Land Surface Drying Increase
On land, global warming causes the soil to dry out, a process made worse by other climate signals such as permafrost thaw and evapotranspiration, and as rainfall is concentrated in heavy rainfall events with greater runoff. Soil can also dry out due to changes in large-scale circulation, such as the expansion of the Hadley Cell. As the Hadley Cell expands, dry air flowing from the tropics falls in the subtropics creating regions that are more arid. As aridity increases, dry land degrades and loses its water, vegetation and wildlife.
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Strengthening contrast between precipitation in tropical wet and dry regions
Earth Systems Signals
Global warming is causing widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere.
Heat Signals
The Earth is getting hotter due to human activities that release heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere.
Drought Signals
Climate change is making droughts more likely to occur, and more severe when they do.
Wildfires Signals
Climate change is increasing the size, frequency, intensity and seasonality of wildfires.
Hurricanes Signals
Warmer temperatures increase the rate of water evaporation, which feeds moisture and energy into storms.
Floods Signals
Worsening floods due to climate change are putting a growing number of communities at risk.