Summers in the north H.emisphere could finally as long as six months before 2100, according to to new study examines the impact of global warming on our seasons.
Researchers predict that if nothing is done to help combat greenhouse gas emissions, summers could reach half a year before the end of this century, with winter lasting less than two months.
In the study, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, scientists looked at the changes in the length of the seasons across the Northern Hemisphere, studying climate data between 1952 and 2011.
For each year, the team marked the beginning of summer by finding the period that had the highest 25 percent of temperatures, with winter seasons marked by periods with the lowest 25 percent of temperatures.
They found that summers grew from 78 days to 95 days, while other seasons declined – with winters decreasing from 76 days to 73, harvests from 87 days to 82 and spring from 124 days to 115.
The authors wrote their summary: “Growing evidence suggests that length of one quarter or in regional scales changed under global warming, but a the hemispherical scale response of the past and future four seasons is not yet known.
“We find that summer in the central hemisphere has expanded, however winter has shortened, as a result of movements in their sites and removed spring and autumn shorter.
“Such changes in length and location are largely due to greenhouse heating. Even if the normal warming rate does not accelerate, there will be changes seasons will be even worse in the future.
“Under the usual business context, Summer is expected to last nearly half a year, but winter will be less than two months before 2100.“
In the study, researchers say the changing of the seasonal clock identifies ‘agricultural disturbance seasons and the rhythm of species activity, increased heat waves, storms and wildfires’, adding that this poses increased risks to humankindy ‘.
A.uthor Yuping Guan in a recitation: “Summers are getting longer and warmer while winters are shorter and warmer due to global warming. “
Guan said: “N.Umerous studies have already shown that the changing seasons pose significant environmental and health risks. ”
For example, longer summers may trigger an extended pollen season, thereby reducing seasonal allergies.