New Climate Map Shows Extreme Heat in Pakistani Cities’ Future

Climate change significantly impacts global weather patterns, causing various disruptions and extreme weather events. A new interactive map by the University of Maryland has revealed how climate change has begun transforming our planet, and the effects are expected to accelerate due to the emission of greenhouse gases.

The map, called ‘Future Urban Climates,’ has been created by the university’s spatial ecologist Matthew Fitzpatrick. It uses advanced modeling for thousands of cities, towns, and suburbs across the globe to explain what cities will feel like in 60 years.

“In 50 years, the northern hemisphere cities to the north are going to become much more like cities to the south. Everything is moving towards the equator in terms of the climate that’s coming for you,” said Mr. Fitzpatrick.

The map includes data for more than 40,000 locations worldwide and presents a grim scenario for 2080. Searching for Lahore reveals that Lahore’s 2080 summer is projected to be 4.7 degrees Celsius warmer and 21.2% wetter. In winter, the average temperature could rise by 5.2 degrees Celsius and be 16.1% wetter.

In Karachi, the summers could be 3.3 degrees Celsius warmer and 18.2% drier, according to the map. Winters are expected to be 5 degrees Celsius warmer and 0.4% wetter. The city was recently hit by intense heatwaves, demonstrating the future climate challenges.

Peshawar is expected to be 5.8 degrees Celsius warmer and 4.5% drier in summers by 2080. Winters would be 5.5 degrees Celsius warmer and 9.2% wetter. Current conditions like Peshawar’s future climate can be found in Sibbi today.

Adding more cities to this analysis, we see that in Islamabad, the summers are projected to be 5.1 degrees Celsius warmer and 4% drier. Winters would be 5.4 degrees Celsius warmer and 11.3% wetter. Future conditions in Islamabad can be compared to present-day Mirpur in Azad Kashmir.

In Quetta, summers could be 5.5 degrees Celsius warmer and 10.3% wetter, while winters would be 5.5 degrees Celsius warmer and 2.1% drier. Current climate conditions like Quetta’s future weather can be found in Jalalabad, Afghanistan.

Summers in Bahawalpur are expected to be 4.9 degrees Celsius warmer and 17.3% wetter by 2080. Winters are projected to be 5.7 degrees Celsius warmer and 7.1% wetter. Current conditions like Bahawalpur’s future climate can be found in areas experiencing similar weather patterns today.

For Faisalabad, the summers are expected to be 5.6 degrees Celsius warmer and 22.1% wetter by 2080. Winters are expected to be 5.6 degrees Celsius warmer and 15% wetter. The future climate of Faisalabad can be compared to today’s conditions in Chowki Jamali, Balochistan.

Internationally, New York is projected to resemble present-day northern Mississippi. Washington DC is expected to feel like current-day North Louisiana, with a potential temperature increase of 6 degrees Celsius.

Via: FitzLab