Impacts of Climate Change

In my last post, we examined Chile's contributions to global warming by specially examining carbon emissions. To summarize, we did find Chile is a relatively small "offender" when compared to nations such as China or our own (the United States), but still has seen a steady rise in emissions over the past century. Why is that worth discussing? Because carbon emissions elicit responses, and we are already seeing these responses manifest in changes in Chile's, and South and Central America's, climate.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) famous 2007 report (it is the most recent report available, with another updated study currently being crafted together), it is suggested that Central and South America as a whole will "very likely" experience warming during this century. Interestingly, the IPCC suggests that south South America will see warming rates akin to the global mean average (this includes a large portion of Chile), however, the rest of the continent may see faster and more damaging rates. Perhaps this does not come as much of a surprise to you, reader, if you consider industry. It's more than possible, and perhaps likely, that a quick trip to your fridge will reveal much of your produce is farmed in Mexico, it is possible the shirt you are wearing was made in Mexico, and, according to a recent Bloomberg article, Mexico has doubled auto manufacturing since 2009 and is looking to drastically increase steel production.

Scientists are busy creating models in an attempt to figure out just what this warming might look like, and what its impacts might be. For example, scientists are trying to figure out how the warming might effect rain fall. This is a particularly pressing matter, as South America is home to the world's largest rainforest.

Image and explanation property of the IPCC. I do not own this image, but posted it for educational purposes. To see the original image, or for more information on these models, please visit http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg1/en/ch11s11-6-3.html .

Though predictions do vary slightly by model, it is agreed that there might be a chance for some very damaging and tragic manifestations of the warming as it occurs in Central and South America. Studies suggest that an increase in temperature, and subsequent decrease in the water in the soils, may result in "significant biodiversity loss through species extinction" (IPCC). The IPCC also anticipates that some drier climates in the area will become even more so, resulting in a devastating impact on crops and a jeopardizing of food availability. Parts of the continent which lay lower might also see sea water levels rising, putting the coasts at "increased risk" for floods.

However devastating these predictions may be, they are more devastating still considering Latin America has already been impacted by climate change. The IPCC has found that there have been significant changes in climate and weather, citing many of these variations starting around the 1990s. Venezuela, for example, experienced severe and profoundly greater-than-average rainfalls in 1999 and 2005, while the Amazon experienced a drought in 2005. The IPCC reminded us in this same report that extremes in weather variations and severe weather can result in an "increase in mortality and morbidity" among local people. The chances of weather variations causing significant harm to the people is less likely when proper technology is utilized and the information is accessible. Unfortunately, due to the socio-economic situations of many areas in Latin America, this is often lacking.

Much of the climate change that has already occurred in Central and South America, and will continue to increase, is the result of deforestation. According to the IPCC, 3/4 of the drylands on the continent have already been impacted by "degradation processes." The continent's beautiful tropical forests, which house an abundance of diverse plant and animal life, are under severe threat- deforestation rates have grown astronomically over the last decade. Animals at risk of losing their homes if mass deforestation continues includes Jaguars, Golden Lion Tamarins, Three-Toed Sloths, Hyacinth Macaws, and Poison Dart Frogs.

The Three-Toed Sloth lives in South America's warm, moist, and comfortable rain forests because they cannot regulate their own body temperatures!
For more information on these sloths, please visit http://gifts.worldwildlife.org/gift-center/gifts/Species-Adoptions/Three-toed-Sloth.aspx .

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Sources-- Please visit these sites for more in-depth information on the impacts of climate change on Chile, Central, and South America.

http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg2/en/contents.html

http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg2/en/spm.html 

http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg1/en/ch11.html 

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/endangered_animals/endangeredanimals_1.htm