(Apologies in advance for the fact that most of this blog is written about the African region in general and not the island of Madagascar specifically)
On the island of Madagascar marine ecosystems are being highly impacted by climate change. This is a major biological ecosystem being threatened by the changing climate. Key risk factors in the African region are included as follows. There is a major strain on water resources due to droughts. When it does rain it rains heavily and flooding occurs. This makes for poor abilities for crop production.
The warm waters in the indian ocean bring heavy, semi-annual, rainfall to the island and the eastern edge of Africa. It is predicted that in the future there will be significant drying and moistening in this african region. It is predicted that at the beginning of the main rain season it will be dryer while the end of the season is predicted to increase in the amount of moisture that is received. Part of the evidence for this is determined by the moisture in the soil and is accompanied with a variety of simulations. Temperatures are also expected to increase as time goes on.
There is undeniable evidence that temperatures are expected to rise as time continues on in the African region. It is easy to see because it has been increasing over the last century. This combined with the fact that a higher rainfall is expected could be detrimental to the region. The ecosystems are already being effected. The warming ocean waters will have a major impact on the coral reefs on the eastern side of the continent. Also, warmer temperatures will increase the chance of drought. With less water availability not only do people suffer but the land and crops suffer too. There have been solutions to problems such as these but they are all short term and won't last forever. As time goes on these outcomes are only predicted to get worse until a long term solution is found. So due to climate change people are in danger of dehydration and malnutrition along with things like band sanitation and poor health care. This things could happen without the climate change but the climate change is basically just multiplying them.
I chose to take a closer look into the impact climate has on agriculture and food security in the African region. Food is a livelihood for people all over the world. It is how we all stay alive and healthy and some even make their income off of their land (crops). It is what makes or breaks a country/continent and without it life can not be sustained so it seems to me that it would be one of the most important things being impacted by climate change. African crops are very vulnerable in the fact that they pose a high reliance on rainfall. It is hard for crops to adapt to the change in temperatures and the shortened rain season. The limited access of water and increase in temperature is also a stressor on those who raise livestock. The amount that is grown and bred for food is also decreasing. The temperature increase in the ocean water will have a negative affect on the coral reefs and the fish inside those reefs. The list of effects that climate change has on agriculture in this area of the world goes on and on but hopefully you have gotten the idea of what is going on in this region.
On the island of Madagascar marine ecosystems are being highly impacted by climate change. This is a major biological ecosystem being threatened by the changing climate. Key risk factors in the African region are included as follows. There is a major strain on water resources due to droughts. When it does rain it rains heavily and flooding occurs. This makes for poor abilities for crop production.
The warm waters in the indian ocean bring heavy, semi-annual, rainfall to the island and the eastern edge of Africa. It is predicted that in the future there will be significant drying and moistening in this african region. It is predicted that at the beginning of the main rain season it will be dryer while the end of the season is predicted to increase in the amount of moisture that is received. Part of the evidence for this is determined by the moisture in the soil and is accompanied with a variety of simulations. Temperatures are also expected to increase as time goes on.
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| Above is the top ten countries vulnerable to climate change. As you can see, Madagascar is 10th on the list. http://www.nature.com/nclimate/journal/v2/n3/fig_tab/nclimate1423_F1.html |
There is undeniable evidence that temperatures are expected to rise as time continues on in the African region. It is easy to see because it has been increasing over the last century. This combined with the fact that a higher rainfall is expected could be detrimental to the region. The ecosystems are already being effected. The warming ocean waters will have a major impact on the coral reefs on the eastern side of the continent. Also, warmer temperatures will increase the chance of drought. With less water availability not only do people suffer but the land and crops suffer too. There have been solutions to problems such as these but they are all short term and won't last forever. As time goes on these outcomes are only predicted to get worse until a long term solution is found. So due to climate change people are in danger of dehydration and malnutrition along with things like band sanitation and poor health care. This things could happen without the climate change but the climate change is basically just multiplying them.
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| It is clear by just looking at this graph the kind of temperature change that is going on in Madagascar! http://berkeleyearth.lbl.gov/regions/madagascar |
I chose to take a closer look into the impact climate has on agriculture and food security in the African region. Food is a livelihood for people all over the world. It is how we all stay alive and healthy and some even make their income off of their land (crops). It is what makes or breaks a country/continent and without it life can not be sustained so it seems to me that it would be one of the most important things being impacted by climate change. African crops are very vulnerable in the fact that they pose a high reliance on rainfall. It is hard for crops to adapt to the change in temperatures and the shortened rain season. The limited access of water and increase in temperature is also a stressor on those who raise livestock. The amount that is grown and bred for food is also decreasing. The temperature increase in the ocean water will have a negative affect on the coral reefs and the fish inside those reefs. The list of effects that climate change has on agriculture in this area of the world goes on and on but hopefully you have gotten the idea of what is going on in this region.
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