Ecological Effects of Climate Change Affecting the World Today - Essay Example

ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTING THE WORLD TODAY. (ANTHROPOLOGY THEME) Evolutionary Perspective of Climate Change: Climate change, as aphenomenon, is not new to this century, it has been happening at periodic intervals during the evolutionary history. There is substantial evidence and research to indicate that between the early and middle Holocene period several climatic changes including glacial melt resulted in sea level rise along the coastal areas. There have been wide variations in sea –surface temperature (SST) during the Holocene period resulting in 3 definite cycles - warm to cold to moderate. Synchronous to this change, changes in the micro fauna and marine productivity was also observed. Studies on the isotopic differences based on two planktonic species, one surface dweller - Globigerina bulloides and the other bottom dweller - Neogloboquadrina pachyderma indicate the level of oceanic stratification and productivity. It was found that during cool episodes, vertical gradient in temperature existed resulting in intense vertical mixing, which in turn increased marine productivity. The vice versa was true during warm episodes resulting in low productivity. Changes in the terrestrial ecosystems of islands have also been noticed during the Holocene period. Studies (high resolution & Total Inorganic Carbon) and records of Lake Pyramid and Lake Owens show that show that 5 distinct climatic episodes - cool period followed by a dry period (11.6 - 10 ka) interspersed with a wet episode predominated the early Holocene period. The latter part of the early Holocene (10-8 ka) was mostly wet resulting in substantial body of water in Lake Owens and movement of water from Lake Tahoe to Lake Pyramid. A case in study has been the Channel Islands off the Southern Coast of California. These islands can be divided in to the Northern (consisting of San Miguel, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa and Anacapa Islands) and Southern (consisting of Santa Barbara, Santa Catalina, San Clemente and San Nicolas). Differences have been observed in the evolutionary patterns of these 2 groups of the Channel Islands. The southern islands are far removed and isolated from the mainland which has resulted in high levels of endemism in plant species as well as low diversity in flora and fauna. However marine productivity in these regions was high, primarily due to variations in SST. The Northern Channel Islands have shown high levels of human habitation during the Holocene period. The inter-linkages between the food habits of the people living in these areas to the plant and animal species that inhabited the area, local migration and development of trade are also clearly evident from records. How did our ancestors and traditional communities adapt to climate change? Traditional knowledge and wisdom and a deep understanding of the interrelationships between the environment and its protection helped our ancestors find solutions to problems of climate change. An interesting case is the study conducted in the Andean region. It was found that the traditional potato farmers of the Andean region time their sowing based on the sighting of Pleiades in late June each year. Based on the visibility of this star, the farmers were able to predict if the season would favour the cultivation of potato and also predict yield potentials. In about 65% of the cases these predictions have proved to be right. Scientific studies on how these predictions work have also shown that, the brightness of the star was related to the high cloud formations over the Andes. It was found that during El Nino years the visibility of the star was low. Predictions of low rainfall and as a consequence lower yields proved accurate. An understanding and acknowledging that traditional knowledge and wisdom could provide clues and possible solutions for adaptive changes to climate change is crucial. The consequences of Climate Change: There are several visible indicators of climate change - sea level rise as a result of glacial meltdown, changes in frequency and intensity of El Nino and La Nina occurrences, changes in weather patterns as a result of green house gas emissions etc. These changes can drastically affect humans. It has been shown that even a one meter swelling of our oceans as a result of glacial melt down could drown and permanently submerge several of our coastal cities and areas. The changes in the wind patterns over the oceans could bring about localised changes in the rainfall patterns. These changes would in turn impact on the agricultural productivity of the region. It has been proved time and again that the consequence of such change is not limited to the region of occurrence, but has far reaching social, political, economic and environmental changes even in areas very far removed. This is the result of our globalized economy. We therefore, cannot and should not ignore the consequences of environmental degradation and abuse in any corner of the world. Our survival depends on how we act now. Possible solutions to Climate Change: The world has become one “Global Village”, and so, we need to take collective responsibility and action to ensure that we are able to adapt to, and survive the changes we have brought about. We have, since the Industrial Revolution, systematically destroyed our natural resource base, polluted our air, soil and water. We have further increased pressure on our ecosystems as a result of exponential increase in population size. To make things worse the developed nations have also started outsourcing environmental degradation of the developing and under developed countries. How do we arrest this trend? What action do we need to take? How do we call for collective action? The first step is to create awareness among the public that a real problem exists, the next would be to convince them that if we do not take immediate corrective action it could adversely affect us. We should also be able to convince them that we have created this problem because of our bad or lopsided management and lastly assure them that a solution exists. Public support for any cause has a dramatic effect on all governments, irrespective of the country, essentially because survival of governments depends on public support. An informed public would be able to make the right choices. It is therefore imperative that there is flow of authentic information and research findings to them. How does one ensure that there is flow of information? This, of course, is a major stumbling block because although we have become a ‘global village’ there is domination by the western world on the developing and under developed world. The role of international agencies like the UN can play a decisive role in these cases. Another possible solution is to give more powers to local institutions and administrative entities to take decisions on actions that directly and immediately impinge on them. All this is easier said than done because, as a race, we humans are short sighted, selfish and greedy. We assume that ‘might is right’ and that only the strongest amongst us are fit to survive. It is this tendency that has led to conflict and destruction. The urge to have control over resources and people has resulted in deadly wars. It would not be an exaggeration if one were to say that the primary reason for the war and attack on Iraq was only to have access to the rich oil reserves of that country. What we need to do is to sit down and reflect on what is important, not just for a small group of rich and influential countries alone, but for the survival of the human race. We need to ensure that we have procedures and systems in place that will ensure that the wrong doers are punished and the law abiding ones are rewarded irrespective of whether they are rich or poor. A system of ‘reward and punishment’ as is done in huge multinational corporations, could provide a clue on how to manage difficult nations and make them ‘fall in line’. Conclusion: Climate change is a reality now; it is no longer just a threat. We are witness to un-seasonal rains, increase in temperature conditions in several areas across the globe, emergence of new pests and diseases in crops, animals and humans. We can not afford to sit back and procrastinate on what action needs to be taken. Immediate steps such as reduction in emission of green house gases, sustainable management of our available natural resources – (oil, water, bio-diversity to name a few), population control are some areas that need immediate attention and focus. There is of course, no ‘tailor made’ or ready ‘fix it all’ solution to the problems we face today as a result of climate change. We need to combine the information gathered from high-tech studies and research, as well as traditional knowledge and wisdom and make informed decisions on the necessary course of action. This, of course, will definitely have to be collective action simultaneously by all. It may seem a huge and daunting task but this must and will happen because our very survival depends on it! References: 1. Simon Batterbury, “Anthropology and Global Warming: The Need for Environmental Engagement”, The Australian Journal Of Anthropology, pp 62-68 2. Benjamin Orlove, John C.H Chiang and Mark A.Caine, “Ethnoclimatology in the Andes”, American Scientist, Volume 90, 2002 September- October, pp 428-435. 3. Kathryn S.Brown, “Climate Anthropology: Taking Global Warming to the People, Science 5 March 1999, Vol 238. no. 5407 ,PP 1440-1441 DOI: 10.1126/science 283.5407.1440 4. Douglas J.Kennet, James P.Kennet, Jon L. Erlandson, Kevin G. Cannariato, “Human Responses to Middle Holocene climate change on California’s Channel Islands”, Quaternary Science Reviews 26 (2007) , pp 351-367 5. The Dominant Animal: Human Evolution and the Environment, Governance: Tackling Unanticipated Consequences, Chapter 16, pp 331 - 362 Read More