Role of Major Forest Biomes in Climate Change Mitigation …
491
and Miller 2016; Scheffers et al. 2016). However, the ability of the newly produced genetically modified crops to withstand the effects of climate change and their
potential impact on human health requires further investigation.
2.7 Extreme Weather Events
As climate alteration becomes more and more pronounced, there could be a drastic
change in temperature and rainfall regimes, affecting several ecosystem services.
This sudden and rapid alteration in basic ecosystem services might be very difficult
for humans and wild plants and animals to cope up with (Abrams et al. 2018).
Alteration in temperature and precipitation regimes would result in the incidence
of intense and frequent extreme weather events. Global warming would affect the
season, duration and amount of precipitation, rate and season of snowmelt, snowpack
volume, streamflow, and temperature (Hamlet et al. 2005; Clifton et al. 2018).
A change in precipitation pattern would ultimately affect vegetation distribution
and growth (Adams et al. 2012) and an increase in temperature along with intense
precipitation would bring about more frequent extreme hydrologic events (Hamlet
et al. 2013; Clifton et al. 2018). River flow alterations would also affect other abiotic
characteristics such as water temperature, water quality, sediment transport, etc. and
cause changes in the magnitudes of evaporation and precipitation (Poff and Zimmerman 2010; Doll and Zhang 2010;). High amounts of precipitation would significantly
cause turbidity due to increased runoff and lower the water transparency to ultraviolet
radiation, and thereby, the ability to get disinfected, affecting the health of a wide
range of life forms—from zooplanktons to humans (Connelly et al. 2007; Overholt
et al. 2012; Grimm et al. 2013). Increased flooding because of increased precipitation may cross the threshold retention potential of ecosystems. Consequently, a
flash export of sediments, contaminants, dissolved organic matter, disease-causing
organisms, etc. are carried away to long distances, creating further havoc (Grimm
et al. 2013). Such a scenario would result in the restructuring of biota and habitats
(Staudinger et al. 2012).
It has been estimated that since 1901, the global sea levels have already risen for
about 20 cm and it might rise for another 30 cm by 2100 (Corlett 2018). Increased
temperatures may also lead to the drying of rivers and streams, collapsing the food
webs and ecological stability (Sabo et al. 2010; Grimm et al. 2013). Another important
consequence of global warming is the increase in the intensity and frequency of
tropical cyclones, which play a crucial role in shaping the species composition and
structure of the tropical forests, especially rainforests in Caribbean, Central America,
Madagascar, southeast Asia, northeast Australia and oceanic islands like Fiji and
Mauritius (Corlett and Primack 2011; Corlett 2018). Moreover, a dramatic change
in winter temperatures and winter snow cover may cause cold injury, altered water
and energy balance, advance, or slow down the phenological responses (variable
according to species) and alter the community interactions (Williams et al. 2015).
Unusual extreme events may occur at the beginning of winter before organisms have
491
and Miller 2016; Scheffers et al. 2016). However, the ability of the newly produced genetically modified crops to withstand the effects of climate change and their
potential impact on human health requires further investigation.
2.7 Extreme Weather Events
As climate alteration becomes more and more pronounced, there could be a drastic
change in temperature and rainfall regimes, affecting several ecosystem services.
This sudden and rapid alteration in basic ecosystem services might be very difficult
for humans and wild plants and animals to cope up with (Abrams et al. 2018).
Alteration in temperature and precipitation regimes would result in the incidence
of intense and frequent extreme weather events. Global warming would affect the
season, duration and amount of precipitation, rate and season of snowmelt, snowpack
volume, streamflow, and temperature (Hamlet et al. 2005; Clifton et al. 2018).
A change in precipitation pattern would ultimately affect vegetation distribution
and growth (Adams et al. 2012) and an increase in temperature along with intense
precipitation would bring about more frequent extreme hydrologic events (Hamlet
et al. 2013; Clifton et al. 2018). River flow alterations would also affect other abiotic
characteristics such as water temperature, water quality, sediment transport, etc. and
cause changes in the magnitudes of evaporation and precipitation (Poff and Zimmerman 2010; Doll and Zhang 2010;). High amounts of precipitation would significantly
cause turbidity due to increased runoff and lower the water transparency to ultraviolet
radiation, and thereby, the ability to get disinfected, affecting the health of a wide
range of life forms—from zooplanktons to humans (Connelly et al. 2007; Overholt
et al. 2012; Grimm et al. 2013). Increased flooding because of increased precipitation may cross the threshold retention potential of ecosystems. Consequently, a
flash export of sediments, contaminants, dissolved organic matter, disease-causing
organisms, etc. are carried away to long distances, creating further havoc (Grimm
et al. 2013). Such a scenario would result in the restructuring of biota and habitats
(Staudinger et al. 2012).
It has been estimated that since 1901, the global sea levels have already risen for
about 20 cm and it might rise for another 30 cm by 2100 (Corlett 2018). Increased
temperatures may also lead to the drying of rivers and streams, collapsing the food
webs and ecological stability (Sabo et al. 2010; Grimm et al. 2013). Another important
consequence of global warming is the increase in the intensity and frequency of
tropical cyclones, which play a crucial role in shaping the species composition and
structure of the tropical forests, especially rainforests in Caribbean, Central America,
Madagascar, southeast Asia, northeast Australia and oceanic islands like Fiji and
Mauritius (Corlett and Primack 2011; Corlett 2018). Moreover, a dramatic change
in winter temperatures and winter snow cover may cause cold injury, altered water
and energy balance, advance, or slow down the phenological responses (variable
according to species) and alter the community interactions (Williams et al. 2015).
Unusual extreme events may occur at the beginning of winter before organisms have