Future droughts will be shockers, study says

Future droughts will be shockers, study says
1970s Sahel disaster will seem mild compared to areas by 2030s, models project
msnbc.com staff and news service reports
updated 1 hour 28 minutes ago 2010-10-19T21:30:36

Increasingly dry conditions across much of the globe — including the U.S. — are likely over the next 30 years, a new study predicts. Moreover, by the year 2100 drought in some regions could be unprecedented in modern times.

Increasing drought has long been forecast as a consequence of warming temperatures, but the study from the National Center for Atmospheric Research projects serious impacts as soon as the 2030s. Impacts by century's end could go beyond anything in the historical record, the study suggests.

~snip~
By the 2030s, the central and western U.S. could see average readings dropping to -4 to -6, the study projected.

Areas likely to experience significant drying include:

•the western two-thirds of the United States;
•much of Latin America, especially large parts of Mexico and Brazil;
•regions bordering the Mediterranean Sea;
•large parts of southwest Asia;
•southeast Asia, including China and neighboring countries;
•most of Africa and Australia.

More:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39741525/ns/us_news-environment/