What the World’s Weather (and Farming) May Look Like in 2100

The effects of global warming and melting polar ice have already had an impact in terms of extended droughts, more extreme hurricanes and tornadoes, floods and forest fires. Resultant changes in ocean temperatures may affect ocean currents, pushing storms in northern latitudes northward. These changes many push humanity and agriculture similarly northward, populating previously remote regions of Canada, Russia, and elsewhere.

An Estimate of the Distribution of Climate Sensitivity by 2100. Note that Russia and Canada have “modest to moderate” sensitivity, while the US, China, and parts of Middle East rate “moderate to severe”

The rapid acceleration of polar ice melt, and extreme weather events experienced by the world as of late, may demonstrate that global warming is here to stay (and perhaps beyond intervention and blame to some degree). The general runaway effect involves loss of polar ice, loss of solar reflectivity, ocean warming (and possible diminishing of ocean currents) which will push precipitation towards the poles. Together with a predicted 4–8 degree increase in temperatures, look for rainfall to increase (due to higher evaporation rates), some desert areas to expand and agriculture to also move towards the poles by 2100. Since there is much greater land mass in the Northern Hemisphere, look also for previously chilly Canada and Russia to become larger ag and population centers.

The Reasons for Changes in Weather Patterns and Warming