What impact will rising greenhouse gases have on climate?
Increasing levels of greenhouse gases are likely to produce a warming at the Earth s surface. This warming is likely to lead to world-wide changes in weather and climate. Some places may get more rain and storms while others may get less. Not all changes will be bad for everybody. However, almost everywhere the weather and climate will be different from what it used to be. By the end of the 21st century, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, average world temperatures are likely to be between 1.4°C and 5.8°C higher than they were in the year 1990. This is much larger than the changes observed over the 20th century, and the rate of warming is unprecedented in at least the last 10,000 years. Average rainfall across the globe is likely to increase, particularly during winter in northern mid- to high latitudes. Precipitation events are very likely to be more intense over most areas of the globe, as well as a likely increase in summer risk of drought.
Increasing levels of greenhouse gases are likely to produce a warming at the Earths surface. This warming is likely to lead to world-wide changes in weather and climate. Some places may get more rain and storms while others may get less. Not all changes will be bad for everybody. However, almost everywhere the weather and climate will be different from what it used to be. By the end of the 21st century, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, average world temperatures are likely to be between 1.0C and 3.5C higher than they were in the year 1990. The mid-range estimate for the year 2100 is a warming of about 2C. Average rainfall across the globe is likely to increase, particularly during winter in high latitudes.
