1.2 - Climate Change and Coral Reefs
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Effects of Climate Change on Coral Reefs
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Today, we're going to explore the impacts of climate change on coral reefs. To start off, can anyone tell me why coral reefs are important?
They provide habitats for many marine species!
Correct! Coral reefs support a rich diversity of marine life. However, climate change leads to coral bleaching. Who knows what coral bleaching is?
It happens when coral expels the algae living in them due to stress from heat or pollution.
Exactly! Remember the acronym 'BLEACH' for Coral Bleaching: B for Bleach, L for Loss of algae, E for Environmental stress, A for Algae expulsion, C for Coral death, and H for Habitat loss. Let's now discuss how this connects with communities living near coral reefs.
How do communities depend on coral reefs?
Great question! Coral reefs provide food, tourism, and protection against storms. Let's summarize: coral reefs are vital ecosystems, and their degradation affects both marine life and local human communities.
Cultural Impact of Climate Change
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Now let’s discuss the cultural impacts of climate change, particularly among indigenous communities in the Philippines. What might happen to their traditional way of life?
They might have to change their farming methods due to changing weather patterns.
Absolutely! Adjusting farming practices is essential. There's a framework called 'Cultural Environment' that helps analyze these changes. Can anyone summarize what cultural identity means?
It includes traditions, languages, and communal practices.
Spot on! Cultural identity is influenced by the environment and vice versa. For instance, rice harvesting practices in mountain regions reflect cultural traditions while adapting to changes in climate. Let’s recap: climate change not only affects the environment but also shapes cultural identity and practices.
Negotiation and Resource Sharing
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Finally, let’s discuss how traditional practices promote cooperation in communities. Member cooperation is vital for resource management like water rights. What role do rituals play here?
They help to bring the community together and discuss important issues, right?
Exactly! Rituals like communal feasts reinforce social ties and facilitate discussions about shared resources. Remember the phrase ‘share to care.’ Why do you think sharing wealth is crucial in these cultures?
Because it maintains balance and supports those who are less fortunate.
Precisely! Sharing ensures communal support, especially during agricultural harvests. In summary, negotiation and cooperation are essential in maintaining community identity and adapting to climate challenges.
Introduction & Overview
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Quick Overview
Standard
Climate change impacts both coral reefs and the cultural practices of communities, such as those in the Philippines. The section highlights how various environmental changes influence local economies, lifestyles, and cultural identity, emphasizing the importance of understanding these interconnections for disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation.
Detailed
Climate Change and Coral Reefs
This section delves into the dual impacts of climate change on cultural practices and natural ecosystems like coral reefs. It highlights that while certain weather changes, like reduced snow cover, can have both negative (health impacts, environmental change) and positive outcomes (potential for multiple crops), the same complexity applies to coral reefs. The discussion is broadened through the lens of Filipino cultural identities, particularly among indigenous and traditional settlements. A framework is explored that connects cultural identity and environmental vulnerability, particularly focusing on how different ethnic groups in the Philippines adapt to changing environmental conditions. Community practices, especially related to agriculture like rice production and resource sharing (water rights), are interwoven with cultural rituals that further bind the community together. In conclusion, the section stresses the significance of understanding these relationships in the delineation of disaster risk reduction strategies and the broader implications of climate change on cultural identity.
Audio Book
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Impact of Climate Change on Snow Cover
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Chapter Content
So earlier it was 8 months snow cover, now it is six months, now it is gradually reducing. So they have both positive and negative impacts.
Detailed Explanation
This chunk discusses the gradual reduction in snow cover over the years. Initially, regions might have experienced 8 months of snow cover, but that has decreased to 6 months, indicating a shift likely due to climate change. This shift has both positive and negative impacts. On one hand, less snow means that farmers might benefit from an additional growing season and potentially increase crop yields. On the other hand, this also leads to higher temperatures, which can affect health and lifestyle in communities that dependent on consistent weather patterns.
Examples & Analogies
Think of a farmer who used to rely on the winter snow for irrigation in spring. With less snow, they might be thrilled to plant crops earlier—like getting a head start in a race. However, if it gets too warm, the faster growth can lead to drought, making it harder to win the race later when the crops need water.
Coral Reefs and Climate Change
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Chapter Content
So similarly the climate change like what you can see is the coral reefs, which has a negative and positive impacts and no effect on the global level.
Detailed Explanation
This chunk highlights the relationship between climate change and coral reefs. Climate change brings both negative and positive impacts to coral reefs, but the overall effect may not necessarily be visible on a global scale. For instance, while some coral reefs may experience bleaching—resulting in loss of marine biodiversity due to rising sea temperatures—other reefs may thrive under new conditions, displaying resilience. However, the net effect is often one of decline, creating a stark challenge for marine ecosystems.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine a neighborhood where some homes flourish due to landscaping and care, while others fall apart after a storm. The neighborhood overall seems fine but beneath the surface, the homes that are in disrepair could lead to larger issues, such as decreased property values, just like how coral reefs can affect wider marine health despite individual successes.
Scale of Data in Climate Discussions
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Chapter Content
So this is where the DRR and climate change have a the data itself talks in a 2 different scales.
Detailed Explanation
This chunk explains that discussions around Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and climate change can be understood at different spatial and data scales. For example, data on coral reef impacts may provide global insights, while snow cover data can reflect localized environmental changes. Thus, when analyzing climate data, it is crucial to recognize how the impacts may vary depending on whether they’re viewed at a global or local level.
Examples & Analogies
Consider a video game that allows you to play in different modes. In 'global mode', you see the entire universe and how each planet might be affected by asteroids. In 'local mode', you're zoomed in on a particular town where the town center may be bustling, but issues exist in the outskirts. Understanding climate impacts works in a similar way; you can perceive both the broad and detailed messages.
Key Concepts
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Coral Reefs: Vital ecosystems that support marine biodiversity.
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Climate Change: Long-term changes in the global climate impacting ecosystems and human activities.
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Cultural Identity: Shared traditions and practices that shape a community.
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Resource Management: Cooperative practices among communities to manage shared resources.
Examples & Applications
The impact of decreased snow cover leads to farmers potentially growing extra crops, but it also brings negative health impacts.
Traditional rice harvesting practices in mountain communities integrate cultural rituals that foster community cooperation and resource sharing.
Memory Aids
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Rhymes
Corals bright, but when they fight, out goes algae, and they lose their light.
Stories
In a small coastal village, the elders held a feast every harvest season, not only to celebrate but to discuss water rights and share stories of the past, ensuring their traditions survived against changing tides.
Memory Tools
C-R-E-E-P: Coral, Resilience, Environment, Ecosystems, People - essential connections to remember.
Acronyms
SHARe
for Share resources
for Help each other
for Adapt to change
for Rituals that bind community
for Engage in cooperation.
Flash Cards
Glossary
- Coral Bleaching
The expulsion of algae by coral due to stress from environmental changes, leading to the loss of color and vitality in coral reefs.
- Cultural Identity
The shared characteristics, traditions, languages, and practices that define a community or cultural group.
- Indigenous Settlements
Communities that maintain traditional lifestyles and cultural practices, often closely connected to their natural environment.
- Resource Sharing
The practice of distributing and managing shared resources within a community, often reinforced through cultural rituals.
- Climate Change
Long-term alterations in temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, and other elements of the Earth's climate system.
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