Introduction
Definition According to NASA, climate change is defined as “a long term change in the average weather patterns that have come to define Earth’s local, regional, and global climates”. These changes have been observed since the beginning of the 20th century and are primarily attributed to human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, which can cause the greenhouse effect. Natural processes can also be a contribution to climate change, such as variations in cyclical ocean patterns, volcanic activity, variations in the Earth’s orbit, and etc.
https://www.businessinsider.com/10-year-challenge-climate-change-photos-2019-1#rivers-and-lakesare-also-shrinking-as-growing-populations-demand-more-water-pesticide-and-fertilizer-runoff-fromfarmland-can-also-pollute-what-little-is-left-7
Changes in Vector Ecology Climate change especially risks the increase of the spread of vector-borne diseases, such as malaria, lyme disease, rift valley fever, and others. Rising global temperatures, increased rainfall or humidity, and human migration can all contribute to the spread of disease-carrying vectors. For example, rising temperatures can promote the migration of mosquitos carrying the zika virus or malaria because of their ability to move away from the equator into more human-inhabited areas. Rising temperatures can also allow vectors to reproduce at a higher rate, as seen with blacklegged ticks, which have a reproductive cycle strongly dependent on higher temperatures. The sheep tick, which is found in Europe, has been found to shift farther north over the past decade due to the north’s milder winters and longer seasons. These vectors are a considerable source of concern all around the world, such as in North America, South America, Africa, and numerous Asian countries. Increased rainfall or humidity can also pose a risk for vector-borne diseases because it can quicken the process of reproduction for vectors. Flooding can produce many viable locations for mosquitos because of their mode of reproduction of laying eggs in water. In Zambia, an increase of malaria cases was strongly correlated to unusual rainfalls between 2008 and 2010. In Papua New Guinea, malaria trends were associated with climate change in variable locations. Another example is shown in Vietnam, where for every 50 mm of rainfall increase, the amount of dengue cases increase by 1%. Finally, human migration in response to climate change can pose a risk in catching diseases as their immune systems may not be adapted to their new environment, making them more susceptible to infectious diseases. With this susceptibility, the risk of the spread of infectious diseases is apparent. A major example in 2009-2010 in Greece shows that human migration that occurred due to an economic crisis and a heatwave caused the local transmission of P. vivax to increase.
Opinion:
Understanding that climate change affects the prevalence of vector-borne diseases is important in order to curtail the devastating impacts they can have on present and future populations. It is also important to acutely observe the correlations between weather changes and the subsequent increase of cases so that it can be better proven that climate change is causing effects on diseases. - J Lee
Changes in Food & Nutrition Climate change creates an increase in the overall temperature of the Earth such that crops that are less adapted to extreme temperatures die, resulting in a decrease in food production. With increasing heat due to climate change, livestock will also experience heat stress whereby their body temperature rises, compromising the reproductivity of animals. Due to a decrease in food production, many people will not be able to receive adequate food intake especially in rural areas or underdeveloped countries. Food security will then be affected. Because there is a decrease in food availability and security, the food economy will also be impacted. That is, there will be an increase in pricings for meals such that people who have lower life chances will be more likely unable to purchase the same amount of food they would normally be able to purchase.This leads to the rise in malnutrition and other diseases such as kwashiorkor, marasmus, etc. Malnutrition can then create other life threatening effects on humans. This change will cause an impact globally especially in rural areas of the world and developing countries. In Spring 2018, there was a severe flooding incident due to a long and heavy rain and snow storm that was really unusual in the U.S midwest area. This caused farmers to lose $440 million worth of cattle in Nebraska. By losing cattle supply, food production will automatically decrease as well. Due to the flood and heavy rain, farmers were not able to proceed with their annual spring planting as scheduled, causing a delay in food production.
PHRM 485 SPRING 2020
Changes in Sea Level Climate change can have devastating impacts on the weather, which can lead to numerous destructive changes in the environment and its inhabitants. Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are an immediate concern to be addressed as it can trap greenhouse gases, increasing overall global temperatures and causing ocean acidification. Shrinking ice sheets also present a problem because it can lead to rising sea levels, which can eliminate animal populations dependent on ice sheets for their habit. One extremely prevalent issue is a rise in sea levels due to global warming which puts many things at risk. Global warming causes sea levels to rise in two ways. First, glaciers and ice sheets worldwide are melting and adding water to the ocean. Secondly, the volume of the ocean is expanding as the water warms. Since at least the start of the 20th century, the average global sea level has been rising and in between 1900 and 2016, the sea level rose by 16-21 cm.
In the US almost 40 percent of the population lives in coastal areas and rising seas may devastate cities located along the coast of the ocean shore threatening infrastructure necessary for local jobs and regional industries. It could also cause the displacement of US citizens and potentially increase the overall poverty level. Also, It could cost the government billions of dollars in money to rebuild city infrastructures. This issue can directly impact the lives of citizens and lives of future generations so it has to be addressed and discussed.
https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climatechange-global-sea-level
Opinion:
A rise in sea level is inevitable but we can work to reduce and slow down the process by potentially cutting out fossil fuel use and reducing carbon emissions. Another way is to plant more plants so that it could soak up the rain in the ground and clean the air at the same time.People should try using public transportations often which helps with reducing production of CO2. Also, we could reduce the use of papers that are made out of trees which plays an important consuming CO2 from the environment and soak up water in the ground. - J Han
References:
http://www.climatechange-foodsecurity.org/food_emergency.html
Not only that, delays may cause crops to be unable to withstand the weather change. This is why we believe that climate change will be able to threaten the health and comfort of people over time.
Opinion:
By Caroline Michelle (BSPS) , Jenny Han (BSPS), Jennifer Lee (BSPS)
I think that people should start taking measures to keep our food security and allowing people in rural areas and with lower life chances can still be able to afford food supply as they normally do. With that being said, I think that more education should be provided about this to allow people to know the impact that climate change is going to have towards our lives. More awareness campaign should be made as a way to educate as well. Currently, companies such as Bayer is trying to use technology so that crops will be able to withstand changes due to climate change better and knowing that climate change isn't going to just disappear like that, I think that this is a good way to keep food security. - C Michelle
1. Climate Change and Public Health - Climate Effects on Health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/climateandhealth/effects/default.htm. Published September 9, 2019. Accessed February 17, 2020. 2. Fanzo J, Davis C, McLaren R, Choufani J. The effect of climate change across food systems: Implications for nutrition outcomes. Global Food Security. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211912418300063. Published July 3, 2018. Accessed February 17, 2020 3. Cecchi, L., D’Amato, G., & Maesano, I. A. (2013). Climate, Urban Air Pollution, and Respiratory Allergy. Climate Vulnerability, 105–113. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-12-3847034.00116-7 4. Climate Risk and Spread of Vector-Borne Diseases. Climate Nexus. https://climatenexus.org/climate-issues/health/climate-change-and-vector-bornediseases/. Published October 28, 2019. Accessed February 4, 2020. 5. A brief guide to the impacts of climate change on food production " Yale Climate Connections. Yale Climate Connections. https://www.yaleclimateconnections.org/2019/09/a-brief-guide-to-the-impacts-ofclimate-change-on-food-production/. Published October 20, 2019. Accessed March 31, 2020. 6. Lindsey, Rebecca. “5. Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise.” Coasts in Crisis, 2019, pp. 96–118., doi:10.1525/9780520966857-007. 7. Willis, Joshua K., and Ocean Portal Team. “Sea Level Rise.” Smithsonian Ocean, 5 Aug. 2019, ocean.si.edu/through-time/ancient-seas/sea-level-rise.
