change (%)
-40 -30 -20 -10
0 10 20 30 40
+
+
change (°C)
0 
1 
2 
3
4 
5 
6 
7
-1.5 
-1.0 
-0.5 
0 
0.5 
1.0 
1.5
change (σ)
With every increment of global warming, regional changes in mean 
climate and extremes become more widespread and pronounced
Figure 3.1: Projected changes of annual maximum daily temperature, annual mean total column soil moisture CMIP and annual maximum daily precipitation 
at global warming levels of 1.5°C, 2°C, 3°C, and 4°C relative to 1850-1900. Simulated (a) annual maximum temperature change (°C), (b) annual mean total column 
soil moisture (standard deviation), (c) annual maximum daily precipitation change (%). Changes correspond to CMIP6 multi-model median changes. In panels (b) and (c), large 
positive relative changes in dry regions may correspond to small absolute changes. In panel (b), the unit is the standard deviation of interannual variability in soil moisture during 
1850-1900. Standard deviation is a widely used metric in characterising drought severity. A projected reduction in mean soil moisture by one standard deviation corresponds to soil 
moisture conditions typical of droughts that occurred about once every six years during 1850-1900. The WGI Interactive Atlas (https://interactive-atlas.ipcc.ch/) can be used to explore 
additional changes in the climate system across the range of global warming levels presented in this ﬁgure. {WGI Figure SPM.5, WGI Figure TS.5, WGI Figure 11.11, WGI Figure 11.16, 
WGI Figure 11.19} (Cross-Section Box.2)