Downloaded 37 times
Uploaded byAlbert Wandera
IMPACTS OF GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE ON AQUATIC BIOTA
The document discusses the significant impacts of climate change on marine and freshwater ecosystems, highlighting the role of both natural and anthropogenic factors in driving these changes. It emphasizes the importance of adaptation and mitigation measures, including integrated water management, flood prevention, and ecosystem restoration, to cope with the consequences of climate change. It also outlines specific actions and legislative efforts, such as Kenya's Climate Change Bill, aimed at addressing climate-related challenges and promoting environmental resilience.
More Related Content
Similar to IMPACTS OF GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE ON AQUATIC BIOTA
IMPACTS OF GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE ON AQUATIC BIOTA
- 1. Discuss the relevantmitigation and adaptation measures which should be employed to address the impacts of Global climatic changes on marine and fresh water habitats and Biota WANDERA DANIEL
- 2. Introduction Is asignificant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years These changes can be caused by processes internal to the Earth, external forces (e.g. variations in sunlight intensity) or, more recently, human activities (Pidwirny, 2006).
- 3. Humans arethe major force in changing the world ecosystems for thousands of years. Since the start of the industrial revolution, combustion of fossil fuels has increased CO₂ by 25% At more local and regional scales, humans have dramatically altered nutrient regimes, hydrology, and species compositions of ecosystems (Carter, 2003) Global rise in mean yearly temperature over the past 50 years were primarily due to anthropogenic ally produced greenhouse gases e.g. CO₂ , methane, NO₂ and halocarbons (IPCC 2001). Climate change is perceived to rise to the forefront of threats to biodiversity
- 4. The concernis that these impacts of climate change are likely to fall predominantly on poorer communities who are least able to cope - now and in the future Thus need for better resource management will help to manage current climate variability and shocks, since global warming is not just a potential threat but an inevitable reality. therefore important to give much attention to dealing with the impacts of a rapidly changing climate (adaptation) and to measures which tackle the drivers of that change (mitigation).
- 5. Causes of globalclimate change 1. Natural causes a) Continental drift The continents that we are familiar with today were formed when the landmass began gradually drifting apart, millions of years back This drift also had an impact on the climate because it changed the physical features of the landmass, their position and the position and flow channels and currents of water bodies
- 6. This driftof the continents continues even today; the Himalayan range is rising by about 1 mm every year because the Indian land mass is moving towards the Asian land mass, slowly but steadily. They are thought to have adverse effect on the Indian subcontinent and Tibetan plateau. They prevent frigid, dry winds from blowing south into the subcontinent, which keeps Asia much warmer than corresponding temperate regions in other continents. Also cause heavy in Terei region (Shi et al. 1978)
- 8. b) volcanoes When a volcano erupts it throw out large volumes of SO2, water vapor, dust, and ash into the atmosphere large volumes of gases and ash can influence climatic patterns for years gases and dust particles partially block the incoming rays of the sun, leading to cooling. SO2 combines with water to form tiny droplets of sulphuric acid In 1816 often referred to as "the year without a summer." Significant weather-related disruptions occurred in New England and in Western Europe with killing summer frosts in the U.S and Canada. These strange phenomena were attributed to a major eruption of the Tambora volcano in Indonesia, in 1815.
- 9. c) Earth’stilt The earth makes one full orbit around the sun each year. It is tilted at an angle of 23.5° to the perpendicular plane of its orbital path Changes in the tilt of the earth can affect the severity of the seasons - more tilt means warmer summers and colder winters; less tilt means cooler summers and milder winters. According to Astrobiology magazine, many climate scientist, (Gavin, Francus, Younger dryas) have shown considerably evidence that the Sahara desert was once a grassland ecosystem and much wetter than it’s today
- 10. These scientistshave held the belief that Sahara dried up due to a change In the earth’s orbit. Gavin explains that around 8,000 years ago, Earth’s orbit was slightly different to how it is today, the tilt changed from 24.1 to 23.5 degrees in the present days. d) Ocean currents Oceans cover about 71% of the Earth and absorb about twice as much of the sun's radiation as the atmosphere or the land surface. Certain parts of the world are influenced by ocean currents more than others
- 11. The warmcurrent along the Norwegian coast keeps much of the Greenland-Norwegian Sea free of ice even in winter. In El Nino years, the Equatorial counter current intensifies in the pacific ocean. This currents flows towards the east and it is a partial return of water carried westward by the north and south Equatorial currents. Which brings changes in weather raising/lowering air temp.
- 12. 2. humancauses a) green house gases and their sources CO₂ is undoubtedly, the most important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. Changes in land use pattern, deforestation, land clearing, agriculture, and other activities have all led to a rise in the emission of CO₂ and methane (released from rice or paddy fields that are flooded during the sowing and maturing periods).
- 13. Carbon dioxide variationsover the last 400,000 years, showing a rise since the industrial revolution
- 14. b) aerosols Anthropogenic aerosols, particularly sulphate aerosols from fossil fuel combustion, are believed to exert a cooling influence During 1968 symposium on global effects of environmental pollution in Dalla, Texas Scientist bryson argued that the air in North Atlantic was twice as dirty in the late 1960s as it had been in 1910s, Suggesting that the natural process that washed aerosols out of the atmosphere could not cope with the human emissions.
- 15. c) Cementmanufacture cement-making is responsible for approximately 2.5% of total worldwide emissions from industrial sources (energy plus manufacturing sectors). It release CO₂ in the atmosphere directly when CaO₃ is heated. d) Land use Irrigation, deforestation, and agriculture fundamentally change the environment evidence suggest that the climate of Greece and other Mediterranean countries was permanently changed by widespread deforestation between 700 BC and 1 AD
- 16. Effects of climatechange 1 Higher Temperatures Higher winter temperatures have been observed to decrease the survival rate of the eggs of Yellow perch(a coldwater species). Elevated temperatures have increased mortality of winter flounder eggs and larvae and lead to later spawning migrations Lead to coral bleaching. Increased temperatures facilitate the death of the zooxanthallae which is contains the photosynthetic pigment leaving the coral with a white color
- 17. Increases intemperature (and salinity, see below) from changes in precipitation, evaporation, river runoff and ice melt are likely to lead to increased vertical stratification and water column stability in oceans and lakes, reducing nutrient availability to the euphotic zone and thus primary and secondary production range of predicted global mean temperature and sea level rises for 2015 and 2050 Year GLOBAL TEMPERATURE CHANGE GLOBAL SEA LEVEL RISE 2015 0.20 - 0.70° C 0.04 - 0.06 m 2050 0.75 - 2.50° C 0.08 - 0.25 m
- 18. 2. flooding Flooding can affect water quality by:- Transporting contaminants into water bodies and also overload storm and wastewater systems. The contaminants include heavy metals from industries and nutrients. In rural areas, runoff would pick up animal wastes, pesticides, and fertilizers as it traversed farms and fields. The combination of higher surface water temperatures and increased nutrient loading from agricultural runoff may increase the occurrence of Algae blooms in rivers and lakes, hence eutrophication of the water bodies.
- 19. 3. Increasedwater salinity Sea level rise may affect freshwater quality by increasing the salinity of coastal rivers and bays and causing saltwater intrusion into fresh ground water resources in coastal regions, (Haman, and Brown, 2002) Ocean Acidification Small changes in the acidity of the oceans can result in severe ramifications. As they become more acidic, corals and other organisms will find it increasingly difficult to build new skeletons and shells and those that already exist may begin to dissolve.
- 20. Sea levelrise Rising sea levels are caused by both the warming oceans and melting ice In 2006, the first inhabited island was lost to rising sea levels. The island of Lohachara, home to some 10,000 people, sank beneath the surface of the Bay of Bengal Sea level rise will flood developed and developing countries alike. Even some of the world's most important and heavily populated cities, such as New York, London and Bangkok, are at risk of disappearing under the rising waters.
- 21. Effects onaquatic fauna Warming could change the temperature structure of oceans and lakes, availability of dissolved oxygen, and cycling of nutrients, all of which will affect aquatic flora and fauna Acid rains affects the most sensitive stage in fish life cycles Eggs and fry might also be killed when variation in Ph are changing gradually Disrupted Food Webs - Increasing ocean temperatures and the addition of significant amounts of fresh water from melting ice caps and glaciers may cause a disruption in weather patterns and a breakdown in the marine food web.
- 22. Phytoplankton mayalso be cut off from their food supply as surface temperatures warm A decrease in phytoplankton, affect marine mammals (whales, seals and dolphins), sea birds (albatross) and important commercial fish species (cod, salmon and tuna). Depleted Marine Ecosystems The spread of diseases will increase as warmer climates create more hospitable environments for disease carrying agents. Some species may shift to cooler areas in an attempt to avoid rising temperatures; these forced migrations will cause the interlinked elements within ecosystems to become vulnerable or fall apart.
- 23. Adaptation measures Adaptationto climate change refers to adjustments in natural or human systems in response to climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities. (Smith. et al.1999).
- 24. 1. focuson water security - Water security lies at the heart of adaptation to climate change and should be a sound early adaptation strategy. This includes. upper watershed management to maintain water storage, allocation of water to ecosystems through the application of environmental flows, and restoration of flood plains and mangroves. 2. integrated water resources management instrument to explore adaptation measures though it is still in its infancy (1992 Rio Earth Summit).
- 25. Key attributesthat commend it the best approach It recognizes the holistic nature of the water cycle and explicitly seeks to engage in an integrated way, the full range of sectors that use, impact or are impacted on by water, thus ensuring the approach of one sector does not, through water, undermine activities in another. It recognizes that the establishment of effective institutions will be essential if the conflicts and trade- offs between different activities and interests are to be successfully and equitably managed. It is inherently adaptive. IWRM recognizes that approach to water management will have to change as the sectors of society change and that there can be no once-and-for-all prescription.
- 26. 3. Prevention offlood – include; promoting better land use zoning of areas vulnerable to flooding or constructing flood protection or storage works Integrated Flood Management can be adopted to manage floods and can include hydropower development 4. Sharing of information – Better access to information, and transparency of its use, promotes more rational decision-making more decisions on water are be made at the basin and local levels, accurate, consistent, timely and relevant information about water and climate needs to be available
- 27. Developing county-scalemaps depicting which areas will require shore protection (e.g. dikes, bulkheads, beach nourishment) and which areas will be allowed to adapt naturally Analyzing the environmental consequences of shore protection Promoting shore protection techniques that do not destroy all habitat Improving water use efficiency, planning for alternative water sources (such as treated wastewater or desalinated seawater), and making changes to water allocation
- 28. Protecting coastalfreshwater resources from saltwater intrusion Governments through ministries and other stakeholders can help in adaptation by; Build institutions that can consider and respond to climate change threats along with other pressures such as overfishing, pollution and changing hydrological conditions Enhance resilience of fishing communities by supporting existing adaptive livelihood strategies and management institutions that are designed to support adaptation to climate change
- 29. The NGOsand CBOs can help in Identifying the current and future risks, potential impacts and resilience/recovery mechanisms within communities, and engage communities together with governmental and non-governmental agents in preparedness planning.
- 30. Climate change bill2014 kenya There is establishment of national climate change council and main functions will be advise the national and county governments on legislative and other measures necessary for mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change; provide coordination between and amongst various governmental and non-governmental stakeholders dealing with matters related to climate change; advise the national and county governments on regional and international conventions, treaties and agreements on climate change to which Kenya is a party or should be a party to and follow up the implementation of the conventions, treaties and agreements to which Kenya is a party;
- 31. coordinate gender-responsivepublic education and awareness programmes on climate change and facilitate gender-balanced public participation in climate change programmes at the national and county governments; coordinate the conduct of research on climate change including the collation and dissemination of information relating to climate change to the national and county governments, the public and stakeholders; establish and manage a national registry for appropriate mitigation actions by public and private entities;
- 32. On matters pertainingformulation and action plans for national and counties . The actions plans, strategies and policies shall not be limited to measures relating adaptation; mitigation; emission levels and trends; education and creation of awareness, including integration in the educational curricula; assessment of climate change vulnerability and climate change threats; capacity building in strategic climate change sectors; research, development and technology transfer; identification of climate change opportunities; national and county action plans and strategies; measurement, verification, reporting; and statutory obligation with respect to public and private entities in climate change mainstreaming.
- 33. The Billalso establishes a Climate Change Fund, managed by a Council, into which monies appropriated from the consolidated fund and other donations received in the form of donations, endowments, grants or gifts or monies raised by the Council would be paid and subsequently utilized for the achievement of the mandate and objectives of the Council.
- 34. Mitigation measures Mitigationis described as a human intervention to reduce greenhouse gas sources or enhance carbon sequestration. Examples are; Maintaining and restoring native ecosystems, Protecting and enhancing ecosystem services, Managing habitats for endangered species, Creating refuges and buffer zones, and Establishing networks of terrestrial, freshwater and marine protected areas that take into account projected changes in climate.
- 35. 1. Emissions reductionfrom Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (REDD) Forests play an important role in global carbon budget acting either as sinks or sources of carbon provides positive incentives to support voluntary policy approaches that result in gross reduction in GHG emissions from deforestation 2. Catchment approach to conservation (ICA) a tool for accelerating soil and water conservation activities which includes the farmers
- 36. This includes;identifying priority catchment areas creating awareness conducting Participatory Rural Appraisals (PCA) which involves the community in data gathering and problem identification, planning and design, development of community action plans, layout of soil and water conservation measures, implementation and follow up activities. In Kenya, this was started in mid 1987 and covered 40 districts (according to the National Soil and Water Plan of 1987/88).
- 37. Implementation isleft to the community, though incentives such as payment and tools are handed out to facilitate construction of more labour intensive measures such as cut-off drains and artificial waterways 3. Payment for Ecosystem services (PES) voluntary transaction which has a well defined environmental service or form of land use likely to secure that service The key characteristics with PES is maintaining a flow of specified ecosystem “service” – such as clean water, biodiversity habitat or carbon sequestration capabilities – in exchange for something of economic value
- 38. In Mexico(Parana)-The State allocates funds to municipalities to protect forested watersheds and rehabilitate degraded areas 4. Reducing Demand for Emission Intensive Goods and Services- policies aimed at reducing emissions of greenhouse gases would shift the demand for goods and services away from fossil fuels and products that require substantial amounts of those fuels
- 39. 5. Increasing useand development of low carbon technologies Coal mining produces more greeenhouse gasaes development of technologies to capture and store emissions of coal-fired power plants can be a mitigating factor Natural gas can also be used instead of coal 6. Separation of rainwater and sewage When building new canals, or renovating existing ones, wastewater should be separated from storm water. Though expensive, it reduces the risk of untreated waste water entering environmental waters.
- 40. Other mitigationmeasures may include; Reduces extreme rainfall runoff events thereby reducing stream bank erosion and other flooding impacts. Hazard mapping/vulnerability assessment Knowledge of local climate patterns (downscaling of climate change scenarios). Research to understanding regional climate processes, detection and attribution, impacts, vulnerability and adaptation
- 41. Restoring mangrovesand protecting coral reefs, which will contribute to CO2 absorption, coastal protection, fisheries and livelihoods; Managing aquaculture to optimize carbon retention, reduce energy use and minimize impacts on mangroves and other important habitats Supporting the use of static-gear – pots, traps, longlines and gillnets, which uses less fuel than active gear such as trawls and seines – and therefore emits less CO2;
- 42. Limitation to mitigationand adaptation measures Sea level rise from the expansion of warmer water would continue for many centuries at a gradually slowing rate, as the oceans will continue to absorb heat Lack of cooperation in trans-boundary aquatic resources management
- 43. Conclusions The uncertaintiesassociated with climate change call for adaptation responses that can deliver immediate benefits Measures such as the catchment approach to conservation, and development of clean development mechanisms should be put into place in addition to reducing emissions through degradation and deforestation
- 44. Recommendations Climate changerisk assessments should be encouraged more at national, rather than at regional/global scales, of the physical changes in oceans, lakes and rivers; Economic research to evaluate the potential costs of adaptation and mitigation initiatives, and how to fund them should be put in practice by various Governments and stakeholders
- 45. Reference Shi, Yafeng,Li, Qichun (1978). Distribution, features and variations of glaciers in china Wikipedia (2007) Climate change.Wikipedia encyclopedia. Houghton, J.J. (1995). Climate Change, IPCC, Cambridge University Press
- 46.