastrophic impacts to society in the areas affected”, Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with the University of California, Los Angeles, and a researcher involved in the study, told CNN.

Experts say that these rare superfloods could turn California's lowlands into a "vast inland sea”.

These massive floods previously happened once in a lifetime in the state. Over 150 years ago, a strong series of atmospheric rivers swarmed the entire state of California, causing one of the most exceptional floods in history following a dry spell that had left the West parched for decades.

However, researchers say that climate change is increasing the chances of these catastrophic disasters, causing them to occur every 25 to 50 years.

Though major floods have struck California, which is prone to these floods from atmospheric rivers, climate change is increasing the chances, and millions of people could be impacted.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-stories-limit-purchase-as-people-empty-shelves-of-bottled-water-amid-drought-506423" hreflang="en">UK stores limit purchase of bottled water as people empty shelves amid drought</a>

The researchers based their findings from a 2010 analysis called “ARkStorm,” which is developed by the US Geological Survey with an interdisciplinary team.

After analysing the data, they concluded that a series of severe storms had the potential to pelt the state with enough rainfall to displace millions, impair critical infrastructure and transportation corridors, and cause close to $1tn in economic losses.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germanys-rhine-river-water-level-falls-to-new-lows-threatens-to-disrupt-shipping-industry-506488" hreflang="en">Germany’s Rhine River water level falls to new lows, to amplify economic woes</a>

“Ultimately, one of our goals is not just to understand these events scientifically, but it's also to help California prepare for them," Swain was quoted as saying.

"It's a question of when rather than if (the megaflood) occurs," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Climate change this year has brought marked changes to the weather patterns in the northern hemisphere. While Europe is sweltering under heatwaves with drought-like conditions emerging in several countries, the US, on the other hand, is about to experience quite the opposite.

Climate change this year has brought marked changes to the weather patterns in the northern hemisphere. While Europe is sweltering under heatwaves with drought-like conditions emerging in several countries, the US, on the other hand, is about to experience quite the opposite. A new study by Science Advances has predicted that exceedingly rare megafloods will become more common and more catastrophic in California, with the chances of the disaster developing in the next 40 years. A megaflood is "a very severe flood event across a broad region that has the potential to bring catastrophic impacts to society in the areas affected”, Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with the University of California, Los Angeles, and a researcher involved in the study, told CNN. Experts say that these rare superfloods could turn California's lowlands into a "vast inland sea”. These massive floods previously happened once in a lifetime in the state. Over 150 years ago, a strong series of atmospheric rivers swarmed the entire state of California, causing one of the most exceptional floods in history following a dry spell that had left the West parched for decades. However, researchers say that climate change is increasing the chances of these catastrophic disasters, causing them to occur every 25 to 50 years. Though major floods have struck California, which is prone to these floods from atmospheric rivers, climate change is increasing the chances, and millions of people could be impacted. Also read | UK stores limit purchase of bottled water as people empty shelves amid drought The researchers based their findings from a 2010 analysis called “ARkStorm,” which is developed by the US Geological Survey with an interdisciplinary team. After analysing the data, they concluded that a series of severe storms had the potential to pelt the state with enough rainfall to displace millions, impair critical infrastructure and transportation corridors, and cause close to $1tn in economic losses. Also read | Germany’s Rhine River water level falls to new lows, to amplify economic woes “Ultimately, one of our goals is not just to understand these events scientifically, but it's also to help California prepare for them," Swain was quoted as saying. "It's a question of when rather than if (the megaflood) occurs," he added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Study predicts super rare megflood striking California in coming decades

Scientists have found that ancient 'mega floods' tilted direction of Earth's crust as per a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The glacial Lake Missoula outburst floods are among the largest known floods on Earth. Dozens of these floods scoured the landscapes of eastern Washington during the last Ice Age, almost 18 thousand years ago, forming what is known as the Channeled Scabland.&nbsp;

In this study, researchers have explored how changes in topography due to the solid Earth’s response to ice sheet loading and unloading influenced the history of mega flood routing over the Channeled Scabland. They found that the deformation of the Earth’s crust played an important role in directing the erosion of the Channeled Scabland.

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"We used relatively simple, yet plausible, numerical experiments to test whether glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) could have had a substantial impact on flood routing and erosion for two major scabland tracts, Cheney-Palouse and Telford-Crab Creek," write the authors of the study.

"To this end, we modeled GIA to reconstruct the topography of the Channeled Scabland at different times during the period of Ice Age flooding."

"People have been looking at high water marks and trying to reconstruct the size of these floods, but all of the estimates are based on looking at the present-day topography," said lead author Tamara Pico, assistant professor of Earth and planetary sciences at UC Santa Cruz.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-discover-hidden-passageway-beneath-panama-through-which-wind-from-earths-middle-layer-blows-440199">Also read |&nbsp;Scientists discover hidden passageway beneath Panama through which wind from Earth's middle layer blows</a>

"GIA caused crustal deformation in the Channeled Scabland with rates up to 10 millimeters per year, orders of magnitude above regional tectonic uplift rates and, therefore, may have influenced flood routing," note the authors.&nbsp;

"The course of ancient, glacial outburst floods was likely influenced by glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA), and reconstructing these events informs our understanding of how floods shape landscapes on Earth and Mars," they added.&nbsp;

"When you are there in person, it's crazy to think about the scale of the floods needed to carve those canyons, which are now dry," says Pico.&nbsp;

"Scientists were not the first people to look at this," she says. "People may even have been there to witness these floods." 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Scientists have found that ancient 'mega floods' tilted direction of Earth's crust as per a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Scientists have found that ancient 'mega floods' tilted direction of Earth's crust as per a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The glacial Lake Missoula outburst floods are among the largest known floods on Earth. Dozens of these floods scoured the landscapes of eastern Washington during the last Ice Age, almost 18 thousand years ago, forming what is known as the Channeled Scabland. In this study, researchers have explored how changes in topography due to the solid Earth’s response to ice sheet loading and unloading influenced the history of mega flood routing over the Channeled Scabland. They found that the deformation of the Earth’s crust played an important role in directing the erosion of the Channeled Scabland. Also read | Astronomers chart Milky Way's dramatic history in new map "We used relatively simple, yet plausible, numerical experiments to test whether glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) could have had a substantial impact on flood routing and erosion for two major scabland tracts, Cheney-Palouse and Telford-Crab Creek," write the authors of the study. "To this end, we modeled GIA to reconstruct the topography of the Channeled Scabland at different times during the period of Ice Age flooding." "People have been looking at high water marks and trying to reconstruct the size of these floods, but all of the estimates are based on looking at the present-day topography," said lead author Tamara Pico, assistant professor of Earth and planetary sciences at UC Santa Cruz. Also read | Scientists discover hidden passageway beneath Panama through which wind from Earth's middle layer blows "GIA caused crustal deformation in the Channeled Scabland with rates up to 10 millimeters per year, orders of magnitude above regional tectonic uplift rates and, therefore, may have influenced flood routing," note the authors. "The course of ancient, glacial outburst floods was likely influenced by glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA), and reconstructing these events informs our understanding of how floods shape landscapes on Earth and Mars," they added. "When you are there in person, it's crazy to think about the scale of the floods needed to carve those canyons, which are now dry," says Pico. "Scientists were not the first people to look at this," she says. "People may even have been there to witness these floods." (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists find ancient 'mega floods' tilted direction of Earth's crust

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