If Quakes Weren’t Enough, Enter the ‘Superstorm’

Climate scientists have for years noted that the rising temperature of the earth’s atmosphere increases the amount of energy it stores, making more violent and extreme weather events more likely.

The potential for such a storm was described at a conference of federal and California officials that ended Friday. Combining advanced flood mapping and atmospheric projections with data on California’s geologic flood history, over 100 scientists calculated the probable consequences of a "superstorm" carrying tropical moisture from the South Pacific and dropping up to 10 feet of rain across the state.

Felicity Barringer

Full Story: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/16/science/earth/16flood.html?hp