Tokyo Past and Future

Present Day Tokyo, Japan

http://cuabroad.cua.edu/programs/japan/tokyoIES.cfm

This blog has demonstrated Tokyo, Japan's current weather conditions and climate patterns.  There are many reasons why Tokyo's climate is the way it is (location and geographical factors).  It is interesting to wonder what Tokyo's climate was 100 million years ago and what Tokyo's weather will be like 100 million years in the future.  Obviously both will be very different from where they are today because Tokyo's location on Earth has and will change throughout the years.  

Current Tokyo, Japan Climate Graph

http://www.climatetemp.info/japan/

100 million years ago, the islands of Japan were still part of the large as Asian continent that is known as China today.  It was at this time that the subduction of the Pacific plate started.  It wasn't until 15 million years ago when land masses that make up the islands of Japan finally broke away from the Asian continent and the Sea of Japan was formed. Obviously, Japan was continental compared to the maritime location it is today. I predict that the weather was very rainy with lower temperatures than they are today.  Today, Japan still continues to move eastward away from the large Asian landmass. 

Past Tokyo, Japan Climate Graph

100 million years in the future, I predict that Tokyo will continue to drift eastward on the same latitude line but shift over about 20 degrees longitude.  Because Japan will be further isolated from other land masses, there will be a significant amount of rainfall and higher temperatures year round then they are today. Japan will over all be affected by the maritime air masses compared to the continental air masses in the past. I also predict that Japan will continue to be affected severely by typhoons and earthquakes.  

Comparison of Svalbard, Norway Weather to Tokyo

Tokyo is located 5,260.6 miles away from Svalbard, Norway.  Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago consisting of nine main islands in the Arctic Ocean (ranging from latitude 74°- 81° North, and longitude 10°- 35° East). Compared to Tokyo Japan located at 35° 41' 6 N and 139° 45' 5 E.  Svalbard and Tokyo differ greatly in weather and climate. 


Svalbard's climate is dominated by high altitude where average temperatures in the summer only get up to 43° F and winter temperatures are around 10° F. 

http://www.climatetemp.info/norway/isfjord-radio-svalbard.html

http://www.climatetemp.info/japan/tokyo.html

The North Atlantic waters help to moderate Svalbard's climate, particularly in the winter, giving it relatively high temperatures compared to other cities at similar latitudes.  These temperatures and warm water keep the surrounding water open and navigable for most of the year. There are mountainous areas with valleys in Svalbard allowing for warmer summer weather and colder winter weather.  Cold air from the north and wet sea air from the south create low pressure with changing weather and fast winds. 

Because Tokyo is located on an island while Svalbard is more inland and at a higher latitude, they have very different weather patterns.  Tokyo receives quite a bit of precipitation annually, while Svalbard receives snowfall frequently but in small quantities. Fog is very common in Svalbard while Tokyo will only receive fog every so often.  

Svalbard in the Winter

http://www.globalphotographic.net/Arctic.htm

Tokyo in the Winter

m.joseparla.com

Svalbard in the Summer

http://www.ieaghg.org/index.php?/20100113166/international-interdisciplinary-ccs-summer-school-2010.html

Tokyo in the Summer

http://karen-freshstrawberries.blogspot.com/2008/08/late-summer-greetings-from-very-muggy.html