Question

Projections for the movement of the Hadley cells suggest an expansion rate of around 0.8° latitude per decade has occurred since 1979 (Lucas et al. 2014). If this rate of movement of the Hadley cell in the Northern Hemisphere continues, how far north would you expect the desert biome to occur by 2080?

Answer 1

By multiplying the Hadley cell's expansion rate of 0.8° latitude per decade by the number of decades from 1979 to 2080, we can expect the desert biome to potentially reach up to 38° north latitude by 2080.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given that the Hadley cell expansion rate is approximately 0.8° latitude per decade, we can calculate the expected shift in the desert biome's location by the year 2080.

The starting point for subtropical deserts is between 15° and 30° north (and south) latitude. From 1979 to 2080, there are 101 years, which accounts for 10 full decades and a part of the 11th decade.

If we multiply the 0.8° expansion rate by 10, we get an 8° increase in latitude. Therefore, by 2080, we can expect the desert biome to potentially reach up to 38° north latitude.

It is important to note, however, that this is a simplified projection and the actual displacement of biomes can be influenced by many different factors beyond Hadley cell movement.