The Desert and Climate change

A new study by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has found new evidence that during the last 25 years global warming has caused temperatures to rise above the global average in 75% of the deserts included in the study.

Andrew Warren, professor at University College London and co-author of the report, said that it was a paradox that deserts, in many parts of the world expanding rapidly and threatening the very livelihood of millions of people, are themselves under severe threat from global warming and changing weather patters.

Deserts cover ~25% of the surface of the planet and account for 12% of the world's most sensitive biodiversity hotspots - areas holding the most rare species.

Professor Warren and his team found that deserts under threat are those fed by glacial meltwater and that deserts are likely to become more arid.

In terms of damaged to plants and animals living in the desert, the study predict that "nearly half the bird, mammal and butterfly species in the Chichuahua desert in Mexico are likely to be extinct or replaced by other species by 2055.