Regional Effects of Climate Change

Climate Change Impacts in Asia

The following climate change impacts are of particular concern to the people of Asia. 

Ecosystems:  As in other parts of the world, a poleward migration of ecosystems is expected in Asia.  This means temperate biomes such as steppes and temperate forests would replace much of the area currently covered by the Siberian taiga.  In central and western Asia, the semiarid grasslands are at risk of desertification as precipitation may decrease in those areas. 

Monsoon Changes:  The Indian monsoon supports the agricultural health of the subcontinent, and the effect of climate change on the monsoon is an active area of research.  While many effects are still unclear, some fear global warming, or a stronger ENSO system enhanced by global warming, will cause more monsoon failures on the subcontinent, in turn bringing droughts and crop failures. 

ENSO:  Stronger El Niño years, a possible consequence of global climate change, would bring more droughts and wildfires to Southeast Asia. 

Agriculture:  Many crops grown in Asia are very sensitive to soil moisture and temperature, and global warming may upset a delicate balance and reduce crop yields here. 

Coastal erosion:  Sea level rise will be a challenge for Asia as the other nations of the world.  However, for some Asian nations a sea level rise would be perilous.  Areas in countries such as Bangladesh and Vietnam are virtually flat and highly susceptible to sea level rise.  Major cities in Japan lie directly on the coast and are also threatened.  Island nations such as the Maldives are at particular risk to sea level rise. 

Tropical Cyclones:  The Western Pacific already features more typhoons than any other part of the ocean.  The effects of climate change on tropical cyclones is an area of current research, and some scientists fear typhoons may be more numerous or intense under global warming. 

But while nations like Japan, Korea and Taiwan could afford mitigation strategies to guard against a greater number of typhoons, the nations in the Bay of Bengal probably could not.  The flat land, dense settlements, and poor standards of living in nations along the bay make it extremely susceptible to increased cyclone activity. 

 

Climate change effects in other regions:
North America
Latin America
Europe
Middle East
Sub Saharan Africa
Oceania
Polar Regions