Referring to Specific Case Studies, Analyse the Effects of Climate Change on a Tropical Region You Have Studied
Referring to specific case studies, analyse the effects of climate change on a tropical region you have studied
Climate change refers to rising surface temperatures on earth. of A tropical region showing effects resulting from climate change includes the subcontinent of India, with the West most severely affected by climate change.
Social effects include the potential displacement of around 13-30 million people from their homes in Bangladesh due to flooding. Climate change leads to rises in sea level, and in 2001, the world Bank reported a rise of 3 mm in sea levels per year. It is predicted that a 1m increase in sea levels may occur by 2050 and would result in 15% of Bangladesh’s land area being flooded by salt water. This would inevitably, lead to mass migration into north-east India and surrounding countries which may lead to internal political instability and international tension between the countries.
Economically, India will experience losses as 46% of the Indian population are employed in the agricultural sector and is therefore dependent on rainfall and seasonal rains. Climate change has affected the Indian summer monsoon, delaying by a predicted 15 days in the near future and impacting the variability of rainfall. In Bangladesh, Rainfall will increase by around 10%-15% in annual precipitation by 2050 and increase cyclones during a wet season due to warmer temperatures in the Bay of Bengal. Increased rain could lead to the total annual rice crop falling by at least 30%. This will severely affect the population in India and Bangladesh who rely on agriculture to earn a living and also affect the country’s GDP as India, for example, is the largest exporter of rice in the world, exporting 10.23 million tons of rice in 2015.
Environmentally, due to increase storms and cyclones due to unpredictable weather, coral reefs will become irreparably damaged and therefore