Homework answers / question archive / this is a question on the effects of climate change on food production and water resources

this is a question on the effects of climate change on food production and water resources

Earth Science

Share With

---

this is a question on the effects of climate change on food production and water resources. this question tests the ability of the student to be able to apply knowledge learnt in class and its applic

EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON FOOD PRODUCTION AND WATER SOURCES

Climate change can be defined as the change in the average environmental factors over a long period of time. These factors can be rainfall, temperature or humidity. Over the years, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), have recorded an increase in the earth’s temperature which has been attributed to an increase in the levels of carbon dioxide, Chlorofluorocarbons (CFS) and other pollutants. This has affected the hydrological cycle and the impact is being felt.

A) EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON FOOD PRODUCTION

Climate change poses challenges to farmers and areas where food production occurs. This occurs from erratic precipitation to changing seasons and can bring problems to food security in the near future. These effects are;

• Physical damage to crops and livestock

Physical damages due to winds during storms or erosion and landslides bring about uprooting of the crops preventing them from growing. A case example occurred in spring 2018 where unusual heavy rains and snow storms caused by the massive flooding across the U.S.Midwest, leaving some areas 10 feet deep n sand. Nebraska alone, farmers lost an estimated $440 million of cattle, many farmers had to delay spring planting thus corn and soya beans became scares in the market.

• Water scarcity across the U.S.Southwest

Along this region, it is expensive and difficult to sustain crops and livestock. Drought along the west and challenges to keep the reservoirs full during the summer leads to problems planting hence many crops dry out and livestock’s die. Between 2014 and2016, California endured an estimate $3.8 billion of direct statewide economic losses to agriculture as a result of drought

• Wildfire

Wildfire has brought huge losses directly and indirectly to farmers. In the direct sense, many crops are burnt down due to these wild fires, most wildfires occur naturally due to the extreme temperatures on the earth surface. On the indirect sense, most wildfire come with smoke, this smoky taint can ruin wine hence losses are experienced.

• Rising carbon levels

Over the recent years, the carbon levels on the surface of the earth have been rising, this has brought about problems in food supply, quality and safety levels. Between 20 to 30 percent of food worldwide is wasted as the food storage time is immensely decreased leading to a loss of about $1 trillion per year due to the greenhouse gasses.

 

Some of these problems can be solved by properly managing forests and planting more trees, also the industries can come up with initiatives to minimize the emission of gasses into the atmosphere.

B) EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON WATER SOURCES

Most of the water on the earth comes from forests and natural precipitation or melting glaciers. Due to climate change, there has been disparity in the distribution of water on earth.

Some of these effects are;

• A decrease in water sources

The temperatures have been increasing steadily, this has seen an increase of wild fires, forests have been lost and water catchment areas decreased. This will be a huge problem as most of the water on earth is salty and not fit for human consumption.

• Total destruction of water sources

Most glaciers are meting slowly and this causes a huge problem as glacier lakes may be completely dried up. Springs and rivers are also in danger of drying up.

This is a clear indication if nothing is done soon, the human race could face an age of extinction.