A new study has revealed a surprising connection between winter atmospheric rivers and crop-infecting fungi. Atmospheric rivers are relatively narrow, elongated regions in the atmosphere that transport large amounts of moisture from tropical and subtropical regions to other areas of the world. Scientists have found that winter atmospheric rivers can bring extra moisture to areas that would otherwise be dry, resulting in an increase in the prevalence of fungi that can infect crops. As the intensity and frequency of atmospheric rivers is expected to increase due to climate change, this could have major implications for food security and the health of agricultural ecosystems.

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source: Phys.org