Argentina Climate Change recentclimate.com
Argentina Climate Change recentclimate.com

Argentina Climate Change and Disaster Risk

[lwptoc borderColor=”#dd3333″]

Argentina Climate  Location

Argentina’s climate is predominantly subtropical. Except for the strip adjacent to the Andes Mountains and the southern end of the provinces of Santa Cruz and Tierra del Fuego, the Patagonian provinces of Neuquén, Ro Negro, Chubut, Santa Cruz, and Tierra del Fuego experience minimal rainfall. The Andes Mountains’ contiguous strip features numerous forests, glaciers, and permanent snows, and the climate is subtropical with scorching summers north of 40oS.

In the Cordillera, which includes the provinces of San Juan, La Rioja, Catamarca, and part of Mendoza, there is copious rainfall, which decreases towards the west and dry areas with very little flora, where cities and agriculture survive in the oases of the rivers supplied by rainfall. Rain-fed agriculture and cattle ranching are common in the east, which includes parts of the provinces of Entre Rios, Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Córdoba, La Pampa, and San Luis, due to the humid weather. The semi-arid region lies between the humid east and the arid west, and its vegetation, which originated in the mountains, has been influenced by cattle breeding.

Argentina Climate Change recentclimate.com
Argentina Climate Change recentclimate.com

Precipitation in this area occurs virtually entirely during the summer months. High temperatures and ample rainfall result in tropical forests in the north of the country, particularly in the province of Misiones and on the eastern slopes of the Tucumán, Salta, and Jujuy. Commercial forestry, predominantly pine, has replaced some of the native forest in Misiones.

Commercial pine and eucalyptus forestation also exists in the provinces of Corrientes and Entre Rios. The provinces of Chaco and Formosa, located east of Salta and north of Santiago del Estero, are located in the Chaco region, which is characterized by arboreal flora in the form of a park, as well as large cattle ranching and, increasingly, dry farming.

The presence of the Los Andes Mountain range in the west of Argentina, as well as the El Nio-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Dipole, influence Argentina’s climate and seasonality. Argentina’s weather is also influenced by sea surface temperature anomalies.

Furthermore, enhanced (decreased) spring and fall precipitation in northeastern Argentina and the Central Andes, as well as noticeable declines in summer and winter, are all linked to El Nio warm (cold) phases and a positive (negative) phase of Indian Dipole.

Argentina Climate  Background

Temperature

Argentina’s temperature has risen since the 1960s, however at a slower rate than the rest of the world.Temperature increases of an average of 0.5oC were seen in the bulk of Argentina’s non-Patagonia areas between 1960 and 2010, with lower increases in the country’s center.The observed temperature increase in Patagonia was larger than the rest of the country, with values exceeding 1°C.

Extreme temperatures, as well as the occurrence of more frequent heat waves and a reduction in frosts, have all been seen to rise in the east and north of the country.While average temperature increases were lower than the global mean, there were clear tendencies in increases in extreme temperatures and heat waves during the last few decades.

Precipitation

Argentina’s precipitation trends are highly variable, influenced by interannual and interdecadal oscillations.The average annual precipitation increased between 1960 and 2010. The most significant variations (some exceeding 200 mm of rainfall) were noted in the country’s east as well as semi-arid areas in the south.The principal rivers of the Plata Basin have increased their mean flows since the early 1970s, owing to increased precipitation as well as land use changes.

Reduced rainfall and rising temperatures in the Andes Mountains have caused glaciers to retreat and river flows to decrease.Precipitation in the Patagonian Andes decreased from 1960 to 2010, and the rivers in northern Mendoza and San Juan appear to be indicating lower precipitation (and water availability) in their upper basins above the Cordillera.
More frequent and strong rainfall events have been seen across much of the country, resulting in more frequent floods.

Winter dry periods have grown longer and drier in the west, particularly in the north, causing concerns with water availability for some populations.

Argentina Climate Risk Due To The Global Climate Change

Increases in global air and ocean temperatures, rising global sea levels, long-term sustained widespread reductions in snow and ice cover, and changes in atmospheric and ocean circulation as well as regional weather patterns, which influence seasonal precipitation and temperature conditions, have all been observed during the twentieth century. Extra heat in the climate system owing to the addition of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere causes these changes.

Argentina Climate Change Videos

Human activities like as the combustion of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas), agriculture, and land clearing are the primary sources of these additional greenhouse gases. These activities increase the amount of greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. An increasing greenhouse effect is consistent with the pattern of observed changes in the climate system. Volcanoes, the sun, and natural variability, among other climatic factors, cannot explain the time and magnitude of the observed changes. Climates are changing today.

Argentina Climate Change recentclimate.com
Argentina Climate Change recentclimate.com

Argentina, South America’s second-largest country after Brazil, spans over 2.8 million square kilometers (km2). It stretches throughout the southern half of the continent, sharing borders with Chile to the west, Bolivia and Paraguay to the north, and Uruguay to the east. Argentina’s eastern coast spans along the South Atlantic Ocean for over 4,700 meters (m).

Argentina’s continental region spans 20° to 60° latitude in the Southern Hemisphere, including sub-tropical climates and mid-latitudes, as well as extreme thermal conditions ranging from hot in the north to very cold in the extreme south and at the peaks of the Sierras and Andes Mountains. It has humid lowlands in eastern Argentina, particularly around the Rio de la Plata system’s tributaries.

Argentina Climate Change,The Chaco region’s savannas and marshes are to the north.In the west, the humid pampa (plain) gives place to rangeland, then desert, punctuated only by irrigated oasis, until the Andes Mountains mark the end of the western plains. Argentina’s geophysical geography is diversified, ranging from tropical climes in the north to tundra in the south Cerro Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere, while Laguna del Carbon is the lowest point.

Argentina has abundant natural resources, a diverse range of plants, and a substantial level of biodiversity.

Argentina is one of Latin America’s greatest economies, with abundant fertile lands, gas and lithium reserves, and significant renewable energy potential. With large-scale agricultural and cattle businesses, it is a prominent food producer. Argentina also has tremendous prospects in various manufacturing subsectors as well as innovative high-tech services.

However, the country’s progress has been hampered by historical economic volatility and the buildup of institutional barriers, and urban poverty remains high. Argentina’s population is predicted to be 45.4 million people in 2020, with forecasts indicating that by 2030 and 2050, the country’s population will be almost 49.2 and 54.9 million, respectively. In 2030 and 2050, the majority of Argentinians are expected to reside in cities, with 93 percent and 95 percent, respectively. In 2020, the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to be at $383.0 billion.

Argentina Climate Change Impacts

Agriculture

At the local and regional level, climate variability and change affect irrigation, crops and land management, animals, rural transportation, storage, and processing. Climate change is increasing the hazards and functioning as a threat multiplier, especially in terms of water supply and changes in the thermal environment. Climate change is manifesting itself in many regions as higher moisture changes, increased dryness when dry, and increased wetness when wet.

Water

Weather and climate have a direct impact on water supply. In addition to the crucial water input from precipitation on a daily, monthly, and yearly basis, evapotranspiration losses must be considered. High temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds, in particular, can effectively remove water from the land surface. Water demand is also predicted to vary as a result of climate change, particularly as it relates to rapidly changing demographic and economic conditions. The water sector faces increased operational problems and risk as a result of these changes.

Argentina Climate Change and Disaster Riks

Flooding, earthquake activity, volcanic activity, water scarcity, high heat, wildfires, and extreme precipitation events are all natural dangers that Argentina faces. Depending on the geography and sources of social vulnerability, the distribution of physical and social exposure varies dramatically across the country.

[lwptoc borderColor=”#dd3333″]

Argentina Climate Change Risk Videos

Volcanic and landslide dangers are most common in Western Argentina, particularly along the Andes mountain range and to the south. The central-western provinces have the highest seismic risk.Extreme heat is most likely in the north, while water scarcity and drought are most likely in the center. Most of the county is affected by riverine floods, and coastal flooding is concentrated in the country’s southern coast.

Because of the overlap of exposure, risk, and susceptibility, Argentina’s government has designated flooding, heat waves, and extreme precipitation events as the most serious hazards. The intensity and frequency of these events are expected to increase as a result of climate change.

 

reference – world bank climate knowledge, UNDP Climate adoption

recentclimate – Argentina Climate Change and Disaster Risk,Argentina Climate Change,Argentina Climate Change and Disaster Risk News

By JC

Consultation on Climate Change & Risk Management