Panama Climate Change and Background
Panama Climate Change, Panama is a Central American country that borders the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean. The Republic of Panama, located at the crossroads of North and South America, has one of the most developed economies in Central America. It has a surface area of 75 420 square kilometers and is located between 9° N and 80° W.
It has a hot and humid tropical environment. The wet season lasts from May to January, and the dry season lasts from January to May. In the Darien area, violent storms and forest fires occur on occasion. Panama’s interior is largely made up of steep, rough mountains and upland plains. Plains and rolling hills make up the majority of the country’s coastal areas. Copper, mahogany forests, and hydropower are among Panama’s natural resources. Tropical rainforests are being deforested, and natural resources are being threatened by mining.
The Panama Canal, banking, tourism, and healthcare all contribute significantly to the country’s economy (services account for 70% of GDP) (USDS, 2010). Agriculture (which includes cattle and timber) accounts for only 6.2 percent of the country’s GDP (USDS, 2010). Although over 30% of Panamanians are poor, this percentage has been dropping in recent years.
The Panama Canal’s siltation is threatened by land deterioration and soil erosion. Agricultural runoff is polluting Panama’s water, posing a threat to the country’s fisheries. Panama has received funds from the Global Environment Facility to increase carbon sequestration in order to minimize greenhouse gas emissions. The project’s main goal is to promote sustainable rural development and environmental management in the Veraguas Province.
Panama is a country that is extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Extreme weather phenomena such as heavy and prolonged rains, windstorms, floods, droughts, wildfires, earthquakes, landslides, tropical cyclones, tsunamis, and ENSO/El Nio-La Nia events all occur in Panama.
Panama Climate Change has a tropical climate that is hot and humid, with a long rainy season from May to January and a brief dry season from January to May. Between May and December, the rainy season arrives, bringing with it an estimated 250-700 millimeters of rain across the country. The country’s average annual temperature is 27°C, with yearly total rainfall of 1900 mm.
These figures, however, differ by area and height. The country’s maximum mean temperature varies between 31.1°C and 34.5°C. The minimum temperature varies between 20.1 and 22.4 degrees Celsius. In the Darien Gap, strong storms and forest fires occur on a regular basis. El Nio Southern Oscillation, tropical cyclones, and sea surface temperatures are the main drivers of climate variability in Panama.
According to historical data, the Republic of Panama’s greatest accumulated precipitation in December is around 450 mm, particularly in the provinces of Colón, Coclé, and Comarca Nogöbe Bublé. However, in December 2010, total precipitation in the provinces of Panamá, Colón, Darién, Comarca Kuna Yala, and Comarca Emberá exceeded 500 mm, with a maximum of 1,000 mm.
Climate Climate Change and Water Scarcity
Panama has one of the biggest water resources in the world, with around 35,000 m3 of sustainable freshwater resources per capita. This picture of relative abundance conceals a number of regional and seasonal restrictions, particularly those related to the country’s most arid region, known as the “Arco Seco.” Climate variability and extreme weather events, namely droughts and floods, exacerbate this relative water excess scenario and increase tensions, with users and authorities lacking the resources and information to respond quickly and effectively.
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.
Climate Change and health Impacts
Climate fluctuation has clear links to human health, both through direct exposure and indirect mechanisms. Extreme climate events, such as heat waves, hurricanes/storms, floods, and droughts, clearly have detrimental health consequences. Climate change, which affects water, food, and air quality, has a negative impact on human health all around the world.
Beyond the physical consequences, there are concerns about mental health. According to studies, an increase in the number of extreme events might cause PTSD-like symptoms in a considerable portion of the population.
Although disputed, studies show a correlation between rising temperatures and an increase in societal aggressiveness and violence.
Panama Climate Change and Agriculture
Panama Climate Change, 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.
Agriculture accounts for around 30% of Panama’s land (23 percent for pasture and 7% for cultivation), with forests accounting for the remaining 58 percent. Agriculture is a significant component to Panama’s economy; in 2005, it accounted for 4.4 percent of the country’s gross domestic product and 18 percent of total employment. Sugar cane, bananas, coffee, tobacco, and fruit are major export crops, while rice, beans, and maize are primarily farmed for home consumption.
The most recent La Nia occurrences have been marked by heavy and prolonged precipitation, resulting in widespread flooding in rural regions. La Nia had a significant impact on agriculture, resulting in land losses of more than 15,000 hectares and economic losses of more than $6 billion, particularly in the Chiriqu and Darién regions. Natural resources that have been depleted or damaged are a substantial impediment to agricultural development.
About 51,000 hectares of natural tropical and tropical wet forests are negatively impacted by deforestation and related incidences of timber harvesting, forest removal for livestock rearing, and slash-and-burn agriculture. In light of natural disasters in the agriculture sector, a greater emphasis should be placed on preventing soil degradation, replanting, and establishing and implementing sufficient insurance systems for better management of public resources. According to some future forecasts, if existing soil and land management is improved, rainfed rice and maize crop production in Panama could grow.
Panama Climate Change and Disaster Risks
Panama Climate Change, Since 1970, the number of climate-related disasters in Latin America has increased by a ratio of 2.4. Extreme weather phenomena such as heavy and prolonged rains, windstorms, floods, droughts, wildfires, earthquakes, landslides, tropical cyclones, tsunamis, and El Nino Southern Oscillation impacts are all common in Panama. Panama was hit by 32 natural disasters between 1982 and 2008, resulting in an estimated $86 million in economic losses.
In addition, 249 people died as a result of these occurrences. Panama is ranked 14th in terms of land area among countries most vulnerable to several risks. 15 percent of the country’s total territory is exposed to two or more dangers, and 12.5 percent of the population is at risk. Furthermore, Panama is ranked 35th among countries with the highest percentage of the whole population at risk of death from numerous hazards.
Panama Climate Change and Canal’s Issues
Torrential rains had overflowed its major water supply, the artificial Lake Gatn, prompting the canal authority to release the floodgates to drain the excess into the Atlantic.
However, a severe El Nio weather phenomena came three months later, aggravated by climate change, and the canal began enforcing cargo limitations to cope with what turned out to be the worst drought in the canal’s 115-year existence.
The canal authority’s executive vice-president of environment, water, and energy, Carlos Vargas, told the Financial Times, “We had no rain for about five and a half months.” “The dry season usually lasts four months, but this was out of this world.”
Mr Vargas noted that as the water level in Lake Gatn dropped by as much as eight feet, five successive weight restrictions on the cargoes that ships could transport were imposed, costing the canal authority around $15 million in missed revenue. Every day, over 40 ships pass through the canal.
Rising sea levels are threatening to bury Panama’s picturesque San Blas island chain within decades, owing to the effects of climate change.The threat to a critical waterway that is synonymous with the country, on the other hand, adds a fresh dimension to the situation.
“These extraordinary phenomena are here to stay,” said Gustavo Alanis, the executive director of Cemda, a Latin American environmental organization. “And, given the threat posed by climate change, I believe Panama should do more because the canal’s good operation is so important to the country’s economy.”
The canal, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and is one of the world’s key commercial lanes, was expanded in 2016 to accommodate larger ships. However, only three years later, more renovations in the shape of a third lake are already required to handle the extreme weather that climate change is anticipated to bring.
Reference – climateknowledgeportal-world bank, adaptation-undp, Panama Climate Change
recentclimate – Panama Climate Change