[THS] Map: a world of +4 degree Celsius

[Peter Webster]

http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_round_up/342240/map_a_world_of_4_degree_celsius.html

Map: a world of +4 degree Celsius

Ecologist

22nd October, 2009
Map provides graphic illustration of how world would be dramatically affected by a 4
degree global temperature rise

A new map illustrates what some of the impacts of a rise in global temperature of 4
degress Celsuis would be across the world.

    * See the +4C interactive map [url above]

Produced by scientists using the latest peer-reviewed science from the Met Office
Hadley Centre, it shows how a 4 degree average rise is likely to be unevenly spread
around the world.

The average land temperature will be 5.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels and
high latitudes, particularly the Arctic, will see even larger temperature increases.

It shows how agricultural yields are expected to decrease in all major regions of
production and how half of all Himalayan glaciers will be significantly reduced by
2050, leading to 23 per cent of the Chinese population deprived of vital dry season
glacial meltwater.

The map is designed to raise awareness of why an agreement at the Copenhagen
climate talks in December needs to introduce plans to limit a global temperature rise
to no more than 2 degrees Celsuis.

'Britain’s scientists have helped to illustrate the catastrophic effects that will result if
the world fails to limit the global temperature rise to 2 degrees,' said Ed Miliband,
Energy and Climate Change Secretary, speaking after the launch of the map at the
Science Museum today.

'With less than 50 days left before agreement must be reached, the UK’s going all out
to persuade the world of the need to raise its ambitions so we get a deal that
protects us from a 4 degree world,' he said.