Atmospheric rivers aren’t new. Why does it feel like we’re hearing about them more?
Atmospheric rivers aren’t new. Why does it feel like we’re hearing about them more?
An aerial view of the Los Angeles River swollen by runoff from a long-duration atmospheric river storm in February of 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

In recent years, "atmospheric river" has become used much more frequently in scientific papers and in media coverage. According to experts who study climate and weather, a few reasons may explain why.

(Image credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images)