Climate Change To Shift The Earth's Tropical Rain Belt
- erudite .
- Apr 28, 2022
- 2 min read
By Ella Kang
In the future, climate change will cause a shift in the tropical rain belt that covers almost two-thirds of areas of the world — this has the potential to threaten safety and food security for billions of people. By 2100, there would be significantly more flooding, increased temperatures, and less water and food.
The tropical rain belt, also known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), is commonly defined as an equatorial zone where the trade winds from the Northern and Southern hemispheres converge. Rainfall seasonality is traditionally attributed, and areas along the equator are among the warmest on Earth, also paired with the winds, creating significant humidity and precipitation.
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, and other institutions published their study on Nature Climate Change in January 2021, suggesting that “climate change will cause the position of Earth's tropical rain belt to move in opposite directions in two longitudinal sectors that cover almost two thirds of the globe”.
The researchers evaluated this conclusion by analyzing computer simulations from 27 different climate models. More specifically, how the rain belt would respond if greenhouse gas emissions continued to increase through the end of the 21st century was carefully examined. The evidence therefore showed that between 2075 and 2100, not all parts of the tropics would be affected equally and consequently, the rain belt will move north in parts of the Eastern Hemisphere but will move south in areas in the Western Hemisphere.
According to the study, a northward shift of the tropical rain belt over the eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean will result in future increases of drought stress in southeastern Africa and Madagascar, in addition to intensified flooding in southern India. Half of Madagascar’s population is, however, already impacted by the drought according to the UN. Moreover, a southward creeping of the rain belt over the eastern Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean will cause greater drought stress in Central America. Greenhouse gas emissions play a significant role in climate change, as it traps heat radiating from the sun.
The researchers have concluded that the next step is to find out how natural disasters, infrastructure, and ecosystems will be impacted because of these changes. Figuring out what kind of changes for government policies and management will be also crucial in the near future.
Check out the video about the research: https://youtu.be/0SmHsJWacmI
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