A new interactive web application from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science offers a unique glimpse into the future of climate change. This tool enables users to explore how the climate in over 40,000 places and over 5,000 metropolitan areas will transform.
The digital map matches the expected future climates of these locations projected for 2080 with the current climates of other regions, offering a relatable and vivid picture of potential changes.
By observing the projections, we can see several interesting changes. For example, summers in London in 2080 are projected to be 4.6 degrees Celsius (8.2 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer and 10% drier than they are today under a high emissions scenario. This change will make London’s climate similar to that of Labarde, France.
New York City is also expected to undergo significant climate shifts by 2080. Summers are projected to be 6.7 degrees Celsius (12.1 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer and 5.3% wetter, while winters will become milder with a 5-degree Celsius (8.9 degrees Fahrenheit) warming. The city’s climate in 2080 will resemble that of Ola, Arkansas.
According to Matthew Fitzpatrick, a professor of environmental science at the University of Maryland, cities in the northern hemisphere are moving towards more equatorial climate zones. This trend will impact over 3.5 billion people living close to the equator, facing challenges due to heat stress and urban heat islands.
The app developed by Fitzpatrick and his colleagues helps answer questions about future climate scenarios and the impacts of reducing emissions. By utilizing climate-analog mapping, the tool provides data-driven insights into temperature changes under different emissions scenarios.
Users can compare high greenhouse gas emissions trajectories with reduced emissions scenarios aligned with the Paris Climate Accord. The tool illustrates the potential global warming by the end of the century under different circumstances.
Fitzpatrick hopes that this tool will continue to inform conversations about climate change and help people better understand the magnitude of its impacts. By bridging the gap between scientific predictions and everyday experiences, this tool provides a comprehensible way for the general public to engage with and comprehend the significant shifts our planet is undergoing.
