5.6C climate change and water security

• Climate change and water security:

  • ENSO cycles result in both extreme flooding and drought in different parts of world at the same time
  • However, if land and sea surface temperatures continue to rise, then it is possible ENSO cycles could become more frequent rather than every 2-3 years
  • This would lead to more periodic unusual climates for both South America and Australia
• ENSO climate change:

  • It would also lead to unreliable patterns of rainfall and failure of monsoons impacting many tropical monsoon climates (India etc.)
  • Increased intensity and frequency of drought impacts agriculture raising water insecurity
  • Loss of snow and glacier melt threatens many communities particularly in mountainous areas
  • Greater rates of evapotranspiration and desiccation of forest stores