Rising Temperature Difference Between Hemispheres Could Dramatically Shift Rainfall Patterns

[GliderGuider]

Rising Temperature Difference Between Hemispheres Could Dramatically Shift Rainfall Patterns in Tropics

One often ignored consequence of global climate change is that the Northern Hemisphere is becoming warmer than the Southern Hemisphere, which could significantly alter tropical precipitation patterns, according to a new study by climatologists from the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Washington, Seattle.

"A key finding is a tendency to shift tropical rainfall northward, which could mean increases in monsoon weather systems in Asia or shifts of the wet season from south to north in Africa and South America," said UC Berkeley graduate student Andrew R. Friedman, who led the analysis.

"Tropical rainfall likes the warmer hemisphere," summed up John Chiang, UC Berkeley associate professor of geography and a member of the Berkeley Atmospheric Sciences Center. "As a result, tropical rainfall cares a lot about the temperature difference between the two hemispheres."


As global temperatures rose over the course of the 20th century (top), the temperature between the two hemispheres changed little until the 1980s, though it has been rising since.

[chervilant]

1. I find it interesting

that Chiang anthropomorphizes 'tropical rainfall.' I wish climate scientists would put more effort into explaining the dynamics of climate change, especially the positive feedback loops, which will continue -- if not hasten -- the catastrophic storms, ice melts and bizarre weather patterns we're already experiencing.

[happyslug]

2. One of the theory behind the Sahara Desert is that it became to cold to draw in rains

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/07/090731-green-sahara.html

http://books.google.com/books?id=kTSDb2efRmYC&pg=PA47&lpg=PA47&dq=Sahara+Desert+Monsoon&source=bl&ots=vrRNiSpSof&sig=T5ZxI4WoZXXXDVA6DYjnj-HRl44&hl=en&sa=X&ei=_zpjUYukHavE4AOglIGoCQ&ved=0CGYQ6AEwCDgK#v=onepage&q=Sahara%20Desert%20Monsoon&f=false

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/sahara-desert-climate.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/23degrees/2011/06/will_monsoons_once_again_retur.html

http://knowledge.allianz.com/environment/climate_change/?621/green-sahara-how-climate-change-transformed-the-desert

[joshcryer]

3. The paper does that:

http://www.atmos.washington.edu/~dargan/papers/fhcf_submitted.pdf

I think he was dumbing it down in the interview with the release.

[joshcryer]

4. This reenforces my view that geoengineering is the go-to-solution.

[Nihil]

5. I'd prefer genocide.

[GliderGuider]

6. It's certainly more honest.

And the outcome is about the same...

[chervilant]

7. If only ...

We've seen how well our species has done with pesticides, herbicides, GMOs, petrochemicals, and all manner of other macro-level "inventions." Why not add geoengineering to our rather arrogant cornucopia of "miraculous ideas"?

I see geoengineering as another fast-track to our imminent extinction event. Our species has already tossed a spanner into the delicate natural 'balance' of our ecosystem. I wonder how much longer we'll be able to feed ourselves with precious water resources compromised, and with extreme heat bringing photosynthesis to a complete halt.

Calhoun's experiments on overpopulation seem so relevant these days...