A new study has found that some rivers are experiencing falling water levels despite receiving more rainfall than in the past. Researchers from Pennsylvania State University analysed precipitation and river flow records for over 10,000 rivers between 1951 and 2020.
Their findings indicate that in nearly one-third of these rivers, flow trends did not correspond with observed changes in rainfall and snow. More than 10% of rivers now receive more precipitation than they did 50 years ago but show lower flow rates.
This discrepancy appears more prevalent in regions where extreme rainfall events are becoming more common and where evaporation rates are high. The research, published in Geophysical Research Letters, highlights the intensifying hydrological cycle due to global heating.