A NASA funded study published in the journal Nature Climate Change on March 10, 2013, warns the world to expect southern like temperatures and weather conditions to persist and increase a northerly movement by the end of this century.
The study involved an international team of 21 authors from 17 institutions in seven countries that concentrated on the Arctic but is applicable to the entire world as seasonal changes shift, vegetation moves north as climate change allows for longer growing periods in northern climes, and animal life adapts to seasonal differences by adapting residency times in tune to a new climate.
The changes are predicted to move what people presently think of as northern climes as much as 30 degrees in latitude higher by the end of the century based on a nearly constant rate of temperature seasonality diminishment documented by the scientists over the past 30 years.
The change in climate will affect the crops that can be grown in a given region, the presence or absence of pollinators for food crops that need pollination, new weather patterns, and a change in fire threats in regions that never experienced forest fire threats before.
Several such events have occurred over the long history of Earth’s climate but this event is the most rapid change and the researchers are dubious that animal life, humankind, and governments can cope with the rapid and dramatic changes that are expected.
In the southern United States, most people are frequently amused by northern visitor’s complaints about the humidity and heat. Those Yankees can stay at home and complain in the future if the researchers predictions prove valid in the coming years.
The complete report can be read here using the title DOI: 10.1038/NCLIMATE1836
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