Climate change and changes in global precipitation patterns: What do we know?

被引:663
|
作者
Dore, MHI [1 ]
机构
[1] Brock Univ, Climat Change Lab, St Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada
关键词
precipitation pattern; Northern Hemisphere; El Nino;
D O I
10.1016/j.envint.2005.03.004
中图分类号
X [环境科学、安全科学];
学科分类号
08 ; 0830 ;
摘要
The objective of this paper is to synthesize the large literature recording changing patterns of precipitation in the observed data, thus indicating that climate change is already a reality. Such a synthesis is required not only for environmental researchers but also for policy makers. The key question is the broad picture at major regional and continental levels. Some interesting conclusions for this survey are emerging. For example, the review shows increased variance of precipitation everywhere. Consistent with this finding, we observe that wet areas become wetter, and dry and and areas become more so. In addition, the following general changing pattern is emerging: (a) increased precipitation in high latitudes (Northern Hemisphere); (b) reductions in precipitation in China, Australia and the Small Island States in the Pacific; and (c) increased variance in equatorial regions. The changes in the major ocean currents also appear to be affecting precipitation patterns. For example, increased intensity and frequency of El Nino and ENSO seem associated with evidence of an observed "dipole" pattern affecting Africa and Asia, although this time series is too short so far. But the changing pattern calls for renewed efforts at adaptation to climate change, as the changing precipitation pattern will also affect the regional availability of food supply. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
引用
收藏
页码:1167 / 1181
页数:15
相关论文
共 50 条
  • [1] Extreme Precipitation in Climate Change - What Do We Know?
    Becker, Andreas
    [J]. WASSERWIRTSCHAFT, 2019, 109 (12) : 10 - 16
  • [2] Global change - what do we expect and what do we know?
    Mauser, W
    [J]. RESEARCH BASINS AND HYDROLOGICAL PLANNING, 2004, : 53 - 59
  • [3] Climate Change: What do we know exactly?
    Loehl, Craig
    [J]. PULP & PAPER-CANADA, 2008, 109 (09) : 30 - 31
  • [4] Effects of climate change on European ducks: what do we know and what do we need to know?
    Guillemain, Matthieu
    Poysa, Hannu
    Fox, Anthony D.
    Arzel, Celine
    Dessborn, Lisa
    Ekroos, Johan
    Gunnarsson, Gunnar
    Holm, Thomas Eske
    Christensen, Thomas Kjaer
    Lehikoinen, Aleksi
    Mitchell, Carl
    Rintala, Jukka
    Moller, Anders Pape
    [J]. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY, 2013, 19 (04) : 404 - 419
  • [5] Changes in intense precipitation events: What do we know?
    Karl, TR
    [J]. BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY, 2006, 87 (06) : 734 - 735
  • [6] Climate change: What do we know about the IPCC?
    Hulme, Mike
    Mahony, Martin
    [J]. PROGRESS IN PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY-EARTH AND ENVIRONMENT, 2010, 34 (05): : 705 - 718
  • [7] Climate change and human health: what do we know?
    McMichael, AJ
    Woodruff, RE
    [J]. MEDICAL JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA, 2002, 177 (11-12) : 590 - 591
  • [8] How Do We "Know" What We "Know?" And Change What We "Know?"
    Fosshage, James L.
    [J]. PSYCHOANALYTIC DIALOGUES, 2011, 21 (01) : 55 - 74
  • [9] Effect of climate change on Australian rural and remote regions: What do we know and what do we need to know?
    Bi, Peng
    Parton, Kevin A.
    [J]. AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, 2008, 16 (01) : 2 - 4
  • [10] Special report: Climate change What we do know and what we dont't
    Le Page, Michael
    [J]. NEW SCIENTIST, 2011, 212 (2835) : 36 - 43