Climate Change and How It Effects the World and Agriculture Term Paper

Climate Change Projections

Expected Impact on World Agricultural

The objective of this work is to research climate change which is a critically important issue and is no respecter of person in that it affects all upon the earth, man, beast, fish, fowl, and organism. The water temperature will be affected, the air that is breathed each and every element upon, in and surrounding mother earth will experience collectively the changing of earth's climate.

The topic of climatic change is one that is ever present on the minds of scientists and meteorologists as well as many others across the globe. Since the melting of the earth's northern as well as southern polar caps, and the news of 70-foot waves ending luxury cruises, as well as glacier and ice shelf collisions in the news, certainly everyone is slowly but surely becoming aware of the change in the climatic conditions of earth's biosphere.

Climatologists and Meteorologist Predictions

Climatologists now have stated it is with the realm of "certain probability" that humans absolutely have induced global climatic disturbances resulting in a complete change in current conditions. Furthermore, the affect that has been projected for human health is one stated to be of a nature that is diverse, "unpredictable in magnitude" and slow in emerging. Specifically stated is that the "Adverse effects are likely to outweigh beneficial effect substantially" (McMichaels, et al. eds., 2004) However the changes that may be witnessed sooner rather than later are those experienced from the affects of agricultural production difficulties and disasters and mass failure of crops due to unforeseen tragedy and destruction within the earth's biosphere.

Agricultural Issues

The predictions are gloomy in view of earth's agricultural outlook. Demands for food have risen in recent years and many people die daily due to starvation in third world developing countries. More land is being cultivated each year and there are those stating the fact that this only puts "more pressure on natural ecosystems." The agricultural crop yield will be affected in a direct manner due to "alterations in temperature and rainfall," as well as "indirectly through changes in soil quality, pests, and diseases" Specifically stated is that the cereal yield is expected to witness a "decline in India, Africa and the Middle East. EduGreen Online, 2005)

Further stated in the World Health Organization and World Meteorological Association collaborative report is:

"The potential impacts of climate change upon agricultural productivity.while temperature increases and soil moisture changes, and shifts in patterns of plant pest and diseases, could lead to decreases in agricultural productivity, carbon dioxide fertilization could lead to some increases in agricultural productivity. But regional variations in gains and losses would probably result in a slight overall decrease in world cereal productivity. Decreases would be most likely in regions that are already food-insecure." (McMichaels, et al. eds., 2004)

The World Health Organization states that possible changes are elements such as:"extreme weather events, heatwaves, floods, storms and droughts, heavy precipitation events (leading to increased flooding)." (WHO, 2005) Also mentioned as probable were conditions of starvation, as well as widespread incidence of psychological and social disorders." The aspects of sea levels rising would be a great loss in agricultural land and fisheries as well, freshwater will become salineated and storm surges are also expected. Furthermore predictions of exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) with the perpetuation of increase in levels is projected to have "adverse effects on biomass production, and hence on human food production, although the magnitude of such effects is uncertain." (McMichaels, et al. eds., 2004)

Furthermore, the earth's passage through the Oort Cloud in our solar system has increase surges in solar x-rays and objects entering earth's atmosphere and burning out as entrance occurs which increases the heat of earth's biosphere. The good news, indeed if any exists is that there are mitigation strategies that, if properly applied and if done so quickly enough might ease the changing through which the earth passes somewhat.

Worst Case Scenario Stated

Stated to be the worst-case scenario is stated to be as is listed in the following chart labeled Figure 2.0 below:

Figure 2.0

Source: http://www.gcrio.org/gwcc/booklet2.html

The following chart labeled 2.1 shows the alternate or best-case scenario:

Figure 2.1….....