Change in global precipitation patterns as a result of climate change Variation in temperature differences between tropics and polar regions plays a fundamental role in controlling atmospheric circulation and in consequence is a potential future cause of regional climate change. The Earth’s climate system is largely determined by the differences in temperature between the tropics and the poles. Global warming is likely to cause global atmospheric circulation to change and progressively revert to a situation similar to that of 5,000 to 10,000 years ago. This is th...