According to the Science Alert website, researchers developed a global map that includes the locations of 48 regions characterized by climatic and biological characteristics that distinguish them from others in the world, including tropical forests, temperate forests, deserts and boreal forests, in addition to grasslands, shrubs and polar regions.
The researchers used historical information about climate change, as well as climate forecasts spanning 180 years, to prepare models that paint a picture of what happened in these regions in the past and what might happen in the future.
Although most of the environmental areas have preserved the nature of life as it was a century ago, about 30 areas have witnessed significant changes in recent years, including contraction, expansion or transformation.
The researchers’ calculations in the study depended on a scenario where emissions would remain the same and another assume that these emissions would decrease.
The authors conclude that most perceptible changes are expected in boreal forest areas, mountain grasslands and shrublands, deserts and temperate coniferous forests.
And if humanity does nothing to stop emissions, annual changes in these regions will triple by 2070.
“Importantly, the expected rate of change of these areas in the future is much faster than in the past, including in most ecoregions and within all biomes on Earth,” the researchers said.
They added that the tropics and polar regions of our planet are the regions that are changing faster than others.
According to them, the tropical rainforest ecosystem, for example, is likely to expand to other nearby areas of life as climate change intensifies.
Meanwhile, the life-zone of the arctic tundra is likely to shrink in size.
Change in these areas, if it occurs, will threaten many animals that are unable to adapt to the new climate.
.