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Home > NEC's Environmental Activities > Featured Topics > The True Story of Global Warming > NEC supercomputers help bring better insight to the mechanism of global warming

NEC supercomputers help bring better insight to the mechanism of global warming

The impact of global warming on human society

Impact on crops

Change in Wheat Yield (2050)
Source: NIES/CCSR
Courtesy of NIES

Global warming might have an impact on farm production. Looking at wheat yields around the world, the USA, a major producing center, is likely to experience a big drop in production. Of course, it is technically possible to shift production centers. But it would take time and costs to implement such a measure.

Click to enlarge

Worsening water shortage

The shortage of drinking water is also a greater concern. Global warming changes precipitation patterns and causes aridification to spread globally. In addition, the snow in winter would change to rain, which means less thawing ice in spring from snow accumulated over the winter. By the year 2025, there may be as many as five billion people living in regions that suffer water shortage.


Change in Streamflow
Source: HadCM3 (climate model) developed at the Hadley Centre (UK)
Courtesy of NIES

Sea level rise

If global warming continues, the sea level will rise. Already over the past 100 years, the sea level has risen by an average of 10 to 20 centimeters. By the year 2080, it may rise by as much as 40 centimeters. In addition, projection suggests that the strength of typhoons will increase with more serious storm damages.


Population at Risk to Coastal Flood Damage (2008, Sea level rise of 40 cm)
Source: Nicholls,R (1997):
Climate change and its impacts : A global perspective
Courtesy of NIES


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