If you want to read more, here's a link to freely access our 2025 hydroclimate whiplash review (no paywall): www.nature.com/artic...
Hydroclimate volatility on a warming Earth
Nature Reviews Earth & Environment - Rapid transitions between extreme wet and extreme dry conditions — ‘hydroclimate whiplash’ — have marked environmental and societal...
www.nature.com
July 7, 2025 at 2:34 AM
If you want to read more, here's a link to freely access our 2025 hydroclimate whiplash review (no paywall): www.nature.com/artic...
See, for example, our recent review on increasing hydroclimate whiplash and the consequences of the "Expanding Atmospheric Sponge:"
www.nature.com/artic...
www.nature.com/artic...
Hydroclimate volatility on a warming Earth
Nature Reviews Earth & Environment - Rapid transitions between extreme wet and extreme dry conditions — ‘hydroclimate whiplash’ — have marked environmental and societal...
www.nature.com
July 13, 2025 at 1:48 AM
See, for example, our recent review on increasing hydroclimate whiplash and the consequences of the "Expanding Atmospheric Sponge:"
www.nature.com/artic...
www.nature.com/artic...
Our paper on "Hydroclimate volatility on a Warming Earth" is out in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment. We assess existing scientific literature & conduct new analysis--concluding that "#HydroclimateWhiplash" is increasing due to #ClimateChange. [Thread] www.nature.com/artic...
Hydroclimate volatility on a warming Earth
Nature Reviews Earth & Environment - Rapid transitions between extreme wet and extreme dry conditions — ‘hydroclimate whiplash’ — have marked environmental and societal...
www.nature.com
January 11, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Our paper on "Hydroclimate volatility on a Warming Earth" is out in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment. We assess existing scientific literature & conduct new analysis--concluding that "#HydroclimateWhiplash" is increasing due to #ClimateChange. [Thread] www.nature.com/artic...
"Hydroclimate whiplash will occur across most of the world for as long as global warming continues," Daniel Swain
@weatherwest.bsky.social, @ucanr.edu climate scientist, tells NHK
www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/...
@weatherwest.bsky.social, @ucanr.edu climate scientist, tells NHK
www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/...
Hydroclimate Whiplash: the New Climate Risk - IMPACTS: Climates Change the World | NHK WORLD-JAPAN
Droughts, floods, wildfires... We look at the latest research on Hydroclimate Whiplash, a new climate risk in which extreme weather events alternate in a short time, exacerbating natural disasters.
www3.nhk.or.jp
September 28, 2026 at 12:07 AM
"Hydroclimate whiplash will occur across most of the world for as long as global warming continues," Daniel Swain
@weatherwest.bsky.social, @ucanr.edu climate scientist, tells NHK
www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/...
@weatherwest.bsky.social, @ucanr.edu climate scientist, tells NHK
www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/...
Our recent review on "Hydroclimate Volatility on a warming Earth" will be in front of the journal paywall for all to read/download freely for 14 days (until 1/23). Thereafter, this specific (ReadCube) link will grant read-only access to all: https://rdcu.be/d6ceH
Hydroclimate volatility on a warming Earth
Nature Reviews Earth & Environment - Rapid transitions between extreme wet and extreme dry conditions — ‘hydroclimate whiplash’ — have marked environmental and societal...
rdcu.be
January 14, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Our recent review on "Hydroclimate Volatility on a warming Earth" will be in front of the journal paywall for all to read/download freely for 14 days (until 1/23). Thereafter, this specific (ReadCube) link will grant read-only access to all: https://rdcu.be/d6ceH
This exact temporal sequence of events, as observed in southern California in 2024, is something we use as a prototypical example of practical consequences of wet-to-dry "hydroclimate whiplash" events--which we show are increasing due to #ClimateChange. www.nature.com/artic...
Hydroclimate volatility on a warming Earth
Nature Reviews Earth & Environment - Rapid transitions between extreme wet and extreme dry conditions — ‘hydroclimate whiplash’ — have marked environmental and societal...
www.nature.com
January 9, 2025 at 10:07 PM
This exact temporal sequence of events, as observed in southern California in 2024, is something we use as a prototypical example of practical consequences of wet-to-dry "hydroclimate whiplash" events--which we show are increasing due to #ClimateChange. www.nature.com/artic...
"Hydroclimate volatility on a warming Earth" by @weatherwest.bsky.social, @climate-guy.bsky.social, @manuelaibrunner.bsky.social, @climatechirper.bsky.social et al.
nature.com/articles/s43...
Global-averaged subseasonal & interannual whiplash have increased 31–66% & 8–31% since the mid-20thC
nature.com/articles/s43...
Global-averaged subseasonal & interannual whiplash have increased 31–66% & 8–31% since the mid-20thC
January 9, 2025 at 2:02 PM
"Hydroclimate volatility on a warming Earth" by @weatherwest.bsky.social, @climate-guy.bsky.social, @manuelaibrunner.bsky.social, @climatechirper.bsky.social et al.
nature.com/articles/s43...
Global-averaged subseasonal & interannual whiplash have increased 31–66% & 8–31% since the mid-20thC
nature.com/articles/s43...
Global-averaged subseasonal & interannual whiplash have increased 31–66% & 8–31% since the mid-20thC
Your 'moment of doom' for Jan. 10, 2024 ~ Floods, droughts and fires.
"Increasing hydroclimate whiplash may turn out to be one of the more universal global changes on a warming Earth."
"Increasing hydroclimate whiplash may turn out to be one of the more universal global changes on a warming Earth."
Floods droughts and fires hydroclimate extremes accelerate worldwide
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 10, 2025 -
Los Angeles faces a critical challenge as hydroclimate whiplash - dramatic shifts between extreme wet and dry conditions - accelerates globally due to climate chan...
www.spacedaily.com
January 10, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Your 'moment of doom' for Jan. 10, 2024 ~ Floods, droughts and fires.
"Increasing hydroclimate whiplash may turn out to be one of the more universal global changes on a warming Earth."
"Increasing hydroclimate whiplash may turn out to be one of the more universal global changes on a warming Earth."
🌊🌵 Hydroclimate Whiplash Rising 🌧️
A new study reveals hydroclimate whiplash -sudden shifts between extreme wet and dry conditions - is intensifying due to global warming.
Hazards like floods & fires will escalate as these swings double by 3°C warming.
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s43...
#SciComm 🧪
A new study reveals hydroclimate whiplash -sudden shifts between extreme wet and dry conditions - is intensifying due to global warming.
Hazards like floods & fires will escalate as these swings double by 3°C warming.
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s43...
#SciComm 🧪
Hydroclimate volatility on a warming Earth - Nature Reviews Earth & Environment
Rapid transitions between extreme wet and extreme dry conditions — ‘hydroclimate whiplash’ — have marked environmental and societal impacts. This Review outlines observed and projected changes in hydr...
www.nature.com
January 11, 2025 at 5:56 AM
🌊🌵 Hydroclimate Whiplash Rising 🌧️
A new study reveals hydroclimate whiplash -sudden shifts between extreme wet and dry conditions - is intensifying due to global warming.
Hazards like floods & fires will escalate as these swings double by 3°C warming.
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s43...
#SciComm 🧪
A new study reveals hydroclimate whiplash -sudden shifts between extreme wet and dry conditions - is intensifying due to global warming.
Hazards like floods & fires will escalate as these swings double by 3°C warming.
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s43...
#SciComm 🧪
An interesting paper on hydroclimate volatility due to climate change leading to the types of mega fires we are seeing in LA. 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
Hydroclimate volatility on a warming Earth - Nature Reviews Earth & Environment
Rapid transitions between extreme wet and extreme dry conditions — ‘hydroclimate whiplash’ — have marked environmental and societal impacts. This Review outlines observed and projected changes in hydr...
www.nature.com
January 10, 2025 at 4:03 AM
An interesting paper on hydroclimate volatility due to climate change leading to the types of mega fires we are seeing in LA. 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
Excellent new review from @weatherwest.bsky.social @climate-guy.bsky.social @manuelaibrunner.bsky.social @climatechirper.bsky.social on one of the most useful organizing concepts I've run across for understanding climate impacts on extreme events - the "expanding atmospheric sponge" 1/🧵
Hydroclimate volatility on a warming Earth - Nature Reviews Earth & Environment
Rapid transitions between extreme wet and extreme dry conditions — ‘hydroclimate whiplash’ — have marked environmental and societal impacts. This Review outlines observed and projected changes in hydr...
www.nature.com
January 9, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Excellent new review from @weatherwest.bsky.social @climate-guy.bsky.social @manuelaibrunner.bsky.social @climatechirper.bsky.social on one of the most useful organizing concepts I've run across for understanding climate impacts on extreme events - the "expanding atmospheric sponge" 1/🧵
It’s called hydroclimate whiplash: as global warming gets worse, we have longer dry periods and also, at the same time, more intense rain.
A ton of water (literal tons, usually) landing on parched earth is a bigger danger than the same amount in a reasonably hydrated system.
A ton of water (literal tons, usually) landing on parched earth is a bigger danger than the same amount in a reasonably hydrated system.
Could the Texas floods happen here in Colorado?
Yes. 100%. We’ve had several similar events in the past, most notably the Big Thompson Canyon flood in 1976 that killed 144.
Quick thread ->
#COwx
Yes. 100%. We’ve had several similar events in the past, most notably the Big Thompson Canyon flood in 1976 that killed 144.
Quick thread ->
#COwx
July 7, 2025 at 7:34 PM
It’s called hydroclimate whiplash: as global warming gets worse, we have longer dry periods and also, at the same time, more intense rain.
A ton of water (literal tons, usually) landing on parched earth is a bigger danger than the same amount in a reasonably hydrated system.
A ton of water (literal tons, usually) landing on parched earth is a bigger danger than the same amount in a reasonably hydrated system.
Quite the telling publication day for this study, which found a dramatic increase in the amount of "hydroclimate whiplash"—the vacillation between wet and dry that fuels wildfires as well as flash floods, landslides, and disease outbreaks—on our hotter planet
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
Hydroclimate volatility on a warming Earth - Nature Reviews Earth & Environment
Rapid transitions between extreme wet and extreme dry conditions — ‘hydroclimate whiplash’ — have marked environmental and societal impacts. This Review outlines observed and projected changes in hydr...
www.nature.com
January 9, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Quite the telling publication day for this study, which found a dramatic increase in the amount of "hydroclimate whiplash"—the vacillation between wet and dry that fuels wildfires as well as flash floods, landslides, and disease outbreaks—on our hotter planet
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
This increase in atmospheric "thirst" is actually caused by same underlying thermodynamic process driving increases in precip intensity w/warming. In new paper, coincidentally published today, we introduce analogy of the "Expanding Atmospheric Sponge." www.nature.com/artic...
Hydroclimate volatility on a warming Earth
Nature Reviews Earth & Environment - Rapid transitions between extreme wet and extreme dry conditions — ‘hydroclimate whiplash’ — have marked environmental and societal...
www.nature.com
January 9, 2025 at 10:05 PM
This increase in atmospheric "thirst" is actually caused by same underlying thermodynamic process driving increases in precip intensity w/warming. In new paper, coincidentally published today, we introduce analogy of the "Expanding Atmospheric Sponge." www.nature.com/artic...
One of the reasons that southern California’s wildfires have been so intense this year is "hydroclimate whiplash," a sudden, intense swing between very wet and very dry weather. Thank you @weatherwest.bsky.social + others for great research and #scicomm.
www.earth.com/news/climate...
🧪 ⚒️
www.earth.com/news/climate...
🧪 ⚒️
"Hydroclimate whiplash" is wreaking havoc across the U.S.
California has become a vivid example of a global phenomenon known as “hydroclimate whiplash,” which involves sudden and dramatic swings.
www.earth.com
January 13, 2025 at 6:58 PM
One of the reasons that southern California’s wildfires have been so intense this year is "hydroclimate whiplash," a sudden, intense swing between very wet and very dry weather. Thank you @weatherwest.bsky.social + others for great research and #scicomm.
www.earth.com/news/climate...
🧪 ⚒️
www.earth.com/news/climate...
🧪 ⚒️
📢 New paper on the impacts of AMOC collapse on European hydroclimate. 🌊
We find an AMOC collapse would exacerbate drought conditions across Europe, linked to reduced precipitation. In combination with climate change droughts are expected to become more frequent and severe.
doi.org/10.5194/hess...
We find an AMOC collapse would exacerbate drought conditions across Europe, linked to reduced precipitation. In combination with climate change droughts are expected to become more frequent and severe.
doi.org/10.5194/hess...
Changing European hydroclimate under a collapsed AMOC in the Community Earth System Model
Abstract. The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is expected to weaken or even collapse under anthropogenic climate change. Given the importance of the AMOC in the present-day climate,...
doi.org
November 21, 2025 at 2:41 PM
📢 New paper on the impacts of AMOC collapse on European hydroclimate. 🌊
We find an AMOC collapse would exacerbate drought conditions across Europe, linked to reduced precipitation. In combination with climate change droughts are expected to become more frequent and severe.
doi.org/10.5194/hess...
We find an AMOC collapse would exacerbate drought conditions across Europe, linked to reduced precipitation. In combination with climate change droughts are expected to become more frequent and severe.
doi.org/10.5194/hess...
Since fungus grows best in wet conditions, but aerosolizes & spreads in dry ones, rapid transitions between wet &dry are arguably the "worst climate for cocci." Well, as I've recently discussed, increasing hydroclimate whiplash is precisely what we expect: www.nature.com/artic...
Hydroclimate volatility on a warming Earth
Nature Reviews Earth & Environment - Rapid transitions between extreme wet and extreme dry conditions — ‘hydroclimate whiplash’ — have marked environmental and societal...
www.nature.com
February 20, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Since fungus grows best in wet conditions, but aerosolizes & spreads in dry ones, rapid transitions between wet &dry are arguably the "worst climate for cocci." Well, as I've recently discussed, increasing hydroclimate whiplash is precisely what we expect: www.nature.com/artic...
The analogy works well even w/caveats: A larger sponge only has *potential* to absorb more water--but will not necessarily do so unless water is present! Likewise, even a huge saturated sponge will not actually relinquish water unless actively wrung out. www.nature.com/artic...
Hydroclimate volatility on a warming Earth
Nature Reviews Earth & Environment - Rapid transitions between extreme wet and extreme dry conditions — ‘hydroclimate whiplash’ — have marked environmental and societal...
www.nature.com
July 16, 2025 at 7:36 PM
The analogy works well even w/caveats: A larger sponge only has *potential* to absorb more water--but will not necessarily do so unless water is present! Likewise, even a huge saturated sponge will not actually relinquish water unless actively wrung out. www.nature.com/artic...
I spoke to @weatherwest.bsky.social about the role of warming and "hydroclimate whiplash" in the L.A. fires and where we go from here: e360.yale.edu/features/dan...
Whiplash: How Big Swings in Precipitation Fueled the L.A. Fires
UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain says that two very wet years followed by a very dry one helped to turn the Los Angeles wildfires into raging infernos. This phenomenon of “hydroclimate whiplash,” h...
e360.yale.edu
January 16, 2025 at 5:02 PM
I spoke to @weatherwest.bsky.social about the role of warming and "hydroclimate whiplash" in the L.A. fires and where we go from here: e360.yale.edu/features/dan...
In case you missed it live last night, a recording of my presentation for the National Academy of Sciences' public lecture series is now available on YouTube. "Climate Change through the Lens of Increasing Hydroclimate Whiplash"
Climate Change through the Lens of Increasing Hydroclimate Whiplash
The past decade has brought episodes of exceptional and even historically unprecedented warmth, both in California and around the world. But perhaps even more disruptive than rising global average temperatures and record-breaking regional heatwaves have been the pronounced dry and wet extremes exper
youtu.be
November 7, 2025 at 5:15 AM
In case you missed it live last night, a recording of my presentation for the National Academy of Sciences' public lecture series is now available on YouTube. "Climate Change through the Lens of Increasing Hydroclimate Whiplash"
"Hydroclimate Whiplash”: How Extreme Rainfall and Drought Are Linked
#ClimateChange
https://blog.ucs.org/marc-alessi/hydroclimate-whiplash-how-extreme-rainfall-and-drought-are-linked/
#ClimateChange
https://blog.ucs.org/marc-alessi/hydroclimate-whiplash-how-extreme-rainfall-and-drought-are-linked/
“Hydroclimate Whiplash”: How Extreme Rainfall and Drought Are Linked
The same atmospheric conditions that cause droughts can also produce extreme rainfall. Marc Alessi explains the whiplash.
blog.ucs.org
July 28, 2025 at 9:29 PM
"Hydroclimate Whiplash”: How Extreme Rainfall and Drought Are Linked
#ClimateChange
https://blog.ucs.org/marc-alessi/hydroclimate-whiplash-how-extreme-rainfall-and-drought-are-linked/
#ClimateChange
https://blog.ucs.org/marc-alessi/hydroclimate-whiplash-how-extreme-rainfall-and-drought-are-linked/
Fast swings between alarmingly wet and very dry weather can create conditions for destructive wildfires. Scientists say that ‘hydroclimate whiplash’ is increasing as the atmosphere warms. via @kqednews.bsky.social
Climate Scientists Warn of Growing Whiplash Effect on Weather Patterns | KQED
Californians are all too familiar with flip-flopping weather extremes, and new research suggests that weather whiplash is increasing as the atmosphere warms due to human-caused climate change.
www.kqed.org
January 12, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Fast swings between alarmingly wet and very dry weather can create conditions for destructive wildfires. Scientists say that ‘hydroclimate whiplash’ is increasing as the atmosphere warms. via @kqednews.bsky.social
In a warming climate, we are seeing broad global increases in what we term "#HydroclimateWhiplash"--and thus increasingly frequent and/or intense swings between extremely wet and extremely dry conditions. Why does that matter in ths context of wildfire? www.nature.com/artic...
Hydroclimate volatility on a warming Earth
Nature Reviews Earth & Environment - Rapid transitions between extreme wet and extreme dry conditions — ‘hydroclimate whiplash’ — have marked environmental and societal...
www.nature.com
January 9, 2025 at 10:06 PM
In a warming climate, we are seeing broad global increases in what we term "#HydroclimateWhiplash"--and thus increasingly frequent and/or intense swings between extremely wet and extremely dry conditions. Why does that matter in ths context of wildfire? www.nature.com/artic...
Out today in @globalchangebio.bsky.social is our (brief!) rapid-response piece on the broader context surrounding the January 2025 Southern California wildfires & relevance of wet-to-dry hydroclimate whiplash to fire both locally and globally on a warming Earth. [1/8] onlinelibrary.wiley....
February 7, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Out today in @globalchangebio.bsky.social is our (brief!) rapid-response piece on the broader context surrounding the January 2025 Southern California wildfires & relevance of wet-to-dry hydroclimate whiplash to fire both locally and globally on a warming Earth. [1/8] onlinelibrary.wiley....
A new study shows a marked increase in future winter extreme hydroclimate events in the US, with extreme droughts becoming more prevalent in the Southwest & extreme floods in the Southeast and Northeast, fueled by increasing ENSO impact & regional rainfall trends 🌊🧪 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
March 1, 2025 at 9:06 PM
A new study shows a marked increase in future winter extreme hydroclimate events in the US, with extreme droughts becoming more prevalent in the Southwest & extreme floods in the Southeast and Northeast, fueled by increasing ENSO impact & regional rainfall trends 🌊🧪 www.nature.com/articles/s41...