How Europe Is Adapting To Weather Changes
Climate changes is impacting Europe it is felt not only on land but also lakes, rivers, oceans and seas around it. With water covering most of the Earth’s surface than land, the warming of the oceans has recorded around 93% of the warming of the planet since 1950.
The increase is due to carbon dioxide which in result has incrementally trapped more solar energy into the atmosphere. Most of the heat is stored in the ocean, affecting water temperature and movement. With the increasing temperature it has also trigger the acceleration of the melting polar ice caps. While the global ice and snow is decreasing at a rapid rate, it reflects less solar energy back into space.
The water surrounding the European’s coastlines are rising faster than the global oceans. The water temperatures are the one regulators of the marine life, increasing temperature are causing the dynamic change for the marine life, including significant shift in the distribution of marine spices, according to the EEA report published in 2016. The impact was noticed with the migration patterns of cod, herring and mackerel in the North Sea from their historical zones northwards to cooler waters following their food source. The change in migration routes impacts commercial fishing and its economic sectors but also communities that depend on fishing. With rising temperature, we can also see a higher increase of water-borne disease, like the vibriosis infections in the Baltic Sea region.
The waters surrounding Europe are going to experience further acidification over the coming years. With the reduction of PH levels in the water. It has been already noticed the PH level of the northernmost European seas, the Norwegian Sea and Greenland Sea are larger than the global average.
With much attention focused on extreme weather like floods, droughts and other conditions are on the rise. We are seeing extreme changes across Europe. We have experienced the winter’s “Polar Vortex” or “best from the East” from the winter of 2017-2018. Which brought unusual cold Artic winds down into Europe, to summer heat weave, we can expect more unusual temperature extremes to come.
With climate changes comes the impact on Earth’s water cycle. From our oceans to the atmosphere, to land, rivers and lakes, and then back to our seas and oceans. Climate change is impacting the levels of water vapors in the atmosphere and its making water availability less predictable. This can lead to intense rainstorms in some regions while others are faced with severe drought conditions.
Many regions in Europe are currently facing extreme flooding and drought conditions. With the melting of glaciers, ice and snow shrinking. We are experiencing patterns changings making wet regions in Europe wetter and dry regions drier. At the same times extreme heatwaves, heavy downpours and droughts are intensifying, becoming part of the new norm.
The EU’s policies on climate changes is adapting to the situation by focusing on reducing greenhouse emissions. With extreme weather actions are being taken across Europe to adapt to the new reality. Using and wasting less water has been on the forefront of the European countries, risk assessments and vulnerability have help them deal with the impact on climate change. With new technologies and innovations like building green roofs covers of vegetation, more green parks can help to catch floodwater and provide cooling as well as thermal insulation. In farming sector, we are seeing changes utilizing technology that use agroforestry with the combination of crops to improve productivity. We need to recognize the wealth of innovation that have been already tested and implemented across Europe can be a source of inspiration for others faced with similar challenges.