{"id":1973125,"date":"2026-06-04T21:43:46","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T18:43:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1973125"},"modified":"2026-06-04T21:43:46","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T18:43:46","slug":"new-3d-algorithm-reveals-atmospheric-rivers-fuel-antarcticas-snowfalls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1973125","title":{"rendered":"New 3D Algorithm Reveals Atmospheric Rivers Fuel Antarctica\u2019s Snowfalls"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<figure id=\"attachment_409085\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-409085\" style=\"width: 740px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"wp-image-409085 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAGqAQMAAACh3GetAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADhJREFUeNrtwQENAAAAwqD3T20ON6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD4NobKAAFhB0TLAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\" alt=\"Antarctica\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/istockphoto-2196074670-612x612-1.jpg?resize=640%2C426&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/istockphoto-2196074670-612x612-1.jpg?w=612&amp;ssl=1 612w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/istockphoto-2196074670-612x612-1.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"426\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\" wp-image-409085\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/istockphoto-2196074670-612x612-1.jpg?resize=640%2C426&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Antarctica\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-409085\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Lemaire channel in Antarctica. | Image: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.istockphoto.com\/photo\/lemaire-channel-antarctic-peninsula-gm2196074670-614120651?searchscope=image%2Cfilm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">iStockPhotos<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-1\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;display: block;clear: both\">\n<!-- GAM 71161633\/SNWBR_snowbrains\/article_hrec_1 --><\/p>\n<div data-fuse=\"article_hrec_1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Atmospheric rivers are long, narrow corridors of concentrated water vapor in the atmosphere that transport large amounts of moisture over long distances.<\/strong> When an atmospheric river meets varied terrain like mountains or even colder temperatures, the moisture being carried condenses, resulting in high amounts of precipitation, such as heavy rain and snowfall. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>While atmospheric rivers occur regularly around the globe, their penetration into Antarctica\u2019s interior is relatively infrequent.<\/strong> Because of Antarctica\u2019s varied topography and incredibly dry conditions, detecting atmospheric rivers has always been challenging with current 2D algorithms. However, that is changing. Scientists have just developed a new 3D algorithm to detect the vertical variations within these rivers, allowing for easier and more accurate discovery.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Related: <em><a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/what-is-an-atmospheric-river\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">What is An \u201cAtmospheric River\u201d?\u00a0<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>This new 3D detection algorithm was tested by the 44th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition at Dome Fuji on the East Antarctic Plateau.<\/strong> Developed by expanding upon the conventional 2D algorithm, the new 3D approach is able to more accurately detect these rivers despite the rugged terrain. Therefore, the algorithm is more likely to pick up on an atmospheric event, allowing scientists to predict potential storms and precipitation totals.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_409082\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-409082\" style=\"width: 578px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"wp-image-409082 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAkIAAALIAQMAAACpQg39AAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAEpJREFUeNrtwTEBAAAAwqD1T20Hb6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA+A83QAAHbyMI\/AAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\" alt=\"antarctica atmospheric river\" width=\"578\" height=\"712\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/grl72578-fig-0001-m.webp?resize=578%2C712&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/grl72578-fig-0001-m.webp?w=406&amp;ssl=1 406w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/grl72578-fig-0001-m.webp?resize=244%2C300&amp;ssl=1 244w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"578\" data-eio-rheight=\"712\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\" wp-image-409082\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/grl72578-fig-0001-m.webp?resize=578%2C712&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"antarctica atmospheric river\" width=\"578\" height=\"712\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-409082\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Daily precipitation and atmospheric river arrivals at Dome Fuji. | Image: <a href=\"https:\/\/agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1029\/2025GL120986\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AGU Geophysical Research Letters: Volume 53, Issue 9<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>When tested, this 3D algorithm showed that more than half of the major precipitation events observed at Dome Fuji on the East Antarctic Plateau were from an atmospheric river.<\/strong> Additionally, the precipitation from these events accounted for about 40% of the total precipitation during that observation period. From 1979 to 2023, atmospheric rivers showed up on fewer than 1 in 10 days, but still supplied roughly 30% to 60% of the yearly snowfall in Antarctica\u2019s interior. This data shows just how dominant atmospheric rivers are in affecting Antarctica\u2019s precipitation totals \u2014 despite their rare occurrence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>With a more accurate detection algorithm, fewer atmospheric rivers will go undetected and unrecorded.<\/strong> Studies show that major storms within Antarctica\u2019s interior directly resulted from an atmospheric event. Long-term trends show that atmospheric events have far more impact on major precipitation across Antarctica\u2019s interior than scientists initially realized. Without the 3D algorithm, scientists may not have realized how far these rivers extend.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_409083\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-409083\" style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-409083 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAFgAQMAAAARr1p\/AAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADJJREFUeNrtwTEBAAAAwqD1T20MH6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADgb29gAAHSADVgAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\" alt=\"antarctica 3d atmospheric river\" width=\"640\" height=\"352\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/grl72578-fig-0004-m-2.jpg?resize=640%2C352&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/grl72578-fig-0004-m-2.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/grl72578-fig-0004-m-2.jpg?resize=300%2C165&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/grl72578-fig-0004-m-2.jpg?resize=1200%2C661&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/grl72578-fig-0004-m-2.jpg?resize=768%2C423&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/grl72578-fig-0004-m-2.jpg?resize=1536%2C846&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/grl72578-fig-0004-m-2.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"352\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-409083\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/grl72578-fig-0004-m-2.jpg?resize=640%2C352&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"antarctica 3d atmospheric river\" width=\"640\" height=\"352\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-409083\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Annual Antarctic snowfall, the portion coming from 3D and 2D atmospheric rivers, and how these patterns have changed over the past 45 years. | Image: <a href=\"https:\/\/agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1029\/2025GL120986\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AGU Geophysical Research Letters: Volume 53, Issue 9<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-2\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;display: block;clear: both\">\n<!-- GAM 71161633\/SNWBR_snowbrains\/article_hrec_2 --><\/p>\n<div data-fuse=\"article_hrec_2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Not only do atmospheric rivers have a direct effect on annual precipitation totals, but the moisture released contributes to the growth of surface ice mass.<\/strong> Whether it\u2019s rainfall or heavy snow, these events are offsetting ice loss from a warming climate. With more accurate detection, it will be easier for scientists to estimate Antarctica\u2019s future contribution to sea-level rise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Because rare atmospheric river events deliver so much of Antarctica\u2019s annual precipitation totals, this new 3D algorithm is changing what scientists know about this climate. \u00a0<\/strong>Having methods to accurately record and predict these rivers will transform how scientists are able to forecast the ice sheet\u2019s future and global sea level change. Not to mention, they will be able to better anticipate major storms influenced by an atmospheric river.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_409084\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-409084\" style=\"width: 796px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"wp-image-409084 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAFoAQMAAAD9\/NgSAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADJJREFUeNrtwQENAAAAwqD3T+3sARQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN3HoAAEwzlS7AAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\" alt=\"Atmospheric River in Antarctica\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/istockphoto-2162792500-612x612-1.jpg?resize=640%2C360&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/istockphoto-2162792500-612x612-1.jpg?w=612&amp;ssl=1 612w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/istockphoto-2162792500-612x612-1.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"360\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\" wp-image-409084\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/istockphoto-2162792500-612x612-1.jpg?resize=640%2C360&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Atmospheric River in Antarctica\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-409084\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Antarctica mountains and ocean. | Image: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.istockphoto.com\/photo\/antarctica-mountains-and-ocean-south-pole-antarctica-seascape-and-landscape-glaciers-gm2162792500-583166199?searchscope=image%2Cfilm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">iStockPhotos<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><!-- CONTENT END 1 -->\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Lemaire channel in Antarctica. | Image: iStockPhotos Atmospheric rivers are long, narrow corridors of concentrated water vapor in the atmosphere that transport large amounts of moisture over long distances. When an atmospheric river meets varied terrain like mountains or even colder temperatures, the moisture being carried condenses, resulting in high amounts of precipitation, such [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,267],"class_list":["post-1973125","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-snowbrains-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1973125","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1973125"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1973125\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1973125"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1973125"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1973125"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}