The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a group established by the United Nations and the World Meteorological Organization, produced its bleakest assessment to date on Feb. 2, 2007, asserting that human activities such as energy production, transportation, agriculture, deforestation and refrigeration s are "very likely" responsible for accelerating global warming trends. In its "Fourth Assessment Report," the IPCC estimates that in 2100, the average global temperatures will have risen between 1.1 degrees and 6.4 degrees Celsius (2.0 degrees to 12 degrees Fahrenheit) on humans' present course, with an associated sea level rise between 18 cm and 59 cm (7.0 - 23 inches) when compared to 1990. The panel predicts coastal erosion and flooding, water shortages, an increase in disease and a decrease in biodiversity on a global scale. In an interactive feature using data from the IPCC's 2001 report, you can explore regional climate events and see how populations may have to adapt to climate change 100 years in the future. This feature will be updated when data from IPCC's 2007 report become available. Scenarios and regional climate events came from the IPCC's 2001 report, a research review that is widely recognized by the scientific community. The temperature and sea level results produced when moving the sliders were calculated independently. World Meteorological Organization and U.N. Environment Program's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's "Climate Change 2001 Third Assessment Report," National Geographic Society

Africa Africa is particularly vulnerable to flooding because many of its most populous cities -- Lagos, Nigeria; Alexandria, Egypt; and Algiers, Algeria -- are on its coast. Increases in flooding in some areas -- and droughts in others -- are expected to undermine the continent's ability to produce food. And continent-wide warming could increase the habitat sizes of disease-bearing insects and extend the reach of epidemic diseases like malaria. Australia Climate change is expected to strain Australia's water supply, stressing the continent's already arid and semi-arid interior. An increase in cyclone and storm activity also is possible. Arctic Air temperatures in the Arctic region have increased at a higher rate than in other regions, a trend that is predicted to continue. This warming could melt the Arctic ice, which could profoundly affect the global climate by increasing sea level and altering ocean currents. Antarctica The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts further deterioration of the Antarctic ice sheet, but the ice that remains will thicken because of increased precipitation over the continent. Asia In Asia, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts coastal flooding, decreases in water availability, and an overall decrease in agricultural production due to increases in temperature, sea level and cyclone intensity. Europe The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts a widening of the water resources gap between a wetter northern Europe and a drier southern Europe. Temperatures are expected to rise to higher levels in Greenland than the global average, leading to melting of its vulnerable land ice sheet, which in turn would lead to increases in global sea level. Island states South Pacific islands are expected to see smaller-than-average temperature increases, but the majority of these low-lying tropical and subtropical island states are highly vulnerable to increases in sea level and rainfall, with flooding posing threats to entire cultures. North America The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts a 1 degree to 7.5 degree Celsius increase in North American average temperatures based on its range of emission scenarios, a wider range than the global average. Northern parts of the continent will become home to more biodiversity, but southern locations will become hotter and more susceptible to disease. Though North America has many resources, climate change will be costly and will challenge the continent's ability to adapt. South America The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change considers South America to have a low capability to adapt, with particular concern for extreme weather events -- tropical storms, floods and droughts -- that would put the continent's water resources, biological diversity, agriculture industry and human health at risk. Bangladesh A rise in temperature of 2 degrees Celsius, leading to a 45 cm increase in sea level, could result in the flooding of 15 percent of Bangladesh's coastal Sundarban region -- home to the largest continuous mangrove in the world -- and the displacement of 5.5 million Bangladeshi. A rise in temperature of 2 degrees Celsius, leading to a 45 cm increase in sea level, could result in the flooding of 15 percent of Bangladesh's coastal Sundarban region -- home to the largest continuous mangrove in the world -- and the displacement of 5.5 million Bangladeshi. More intense warming would cause a 1 meter increase in sea level, causing most of Bangladesh's coastal Sundarban region to disappear, displacing 15 million Bangladeshi and destroying the habitats of Bengal tigers and other wildlife. Himalayas At a low level of global warming, melting of Himalayan glaciers could cause severe floods, affecting millions in Nepal, Bangladesh and northern India. At a low level of global warming, melting of Himalayan glaciers could cause severe floods, affecting millions in Nepal, Bangladesh and northern India. At a low level of global warming, melting of Himalayan glaciers could cause severe floods, affecting millions in Nepal, Bangladesh and northern India. Siberia With a temperature increase of 4 degrees Celsius, Siberia's permafrost could retreat up to 200 km, affecting the region's construction, mining and agriculture industries, and releasing carbon dioxide from the ground into the atmosphere. Kazakhstan With a rise in temperature of 3 degrees Celsius and a 20 percent increase in rainfall, Kazakhstan could see a combination of flooding in the winter and a decrease in water flow in the summers, significantly affecting the agriculture industry. With a rise in temperature of 3 degrees Celsius and a 20 percent increase in rainfall, Kazakhstan could see a combination of flooding in the winter and a decrease in water flow in the summers, significantly affecting the agriculture industry. African Regions With moderate warming, scenarios show a 5 percent to 15 percent decrease in grain yields in the southern African interior and a 10 percent to 20 percent decrease in rainfall in northern Africa over its growing season. At a high level of warming, some regions of equatorial Africa could experience a doubling of rainfall, while significant decreases in rainfall would be seen in northern Africa, equatorial eastern Africa and the southern African interior, decreasing water availability during the growing seasons. Southwestern Australia With a warming of 1 degree Celsius, species currently confined to narrow ranges of the southwest and alpine regions of Australia could become endangered or extinct. With a warming of 1 degree Celsius, species currently confined to narrow ranges of the southwest and alpine regions of Australia could become endangered or extinct. At the highest level of warming, some species in southwestern Australia could become extinct by 2050. Great Barrier Reef Any degree of warming is expected to continue the "coral bleaching" process in the Great Barrier Reef. Any degree of warming is expected to continue the "coral bleaching" process in the Great Barrier Reef. Any degree of warming is expected to continue the "coral bleaching" process in the Great Barrier Reef. The Arctic Because of the large heat capacity of the ocean, sea levels would continue to rise due to Arctic ice melting even if greenhouse gas emissions stabilize. Because of the large heat capacity of the ocean, sea levels would continue to rise due to Arctic ice melting even if greenhouse gas emissions stabilize. Increases in temperature could affect animals dependent on sea ice, most notably seals, walruses and polar bears. Antarctica If ice sheets melt and expose more land, new habitats for species such as penguins would be created in the Antarctic. Greenland In moderate warming scenarios, Greenland's temperatures could rise more than 2.7 degrees Celsius by 2100, leading to an increase in global sea levels as its ice sheet melts. At the highest level of global warming (about 6 degrees Celsius), extensive melting of Greenland's ice sheet is expected to increase global sea levels. European Coast At a low level of global warming, more than four-fifths of Baltic Sea coastal wetlands could be lost by the 2080s. At a low level of global warming, more than four-fifths of Baltic Sea coastal wetlands could be lost by the 2080s. At a high level of global warming, a significant loss of coastal wetlands of the Baltic Sea and Mediterranean by the 2080s could expose 3.5 million area inhabitants -- most along the Mediterranean -- to flooding. North American Glacier Regions As melting exceeds snow accumulation, North American glaciers will continue to retreat and contribute to sea-level rise. As melting exceeds snow accumulation, North American glaciers will continue to retreat and contribute to sea-level rise. As melting exceeds snow accumulation, North American glaciers will continue to retreat and contribute to sea-level rise. U.S. Great Plains In the U.S. Great Plains and Canadian Prairies, global warming could cause severe droughts and decreased crop production; agriculture yields would increase in western and lake regions of North America. With a warming of up to 1.5 degrees Celsius, changes in crop patterns may be beneficial for the U.S. economy. In the U.S. Great Plains and Canadian Prairies, global warming could cause severe droughts and decreased crop yields; however, agriculture yields are expected to increase in western and lake regions of North America. Beyond a warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius, economic benefits of warming would peak and start to decrease. In the U.S. Great Plains and Canadian Prairies, global warming could cause severe droughts and decreased crop yields; however, agriculture yields are expected to increase in western and lake regions of North America. Beyond a warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius, economic benefits of warming would peak and start to decrease. U.S. Gulf Coast Intense storms, coastal erosion and flooding could be expected along the heavily populated coastal floodplains of the U.S. mid-Atlantic coast and Gulf Coast, including New Orleans and Miami. Intense storms, coastal erosion and flooding could be expected along the heavily populated coastal floodplains of the U.S. mid-Atlantic coast and Gulf Coast, including New Orleans and Miami. Intense storms, coastal erosion and flooding could be expected along the heavily populated coastal floodplains of the U.S. mid-Atlantic coast and Gulf Coast, including New Orleans and Miami. South American Regions Climate change is expected to reduce crop yields in many South American countries -- Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay -- where 30 percent to 40 percent of jobs are in the agriculture industry. Climate change is expected to reduce crop yields in many South American countries -- Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay -- where 30 percent to 40 percent of jobs are in the agriculture industry. Climate change is expected to reduce crop yields in many South American countries -- Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay -- where 30 percent to 40 percent of jobs are in the agriculture industry. Maldives Small island nations such as Maldives (population: 350,000), in the Indian Ocean, and Micronesia (population: 100,000) and the Marshall Islands (population: 60,000), in the Pacific Ocean, are especially vulnerable to sea level rise because of high population densities in coastal regions and the impracticality of relocation. Small island nations such as Maldives (population: 350,000), in the Indian Ocean, and Micronesia (population: 100,000) and the Marshall Islands (population: 60,000), in the Pacific Ocean, are especially vulnerable to sea level rise because of high population densities in coastal regions and the impracticality of relocation. Small island nations such as Maldives (population: 350,000), in the Indian Ocean, and Micronesia (population: 100,000) and the Marshall Islands (population: 60,000), in the Pacific Ocean, are especially vulnerable to sea level rise because of high population densities in coastal regions and the impracticality of relocation. Increased oil usage Rapid worldwide economic growth causes a dramatic increase in the consumption of fossil fuels, leading to a tripling of atmospheric carbon dioxide. High Population explosion The world's population soars while economic and technological growth remains slow. The world's citizens more than double the amount of carbon dioxide and methane in the air. High Status Quo The "business as usual" scenario, a baseline for prediction, assumes greenhouse gas production will follow current trends and emission output. Medium Local conservation Moderate economic growth stems from an emphasis on energy conservation initiatives and local, as opposed to national, policies. Technological advances come at a slow rate, but because population continues to rise, carbon dioxide levels increase significantly. Medium Efficient technology In an information- and service-oriented economy, resource-efficient technologies allow global populations to reduce energy consumption, leading to a small reduction in atmospheric methane and a modest 50 percent increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide. Low Carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide, the naturally occurring and human-produced greenhouse gas with the largest impact on global warming, has been increasing since the start of the industrial revolution in the 1800s, and could double or triple in the next 100 years. Fossil-fuel combustion (transportation, power generation), cement production, deforestation Methane Methane, though abundant in the atmosphere, is not as potent a greenhouse gas as carbon dioxide. Agriculture (rice), cattle, energy production, deforestation, landfills Nitrous oxide Nitrous oxide is a significant contributor to global warming, though not to the extent of carbon dioxide. Fertilizers, cattle and feedlots, industrial production, fossil fuel combustion, deforestation Tropospheric ozone Tropospheric ozone, found in the lowest part of the atmosphere, is a greenhouse gas that is formed when nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and non-methane volatile compounds react. Stratospheric ozone ("the ozone layer"), found higher in the atmosphere, contributes to global cooling but does not counterbalance the warming effects of tropospheric ozone. Fossil fuel combustion (transportation, power generation), cement production, deforestation, manufacturing, fertilizers Sulfur and aerosols Sulfur dioxide and other aerosol particulates act as cooling agents, not greenhouse gases. But because sulfur is often produced with other greenhouse gases, no cooling effect is observed with increases in sulfur emissions. Fossil fuel combustion (coal, oil), metal smelting