Geography Report
One of the most recent articles talking about some aspects of physical geography is “Rising global temperatures point to widespread drought” provided by the University of East Anglia. This article was posted on Science Daily’s news website and it explains the effects of long-lasting droughts on ecosystems. According to the writer, new research indicates that more long-lasting and frequent droughts resulting from rising global temperatures pose substantial threats to ecosystems and people around the world (University of East Anglia, 2022). This article quantifies the projected effects of alternative global warming levels on the length and probability of severe drought across six nations in the world. These six nations were selected for research since they provide diverse levels and sizes of development in three countries spanning temperate and tropical biomes and desert, grassland, and forest habitats. As a result of frequent droughts, agricultural yields, biodiversity, and economics may be impacted. The researchers emphasize that all the six nations should mitigate the issues of water crisis in their agricultural sectors through irrigation and changing varieties of crops.
The information provided in this article relates to our class because it explains an aspect that affects physical geography. The effects of long-lasting droughts can cause significant impacts on the ecosystem as explained in our class. Longer-term droughts however can desiccate a place and reduce the soil structures, seeds, the animals and cause burnable material to burn uncontrollably in some cases, which causes huge biodiversity impacts. With human-dominated ecologies, like the effect on the wild, droughts reduce the ability to feed animals, and, depending on when they occur and how long they are, can destroy next year’s seed crops and the near future prosperity. Droughts also force people to leave the land, reduce activity and suffer reduced income. Every ecology, whether human or wild-dominated, can cope with short-term drought, but longer term the conditions morph into arid, less productive, and usually less diverse ecologies.
From this article, I learned several important things about long-lasting droughts and global warming. First, I have learned that even a modest increase in temperature by 1.5 degrees centigrade can spell critical impacts in some countries like Egypt, Brazil, Ghana, Ethiopia, China, and India (University of East Anglia, 2022). These countries are at substantial risk of experiencing droughts as a result of global warming. For instance, 3 degrees centigrade of global warming can affect approximately 50% of agricultural areas in these countries since they are likely to be exposed to severe droughts that may last for more than a year. I have also learned that drought impacts agriculture, biodiversity, and economies. Thus, countries must learn how to adapt to the changes in climate as the risk for drought increases. Some urban areas are better at adapting to these changes but they generally indicate the same pattern of droughts. Also, areas along streams and rivers or with reserves are better based on competition for headwater resources and water resources.
I would share this information with my friends and family because it provides comprehensive research on the effects of drought on our environment. From this information, they will be able to understand why critical measures should be taken to ensure global warming is dealt with as a way of reducing the effects of drought. This information also allows them to learn why it is critical to stop deforestation and decarbonize energy. They can embrace the new alternatives provided to help in reaching zero greenhouse emissions.
Reference
The University of East Anglia. (27 September 2022). “Rising global temperatures point to widespread drought.” ScienceDaily. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/09/220927192659.htm>.
