Warming conditions will necessitate a much greater demand for water in the Midwest, a new study in Ecospheres reports.
From 1950 to 2018, average annual precipitation has risen in 90% of the U.S. states analyzed. The great majority of the country has experienced above-average rainfall so far this year – in fact, the last 12 months have been the wettest on record.
More heavy rain is a major impact of climate change—on par with intensifying heat.
By absorbing rainwater, reducing erosion, and creating more permeable soils, trees save nearly 400 billion gallons of stormwater runoff in the continental U.S. each year. In this article, Climate Central explains how, why, and where trees are helping combat increasing floodss.