Vital Climate Graphics : Observed Climate Trends
Next: Sea level rise due to global warming

16. Precipitation has increased over land at high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, especially during the cold season. Decrease in precipitation occurred in steps after the 1960s over the subtropics and the tropics from Africa to Indonesia. These changes are consistent with available data analyses of changes in stream flow, lake levels and soil surface. Precipitation averaged over the Earth's land surface increased from the start of the century up to about 1960, but has decreased since about 1980. There is a lack of data on precipitation over the oceans. (Source:WG I SAR, TS p.28)