Quiz 2

DESERTIFICATION

INTRODUCTION
The United Nations defined Desertification as land degradation in arid, semi-arid, and dry subhumid areas
resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities
(Warren, 1996).

PROCESS
1. Natural force
● Wind and water erosion of soil
● Long-term changes in rainfall patterns
● Other changes in climatic conditions

2. Human or cultural forces

● Vegetation loss by overgrazing, depletion of groundwater, surface runoff or rainwater, frequent
burning, deforestation, the influence of invasive and non-native species
● Physical compaction of the soil by livestock and vehicles
● Damage by strip-mining

3. Administrative forces
● Encouragement of widespread cultivation of a single crop for export particularly if irrigation is
required
● The concentration of dense human populations in arid lands

CAUSES
- deforestation
- farming
- excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides
- global warming
- overpopulation
- mining
- soil pollution
- acid rain
- changes in land use
- natural causes

EFFECT
1. Poverty
2. Hunger
3. Starvation
4. Weak immune system
5. Migration
6. Destruction of habitats
7. Floods
8. Water pollution
9. Biodiversity
10. Endangerment and extinction f species

PREVENTION AND CONTROL

Maintaining Of Soil Health And Fertility
1. No-till farming
Till- the preparation of soil for planting and the cultivation of soil after planting.

2. Cover cropping
Are plants that are planted to cover the soil rather than for the purpose of being
harvested.

3. Application of compost
4. Rotation of crops
the practice of growing a series of different types of crops in the same area across a sequence of growing
seasons

5. Encourage farmers to build terraces or stone walls

PROMOTION OF RESISTANCE IN LAND USED FOR LIVESTOCK GRAZING

1. Rotational grazing
a system where a large pasture is divided into smaller paddocks allowing livestock to be moved
from one paddock to the other easily.

INCREASE IN BIODIVERSITY ON CULTIVATED LANDS

1. Agroforestry
The intentional integration of trees and shrubs into crop and animal farming systems creates environmental,
economic, and social benefits.

2. Silvopasture
The deliberate integration of trees and grazing livestock operations on the same land

PROTECTION OF NATIVE FORESTS AND TREE PLANTING

1. Afforestation or reforestation
2. Combat forest pests, disease, and fire

EXAMPLE CASES OF DESERTIFICATION

1. Ningxia Hui, China
It is no surprise that Ningxia Hui has already seen desertification on an alarming scale, with just over half of
its area having already been devoured by deserts. Like in the Sahel, a combination of human and climatic
factors is to blame for this, and the threat has not gone away. An additional 1.2 million hectares of grassland,
as well as 132,000 hectares of farmland, are under threat from desertification.

Agriculture is the main source in this area, so it is more prone to desertification. And the farmers cannot
avoid using excessive amounts of fertilizer and pesticides in order to maximize their crop yields in the short
term. However, in the long run, this often leads to significant damage to the soil, which may turn from arable
into arid land over time. In turn, this often also implies that the former arable land will be no longer suitable
for farming purposes after a few years of excessive farming since the soil has been damaged too much over
time

2. Sahel Region, Northern Africa

Desertification in Sahel has increased over the last number of years. The location of Sahel Region is bordered
by the Sahara Desert to the north and the rich savannahs and rainforests of Central and
Western Africa to the south. A drought between 1968-1993 contributed to the degradation of vast swatches of
soil and vegetation. In fact, the Sahara desert area, grew by roughly 10% most of which in the southward
direction steppes of the Sahel.

Not only that, with impacts of human activities on the Sahel region is a critical factor contributing to its
current challenges and environmental changes leading to desertification.

In contrast, Ecologists have been meeting all over the world to discuss the desertification of the Sahel at
length. In 2007, 11 African Governments launched the Great Green Wall of Africa as an attempt to mitigate the
problem and aimed to plant a 15-kilometer-wide and 8000-kilometer-long plant barrier to prevent Sahara
from expanding southwards. However, due to the severe and long droughts and significant reductions in
rainfall in 2012, it is estimated that
over 23 million people in the Sahel regions were facing severe food insecurity in 2022, and the European
Commission projects that the crisis will worsen further amidst rising social security struggles.

POPULATION MIGRATION

WHAT IS MIGRATION?
The movement of a person or people from one country, locality, place of residence, etc., to settle in another;
CATEGORIES OF MIGRATION
1. Emigrant
An emigrant is a person who is leaving one country to live in another.

2. Immigrant
An immigrant is a person who is entering a country from another to make a new home.

3. Refugee
A refugee is a person who has moved to a new country because of a problem in their former home.

TYPE OF MIGRATION
● internal migration
● external migration
● emigration
● immigration
● return migration
● seasonal migration

Pust factor
Push factors include leaving a place because of a problem, such as a food shortage, war, or flood.

Pull factor
Pull factors include moving to a place because of something good, such as a nicer climate, more job
opportunities, or a better food supply

CLIMATE CHANGE AND FORCED MIGRATION

Forced Climate migration occurs when people leave their homes due to extreme weather events, including
floods, heat waves, droughts, and

wildfires, as well as slower-moving climate challenges such as rising seas and intensifying water stress.

RAINFALL
Rainfall patterns will change as the hydrological cycle becomes more intense. In some places this means that
rain will be more likely to fall in deluges (washing away top-soil and causing flooding).

EXTREME DROUGHT
According to International Organisation for Migration (IOMl, nearly 800,000 people have been displaced due
to drought since early 2021, at least half a million of them in the first four months of this year. Women and
children make up 80 per cent of the newly displaced population.

Food, water, health care and shelter remain the most immediate needs with 213,000 people experiencing
extreme levels of hunger.

MELTING GLACIERS
Melting glaciers will increase the risk of flooding during the wet season and reduce dry-season water
supplies to one-sixth of the world’s population, predominantly in the Indian sub-continent, parts of China
and the Andes

TWO DISTINCT GROUPS (DRIVERS) OF FORCED MIGRATION

1. CLIMATE DIVERSE
CLIMATE PROCESSES
are slow-onset changes such as sea-level rise, salinization of agricultural land, desertification, growing
water scarcity and food insecurity.

CLIMATE EVENTS
are sudden and dramatic hazards such as monsoon floods, glacial lake outburst floods, storms, hurricanes
and typhoons

2. NON-CLIMATE DRIVERS
refer to factors or influences that impact the environment, ecosystems, or natural processes but are not
directly related to climate change.
Understanding the human activities that influence climate change is vital for developing sustainable
solutions.

SOLUTIONS AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES

1. Investing in Resilience
2. Mitigating Climate Change
3. Climate-Adaptive Land Use Planning
4. Early Warning Systems
5. Financial Support
6. International Cooperation
7. Education and Skill Development
8. 8. Resettlement Programs
9. 9. Participatory Approaches
10. Research and Data
11. Humanitarian Assistance
12. Advocacy and Awareness

HEATWAVE

WHAT IS HEATWAVE?
World Meteorological Organization (WMO): The WMO defines a heatwaveas"amarked prolonged period of
excessively hot weather, which may be accompaniedbyhigh humidity."

CLASSIFICATION
Heatwaves are classified into types, based on level of humidity;

DRY HEATWAVE
- Characterized by dry weather conditions with clear skiesand large inputs of solar radiation. Accompanied
by windy conditions, whichcan increase heat stress.

MOIST HEATWAVE
- Characterized by very warm, oppressive, humidconditions throughout the day and night. Often with
nocturnal cloudcover, afeature that prevents loss of heat accumulated throughout the day andthusprovides
little night-time relief.

METEOROLOGICAL ANALYSIS: CONDITIONS LEADING TO THE HEATWAVE

AIR PRESSURE
- High-pressure systems result from the sinking of warmair in the atmosphere, which compresses and heats
up as it descends.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND GLOBAL WARMING

- Climate Change is one of the most important factors which cause heat waveand increase their intensity and
frequency.
- In the last decade, record hot weather has occured three times moreoftenthan cold weather records.
- Climate change is also making heat waves worse in terms of their property, communities and the
environment

DEPLETION OF THE OZONE LAYER

- The Ozone Layer covers the Earth from direct and very harmful sunrays.
- Depletion of this can bring harm not only for people but alsofor theenvironment.
- The land may become drier and temperature of the air will increase.

EFFECTS OF HEAT WAVES

EFFECT ON AGRICULTURE AND CROP
- Heat waves also damage plants, crops and vegetables.
- When shearing winds blow and the temperature rises to around 45°C, exoticplants perish.
- When temperature exceeds 45°C for a number of days even the traditional species suffer, particularly if
they do not receive moisture regularly.
EFFECTS ON ANIMALS
- Different species respond differently to extreme heat, and the effectscanvary depending on factors like
their physiology, habitat, and adaptations.

IMPACTS ON INFRASTRUCTURE
- Extreme heat can have significant impacts on infrastructure andessential services, especially electricity
transmission and transport systems.
- Ceramic insulators on power lines that are affected by smoke, moisture, orash from heat wave associated
wild fires, become less effectiveandtheelectricity supply may be stopped.

IMPACT ON HUMANS
- As mentioned before, during physical exertion in periods of extremeheat, thebody can have difficulty
removing the heat generated.
- This can lead to the core body temperature rising to dangerous levels, which furthermore can lead to heat
stress or death.

HEALTH IMPACT OF HEAT WAVE

• HEAT CRAMPS. Swelling and fainting generally accompanied by fever below39°C (102°F).
• HEAT EXHAUSTION. Fatigue, weakness, dizziness, headache, vomitingandsweating.
• HEAT STROKE. Body temperature of 40°C (104°F) or more alongwithdelirium and coma.

PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN
Avoid alcohol, tea, coffee and carbonated soft drinks which dehydratesthebody. Avoid high protein food
Take low protein food
When temps arise,
- get inside
- stay hydrated
- never leave anyone in a closed vehicle
- checked on loved ones and neighbors
- rest often and protect yourself from the sun

HOW TO STAY SAFE IN HEAT WAVE?

1. If you faint, see doctors immediately.
2. Stay hydrated: Use homemade drinks like:
• lassi
• lemon water
• buttermilk, etc.
3. Keep animals in shade and give them plenty of water to drink.
4. Use fans, cotton clothing and take bath in cold water.
5. Move strenuous exercise to the morning or afternoon.
6. Wear light, loose fitting clothing and avoid dark clothes that will absorb heat.

EMERGENCY KIT
● Water Bottle
● Umbrella/Hat or Cap
● Hand Towel
● Hand Fan
● Food (source of energy)

MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION STRATEGIES

● Climate Mitigation
● Urban Planning and Design
● International Collaboration
● Policy and Regulation