<p>It depends on how you define the tropics. Strictly speaking, the tropics can be defined as the area between the tropic of capricorn and the tropic of cancer (23.5<span class="math-container">$^\circ$</span>N/S respectively). This is because of the earth's axial tilt of 23.5<span class="math-container">$^\circ$</span>. Since I don't think that the climate change will affect the axial tilt too much, I doubt it.</p>
<p>However, if you define the tropics in terms of climate, probably. Since the <a href="https://journals.ametsoc.org/jas/article/68/4/769/26993/Response-of-the-Hadley-Circulation-to-Climate" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Hadley cell is expected to expand with more greenhouse gases</a>, it follows that the tropical weather that accompanies the Hadley cell should expand with it.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-31T10:08:39.537Z
Thanks for your answer! I think the story for desertification is similar (on the axial tilt dependence)?
Wouter
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-31T17:13:13.163Z
@Wouter I don't think so. The majority of the Earth's deserts lie on the sinking branch of the Hadley cell. So deserts should move northward with climate change.
BarocliniCplusplus
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-02T02:57:34.843Z
Yes, that's what I meant: desertification isn't originating from astronomical reasons either :)
Wouter
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-30T19:03:25.167Z
2020-10-30T19:03:25.167Z
BarocliniCplusplus
<p>It is widely known (to the general audience, I'm not a climatologist) that global warming will let the desert climates migrate further away from the equator towards the poles, such that the South of Europe is becoming more and more desert-ish. (see e.g. <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/global-warming-turning-europe-desert-2100-mediterranean-spain-portugal-italy-sicily-turkey-syria-fossil-fuels-a7383931.html" rel="noreferrer">this article</a>)</p>
<p>Now my question is: if the desert climates migrate; will the tropical climates also migrate / expand to a broader belt around the equator? Often, it is possible to live quite comfortably as a human in such a region.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-10-29T14:03:22.123Z
Interesting question. Increased temperature likely increases also the evaporation, causing more rains, but other effects might overwhelm this. Hopefully someone knowing better the clima models will know it.
peterh
<climate-change><desertification>
Will global warming expand the tropical zone
Wouter
# Will global warming expand the tropical zone

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-10-29)

It is widely known (to the general audience, I'm not a climatologist) that global warming will let the desert climates migrate further away from the equator towards the poles, such that the South of Europe is becoming more and more desert-ish. (see e.g. [this article](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/global-warming-turning-europe-desert-2100-mediterranean-spain-portugal-italy-sicily-turkey-syria-fossil-fuels-a7383931.html))

Now my question is: if the desert climates migrate; will the tropical climates also migrate / expand to a broader belt around the equator? Often, it is possible to live quite comfortably as a human in such a region.

**Tags:** climate-change, desertification

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Interesting question. Increased temperature likely increases also the evaporation, causing more rains, but other effects might overwhelm this. Hopefully someone knowing better the clima models will know it.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-10-30. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

It depends on how you define the tropics. Strictly speaking, the tropics can be defined as the area between the tropic of capricorn and the tropic of cancer (23.5$^\circ$N/S respectively). This is because of the earth's axial tilt of 23.5$^\circ$. Since I don't think that the climate change will affect the axial tilt too much, I doubt it.

However, if you define the tropics in terms of climate, probably. Since the [Hadley cell is expected to expand with more greenhouse gases](https://journals.ametsoc.org/jas/article/68/4/769/26993/Response-of-the-Hadley-Circulation-to-Climate), it follows that the tropical weather that accompanies the Hadley cell should expand with it.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks for your answer! I think the story for desertification is similar (on the axial tilt dependence)?  
> **username_2**: @username_0 I don't think so. The majority of the Earth's deserts lie on the sinking branch of the Hadley cell. So deserts should move northward with climate change.  
> **username_0**: Yes, that's what I meant: desertification isn't originating from astronomical reasons either :)  

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