Climate change manifests itself in a
number of ways in the areas I have examined, and the impacts of this on East
Africa’s water are multi-faceted and complex. There is a fundamental need to
increase hydrological and meteorological measurements, improving available
meltwater, groundwater and river discharge data. This is essential if we are to
improve understanding of relationships between climate change and water availability
in vulnerable parts of East Africa. With increased data, it may be possible to
anticipate when large
recharge events, that sustain groundwater abstraction, will occur.
Regional and local aspects of climate
change mustn't be overlooked, as hydroclimatic changes are non-uniform across
the continent. Entire livelihoods can be based on one seasonal flood. If that
flood doesn't arrive in a warmer, uncertain future, crops will fail, livestock
will starve, and farmers will lose money. Economic development, without promoting
fossil fuel consumption, should be a paramount consideration in policies (UNEP 2012).
An explicit message is sent by the rapid loss of some of Africa's key glaciers: our climate is rapidly changing within the time-frame of human lifetimes. With anthropogenic GHG emissions expected to continue rising indefinitely over the next decade, natural Earth Systems will continue being perturbed. The mountains in tropical East Africa have wider importance to surrounding communities, and climate change impacts local people and their religious traditions as well as affecting physical water availability. Before all ice is lost on Kilimanjaro and the Rwenzoris, we must endeavour to improve understanding of atmospheric drivers behind glacier decay, and apply this knowledge to our planet's other vulnerable tropical regions (Kaser et al 2004). The book of Africa's future water supply is still largely unwritten with uncertain conclusions. Could regularly replenished groundwater from an intensified hydrological cycle be a glimmer of hope in what seems like a desolate future? One thing seems fairly certain: in a warming world, not all of Africa's taps will run dry.
An explicit message is sent by the rapid loss of some of Africa's key glaciers: our climate is rapidly changing within the time-frame of human lifetimes. With anthropogenic GHG emissions expected to continue rising indefinitely over the next decade, natural Earth Systems will continue being perturbed. The mountains in tropical East Africa have wider importance to surrounding communities, and climate change impacts local people and their religious traditions as well as affecting physical water availability. Before all ice is lost on Kilimanjaro and the Rwenzoris, we must endeavour to improve understanding of atmospheric drivers behind glacier decay, and apply this knowledge to our planet's other vulnerable tropical regions (Kaser et al 2004). The book of Africa's future water supply is still largely unwritten with uncertain conclusions. Could regularly replenished groundwater from an intensified hydrological cycle be a glimmer of hope in what seems like a desolate future? One thing seems fairly certain: in a warming world, not all of Africa's taps will run dry.
"The book of Africa's future water supply is still largely unwritten" I like that phrase. I wonder,with Africa being such a poor continent,whether at the end of the day choices might be made to abandon her for other 'first world' continental issues over water.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment! That is a good question to ask, and I don't know the answer to it. Africa is hugely important in terms of Earth's biodiversity and ecosystems, so there is a large incentive to protect it. As of Africa's climate adaptation costs, I am not sure who will fund these besides NGOs and some wealthier governments.
DeleteThis has been such an interesting blog to read. It's really opened up my eyes to the extent and intricacies of the effects of climate change across the continent. I particularly enjoyed your focused study on the Mountains of the Moon. It really drives home just how climate change isn't just a macro problem, but also can affect communities as well. It's not some huge problem that is beyond the scope of individuals, and soon enough it might come knocking on our door as well.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joe! It has definitely opened my eyes too. Thank you! The Rwenzori Mountains are such an interesting environment to study, and it was fascinating to look at ice loss from a different perspective than just physical geography.
Delete