The map above shows areas with annual precipitation loss under the 1° C above the 1850‐1900 average scenario, which we already passed in 2017. Explore more about the changes in global precipitation distribution under other scenarios presented in Probable Futures’ predictions.

Climate change is having a significant impact on water availability by changing hydrological and meteorological conditions – changes in the water cycle, melting glaciers and ice, unpredictable precipitation, increasing evapotranspiration (the sum of evaporation from the land surface plus transpiration from plants), and drying water bodies. Because the Arctic feeds into the global climate system through the albedo effect (the ability of Earth’s surfaces to reflect the sun’s rays back to the atmosphere), a warmer Arctic with less ice and snow will darken the Earth, causing more of the sun’s heat to be absorbed. This, in turn, will fuel extreme weather events such as heatwaves, flooding and drought – all of which disrupt the water cycle and exacerbate water insecurity.

Find out more about how the Arctic affects Global Risks.

View maps on these other global risks:

Extreme Weather Conditions Food Insecurity

Heat Stress Sea Level Rise