I hadn’t heard this term before, but there is a piece in the January 2013 Scientific American about it:

>> Geologic evidence shows that truly massive floods, caused by rainfall alone, have occurred in California about every 200 years. The most recent was in 1861, and it bankrupted the state.

Such floods were most likely caused by atmospheric rivers: narrow bands of water vapor about a mile above the ocean that extend for thousands of miles. Much smaller forms of these rivers regularly hit California, as well as the western coasts of other countries.<<

REF: http://www.scientificamerican.com/artic … california

You have to pay to get the whole piece…..but have a look at the comments!

buffy said:

I hadn’t heard this term before, but there is a piece in the January 2013 Scientific American about it:

>> Geologic evidence shows that truly massive floods, caused by rainfall alone, have occurred in California about every 200 years. The most recent was in 1861, and it bankrupted the state.

Such floods were most likely caused by atmospheric rivers: narrow bands of water vapor about a mile above the ocean that extend for thousands of miles. Much smaller forms of these rivers regularly hit California, as well as the western coasts of other countries.<<

REF: http://www.scientificamerican.com/artic … california

You have to pay to get the whole piece…..but have a look at the comments!

What I find astonishing is that we have to pay.

link

Thanks morrie. I must have messed up the copying.