Publication: Associated Press

UCLA Expert: Daniel Swain: Assistant Researcher and Climate Specialist, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability

Synopsis: As the atmosphere warms, it holds more water, 4% more for every degree (7% more for every degree Celsius), scientists said. Then when a weather system travels further, juicy with that extra water, it has more to dump, causing downpours.

UCLA News: Think of the air as a giant sponge, Swain said. It soaks up more water from parched ground like a sponge “which is why we’re seeing worse droughts in some places.”

Read more at Associated Press.