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Tropic Zones Expanding07-09-09 | News

Tropic Zones Expanding




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Researchers at James Cook University concluded the tropics had widened by up to 310 miles in the past 25 years after examining 70 peer-reviewed scientific articles. They looked at findings from long-term satellite measurements, weather balloon data, climate models and sea temperature studies to determine how global warming was impacting on the tropical zone.

The findings showed it now extended well beyond the traditional definition of the tropics, the equatorial band circling the Earth between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.

Professor Steve Turton said that meant the subtropical arid zone which borders the tropics was being pushed into temperate areas, with potentially devastating consequences.

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James Cook University vice-chancellor Sandra Harding said the evidence showed climate change was already affecting wildlife and rainfall in Australia, which is in the grip of its worst drought in a century. She said studies showed changes to wind patterns meant rain was now being dumped in the ocean south of the continent, rather than over land. ?EUR??,,????'?????<

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