Climate Change Impacts and Mitigation

Some interesting things about climate change in Central America is about tropical convection.  A warm season precipitation has been dominate in Central and South America.  Over the past few decades the Amazon rain forest has had more rain than usual.  Displacement of the  South Atlantic Convergence Zone has given this region a positive precipitation trend.  It shows how some changes can actually help other areas of the world.  Information from: http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg1/en/ch11s11-6-1.html

Rising temperatures is a big issue in Central America.  The temperature is going to rise which will cause plants to die out from lack of water.  Temperature will also cause certain crops to fail and livestock productivity to decline.  Warmer sea water temperatures will harm to coral living in this area.  Sea levels are projected to rise causing more flooding.  Warmer temperatures will also effect precipitation and how much water is readily available for our use.  Information from http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg2/en/spmsspm-c-11-latin-america.html

There are many different ways climate change effects Central America.  There has been changes in precipitation along with higher temperatures.  There is more severe weather and some of the severe weather is not usual for this area.   There is also a risk that species that will go extinct from higher temperatures.  There is also a concern  for the amount of water readily available in the future.  Information from http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg2/en/ch13s13-es.html

 I think the most interesting threat is severe weather in recent years.  This is because when severe weather hits it usually affects everyone and there is nothing you can do to stop it.  Flooding can destroy homes and lives and will cost a lot of money for rebuilding.  On the other hand droughts will cause a lack of food and water for the people.  Central America has also seen an increase in hurricanes and even some tornadoes which is no usual for this area of the world.  The increase of severe weather will always have a negative impact on the population it affects and there isn't much anyone can do to stop it.

This is the rain totals for El Salvador in a 10 day period in 2011 due to warming waters. Picture from: climate

picture from here: el salvador