Climate varies from region to region. This variation is driven by the uneven distribution of solar heating, the individual responses of the atmosphere, oceans and land surface, the interactions between these, and the physical characteristics of the regions. The perturbations of the atmospheric constituents that lead to global changes affect certain aspects of these complex interactions.
Some human-induced factors that affect climate (‘forcings’) are global in nature, while others differ from one region to another. For example, carbon dioxide, which causes warming, is distributed evenly around the globe, regardless of where the emissions originate, whereas sulphate aerosols (small particles) that offset some of the warming tend to be regional in their distribution.
Furthermore, the response to forcings is partly governed by feedback processes that may operate in different regions from those in which the forcing is greatest. Thus, the projected changes in climate will also vary from region to region.
There are indeed strong regional differences. You can have a look for example at this paper
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2006GL025734/full
and others on the same topic
Different regions will be differently affected by CC. It is has been recorded that the Polar regions are facing the biggest changes and it is assumed that this will also be in the future. In different regions the impacts can be differently, e.g. int he northern regions of the temperate zones vegetation periods will be prolonged providing more favorable conditions for agriculture (e.g. wheat will grow further north than today) . Tropical regions will face greater challenges as tropical storm intensity increases. Examples from recent storms in the Caribbean, and storms in the Pacific Islands in the past three years (Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu and Cyclone Winston in Fiji) give some ideas what to expect int he future....
well the fact is that there is always going to be difference. looking at the predictors and the predictand relationships and the obvious fact that mathematical models used for projection are validly dynamic in nature. secondly the terrain characteristics also has a role to play in the projection science. you may wish see the climate systems concept developed by IPCC.
Climate change varies from region to region as a result of the difference in the response of the particular region to the perturbations introduced into the atmosphere (climate forcing) to cause changes in climate. It is possible to have different responses to climate perturbation in different areas of the same region. For example if there are different precipitation sub-regions in a region, each sub-region may respond differently to the same climate forcing. The responses depend on the topography, vegetation, wind direction and other natural phenomena in the sub-regions.
Yes, anthropogenic climate change is projected to vary from region to region. Some regions will get hot, other regions will get very hot, and the rest will become inhospitable.
From the question statement "…..carbon dioxide, which causes warming, is distributed evenly around the globe, regardless of where the emissions originate, whereas sulphate aerosols (small particles) that offset some of the warming tend to be regional in their distribution. Furthermore, the response to forcings is partly governed by feedback processes that may operate in different regions from those in which the forcing is greatest".
Yes it is right. The driving forces to climate are found to be different region wise. For example , the warming, monsoon precipitation, extratropical cyclones and hurricanes/ typhoons etc . are latitude dependent/region-specific features. All these are found to vary from the tropics to Northern Hemisphere. Many factors influence these features like continental shape, landform geometry (mountain ranges), location in respect of oceans/seas, circulation of atmosphere and oceans etc.
Dr. Kenneth,
It is fact - The natural fluctuations have the prime control on the global climate as a whole. But the latitude-dependent features have also influence on the regional/local climate.
Regards
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