New research shows that although the world is seeing more rain overall, it’s also getting drier at the same time.
How can that be? In simple terms, the world’s rainfall is increasingly packed into bigger storms with longer dry spells in between. And a lot of rain all at once causes problems for overwhelmed soil.
The findings say the study is the first to demonstrate that a year’s worth of rainfall packed into bigger and wetter storms means less water for aquifers and ecosystems, even if total precipitation increases. Because soil can absorb only so much water at once, what is not soaked up collects on the surface where it’s more readily evaporated.
> Because soil can absorb only so much water at once
Treatment matters. Agriculture could do a lot better to absorb and store. Organic farmers who build up humus instead of degrading it have some lessons to tell.
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From USA TODAY:
New research shows that although the world is seeing more rain overall, it’s also getting drier at the same time.
How can that be? In simple terms, the world’s rainfall is increasingly packed into bigger storms with longer dry spells in between. And a lot of rain all at once causes problems for overwhelmed soil.
The findings say the study is the first to demonstrate that a year’s worth of rainfall packed into bigger and wetter storms means less water for aquifers and ecosystems, even if total precipitation increases. Because soil can absorb only so much water at once, what is not soaked up collects on the surface where it’s more readily evaporated.
Read more: [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/weather/2026/05/13/rainfall-patterns-weird-study/90046548007/](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/weather/2026/05/13/rainfall-patterns-weird-study/90046548007/)
> Because soil can absorb only so much water at once
Treatment matters. Agriculture could do a lot better to absorb and store. Organic farmers who build up humus instead of degrading it have some lessons to tell.