Impacts of Climate Change

Impacts of Climate Change in Madagascar

Hydrosphere:

- The water levels have risen, but can still rise a lot more causing floods throughout towns along the coast.
- Rising sea levels will also increase the risk of erosion and salt water intrusion.
- Lower river flows in summer will raise water temperatures and aggravate water quality problems.
- There will be a higher demand for water during hot, dry summers.
- In the winter there will be more intense rainfall which will lead to flooding and flash flooding when the urban sewage drains overflow.
- River flows are likely to be lower in summer and higher in winter.
- More coastal protection would be needed due to the higher water levels.
- Upwelling waters in the south region is leading to much richer fishery resources.

Lithosphere:

- Increased temperatures may reduce comfort of occupants in domestic, commercial and public buildings, and could lead to business disruption.
- Bridges could be unusable if sea level rises high enough.
- Hotter summers may cause railways to falter and roads to crumble which will have high expenses for repairs.
- It will be more difficult to access adequate insurance cover due to the  increased flood risk.
- Soil degradation, deforestation, and undermining will occur.
- Very likely that there would be costs associated with changing land-use activities to suit a new climate.
- Currently, there has been an increase in El Niño effects which ties into droughts and wildfires.

Atmosphere:

- A warmer and dryer climate will emerge.
- When the air heats up, people will be more vulnerable to illnesses such as colds and flu.
- Cyclones could become more common and probably larger and more destructive because of the warmer air.
- Pests and diseases will start to spread a lot faster.
- There will be a much higher amount of carbon released into the air.
- Heat stroke and subtropical diseases will become more common.

Biosphere:

- Droughts cause water to dry up and crops and plants to die and make it a lot harder to live especially in their already tropical climate. Many plants and animals would die.
- Shifting ocean currents will have strong impacts on fish populations and the migration routes of numerous wide-ranging species such as whales and turtles. 
- Change of rainfall patterns have already happened and will affect plants and crops the same and cause farmers to adjust to the patterns.
- Native ecosystems may be invaded by exotic species.
- Fruit and vegetable growers may find it more expensive to insure against hail damage.
- Warmer temperatures will reduce some critical habitats, but increasing the risk of localised extinction.
- If the sea level rises significantly, then  people will need to relocate towards the interior of the island
- Forests and other vegetation may grow faster.
- Corals and the ecosystems they support are vulnerable to bleaching and changes in ocean chemistry.