introduction to climate change in the east african savanna: supplementary material to lesson 1 of...
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Introduction to Climate Change in the East African Savanna:Supplementary Material to Lesson 1 of the
“East Africa Climate Change Curriculum Unit”Available at http://www.eaclipse.msu.edu/teaching_materials.html
Lesson 1 by Barbara Naess.
The Eaclipse Project is supported by
National Science Foundation Award No. BCS/CNH 0709671.
http://eaclipse.msu.edu
© 2010 Michigan State University Board of Trustees
Lesson 1: Introduction to Climate Change in the East African Savanna
Supplementary Material
• how the climate is changing in East Africa
• how the savanna ecosystem is affected, and
• how researchers from the EACLIPSE project are studying climate change
In this lesson you will learn
Why is it important to learn about climate change in East Africa?
• Climate change affects all parts of the globe.• Our actions in the US affect other countries.• Greenhouse gases from the US contribute to changes in climate in
other parts of the world.
• Climate change in other parts of the world affects the US.
• When people cut forests or remove vegetation in other parts of the world, it reduces the amount of oxygen produced globally.
• We rely on resources that come from all over the world for food, medicine, raw materials, and energy.
• What we learn about climate change in East Africa can help us understand climate change elsewhere. 3
4
5
Source: NASA - http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=8622
Vegetation in the World from Satellites
6
Figure above shows rainfall fluctuations between the 1900-2000 Source: http://www.unep.org/dewa/Africa/publications/aeo-1/fig2a2.htm
Source: UNEP GRID Arendal, 2002
Rainfall and Temperature Changes in Africa
Vegetation Greening Up with the Rainy Seasons: Satellite Images from 1981-2000
Source: NASA http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view_rec.php?id=10217
8Source: MATRIX, Michigan State University
Tropic of Cancer
Tropic of Capricorn
Equator
9
Source: Washington, D.C. : Central Intelligence Agency, 1986, map 800630(547147)6-86
Source: MSU Climate-Land Interaction Project: Bryan Pijanowski
EACLIPSE Project East Africa Climate, People, Livestock
& Savanna Ecosystems
Scientists and social scientists from Kenya, Tanzania, and the U.S. are working together to:
•Collect data on climate change in East Africa, including Temperatures, Rainfall, Vegetation, and Land Use•Learn how people living in the savanna make their livelihoods•Learn how people are impacted by climate change 10
EACLIPSE ProjectEast Africa Climate, People, Livestock
& Savanna EcosystemsGoals:•Understand how climate change affects the ecosystem and the people who live there
•Understand how people change their livelihoods because of climate change
•Understand how changing land use affects climate change
•Project future climate changes to help inform community and policy11
Arusha 1961-2005 (+1.1°C)Arusha mean annual temperature time series (1961 -2005)
y = 0.0248x - 29.127
R2 = 0.5132
18.5
19.0
19.5
20.0
20.5
21.0
21.5
1961 1965 1969 1973 1977 1981 1985 1989 1993 1997 2001 2005 2009
Years
Tem
per
atu
re (
C)
Annual Linear Trend
Source: Tanzania Meteorological Agency
Recent Temperature Trends
12
Recent Rainfall Trends
Arusha 1961-2005Arusha annual rainfall time series (1961 -2005) y = -6.2175x + 13146
R2 = 0.0799
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
1961 1965 1969 1973 1977 1981 1985 1989 1993 1997 2001 2005 2009
Years
Rai
nfa
ll (m
m)
Annual rainfall Linear Trend
Source: Tanzania Meteorological Agency
Glaciers Melting onMt. Kilimanjaro
• Higher temperatures and lower precipitation are causing the glaciers to shrink
• Glaciers are an important source of water for people, crops, livestock, and electrical power
1974 2007
14
Photo Credit: Jennifer M. OlsonPhoto Credit: David J. Campbell
DroughtA long period of dry weather that can cause crop failure.
15
Photo credit: Dwigt Sieggreen
Heavy RainsWhen it rains too much at one time, rivers can flood their banks and cause soil erosion and other damage.
16
Trends in Climate Change in East Africa
• Glaciers melting
• Warmer temperatures everywhere
• Less reliable rainfall in savanna; more rainfall on coast
• Changes in the timing of the rainy seasons
• More droughts and floods
1974 2007
17
Photo Credit: Jennifer M. OlsonPhoto Credit: David J. Campbell
How do researchers understand human-environment interaction?
18
In this unit, you will
•Learn about the different parts of the loop•Use the loop to help you understand the interactions between the different parts of the system•Use what you’ve learned to try to make some predictions about the effects of climate change in the East African savanna
Learning about the EACLIPSE research provides tools that help answer broader questions about human-environment interaction•How does human activity affect the environment?•How does climate change affect the environment?•How do changes in the environment affect people living in that environment?
Lesson 1, Part 2:How do researchers understand human-environment
interaction in the East African savanna?
In Part 2, you will learn what researchers look at to determine:
• How climate change affects vegetation
• How vegetation affects livelihood options
• How livelihoods affect land management 20
Climate Change
• Temperature
• Precipitation
• Glaciers
• Droughts
• Floods21
Photo Credit: Jennifer M. Olson
How does climate change affect savanna vegetation?
22
Climate Change affects
Savanna Vegetation• Plant species mixture• Food for livestock
Farming options• Growing season: length
and timing• Type of crops grown• Productivity of crops
23
Effect on vegetation
Wet season
Dry season
Photo Credit: Tom Smucker
Photo Credit: Tom Smucker
25
26
Effect on Forage for Livestock
Effect on Crops Grown•Timing of the growing season•Length of the growing season•What crops can be grown•How much crops will yield (productivity)
27
Savanna Vegetation• Change in species composition
– trees, bushes, grasses
• Forage for livestock
• Growing season: length and timing
• Crops grown
• Productivity28
How do changes in vegetation affect livelihood systems?
29
Livelihood Systems
30
• Livestock
• Farming
• Non-farm income
31
Livestock Production in the Savanna
Farming
32
Photo Credit: Jennifer M. Olson
Non-Farm Income
33
Livelihood Systems
Livestock
Farming
Non-farm income
Household decisions
Crops grown
Herd size and composition
Employment 34
How do changes in livelihood systems affect land management?
35
Land Management
Decisions about how to manage the land are made at different levels:
• Household• Community• Regional
Land in the savanna
can be used for:• Grazing livestock• Farming• Wildlife• Firewood and other
uses36
37
Grazing
Farming
38Photo Credit: Jennifer M. Olson
Farm in Savanna
Wildlife
39
40Photo Credit: Jennifer M. Olson
Farm in Forest
Farms Expanding into Savanna
41Photo Credit: Jennifer M. Olson
Land Management
Household
Community
Regional
• Grazing
• Farming
• Wildlife
• Other land uses42
• How do changes in land management affect the savanna vegetation?
• How do changes in savanna vegetation affect climate change? 43
44
EACLIPSE Research Questions
• How does savanna vegetation respond to a changing climate?
• What are the combined effects of land management and climate change on savanna vegetation?
• Does land management have a large enough impact on savanna vegetation to change the local or regional climate?
• How are people adapting their livelihood systems in response to climate change? 45
In this lesson, you have learned about the different parts of the savanna human-land-climate system loop and how they interact.
Now you will use what you’ve learned about the loop to try to make some predictions about the effects of climate change in the East African savanna.
As you answer the questions, keep in mind the broader questions about human-environment interaction:•How does human activity affect the environment?•How does climate change affect the environment?•How do changes in the environment affect people living in that environment?
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