Climate change in Tanzania

Climate change in Tanzania

You have already learnt that, climate is a combination of weather elements that are observed and recorded over a long period of time, normally 30 years or more. When the average measures of these elements appear to change over a long period of time, it indicates that there is climate change.

For example, if the average temperature of city "A" is 25°C, this means that the temperature was obtained after taking the average temperature of city "A" for 30 years or more. Now, the average temperature may be calculated again using data recorded in the more recent 30 years. If the new average measures are different from the earlier one, then it indicates that the climate of city "A" has changed. The climate, however, is not all about temperature. Climate change may therefore involve other elements of weather such as rainfall. Temperature and rainfall are the most important elements used to assess climate change.

One of the indicators of climate change is global warming. Rise of global temperature causes changes in the average records of the elements of climate. Why is temperature rising? Temperature rises because of the excessive concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide and methane. Carbon dioxide and methane in the earth's atmosphere increase the earth's temperature. This happens when the sun's radiation reaches the earth's surface, it warms the earth, and then the earth reflect heat from this radiation back to the atmosphere. The layer of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere prevents heat from the earth's surface to escape to the atmosphere. This causes warming of the earth, which results to climate change.

Impact of climate change in Tanzania

Climate in Tanzania has been changing quite significantly in the past thirty years. For example, we have clearly observed increases of temperature and rainfall above average in many parts of the country. Rainfall above average, prolonged drought in some years, strong winds and rising sea levels in the Indian Ocean have been observed. These events have severe effects on people, animals, and settlements in many parts of the country. The following are the effects of climate change in Tanzania:

1. Change of seasons. Climate change in Tanzania has caused great changes of seasons in many parts of the country. This has affected the calendar of agricultural and trade activities. Variation in rainfall calendar has caused unpredictable crop timing. Farmers end up with loss due to unpredictable weather patterns. This has also affected traders.

2. Melting of the snow-cap of Mount Kilimanjaro. More than 80 percent of the snow-cap on Mount Kilimanjaro has melted between 1912 and early 2000's. Unfortunately, the snow-cap continues to melt due to the rise of temperatures in the highlands and other parts of the country. Melting of snow has decreased the amount of water in the streams around the mount Kilimanjaro. This is likely to affect irrigation activities in the area.

3. Rise of the sea level. In recent years, Tanzania has witnessed a rapid increase of the sea level of the Indian Ocean. The rise of the sea level has caused submergence of some beaches. The most affected coastal line include parts of Pemba and Unguja Islands in Zanzibar and Mafia in Pwani Region, Tanzania mainland. The level of the Indian Ocean has increased due to the melting of snow at the earth's poles. This phenomenon has accelerated erosion of beaches, destruction of settlement and drowning of some islands and coral reefs. Intrusion of salt water into dry land also causes extinction of coastal vegetation. This situation can also affect tourism activities.

4. Loss of biodiversity. Organisms that are unable to adapt to high temperatures usually migrate or die, thus damaging nature and the ecosystem. For example, a lot of hippopotamus in the Ruaha River in Ruaha National Park died after the river dried up because of prolonged drought. Similarly, climate change attracts invasive plant species that affect nature and ecosystem of the area. This situation can also affect tourism activities.

5. Increase in diseases. One of the effects of climate change is an increase and emergence of diseases such as malaria, cholera, hypertension and respiratory diseases. Increase of temperature in Tanzania has led to an increase of malaria cases. Malaria cases have been reported in colder highland areas such as Lushoto, Kilimanjaro and Njombe, where there were no Malaria cases before 2000's. On the other hand, the increase in temperature has been affecting some people with respiratory diseases such as asthma, allergy, and those with high blood pressure. Also, in recent years there has been an increase in the cases and recurrence of cholera and diarrheas. Heavy rainfalls have led to floods and the spread of cholera in the country.

6. Occurrence of drought. Drought is caused by lack of reliable rainfall in a particular area for a prolonged period of time. In recent years, various parts of Tanzania such as Arusha, Shinyanga, Kilimanjaro, Dodoma, Singida, Simiyu, and Tabora have been experiencing drought. Drought has a lot of effects including crop damage, death of animals and plants and drying of water sources. All these effects of drought lead to famine and poverty.

Precautions to reduce the effects of climate change

Human activities are highly responsible for climate change. There are various precautions that human beings can take to reduce the impacts of climate change. Some of these precautions include the following:

1. Provide appropriate public awareness on the challenges of climate change. Proper education helps people to make right decisions related to climate change and its effects;

2. Reduce the use of fossil fuels to run automobile engines and other machineries. Use of renewable energy sources such as solar, biogas, natural gas, geothermal and wind energy should be promoted;

3. Control deforestation by reducing the use of firewood and charcoal. People should be encouraged to use natural gas and standard stoves to reduce the amount of firewood and charcoal used for cooking;

4. Plant trees in open and deforested areas. Trees help to absorb excessive carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and provide us with oxygen. In return this strengthens the ozone layer and protects us from harmful radiation and global warming;

5. Conserve water sources and use water resource efficiently and effectively to reduce the effects of drought and shortage of rainfall; and

6. Plant drought-tolerant and early mature crop varieties to ensure food security when there is drought. Farmers should also be advised to follow good agricultural practices to increase production especially when rainfall is little. It is also important to improve crop storage facilities.