As I was researching topics for this week’s blog, I came across a topic that is quite interesting — the effects of and contributions to climate change of the Congo River.
When thinking about this topic, it may seem counterintuitive for those of us with little geology/climate science background to conceive of the fact that a river can be a major contributor to climate change, however, this is what I have found in my research this week.
I’ll start by discussing some of the major detriments to the Congo River that are caused by climate change. Environmental degradation and exploitation of natural resources has been detrimental to the vitality of the Congo and the communities that depend on it. According to one source, “The [Congo] river basin is home to the second largest tropical rainforest which triggers 75 to 95% of the rainfall generated in the region through a massive movement of water vapor. These trees represent a carbon sink 20 to 50 times larger than land put to agricultural use” (Rosen, 2013).
As trees are removed, there is a net increase in atmospheric CO2 and a reduction in rainfall, similar to that which was seen in Amazonia and Indonesia, which have recently been plagued by drought. This could affect the volume of water in the river basin, as well as creating the potential for flooding, as forest root systems are necessary for retaining rainwater supplies to prevent flooding.
Perhaps counterintuitively, the Congo River also contributes to climate change by emitting high levels of methane and carbon dioxide (as was mentioned before). The contemporary effects of climate change and contributions to climate change of the Congo River lead me to wonder how these trends will change in the future, as the populations living around the river grow. Specifically, the demands of agriculture, which will likely become increasingly intensive, are likely to be very influential in determining the ecological well-being of both the Congo River and those that depend on it for sustenance.
I am constantly amazed at the intricate and dynamic climate, biological, and other systems involved in determining coastal vitality. We are constantly pressuring our environment in many different ways, but it seems that, notwithstanding human influence, geological and water systems on earth are resilient and robust. In spite of this resilience, I believe it is important for humans to recognize our incredible dependence on the hydrosphere and protect it so that the world’s coastal regions, in addition to our own species, are able to thrive for generations.
References:
Climate Change and Its Impact on our World’s Rivers – Africa – Part Two
http://research.amnh.org/vz/ichthyology/congo/index_02.html
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