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Increasing Floods

G lobal warming has changed weather patterns and increased the risk of floods. The air becomes warm due to the increase in temperatures and holds more moisture. This can lead to floods during heavy rain- fall. Changes in snowfall patterns and the melting of river ice have also increased the risk of floods.

Heavy Rainfall A 1.44°F (0.8°C) increase in global temperatures causes the water vapor content in the air to increase by 3–4 percent. In the future, more and heavier rainfall is expected. Rivers would overflow, even destroying the barriers built to prevent flooding. Floods that have been occurring every twenty years in the Northeast and Midwestern United States are expected to occur every five years by the begin- ning of the next century.

CLIMATE CHANGE: Problems and Progress

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