4.2 Global Warming
85
4.1.3 Weather and Climate
The rise in temperatures has resulted in numerous changes to the Earth’s climate
and weather. Droughts and heatwaves are some of the most common evidence of
climate change that humans are experiencing today. Anthropogenic climate change
has already led to a rise in the strength of some of these events. For instance, during
the last five decades, the United States (US) has witnessed prolonged periods of
high temperatures, severe droughts, floods, and torrential downpours. Heatwaves
are defined as periods of abnormal levels of hot weather that could last from days to
weeks. Recently, there has been an increase in the number of heatwaves experienced
globally that analysts say is due to human-induced climate change (Mori et al.
2014). For instance, heatwaves were reported in Texas in 2011 and the Midwest
in 2012. Higher temperatures result in higher evaporation rates. Even within the
zones that do not show a decrease in precipitation, reports indicate that the rise in
surface evaporation and evapotranspiration results in higher drying of the soil. With
this, a larger percentage of incoming heat leads to heating of the soil, resulting in
drier summers. For example, the 2011 drought in the United States made many of
the areas in Texas experience temperatures higher than 100 ◦ F for more than 100
days.
Can you identify two such examples in Africa?
Flooding is the other effect of climate change on weather and climate. A flood is
a high flow or overflow by water that may result in or threaten damage. Floods result
from human and weather factors. Some weather factors are prolonged precipitation,
hurricanes, hurricane storm surges, and debris jams. Some human factors are altered
drainages, alterations of the land cover, and structural failure of levees or in some
cases, dams (Schmittner et al. 2008). The 2017 Solai Dam Tragedy in Nakuru
County, Kenya, is evidence of flooding as a result of structural failures of dams.
The tragedy led to the loss of approximately 44 lives and the displacement of more
than 100 families. Finally, the rise in hurricanes is the other impact on weather and
climate. For instance, the North Atlantic hurricanes have risen in duration, frequency
as well as intensity, and is mainly attributed to an increase in surface temperatures
of the sea within regions that the ocean flows through.
4.2 Global Warming
4.2.1 Ecosystems
Many of the effects associated with global warming are related to climate change. As
such, this section will examine the impacts that have not been previously discussed.
85
4.1.3 Weather and Climate
The rise in temperatures has resulted in numerous changes to the Earth’s climate
and weather. Droughts and heatwaves are some of the most common evidence of
climate change that humans are experiencing today. Anthropogenic climate change
has already led to a rise in the strength of some of these events. For instance, during
the last five decades, the United States (US) has witnessed prolonged periods of
high temperatures, severe droughts, floods, and torrential downpours. Heatwaves
are defined as periods of abnormal levels of hot weather that could last from days to
weeks. Recently, there has been an increase in the number of heatwaves experienced
globally that analysts say is due to human-induced climate change (Mori et al.
2014). For instance, heatwaves were reported in Texas in 2011 and the Midwest
in 2012. Higher temperatures result in higher evaporation rates. Even within the
zones that do not show a decrease in precipitation, reports indicate that the rise in
surface evaporation and evapotranspiration results in higher drying of the soil. With
this, a larger percentage of incoming heat leads to heating of the soil, resulting in
drier summers. For example, the 2011 drought in the United States made many of
the areas in Texas experience temperatures higher than 100 ◦ F for more than 100
days.
Can you identify two such examples in Africa?
Flooding is the other effect of climate change on weather and climate. A flood is
a high flow or overflow by water that may result in or threaten damage. Floods result
from human and weather factors. Some weather factors are prolonged precipitation,
hurricanes, hurricane storm surges, and debris jams. Some human factors are altered
drainages, alterations of the land cover, and structural failure of levees or in some
cases, dams (Schmittner et al. 2008). The 2017 Solai Dam Tragedy in Nakuru
County, Kenya, is evidence of flooding as a result of structural failures of dams.
The tragedy led to the loss of approximately 44 lives and the displacement of more
than 100 families. Finally, the rise in hurricanes is the other impact on weather and
climate. For instance, the North Atlantic hurricanes have risen in duration, frequency
as well as intensity, and is mainly attributed to an increase in surface temperatures
of the sea within regions that the ocean flows through.
4.2 Global Warming
4.2.1 Ecosystems
Many of the effects associated with global warming are related to climate change. As
such, this section will examine the impacts that have not been previously discussed.