Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 4.5. Expected Climate Change Impacts in the Andean Region of Countries (Source:
National UNFCCC Communications).
Country Expected Climate Change Impacts
Argentina Less snowfall in mountains (affecting hydroelectric production, and water
availability for irrigation).
Reduction in rainfall in mountains (trends recorded since last century)
Warming of 1°C (greater demand for water in agriculture due to greater
evapo-transpiration
Bolivia Greater concentration of rainfall with less days of rain and more intense
fl ooding
Greater frequency of frost
Greater frequency of hail (destruction of crops)
Longer periods without rain (greater need for irrigation, reduction in
hydroelectric energy)
Retreat of glaciers
Chile Decrease in rainfall from north to centre of country (reduced agricultural
yields), and increases on altiplano and further south (increase in suitable
climate for grasslands and yields)
Decrease in frosts, milder spring temperatures (improve conditions for
temperate fruit growing), but colder winter temperatures
Colombia Transition from semi-humid to semi-arid climate in mountain regions
Ecuador Reduction in rainfall (affecting hydroelectric production), conversion to
grasslands in some agriculture regions
Reduction in glacier areas
Peru Increase in rainfall north, central mountains, decrease in rainfall further
south
Increase in temperature in all mountain regions
Drastic reduction in areas of glaciers, or disappearance (affecting tourism)
Venezuela Increase in areas with less than four months of rain per year
Relocation of tourism to higher elevations
rapidly changing climatic conditions (McCarty 2001). In the Alpine zone
the upward movement of treeline and encroachment of woody vegetation
has been observed. In the eastern Himalaya, the treeline is moving upward
at a rate of 5-10 m per decade (Baker and Moseley 2007). However, some
mountain species, such as, territorial animals, late successional plant species,
species with small, restricted populations, and species confi ned to summits
are likely to face extinction (Körner 2009).
There is widespread agreement that global warming is associated with
the most severe fl uctuations, particularly in combination with intensifi ed
monsoon circulations that changes the frequency and magnitude of extreme
weather events and causes severe natural hazards and disasters. Mountain
ecosystems are highly vulnerable to a variety of natural hazards and disasters
which now being triggered by rapidly changing climatic conditions. The
changes in temperature and precipitation pattern and melting of glaciers
and snow alter the frequencies, distribution and magnitudes of natural
hazards and disasters in mountains. Mountains are typically exposed to a
variety of natural hazards and their multiple impacts, and the incidences
Search WWH ::




Custom Search