Quarter of the world could become a ‘desert’ if global warming reaches 2C
Scientists say such a rise would increase the drought and wildfire risk
MORE than a quarter of the world’s land could become drier if global warming reaches 2C, new research warns.
Scientists say such a rise would increase the drought and wildfire risk.
But they claim limiting global warming to under 1.5C would cut the area threatened by two-thirds.
The international study focused on aridity — dryness measured by combining precipitation and evaporation.
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Dr Manoj Joshi, of the University of East Anglia, said: “Aridification would emerge over about 20 to 30 per cent of the world's land surface at 2C.”
Professor Tim Osborn from UEA added: "The areas of the world which would most benefit from keeping warming below 1.5C are parts of South East Asia, Southern Europe, Southern Africa, Central America and Southern Australia - where more than 20 per cent of the world's population live today."
The findings were published in the journal Nature Climate Change.