Table 27.3 - Best estimates of climate change projections over the next 50 years
Source: Schneider, 1990
| Distribution of changes | Confidence of projection | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indicators | Annual average change | Regional average | Change in seasonality | Interannual variability | Significant transients | Global average | Regional average |
| Temperature | +2 to +5°C | 3 to +10°C | Yes | Down? | Yes | High | Medium |
| Sea level | +10 to +100 cm | | No | ? | Unlikely | High | Medium |
| Precipitation | +7 to 15 per cent | 20 to +20 per cent | Yes | Up | Yes | High | Low |
| Direct solar radiation | 10 to +10 per cent | 30 to +30 per cent | Yes | ? | Possible | Low | Low |
| Evapotranspi- ration | +5 to +10 per cent | 10 to +10 per cent | Yes | ? | Possible | High | Low |
| Soil moisture | ? | 50 to +50 per cent | Yes | ? | Yes | ? | Medium |
| Runoff | Increase | 50 to +50 per cent | Yes | ? | Yes | Medium | Low |
| Severe storms | ? | ? | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? |