A worldwide review of global rainfall data led by the
University of Adelaide has found that the intensity of the most extreme
rainfall events is increasing across the globe as temperatures rise.
In the most comprehensive review of changes to extreme
rainfall ever undertaken, researchers evaluated the association between extreme
rainfall and atmospheric temperatures at more than 8000 weather gauging
stations around the world.
Lead author Dr Seth Westra said, "The results are that
rainfall extremes are increasing on average globally. They show that there is a
7% increase in extreme rainfall intensity for every degree increase in global
atmospheric temperature.