Atmospheric rivers are associated with nine out of every 10 floods in major global river basins
Published in npj Natural Hazards, 2026
Recommended citation: Stojanovic, M.,Pérez-Alarcón, A., Sorí, R. Nieto, R., Gimeno, L. (2026). Atmospheric rivers are associated with nine out of every 10 floods in major global river basins. npj Natural Hazards, 3, 6. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44304-026-00167-x
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Abstract
The role of atmospheric rivers (ARs) in 119 major flood events across 50 global river basins was investigated. The ARs were linked to 74% of the flood areas and 89% of the full basins. Their contributions were evident during and before floods, with influences spanning mid-latitudes to tropical regions, causing human fatalities and population displacements. These findings underscore ARs as dominant and widespread drivers of extreme flood events worldwide.