Global-Regional Linkages in the Earth System

by Tyson, P. D.; Fuchs, Roland; Fu, Cpmgbin; Lebel, Louis; Mitra, A. P.; Odada, Eric

• ISBN13: 9783540424031
• ISBN10: 3540424032
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-11-01
• Publisher: Springer Verlag

Summary

This book synthesizes current knowledge of regional-global linkages in four regions to demonstrate that study of environmental change on a regional scale can enhance understanding of global-scale environmental changes. The atmospheric circulation over Southern Africa links regional nutrient and pollutant sources to distant sinks affecting both regional and global ecosystem functioning. Extended human modification of land cover in East Asia has altered the complex surface-atmosphere exchanges impacting the Asian monsoon system. Biogenic and anthropogenic emissions over South Asia are implicated in changes in global tropospheric ozone and oceanic biogeochemical balances. Economic globalisation has negatively impacted regional environments of Southeast Asia.

Table of Contents

Regional Studies and Global Change	1	(2)
Regional-Global Change Linkages: Southern Africa	3	(72)
Introduction	3	(2)
The Changing Climate of the Region	5	(12)
Half a Million Years of Change	5	(2)
The Past Twenty Thousand Years	7	(2)
The Period 18000 to 10000 B.P.	9	(1)
The Middle to Late Holocene: 6000 to 1000 B.P.	10	(2)
The Past Thousand Years	12	(1)
The Present	13	(3)
Future Climates	16	(1)
Regional Transport of Air over Southern Africa	17	(1)
Trace Gas Fluxes from the Surface	18	(7)
Biogenic Production of Trace Gases	19	(1)
Biomass Burning Emissions	20	(2)
Atmospheric Aerosols	22	(3)
Recirculation of Trace Gases and Aerosols	25	(3)
Sulphur Deposition	27	(1)
Effects of Sulphur Aerosols	27	(1)
Regional Aerosol Mass Fluxes	28	(1)
Some Consequences of Aerosol Transport	28	(3)
Nutrient Deposition	28	(1)
Impact on Precipitation	29	(1)
Iron Fertilisation of the Central South Indian Ocean	29	(2)
The Oceans around Southern Africa and Global Change	31	(8)
The Agulhas Current System	32	(3)
The Benguela Upwelling System	35	(3)
The Southern Ocean and Southern African Climate	38	(1)
Change and the Hydrological Cycle	39	(9)
Vulnerability under Present Climatic Conditions	39	(2)
Hydrological Uncertainties and Climate Change	41	(4)
Added Complexity and the Human Dimension of Change	45	(3)
Terrestrial Ecosystems and Change	48	(4)
Land Use Changes	49	(1)
Changes in Ecosystem Composition and Distribution	50	(1)
Impacts on Ecosystem Function	51	(1)
The Effects of Pests and Diseases	52	(1)
Human Acceleration of Regional Change	52	(4)
Poverty and Rural Subsistence	53	(2)
Unravelling Human and Biophysical Causes of Change	55	(1)
Adaptation to Environmental Change	56	(1)
Commercial Farming, Forestry and Environmental Change	56	(6)
Urban Growth and Environmental Change	62	(1)
Conclusions	62	(13)
Acknowledgements	64	(1)
References	64	(11)
Global Change and Biogeochemical Cycles: the South Asia Region	75	(34)
Introduction	75	(2)
Changing Atmospheric Composition over South Asia	77	(5)
Greenhouse Gases	78	(1)
Biosphere-Atmosphere Interactions	78	(1)
Aerosols	79	(2)
Ozone Changes	81	(1)
Anthropogenic Links	81	(1)
Links between the Lower and Upper Atmosphere	82	(1)
The South Asian Monsoon	82	(6)
Palaeomonsoon Changes	83	(2)
Monsoon Changes during the Period of Meteorological Record	85	(1)
The South Asian Monsoon and Global Warming	86	(1)
Climate Sensitivity of the Monsoon	87	(1)
Weakening of ENSO-Monsoon Relationships	88	(1)
Extreme Climatic Events	88	(1)
Cyclonic Storms, Monsoon Depressions and Low Pressure Systems	88	(1)
The Oceans around South Asia	89	(5)
Carbon-Nitrogen Cycling in the Aquatic Systems	89	(1)
Carbon	90	(1)
Methane	91	(1)
Nitrogen	92	(1)
Consequences of Global Change in South Asian Seas	93	(1)
Agriculture and Global Change in the Region	94	(7)
Current Agricultural Conditions and Practices	94	(2)
The Future	96	(5)
Worrisome Trends in the Bread-Basket Region of South Asia	101	(2)
Water in the Indo-Gangetic Plain	101	(2)
Conclusions	103	(6)
References	104	(5)
Regional-Global Interactions in East Asia	109	(42)
Introduction	109	(5)
Characteristics of the Region	109	(1)
Central Questions	110	(1)
Principal Findings	110	(2)
Driving Forces for Environmental Change	112	(1)
An Integrated Framework for Understanding Global Change	112	(1)
The Concept of a General Monsoon System	113	(1)
Conclusions	114	(1)
The Atmosphere, Climate Variability and Change	114	(7)
Climate Variability	114	(1)
ENSO Variability	114	(1)
Palaeomonsoons	115	(1)
Abrupt Climatic Changes	116	(2)
Past and Future Trends	118	(2)
Human Influences and Impacts	120	(1)
Land-Ocean Interactions	121	(8)
Oceanic Consequence of EI Nino	121	(1)
Coastal Processes and Sea-Level Changes	122	(1)
River Discharge	123	(1)
Impact on Water Resources	124	(1)
Cycles of Carbon and Nutrients	125	(1)
Marine Biota Changes	126	(3)
Impact of Sea-Level Rise on the Coastal Zone	129	(1)
Terrestrial Ecosystems in East Asia	129	(11)
Natural Land Cover	130	(3)
Cropland Systems	133	(3)
Urban Expansion	136	(1)
Impacts of Climate Change	136	(3)
Potential Vulnerability to Climate Change	139	(1)
Land Use and Cover Changes, Human Interactions and Climate	140	(5)
Conclusions	145	(6)
Acknowledgement	146	(1)
References	147	(4)
Global Change and Development: a Synthesis for Southeast Asia	151	(34)
The Global Change-Development Nexus	151	(1)
Cities and Industrial Transformation	152	(7)
Industrialisation and Globalisation	152	(1)
Urbanisation and Population Growth	152	(3)
Energy Consumption	155	(1)
Atmospheric Pollution	156	(2)
Sustainable Cities and Industrial Transformation	158	(1)
Terrestrial Ecosystems	159	(11)
Land-Use and -Cover Change: Patterns and Processes	159	(1)
Agricultural Expansion and Intensification	160	(4)
Water Demand and Supply	164	(1)
Upland Agriculture and Complex Agro-Ecosystems	165	(1)
Tropical Forests and Plantations	166	(3)
Sustainable Land Development Strategies	169	(1)
Coastal and Marine Systems	170	(3)
Effects of Land-Based Activities on Coastal Biogeochemistry	170	(1)
Mangroves and Shrimp Aquaculture	171	(2)
Coastal and Marine Ecosystems	173	(1)
Climate Variability and Change	173	(2)
Current Variability	173	(1)
History	173	(1)
The Future	174	(1)
Regional Development	175	(2)
Human Development and Socio-Political Transformation	175	(1)
Common Pool Sinks	176	(1)
Shared Resources and Human Security	176	(1)
Regional and Global Cooperation and the Environment	177	(1)
Conclusions	177	(8)
Acknowledgements	180	(1)
References	180	(5)
Summary and Conclusions	185	(4)
Southern Africa	185	(1)
South Asia	186	(1)
East Asia	187	(1)
Southeast Asia	187	(1)
Some Final Thoughts	188	(1)
Acknowledgements	189	(2)
Index	191