Figure 2.3: Projected changes in annual mean temperature (in °C) and in annual mean rainfall (in %), relative to 1990: average over 12 climate models for A1B emission scenario

Text description of figure

This figure shows four maps of New Zealand, giving projected changes over New Zealand in annual mean temperatures in degrees Celsius and in precipitation in percent relative to 1990 for 2040 and 2090 from the twelve-model averages.

For 2040 the projected changes in mean annual temperature for New Zealand range from 0.8 degrees (South-Westland and Stewart Island) to 1.0 degrees (Canterbury-Kaikoura and most of the North Island). For 2090 the projected changes in temperature range from 1.8 degrees (Stewart Island) to 2.2 degrees (most of the north of the South Island, and most of the North Island).

For 2040 the projected changes in mean annual precipitation for New Zealand range from an increase of 7.5 percent (West Coast of the South Island) to a decrease of 5 percent (along a thin coastal strip from Kaikoura north to East Cape, and in Northland). For 2090 the projected changes in precipitation range from an increase of over 10 percent (West Coast of the South Island) to a decrease of 7.5 percent (in patches along the coastal strip from Kaikoura north to East Cape, and in Northland).