It doesn't take a climatologist to notice recent weather patterns have been exceedingly and increasingly strange. But it helps.
Following on their closely studied data on climbing temperatures, NASA scientists have released a study showing that rainfall in the tropics has been climbing in recent years, consistent with climate change models.
The researchers used a variety of data sources, including ground-based rainwater collection facilities and satellite observations. Earlier analyses of this merged data had appeared to show a slight upward trend in rainfall in tropical areas, concentrated over the ocean. But by correcting for one-time events such as El Niño weather patterns and volcanic eruptions, the trend has become more obvious
According to the study, the rainiest year in the 27-year period studied was 2005, followed by 2004, 1998, 2003 and 2002.
NASA's numbers have been among the most widely watched measures of changing climate patterns, drawing predictable attacks from climate change skeptics.
Earlier this month, a slight downward revision in researchers' most recent temperature estimates sent some conservative bloggers and talk show hosts into a new flurry of denials, with that noted climate specialist Rush Limbaugh declaring that "the only man-made global warming is in the scientific community with false data."
Real climatologists watched the furor with dismay, noting that the revisions had no effect on overall trends. Today's data offers another element in a picture of overall change that is becoming alarmingly complete.
The study was published in the Aug. 1 issue of the American Meteorological Society's Journal of Climate.
(Photo depicts increase in rainfall, with red spots showing the most growth. Credit: Guojun Gu, NASA)
