Study predicts global warming’s shift of climate zones

A University of Colorado Boulder-led study has shown that global warming could accelerate the regional shifting of climate zones in the coming century, Nature has reported.

Researchers used 13 model simulations that relied on mean temperature and precipitation data dating back from the early 1900s to estimate how regional climate zones might shift by the end of this century. Researchers found that the pace of climate-zone change may nearly double by 2098, which would cause about one-fifth of Earth’s climates to change dramatically.

Researchers theorize that the increased pace of climate change would make it difficult for various plant and animal species to adapt to such rapidly shifting ecosystems. The fallout could result in widespread habitat modification.

Image: Animation of polar ice concentrations, which could be affected by shifting climate zones (Credit: NASA)