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4 Effects of Everyday Activities on the Ecosystem
Discuss the effects of the Philippines’ Typhoon Haiyan.
Global warming also leads to the rise of flash floods and lightning. Forecasts of
climate models also predict that global warming will lead to significant changes
in global climate patterns. Also, due to the likelihood of high levels of GHGs
remaining in the atmosphere for numerous years, these changes will last for various
decades.
(continued)
Case Study 4.1: Africa and climate change
Currently, climate change effects are being felt across Africa. Evidence
suggests that temperature changes affect food productivity, livelihoods, water
availability, and general security of the African people. The 2017 Climate
Change Vulnerability Index suggests that seven of the ten states that are most
vulnerable towards climate change are found in Africa (Verisk 2016). Africa
has witnessed a decrease in the quantity of rainfall over large parts of SubSaharan Africa, while the central parts have had an increase in the amount
of rainfall. During the last three decades, weather-related disasters, including
droughts and floods, have significantly increased in Africa. This has led to an
increased spread of infectious diseases, thus increasing the number of deaths.
On weather patterns, climate change has led to an increase in flooding,
thus making it become the most frequent disaster in Central, East, and
South Africa. In the northern part of the continent, the 2001 disaster within
northern Algeria led to approximately 800 deaths as well as an economic
loss of approximately $400 million (Bonan 2015). The other effect of
climate change has been the prolonged drought reported between July 2011
and mid-2012 when a severe drought swept Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda,
and Burundi (East Africa nations) and was reported as the worst drought
experienced in 60 years. Some of the apparent impacts of climate change
on the water ecosystems in Africa are drought, flooding, rainfall distribution
changes, receding of water bodies, melting of glaciers, and drying up of
both permanent and seasonal rivers. For example, some parts of West Africa
have also suffered because of the decrease in the volume of water in some
rivers. Rivers act as sources of water, and some countries use it for the
generation of hydroelectric power. The reduction of the volume of water has
affected some places. For instance, Ghana has become entirely dependent
on hydroelectric power generated by the Akosombo dam found on River
Volta, while Mali relies on River Niger to get food and water. Climate
change has also contributed to the gradual disappearance of glaciers found
4 Effects of Everyday Activities on the Ecosystem
Discuss the effects of the Philippines’ Typhoon Haiyan.
Global warming also leads to the rise of flash floods and lightning. Forecasts of
climate models also predict that global warming will lead to significant changes
in global climate patterns. Also, due to the likelihood of high levels of GHGs
remaining in the atmosphere for numerous years, these changes will last for various
decades.
(continued)
Case Study 4.1: Africa and climate change
Currently, climate change effects are being felt across Africa. Evidence
suggests that temperature changes affect food productivity, livelihoods, water
availability, and general security of the African people. The 2017 Climate
Change Vulnerability Index suggests that seven of the ten states that are most
vulnerable towards climate change are found in Africa (Verisk 2016). Africa
has witnessed a decrease in the quantity of rainfall over large parts of SubSaharan Africa, while the central parts have had an increase in the amount
of rainfall. During the last three decades, weather-related disasters, including
droughts and floods, have significantly increased in Africa. This has led to an
increased spread of infectious diseases, thus increasing the number of deaths.
On weather patterns, climate change has led to an increase in flooding,
thus making it become the most frequent disaster in Central, East, and
South Africa. In the northern part of the continent, the 2001 disaster within
northern Algeria led to approximately 800 deaths as well as an economic
loss of approximately $400 million (Bonan 2015). The other effect of
climate change has been the prolonged drought reported between July 2011
and mid-2012 when a severe drought swept Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda,
and Burundi (East Africa nations) and was reported as the worst drought
experienced in 60 years. Some of the apparent impacts of climate change
on the water ecosystems in Africa are drought, flooding, rainfall distribution
changes, receding of water bodies, melting of glaciers, and drying up of
both permanent and seasonal rivers. For example, some parts of West Africa
have also suffered because of the decrease in the volume of water in some
rivers. Rivers act as sources of water, and some countries use it for the
generation of hydroelectric power. The reduction of the volume of water has
affected some places. For instance, Ghana has become entirely dependent
on hydroelectric power generated by the Akosombo dam found on River
Volta, while Mali relies on River Niger to get food and water. Climate
change has also contributed to the gradual disappearance of glaciers found