Effects Of Climate Change Research Articles

Forced waves for an epidemic model of West Nile virus with climate change effect

Forced waves for an epidemic model of West Nile virus with climate change effect

Social vulnerability to food insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa: exploring the connection between climate change, funeral rites and food insecurity in rural Ghana

ABSTRACT Climate Change and food security remain one of the topical issues discussed globally. In Ghana, the literature has reported on the effects of climate change on the food consumption patterns of many households due to low adaptive capacity and inefficient food production systems. In addition to climate change as a threat to food security, funeral rites also play a major role in household food insecurity. However, the link between climate change, funeral rites and food security as indices of social vulnerability has been less investigated. Using a qualitative-dominance approach to research with 8 key informant interviews, 4 focus group discussions (FGDs) and a questionnaire, the analysis revealed that climate change and funeral rites are critical determinants of food insecurity in the Kassena Nankana Municipality of the Upper East Region of Ghana. The results show that while climate change affects the food production systems, the poorly harvested farm produce and livestock are used for the funeral rites of the deceased’s household family. While being sensitive to the cultural aspects of the uses of farm produce and livestock for funeral rites, and given the prevailing climatic conditions, the study recommends the need for traditional authorities and households to consider holding less expensive funeral rites which do not expend future food needs and resources. Again, localised climate change adaptation strategies need to be developed by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to support the activities of agriculture in the municipality which is widely known to be susceptible to climate change.

Marine reserves can buffer against environmental fluctuations for overexploited but not sustainably harvested fisheries.

Globally, decision-makers are seeking management levers that can mitigate the negative effects of climate change on ecosystems that have already been transformed from their natural state by the effects of fishing. An important question is whether marine reserves can provide buffering (i.e., population-level resilience) against climate disturbances to fished populations. Here, we examine one aspect of this question, by asking whether marine reserves can reduce the variability in either overall biomass or in fishery yield, in the face of environmental variability. This could happen because greater reproduction of longer-lived, larger fish inside reserves could supplement recruitment to the fished portion of the population. We addressed this question using age-structured population models, assuming a system where some proportion of the coastline is protected in marine reserves (0%-30%), and the remainder is fished (at a range of possible harvest rates). We modeled populations with sedentary adults and dispersal via a larval pool. Since recent extreme climate events (e.g., marine heatwaves) have reduced juvenile survival for some fish species, we assumed that environmental variability affected the survival of the first age class in our model. We viewed population variability as a question of buffering, measured as the proportion of time a simulated population spent below a target reference point, with the idea that marine reserves could prevent the population from reaching low levels in the face of fishing and environmental variability. We found that fisheries with more area in marine reserves always had less variability in biomass. However, adding marine reserves only reduced variability in fisheries yield when the fished part of the population was being harvested at a rate exceeding the maximum sustainable yield. This new result on reducing variability is in line with previous findings that the "spillover" effects of marine reserve benefits to fishery yields only accrue when the fishery outside reserve boundaries is being overharvested.

Balancing conservation and development for achieving land degradation neutrality

The loss of biodiversity has risen dramatically in the face of a global emergency and worsened by human activities which involves habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change. Biodiversity is essential for sustainable development, supporting ecosystem services crucial for agriculture, forestry and climate regulation. These services are threatened by biodiversity loss, which also has an impact on world cultural heritage, economic stability and human well-being. Moreover, a decline in biodiversity exacerbates the effects of climate change, undermining ecosystem resilience and making food poverty worse. Achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN), a global goal to stop and reverse land degradation through sustainable land management techniques, depends on effective biodiversity protection. LDN projects aim to balance restoration efforts against deterioration in order to preserve or improve land-based natural capital. This chapter highlights the biophysical and socioeconomic factors driving land degradation, including unsustainable agricultural practices, urbanization and climate change impacts. It underscores the importance of integrated approaches that consider ecological, social and economic dimensions in achieving LDN. Principles such as respecting human rights, promoting good governance, and engaging stakeholders are critical for successful LDN implementation. This chapter emphasizes the need for global cooperation and policy reforms to mitigate biodiversity loss, combat land degradation and ensure sustainable land use practices for future generations.

Numerical Modeling of the Fluids Petroleum Flow Through the Supersonic Separator

In the context of increasing concerns regarding the amplification of the thermal effects of climate change, the Council of the European Union has proposed the reduction (up to the elimination) of the use of fossil fuels. For this purpose, the implementation of new ecological (renewable) fuels is being analyzed to reduce the carbon dioxide footprint, natural gas being the transition fuel. Also, in the next period, an increase in the demand for methane, the exploitation of condensate deposits, those with natural gas mixed with acid gases (containing hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen), as well as oil deposits with associated natural gas, which will require their treatment (to eliminate saline or non-saline water, mechanical impurities, of condensate and acid gases). At the same time, the exploitation of offshore deposits in deep waters will be emphasized, which will lead to the location of treatment equipment on the seabed. The present work discusses the simulation of natural gas treatment processes, focusing on the separation from methane (in the supersonic field) of water, condensate, and acid gases.

Barriers and pathways to climate action among nature lovers

One barrier to action on climate change is not talking about it. The majority of residents of the United States and Canada are concerned about climate change1,2 but are reluctant to discuss it with family and friends1,3–5. Finding opportunities to promote conversation about climate change within existing social circles would help to increase the acceptability of climate actions6,7. In this study, 32 semi-structured interviews were held with representatives of nature-related organisations in Ontario, Canada, to ascertain how they perceive climate change. Most interviewees noticed local effects of climate change and were either Alarmed or Concerned about climate change, referencing Global Warming’s Six Americas3. Many worried about their chosen activity or their offspring. This suggests that nature lovers, who might distance themselves from the environmental movement8, could be amenable to discussing and acting on climate change. This article adds to the literature on laypeople’s understanding of climate change9–11.

Unexpected westward range shifts in European forest plants link to nitrogen deposition.

Climate change is commonly assumed to induce species' range shifts toward the poles. Yet, other environmental changes may affect the geographical distribution of species in unexpected ways. Here, we quantify multidecadal shifts in the distribution of European forest plants and link these shifts to key drivers of forest biodiversity change: climate change, atmospheric deposition (nitrogen and sulfur), and forest canopy dynamics. Surprisingly, westward distribution shifts were 2.6 times more likely than northward ones. Not climate change, but nitrogen-mediated colonization events, possibly facilitated by the recovery from past acidifying deposition, best explain westward movements. Biodiversity redistribution patterns appear complex and are more likely driven by the interplay among several environmental changes than due to the exclusive effects of climate change alone.

Exploring the role of national weather services in climate change knowledge and communication: an international survey

This study investigates the roles, perspectives, and communication strategies of National Meteorological Services (NMS) concerning climate monitoring, climate change projections, and the attribution of meteorological phenomena to climate variations. Using a survey distributed to 131 of the 193 National Meteorological Services affiliated with the World Meteorological Organization, we explore how these entities contribute to and communicate about the science of climate change. The survey targeted their involvement in observing and recording climate data, making climate projections, attributing specific weather events to climate change, and their methods of communicating these issues to the public and government officials. Responses were received from 44 countries, reflecting diverse levels of economic development and capabilities in handling, and disseminating complex climate information. The results show a strong engagement in traditional meteorological tasks, with a varied approach to the scientific study of climate change effects and public communication strategies. This study highlights the critical role of NMS in climate change research and underscores the challenges they face in effectively communicating complex climate information, which is crucial for public understanding and policymaking.

Does Climate Change Exacerbate Gender Inequality in Cognitive Performance?

While a considerable amount of research has been conducted on the cognitive effects of climate change, relatively less attention has been given to gender disparities in these effects. This paper utilizes nationally representative data from China to explore how climate change influences cognitive performance across genders. Our findings suggest that women demonstrate a notably stronger capacity to adapt to elevated temperatures. Mechanism analysis reveals that women’s superior adaptation is primarily evident in memory and application skills rather than in comprehension. Moreover, sleep quality and mental health are identified as indirect contributors to these gender differences. Further demographic analysis shows that disparities in the impact of temperature on cognitive performance are more pronounced in urban settings, poorer households, among the elderly, and in colder counties, compared to rural areas, affluent households, younger adults, and warmer counties.

Comparative analysis of embodied carbon in modular and conventional construction methods in Hong Kong

Addressing the rise in global temperatures and the associated increase in greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, is a critical challenge necessitating innovative approaches within the building sector, a significant contributor to worldwide carbon emissions. While previous studies have demonstrated the prefabrication’s potential in reducing emissions, comprehensive assessments using actual project data for buildings constructed entirely with modular methods in Hong Kong are lacking. This study bridges this gap by evaluating the modular integrated construction (MiC) method through an embodied carbon assessment of the Kai Tak Community Isolation Facility. Using comprehensive project data from China State Construction (HK) Limited, the research conducts a comparative analysis between the actual emissions of the MiC method and those of a hypothetical conventional construction approach. Quantitative analysis reveals that MiC achieves a 20.7% reduction in embodied carbon, primarily due to shortened construction timelines, decreased waste generation, and optimized material usage. This significant reduction suggests substantial potential for decreasing the construction industry’s carbon footprint. The study provides empirical evidence supporting the environmental benefits of MiC in Hong Kong construction industry, promoting its broader adoption of MiC as a strategy for achieving carbon reduction targets. The findings align with Hong Kong’s carbon neutrality goals and contribute to the global initiative to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Transnational readings in the Trumpocene: Kim Stanley Robinson’s New York 2140 and Chris Beckett’s America City

This article discusses two climate fiction novels—one British, one American—that were written in the runup to two major political events on either side of the Atlantic in 2016—the Brexit referendum and the election of Donald Trump to the US presidency—and considers how their focus on a future climate emergency serves as an apt reflection on the mutual reinforcements of neoliberalism, precarization, and populism. By looking at these two novels together through the lens of right-wing populism and notions such as the Capitalocene (Moore), the Trumpocene (Colebrook) and the “critical utopia” (Moylan), I consider how the future climate catastrophes that these novels imagine are equally likely “to be used as opportunities to advance and entrench socially regressive forms of politics and unsustainable trajectories […] as inspire forms of ‘disaster collectivism,’ where acts of community and solidarity flourish” (Newell, 2020: 157). As novels that are deeply concerned with the politics of the present, I consider how Robinson’s and Beckett’s novels are inspired by different utopian inflections that lead to different outcomes but similar diagnoses: that the worst effects of climate change will not be averted because humanity seems bent on its current trajectory.

Soil health – a perspective

Governments and organizations are expressing growing concerns about soil health, driven largely by uncertainties of food security with an increasing human population and unpredictable effects of climate change. Although considerable literature and debate exist, there is discord around the question, what is a healthy soil? This is not surprising, given the complex roles the soil provides, from the range of food, fiber and medical products, hosting a biodiverse community, and supporting the water and nutrient cycles. While a consensus seems to suggest that a soil in good health should be able to provide goods and services in perpetuity, this does not define soil health, rather its provisioning functions. To explore the question, ‘what is healthy?’, we propose an analogy comparing indicators of human and soil health. For example, to identify the cause of a symptom, we compare the diagnostic pH in both humans and soil, demonstrating the similarities between the way human and soil health concerns are addressed. Additionally, we consider the context that necessitates health and use a set of holistic predictors to link human and soil health further. In humans, genetics express many traits and can predispose one to certain illnesses or diseases, in the same way, parent material, soil texture, and length of time exposed to weathering can inform a soil’s capability and predisposition for certain habitats or uses. In both cases, science informs the state of health and appropriate management solutions. We posit the null hypothesis “the concept of human health cannot be applied to soil”.

Bibliometric Trends and Insights into the Potential of Maize (Zea mays) under the Framework of Conservation Agriculture

In spite of the detrimental effects of climate change and decreasing resource efficiency, maize farming is essential to the world’s food and nutritional security. With regard to sustainable maize farming in this environment, conservation agriculture (CA) offers a framework that holds promise in terms of low soil disturbance, perennial soil cover, and sustainable crop rotation. In order to acquire more profound information on the research advancements and publication patterns related to maize under CA scenarios, a bibliometric analysis was conducted. This involved utilizing René Descartes’s Discourse Framework to extract and screen 2587 documents spanning the years 2001 to 2023 from the Dimensions.ai database. The mapping showed that different stakeholders were becoming more interested in maize research under various CA pathways, with a greater emphasis on reaching the second sustainable development target, or “zero hunger”. The most influential journals were “Soil and Tillage Research” and “Field Crops Research”, with 131 and 85 papers with 6861 and 6186 citations, respectively. The performance analysis found “Christian L. Thierfelder” and “Mangi Lal Jat” as the eminent researchers in the areas of maize research under CA. Thus, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) were identified as the important institutions in conducting research pertaining to maize under CA systems, while the United States, India, and Mexico emerged as prominent countries with notable collaboration efforts for imparting research under the given scenarios. Three thematic clusters delineating keywords from three distinct sections—key drivers, objectives, and methodology—were identified through co-word analysis using word clouds, tree maps, and thematic networking of the keywords from the abstract and titles of screened publications. These thematic clusters highlighted the growing emphasis on region-specific studies under CA, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and the Indo-Gangetic plain, to enhance the resilience of the agri-food system. Therefore, mapping maize’s potentialities within the CA framework has revealed the field’s dynamic nature and offers insightful information to researchers and policymakers that could help them plan future studies and cooperative initiatives aimed at boosting the productivity and sustainability of maize-based systems under the CA framework.

Towards the cost of health in Africa: examining the synergistic effect of climate change and renewable energy on health expenditure

AbstractClimate change has become the centre of discussion among scholars and practitioners globally. This is believed to have severe consequences for the environment and human health, leading to significant implications for health financing. However, empirical investigations examining the climate change-health nexus remain scarce and underexplored. Hence, this study contributes to knowledge by exploring the direct and synergistic influence of renewable energy and climate change on health expenditure (i.e., national, public, private and external) in Africa. The study employs annual data from a panel of 47 African countries between 2006 and 2019, which are estimated using the generalised method of moments. Robustness checks are performed using alternative proxies for climate change and the Driscoll-Kraay estimation technique. The empirical outcomes reveal that high CO2 emissions increase the various indices of health expenditure, implying environmental degradation triggers higher costs in health spending. The empirical results further show that renewable energy presents a negative and significant influence on health expenditure, showing that health expenditure decreases due to the adoption of renewable energy. Additionally, the study finds that renewable energy weakens the effect of carbon emissions on health spending, including public, private and external health expenditures. This implies that the severe impact of climate change on health expenditure is reduced through the intervening role of renewable energy sources. The study recommends that policymakers implement targeted policies towards reducing carbon emissions and increasing renewable energy consumption to improve health outcomes. Governments must also promote universal health coverage to ensure inclusive coverage as climate change becomes increasingly apparent.

Warming, nitrogen deposition, and provenance shift above-belowground insect interactions and host compensatory growth.

Above-belowground insect herbivore interactions and plant compensatory growth are crucial for reshaping the fitness of invasive plants, and it is likely that climate warming, nitrogen (N) deposition, and plant provenance influence this interaction and growth in a complex way. We performed an experiment with Solidago canadensis from home and introduced ranges, leaf-chewing Spodoptera litura, and root-feeding Protaetia brevitarsis under climate warming and N deposition, and addressed how these abiotic stressors and plant provenance jointly shaped the reciprocal effects between S. litura and P. brevitarsis and the compensatory growth of S. canadensis after herbivory. Under ambient conditions, S. litura and P. brevitarsis inhibited each other on the basis of growth; warming, N addition or warming plus N addition shifted or even reversed this competition depending on provenance. While the survival-based above-belowground interactions differed from growth-based ones, warming or warming plus N addition also shifted or even reversed the neutralism or amensalism detected under ambient conditions depending on provenance. S. canadensis from its home range was more tolerant of herbivory than from its introduced range under ambient conditions; warming, N addition or warming plus N addition decreased the plant compensatory growth of native S. canadensis, but increased that of invasive S. canadensis relative to ambient conditions. These findings suggest that climate warming and N deposition could enhance positive above-belowground insect interactions, increasing insect pressures on S. canadensis, and that plant provenance might be important in mediating climate change effects on insect interactions and host compensatory growth under plant invasions.

Investigating the Variation between Lignin Content and the Fracture Characteristics in Capsicum annuum Mutant Stems

The cultivation of horticultural plants in controlled greenhouse environments is a pivotal practice in modern agriculture, offering the potential to enhance crop productivity and mitigate climate change effects. This study investigates the biomechanical properties and lignin content of various Capsicum annuum mutant lines—‘fragile-plant’ (frx), ‘tortuous internodi’ (tti), and ‘puffy-structured stem’ (pfi)—in comparison to a commercially established variety, ‘Garai Fehér’. We employed the acetyl bromide method to quantify lignin content and conducted three-point bending tests to assess rigidity in three distinct regions of the stem. Gene expression analysis of key lignin biosynthetic pathway genes (PAL, C4H, 4CL, CCoAOMT, CAD) was performed using qRT-PCR. The results revealed significant differences in lignin content and breaking force among the genotypes and stem regions. The tti mutants exhibited similar lignin content to the control but lower breaking strength, likely due to elongated internodes. The frx mutants showed uniformly reduced lignin content, correlating with their fragile stems. The pfi mutants displayed abnormally high lignin content in the top region yet demonstrated the lowest stem rigidity in every region. Overexpression of CAD and CCoAOMT was detected in the mutants in specific regions of the stem, suggesting alterations in lignin biosynthesis; however, we could not confirm the correlation between them. Our findings indicate that while lignin content generally correlates with stem rigidity, this trait is complex and influenced by more factors.

Utilities and the Future Grid

It is widely accepted among energy industry professionals that the industry is undergoing a significant and rapid transformation. There are increasing challenges facing the industry including extreme weather events, widespread aging of the electric grid infrastructure, rapidly increasing electricity demand, as well as the impact of climate change policy initiatives. This has spurred an innovation rebirth in an industry that has traditionally been viewed as outdated, and most importantly inaccessible for participation by average customers. However, as the challenges of the changing industry and effects of climate change are impacting their day‐to‐day lifestyles, energy customers are now demanding more visibility, choices, and flexibility from their energy providers, putting a spotlight on the roles and services of utility companies.

Melt sensitivity of irreversible retreat of Pine Island Glacier

Abstract. In recent decades, glaciers in the Amundsen Sea Embayment in West Antarctica have made the largest contribution to mass loss from the entire Antarctic Ice Sheet. Glacier retreat and acceleration have led to concerns about the stability of the region and the effects of future climate change. Coastal thinning and near-synchronous increases in ice flux across neighbouring glaciers suggest that ocean-driven melting is one of the main drivers of mass imbalance. However, the response of individual glaciers to changes in ocean conditions varies according to their local geometry. One of the largest and fastest-flowing of these glaciers, Pine Island Glacier (PIG), underwent a retreat from a subglacial ridge in the 1940s following a period of unusually warm conditions. Despite subsequent cooler periods, the glacier failed to recover back to the ridge and continued retreating to its present-day position. Here, we use the ice-flow model Úa to investigate the sensitivity of this retreat to changes in basal melting. We show that a short period of increased basal melt was sufficient to force the glacier from its stable position on the ridge and undergo an irreversible retreat to the next topographic high. Once high melting begins upstream of the ridge, only near-zero melt rates can stop the retreat, indicating a possible hysteresis in the system. Our results suggest that unstable and irreversible responses to warm anomalies are possible and can lead to substantial changes in ice flux over relatively short periods of only a few decades.

Uncertainty of climate models and policy implications: a European perspective

AbstractIn this paper we show that both climate models and economic models studying the effects of climate change are characterized by high uncertainty. Hence, far reaching policy implications such as the net zero goal lack a definite scientific foundation. Nevertheless, it cannot be excluded that the continued global warming will go along with high damages in the future. Therefore, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions could be justified due to the precautionary motif. However, there are strong signals from non-European economic regions that they definitely put a higher weight on economic growth rather than on greenhouse gas mitigation. The reduction of greenhouse gases in the European Union cause tremendous costs without influencing the climate on earth. Further, these investments do not raise the aggregate stock of productive capital nor do they lead to factor augmenting technical progress. Therefore, the net zero goal of the Green Deal of the European Union is to be seen sceptical.

Assessing Water Balance Influenced by Conservation Measures for Sustainable High-value Vegetable Cultivation: A Case Study of Battuvagu Watershed in Telangana, India

Rainfed areas are crucial for India’s agriculture, covering 50% of the total farmland and contributing 40% of the country’s food production. In recent years, the adverse effects of climate change have been found to be exacerbating the complex problems in vulnerable rainfed areas. While climate change affects many aspects of the environment, its impact on water resources is often swift and apparent, with far-reaching consequences for ecosystems, human well-being, and sustainable development. In this context, water budgeting at watershed level and its management are crucial towards promotion of climate resilient agriculture in the rainfed ecosystems. Comprehensive assessment of water balance was attempted, estimating the demand from agriculture, domestic and livestock needs and availability of water in terms of groundwater recharge from different sources and effective surface water stored in an agricultural watershed falling in Siddipet district of Telangana state of India. It involved collection of data on population, land use, and estimating irrigation water needs for crops, humans and livestock, followed by inventorying surface storage structures. Further, water inflow, runoff, and groundwater recharge were calculated using standard methods. The water balance was then determined by subtracting total demand from total availability. The study revealed that the water balance improved significantly, shifting from a deficit (-1.18 ha-m) of pre-project phase to a surplus (+67.91 ha-m) during post-watershed development. Thus, this study revealed the effectiveness of soil and water conservation measures taken up as a part of watershed development project in enhancing groundwater recharge and effective surface water storage capacity leading to positive water balance. The study also evaluated the use of groundwater in terms of stage of development in the pre and post project scenarios. The study concluded that there is a need for controlling the over extraction of groundwater through crop diversification especially towards market driven, less water consuming high value vegetable cultivation based on water availability with active people participation along with awareness building, propagation of efficient water application (micro-irrigation) methods, group mode of irrigation, and conjunctive use of surface and groundwater, etc. for long-term water security in the watershed.