Increased mean temperatures, changing patterns of precipitation, rising sea levels and increasing frequency and intensity of extreme climate events caused by climate change are evident in sub-Saharan Africa. The Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) confirmed that economic losses from natural hazards are global and tend to increase in the near future (IPCC, 2012). Increased floods and droughts exacerbate rural poverty in sub-Saharan Africa due to negative impacts on crops and the resulting increase in food prices and living costs.
Connecting climate change to floods can be a difficult task. Not only do myriad weather and human-related factors play a role in whether or not a flood occurs, but limited data on past floods make it difficult to measure. However, as noted in its special report on extremes by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), it is increasingly clear that climate change has “detectably influenced” several of the water-related variables that contribute to flooding, such as rainfall and snow melt. In other words, while our warming planet may not actively cause flooding, many of the reasons it does intensify.
As the planet warms, the level of evaporation from the ocean seems to increase. T Globally, this higher rate of evaporation contributes to an increase in the average annual amount of rain and snow. The atmosphere is getting warmer at the same time, which means it can hold more humidity. The downpours intensity (and thus the risk of flooding) partly depends on how much water the air can hold at a given time.
Many river systems are no longer in their natural state, making it difficult to separate changes in stream flow data caused by climate change from those caused by human the river system regulation. Flood probability may have been changed by river engineering and land use. In order to prevent flooding, we need better flood warning systems, focus on flood resilience rather than on defense schemes, protect wetlands and strategically establish plant trees, and restore rivers to their natural pathways. In addition, environmental policies need to be implemented that improve the effectiveness of businesses using resources, such as energy, water, and materials, to not only benefit the environment but also to make financial savings for corporations.
