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A short thread about Big Rain and the Hydrologic Cycle (no, not the 80s band of the same name). Please note I will use technically imprecise words (e.g., the atmosphere "holding" more water vapor). If this bothers you, stop reading, take a walk, and reflect on your pedantry.1/n
As the world warms, and specifically as the lower atmosphere and adjacent waters, soils, and biosphere warm, the atmosphere can hold more water vapor, and can therefore potentially deliver more precipitation when the meteorology makes precip. 2/n
Big Rain is getting bigger in two ways: 1. The biggest events are getting bigger, and 2. Big Rain is taking up more of our annual rainfall budget. I covered some of that here: climate.gov/news-features/… 3/n
Perhaps counter-intuitively, Big Drought has been projected to increase, at least in intensity. This is consistent with recent decades in the US West To vastly oversimplify, a warmer atmosphere is also a thirstier atmosphere, and removes water more rapidly from the surface. 4/n
For expert reading, check out this nice review from @DustyBowl link.springer.com/article/10.100… 5/n
Taken together, this increase on both ends of the Hydro Cycle - Big Rain and Big Drought - is collectively referred to with terms like "increased hydrologic cycle." It's not just taking place over land 6/n
For years running, oceanographers noted the saltier parts of the ocean - its deserts - are getting saltier, as evaporation becomes even more dominant. And the fresh parts (the ocean's "rainforests") are generally getting fresher. Check out page S78: ncdc.noaa.gov/bams/2017 7/n
Back to land (I'm from Oklahoma; I get seasick even after five minutes of conceptual time on the ocean): here's the statistical evidence that we're seeing more frequent big events: ncdc.noaa.gov/extremes/cei/g… 8/10 
Also, and this is anecdotal and definitely the weakest bit of this thread, but I note with interest that Wilmington, NC, fresh off its wettest year on record in 2018, just registered its driest Jan-Jun on record. 9/10
Lastly, the most important piece of water in your world is you. You matter, fiercely. Put those water molecules in you to work, helping to make this world worthy of a beautiful creature like you. /fin
