BIO122: Comparing Climate Change Effects in North America and Africa

This essay provides a comparative analysis of the impacts of climate change on North America and Sub-Saharan Africa. It highlights the differences in temperature changes, rising sea levels, and effects on human health in both regions. The essay references research indicating that North America experiences higher nighttime temperatures and an extended growing season, while Sub-Saharan Africa faces less strong but still significant warming trends. Sea-level rise poses unique challenges to both regions, with North America facing issues related to coastal investment and urbanization, and Sub-Saharan Africa experiencing a higher-than-average rise. The essay also addresses the impact on human health, noting increased instances of diseases and health issues related to extreme weather events in both regions, and it identifies climatologists and organizations involved in studying and mitigating climate change. It concludes by advocating for renewable energy solutions to combat drastic climatic changes and acknowledging the ecological, economical, social, and environmental impacts of climate change in both North America and Sub-Saharan Africa. Desklib provides access to similar essays and study resources for students.

Running head: THE IMPACT OF CLIMATIC CHANGE 1
THE IMPACT OF CLIMATIC CHANGE
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THE IMPACT OF CLIMATIC CHANGE
Climate change effects on North America Verses climate change impacts on sub-
Sahara Africa
Introduction
According to reports by different researche, climate change tends to affect regions
through both direct and indirect impacts. However, Reports from previous studies shows that
various regions will face challenges differently as per climate change is concerned according
to their weather.
Region background
North America is ranked as the third-largest continent in the world with an
approximate population of 515 million people. It covers Central American peninsula up to the
north Arctic Ocean and experiences a range of effects due to the change in climate. On
matters of greenhouse gas production, it is higher than any other continent (Burke et al.,
2015, p.235).
Whereas sub-Sahara Africa is a developing region in Africa with a great climate and
cultural diversity. Approximately, its population approaches 2 billion people, which rised to 4
billion as per United Nation department of economic and social affairs 2013 (Descheemaeker
et al., 2016, p.2343).
Comparison of climate change impacts
Change in temperature.
Reports compiled from previous research indicates that North America experiences
higher temperatures during the nights as compared to day. According to Hoegh-Guldberg

Running head: THE IMPACT OF CLIMATIC CHANGE
(2017), North western Canada and Alaska has a significant warming followed by South-
eastern, Canada and the interior. Due to greenhouse production effects, spring warming has
extended the growing season by 2 days per decade
Compared to the change in temperature in Sub-Sahara Africa, projected warming is
less strong than that of global land area. African temperatures especially in summer increases
at 1.5 oc per annum and this is expected to happen up to 2050 (Thornton et al., 2014, p.3328).
Rising sea level
Projections of sea level are not uniform across the world. According to the research
report by Tilman et al. (2017), sea level rise and storms in North America is due to aggressive
coastal investment plans, extended urbanisation, rising property values increasing coastal
population among other factors. There is also a sense of correlation between sea level,
erosion and intensive storms mostly in the US, Gulf and Atlantic Coasts.
Compared to North America, the rise of sea level in Sub-Sahara Africa tends to be
higher than the global average with a range of 10%. It rises according to different locations in
Sub-Saharan coastlines. However, there is no different between Abidjan, Loma, Lagos in
West Africa and Maputo in southeast Africa (Descheemaeker et al., 2016, p. 2331)
Human health
Due to extreme weather events in North America for example heat waves, drought, air
pollution, among others, human health has been endangered and this is evidenced by various
diseases like cancer, which has led to high mortality rates. There has been increased cases of
respiratory illness, West Nile viruses, vector-borne illness and Lyme diseases resulting from
climatic change in North America (Hautier et al., 2015, p.340).

Running head: THE IMPACT OF CLIMATIC CHANGE
In comparison, Sub-Sahara climatic changes as a result of extreme weather events and
disasters such as flooding or landslides have brought injuries to the people and some losing
their lives. According to the report by Thornton et al. (2014), heat events have also caused
fainting and heat stress. This problem is common in Ghana and Kenya.
The type of scientist concerned with the study of climate inclusive of the sole causes
and the long-term effects that are most likely to pop as a result of the current activities as well
as the prevailing trends are called climatologists. They study the trends of climatic change
over time
Bioclimatology is typically the main biological concept applied to climatology. It
encompasses the eventuality study of both the earth’s atmosphere and biosphere based on
orders of time scale in accordance to the seasons. It involves the study of integrated processes
that occur in the environment.
Since time immemorial, there has been many scientists involved in climatology.
However, among the many include; Richard Lindzen who is known for his renowned effort
in atmospheric tides, ozone photochemistry and dynamics of the middle atmosphere. James
Hansen is also a celebrated climatologist heading the program of climate science. He also
heads “The Awareness and solutions of the earth institute found in Colombia
(Descheemaeker et al., 2016, p. 2331).
In the United States, the department of energy and climate change has the full
responsibility for the funding all the programs that goes on in the sector. It is also responsible
for promoting clean and affordable energy supplies as well as international involvement in
the mitigation of climate change.

Running head: THE IMPACT OF CLIMATIC CHANGE
The most recommendable and applicable methodology in solving drastic climatic
changes include embarking in production of renewable energy through the use of recycle
wastes. This has been highly recommended by international organizations as the best
strategy. This can be witnessed in countries’ invention of solar energy, hydro energy and
electric cars (Hautier et al., 2015, p.340).
In conclusion, various impacts have occurred in North America due to climatic
change including ecological, economical, social and environmental impacts. This
subsequently applies to the sub-Sahara African region although there is a sense of variance
according to the research findings (Burke et al., 2015, p.235).

Running head: THE IMPACT OF CLIMATIC CHANGE
REFERENCES
Hoegh-Guldberg, O. (2017). Climate change, coral bleaching and the future of the world's
coral reefs. Marine and freshwater research.
Hautier, Y., Tilman, D., Isbell, F., Seabloom, E. W., Borer, E. T., & Reich, P. B. (2015).
Anthropogenic environmental changes affect ecosystem stability via
biodiversity. Science, 348(6232), 336-340.
Ripple, W. J., Estes, J. A., Beschta, R. L., Wilmers, C. C., Ritchie, E. G., Hebblewhite, M., ...
& Schmitz, O. J. (2014). Status and ecological effects of the world’s largest
carnivores. Science, 343(6167), 1241484.
Burke, M., Hsiang, S. M., & Miguel, E. (2015). Global non-linear effect of temperature on
economic production. Nature, 527(7577), 235-239.
Thornton, P. K., Ericksen, P. J., Herrero, M., & Challinor, A. J. (2014). Climate variability
and vulnerability to climate change: a review. Global change biology, 20(11), 3313-
3328.
Tilman, D., Clark, M., Williams, D. R., Kimmel, K., Polasky, S., & Packer, C. (2017). Future
threats to biodiversity and pathways to their prevention. Nature, 546(7656), 73.
Descheemaeker, K., Oosting, S. J., Tui, S. H. K., Masikati, P., Falconnier, G. N., & Giller, K.
E. (2016). Climate change adaptation and mitigation in smallholder crop–livestock
systems in sub-Saharan Africa: a call for integrated impact assessments. Regional
Environmental Change, 16(8), 2331-2343.