More Rain

There was more rainfall in 2010 than any other year recorded. Though precipitation was variable from region to region, there was overall more of it. Pakistan got hit hard, of course, but so did Fargo, N.D. and Nashville, Tenn. The rain in the U.S. relieved drought conditions in many areas, and contributed to a very low wildfire year. (Australia is starting 2011 with record flooding.) Scientists have predicted that there would be both more rain and less due to climate change – that is, more rain in shorter bursts in some regions of the world, while other regions are chronically starved.

In this image: Pakistani Navy personnel evacuate flood victims from flooded areas of Khairpur Nathan, in Sindh province, Pakistan on 08 September 2010. More than 17 million people have been affected by the floods, and eight millions of them require immediate life-saving aid. Pakistan said the floods have destroyed or damaged 1.2 million homes. More than one million people are living in tents and at least five million others are in need of emergency shelter.