Scientists have revealed that the Earth's atmosphere apparently possesses long, river systems of moisture that can flow violently through storms. These "atmospheric rivers" are also linked to torrential rains and extremely powerful winds.

In this new study, researchers say that the half of the top two percent of the most extreme storms in the world's coastal regions were linked to these atmospheric rivers. More specifically, 40 to 70 percent of the most extreme wind, rainfall, and even snowfall events are traced to these atmospheric rivers, from 1997 to 2014.

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These "rivers" are found some one to 2.5 kilometers above the surface of the planet and can span some 300 kilometers wide to thousands of kilometers in length. They begin to form within the warmer, wetter regions of storms and are thought to bring about torrential rainfall. To date, satellites and computer models measure them using moisture sensors. 

However, in regions like western Canada, southern South America, northern Europe, and New Zealand, these atmospheric rivers can last up to 35 days during the year. The presence of these rivers can be very damaging to cities and infrastructures. The study determined that the 14 out of the 19 most destructive and expensive storms in Europe were linked to atmospheric rivers.

According to Duane Waliser of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, these atmospheric rivers are linked to doubling the strength of typical wind speeds in regular storm conditions. More specifically, there is a 50 to 100 percent increase in wind and precipitation values for these extreme events.

The researchers concluded that atmospheric rivers do landfall and when they do, they can pose a significant hazard all over global coastal cities since they are often associated with extreme precipitation and extreme winds. To date, scientists are still studying this bizarre atmospheric event that leads to extreme rainfall combined with extreme winds or even snowfall. 

This new study was published in the journal Nature Geoscience.