Climate Changes in Zimbabwe

     The major impacts that effect my area include: livelihoods, health, and economics (Human and managed systems); terrestrial ecosystems (Biological systems); and Rivers, lakes, floods, and drought (Physical systems). The key regional risks are generally centered on Economics and drought, specifically unstable livelihoods due to the increasing drought and water shortage. Many people work in agriculture and without water, they will have no work.

       The whole African continent is forecasted to have a climate shift to a drier and warmer climate. Scientists attribute this to an increase in sea surface temperature. Warmer surface temperatures in the Indian Ocean have caused more inversion layers in the atmosphere. What this means for Africa is that clouds actually cannot form in these layers because the air sinks, thus preventing any sort of cloud formation. The less clouds there are means less water for rainfall.  However, there are many large regions in Africa with very little variability, and the data from the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone is inaccurate. This makes the predictions of the scientists much harder for these regions.

     Africa unfortunately has a much bigger problem than just drought however. Much of Africa is extremely poor and their lack of resources and money make it hard for the region to deal with any obstacles. Many in my region are working in agriculture, and with the increase of the risk of drought, many will find it hard to produce food for their livelihood. This will increase the number of families that are starving on a continent that already must cope with mass starvation. One of the biggest things we need as humans is also at risk. Many African citizens do not have a reliable and clean water source, and it is thought that the number affected by this will reach the hundreds of millions in just a few years. Climate change is putting more stress on the problems this region already has. They are already struggling to deal with the problems at hand, and with the drought and inefficient infrastructure, Africa will not even be able to support its people.

     To me, I feel that the most interesting threat is the increase in the amount without access to clean water. They already have a huge problem making good water accessible to their population but with the increase in drought, what will happen? This increase in water shortage will also hit home economically. Most of Zimbabwe and Africa rely on agricultural means as sources of income and livelihood. This will decrease the amount of available food for the whole population, and eventually they will not be able to sustain their growing population, and their future becomes hazy.

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