Large portion of the world may become much drier if warming reaches 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels

By Brett Anderson, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

1/01/2018, 3:13:41 PM

Share this article:

Over 25 percent of the Earth's land surface may become much drier if the world warms to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, according to new research from the University of East Anglia.

However, if global warming is limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius or lower, it would dramatically reduce the fraction of the world's surface that undergoes such changes, according to the EurekAlert story.

If these regions become much drier, it will increase the risk of severe drought and wildfires.

The research team used 27 global climate models to find regions of the world where aridity will significantly change when compared to the year-to-year variations they experience now as global warming reaches the 1.5 to 2.0 degree Celsius range above pre-industrial levels.

Key excerpts from the EurekAlert report.....

Dr Su-Jong Jeong from SusTech said: "The world has already warmed by 1C. But by reducing greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere in order to keep global warming under 1.5C or 2C could reduce the likelihood of significant aridification emerging in many parts of the world."

Drought severity has been increasing across the Mediterranean, southern Africa and the eastern coast of Australia over the course of the 20th century, while semi-arid areas of Mexico, Brazil, southern Africa and Australia have encountered desertification for some time as the world has warmed.

The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of AccuWeather, Inc. or AccuWeather.com

Comments

Comments that don't add to the conversation may be automatically or manually removed by Facebook or AccuWeather. Profanity, personal attacks, and spam will not be tolerated.

Global climate change

Annual winter maximum ice cover trend on the Great Lakes since the 1970s

Global climate change - July 18, 2018, 10:51:54 AM EDT

Data indicates that there has been a slight downward trend in the annual maximum extent of Great Lakes ice cover since the 1970s.
Future global warming may be double than what current climate models predict

Global climate change - July 10, 2018, 12:03:02 PM EDT

A new study concludes that global warming may eventually be twice as warm as what current climate model consensus indicates.
Air pollution from increased use of air conditioning may worsen in a warming world

Global climate change - July 06, 2018, 1:22:01 PM EDT

The increased use of air conditioning in a warming world may lead to a significant degradation of air quality in the eastern U.S. by mid-century.
A look back at how accurate James Hansen's climate projections were from the 1980s

Global climate change - June 29, 2018, 3:14:43 PM EDT

Dr. James Hansen's climate model projections from the 1980s have been mostly on target.
Arctic sea ice extent and volume update

Global climate change - June 27, 2018, 1:43:48 PM EDT

Arctic sea ice continues to run well below the 1981-2010 average.
Global temperature results for May and the spring/fall of 2018

Global climate change - June 21, 2018, 10:03:21 AM EDT

May 2018 and the spring of 2018 both ranked in the top five warmest on record.
Sharp increase in ice loss from Antarctica over the past decade

Global climate change - June 14, 2018, 12:59:22 PM EDT

Rate of ice loss in Antarctica has tripled over the past decade.
Morning low cloud cover is becoming less common along the Southern California coast

Global climate change - June 06, 2018, 11:44:15 AM EDT

A combination of a warming climate climate and increased urbanization (heat island effect) has caused a 25 to 50 percent decrease in low cloud cover in the greater Los Angeles area since the 1970s.