In the Northern Hemisphere in 2017 and 2018 brought several destructive hurricanes to the shores of North America, the Caribbean, and throughout the Pacific rim. Such extreme weather events are predicted to get more common and more severe with increasing climate change.
Several participating classes in the ISCFC were or are in the path of these storms and we hope for the best for them, their families and communities.
We would love to hear from students affected directly and indirectly by extreme weather events, and also any students who have been following the news this summer.
What are your thoughts about the connection between climate change and extreme weather events? Has this hurricane season increased your concern about climate change or not? Do you think that US citizens and residents (and others in the region) will take climate change more seriously now?
Extreme Weather >
CO2's Effect on Plants & Subsequently Rainfall
The CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) levels in the air change how plants “breathe”. Plants “breathe” through the Stomata. These are the microscopic pores that plants take in CO2 through, in turn, releasing H2O (water) and O2 (Oxygen) into the atmosphere. These pores are then affected by the CO2 levels in the air, with higher concentrations leading to the closing of these pores. This leads to plants keeping in more H2O, meaning they release less into the atmosphere.
Subsequently, this affects rainfall patterns. Researchers note, “the reduction in water released by stomata through transpiration will result in changing rainfall patterns across the tropics.” (Asher). Although it changes the rainfall patterns, it has drastically different effects depending on the location. For example, in South America, rainfall patterns are influenced heavily by the amount of moisture released from plants. Meaning, that if plants retain moisture, it could lead to longer and deeper droughts. Forests in Indonesia, for example, are surrounded by humid air, and warm oceans. Reduced transpiration would mean that more warm air rises, which draws in the ocean's moistened air, leading to heavy rainfall. Researchers concluded that although their models lead to a dryer South America, and a wetter Indonesia, it is impossible to predict exactly what will happen.
Other researchers argue the claims of this study, even though the average of all models used predict the same thing. Douglas Sheil, a tropical forest ecologist at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, points out that climate models are known for being poor at accurately predicting the water cycle. “Personally… I don't think [the study conclusion] is convincing.” (Sheil). But, even with his disagreements, he still agrees that the study addresses an important issue.
In conclusion, plants retaining their moisture drastically change the rainfall in some regions, causing extreme weather conditions and patterns. Even if some researchers don't agree with the study, the study still addresses an important issue. An issue, that we as a global community, need to figure out how to fix.
Resources Used:
Plant response to rising CO2 levels may alter rainfall across the tropics