Legend for the climate change impacts map

Drier

• Less annual rainfall
• Decreased run-off to rivers
• Increased evaporation
• Increased frequency and severity of drought
• Increased irrigation demand

Wetter

• Increased precipitation
• Increased intensity in weather events
• Increased flooding, particularly in already flood-prone areas
• Increased slips
• Increased soil erosion

Coastal

• Sea level rise
• Increased storm surge
• Coastal inundation
• Increased coastal erosion

Ex-tropical cyclones*

• Increased intensity -> increased wind, waves, storm surge and rainfall

*Tropical cyclones, in travelling to NZ change their character, becoming slightly less intense but causing damage over a much wider area

Wind

• Increased westerly winds in the south, more north-easterlies in the north

Snowlines and glaciers

• Changes in length and area of glaciers
• Rise in snowline
• Decrease in seasonal snow duration and depth

Commercial forests

• Increased growth rates in the south and west, decreased growth rates in the east of the North Island
• Increased geographic range
• Increased wind damage to forests in the South Island
• Increased pests
• Increased fire risk

Natural areas

• Species distribution changes
• Changes to/loss of habitat
• Increased pressure from pests, animals and plants