Ecobreves – BRAZIL: Rain Shortages in the North to Worsen in 21st Century

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Mar 12 2011 (IPS) - By 2100, droughts will be as much as 40 percent more severe in the Brazilian Amazon and Northeast regions, and rainfall 30 percent more intense in the southeast of South America, including the Paraná-La Plata Basin, predicts a report from the National Institute for Climate Change Science and Technology (INCT). The study is based on analysis of the last two years and integrates date from 26 projects.

This scenario would be the consequence of a four to six degree Celsius warming of the atmosphere during the 21st century, amplifying temperature variations on the continent and the Southern Atlantic. The study includes the potential effects on human health, urbanization in mega-cities, energy consumption and public policies. “Our main goal is to provide high-quality scientific information, which is necessary for understanding the function of the climate, its variability and changes,” INCT coordinator Carlos Nobre told Tierramérica.