U.S. rivers are experiencing unprecedented and unexpectedly intense warming
U.S. rivers are running hot. A new analysis of nearly 1,500 river locations over more than 40 years found that the frequency, intensity and duration of heat waves is increasing in streams across the country, posing a threat to many species that are adapted to cooler temperatures. The new analysis, which was published in the peer-reviewed journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is the first in-depth study of riverine heat waves, which are defined as five straight days of high temperatures in comparison to seasonal averages. The authors found that human-caused climate change is the primary driver of the trend, as snowpack dwindles and streams flow more slowly.
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