[californiadisasters] Scientists Cite "Atmospheric River" for Near Continuous Rain

It has happened before. Consider the winter of 1861-1862 -- it rained for 45 consecutive days

By PATRICK HEALY

From KNBC-TV Los Angeles

Updated 7:33 AM PST, Tue, Dec 21, 2010

It's the rain that just won't stop -- day after day. It's almost as continuous as the flow of a river, tropical moisture funneled into California by what scientists have come to call an "atmospheric river."

The term was coined only within the last generation of  satellite imaging that can actually show the band of moisture.

But there's nothing new about the phenomenon.  What scientists now realize was an atmospheric river in 1861-62 brought California 45 straight days of rain and caused flooding of Biblical proportions, evocative of Noah and his ark..  It bankrupted the state.

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View entire article here: http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local-beat/Scientists-cite-Atmospheric-River-for-Near-Continuous-Rain-112228904.html?__source=Newsletter-Daily

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