Chinese researchers from Lanzhou University have predicted that the northern margin of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau will experience a warmer and wetter climate in the future. This region, known for its climatic sensitivity due to the influence of monsoon and westerly winds, is set to undergo significant changes.
By comparing temperature and precipitation data from the mid-Holocene warm period, the medieval climate anomaly, the current warm period, and projections for the future, the team from the College of Earth and Environmental Sciences concluded that the region's future climate will resemble the mid-Holocene era. During that time, the orbit-controlled East Asian summer monsoon brought a warm and humid climate to the area.
The study indicates that continued global warming will not only expand the westerly belt but also contribute to a gradually humid climate in the region. Despite these regional changes, researchers found that the overall climate across China is expected to remain stable.
\"Climate change is generally cyclical,\" said Professor Li Yu from Lanzhou University. \"The past warm periods provide valuable historical references for predicting future weather patterns.\"
The comprehensive research was published in the journal Science China: Earth Sciences.
Reference(s):
North Qinghai-Xizang Plateau warmer, wetter in the future: study
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