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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
161

Impact of Land Use and Climate Change on Hydrological Ecosystem Services (Water Supply) in the Dryland Area of the Middle Reaches of the Yellow River

Zhang, Lulu 08 October 2015 (has links)
Driven by many factors, the water supply services (streamflow and groundwater) of many rivers in the dryland area of China have declined significantly. This aggravates the inherent severe water shortages and results in increased severity in the water use conflicts that are threatening sustainable development in the region. Innovative strategies towards more water-efficient land management are vital for enhancing water quantity to ensure water supply security. A key step in the successful development and implementation of such measures is to understand the response of hydrological processes and related services to changes in land management and climate. To this end, it was decided to investigate these processes and responses in the upper reaches of the Jing River (Jinghe), an important meso-scale watershed in the middle reaches of the Yellow River on the Loess Plateau (NW China). It has been shown that vegetation restoration efforts (planting trees and grass) are effective in controlling soil erosion on the Loess Plateau. Shifts in land cover/use lead to modifications of soil physical properties. Yet, it remains unclear if the hydraulic properties have also been improved by vegetation restoration. A better understanding of how vegetation restoration alters soil structure and related soil hydraulic properties, such as water conductivity and soil water storage capacity, is necessary. Three adjacent sites, with comparable soil texture, soil type, and topography but contrasting land cover (Black locust forest, grassland, and cropland), were investigated in a small catchment in the upstream Jinghe watershed (near Jingchuan, Gansu province). Seasonal variations of soil hydraulic properties in topsoil and subsoil were examined. Results revealed that the type of land use had a significant impact on field-saturated, near-saturated hydraulic conductivity, and soil water characteristics. Specifically, conversion from cropland to grass or forests promotes infiltration capacity as a result of increased saturated hydraulic conductivity, air capacity, and macroporosity. Moreover, conversion from cropland to forest tends to promote the formation of mesopores that increase soil water storage capacity. Tillage in cropland temporarily created well-structured topsoil, but also compacted subsoil, as indicated by low subsoil saturated hydraulic conductivity, air capacity, and plant available water capacity. An impact of land cover conversion on unsaturated hydraulic conductivities was not identified, indicating that changes in land cover do not affect functional meso- and microporosity. Changes in soil hydraulic properties and associated hydrological processes and services due to soil conservation efforts need to be considered, should soil conservation measures be implemented in water-limited regions for sustaining adequate water supply. To differentiate between the impacts of land management and climate change on streamflow, the variation of annual streamflow, precipitation, potential evapotranspiration, and climatic water balance in a small catchment of the upstream Jinghe watershed (near Pingliang, Gansu province) was examined during the period of 1955 – 2004. During this time the relative contributions of changes in land management and climate to the reduction of streamflow were estimated. A statistically significant decreasing trend of -1.14 mm y-1 in annual streamflow was detected. Furthermore, an abrupt streamflow reduction due to afforestation and construction of terraces and check-dams was identified around 1980. Remarkably, 74% of the total reduction in mean annual streamflow can be attributed to the soil conservation measures. Among various conservation measures, streamflow could be considerably reduced by afforestation and terracing (including damland creation), due to their low contribution to water yield. In contrast, slope farmland and grassland can maintain a certain level of water supply services due to higher runoff coefficients. According to a meta-analysis of the published studies on the Loess Plateau, the impact of changes in land management on annual streamflow appears to diminish with increasing catchment size while the impact of climate change appears uniform across space. This means that there is a dependency between the catchment size and the response of hydrological processes to environmental change. At least at the local scale, it appears that well-considered land management may help to ensure the water supply services. Due to limited surface water availability, groundwater is an essential water source for supporting ecosystem and socio-economic development in the dryland region. However, the groundwater process is susceptible and vulnerable to changes in climate and landscape (i.e., land cover and form) that in turn can result in profound adverse consequences on water supply services in water-limited regions. In addition, an improved understanding of the response of groundwater related processes to natural and artificial disturbances is likely to ensure more secure and more sustainable governance and management of such regions, as well as better options for adapting to climate change. Yet, this topic has seldom been researched, especially in areas that have already experienced large-scale alteration in landscape and are located in dryland regions, such as the Loess Plateau. Therefore, an investigation of the baseflow variation along the landscape change was conducted. The average annual baseflow has significantly decreased at catchment scale during the period of 1962 – 2002 without any obvious significant change in climate. At decadal scale, the reduction accounts for approximately 9% in the 1970s, 48% in the 1980s, and 92% in the 1990s, while the baseflow index declines averaging 5%, 16% and 67%, respectively. All of the monthly baseflow levels dropped at varying rates except in January, among which July was the most severe in terms of both magnitude (-4.17) and slope (-0.09 mm y-1). In perspective of landscape change, landform change (terrace and check-dam) tends to reduce baseflow by reallocation of surface fluxes and retention for crop growth causing limited deep drainage in other areas. Land cover change (i.e., afforestation) reduced the baseflow to a larger extent by enhanced evapotranspiration and thus hampered deep drainage as suggested by the soil moisture measurement underneath. The study indicates that knowledge about baseflow formation on catchment scale needs further improvement. Integrated soil conservation and water management for optimizing landscape structure and function in order to balance soil (erosion) and water (supply) related hydrological ecosystem services is vital. The governing processes to the changes of water-supply-services-related hydrological process (e.g., streamflow) are assumed to be different across space. To this end, the factors controlling streamflow were investigated on both a small and large scale. Streamflow in small catchments was found to be mainly controlled by precipitation and land cover type. On a larger scale, evaporative demand was found to be another additional major driving force. Hydrological modeling is a frequently used tool for the assessment of impacts of land use and climate change on water balance and water fluxes. However, application of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model in the upstream Jinghe watershed was unsuccessful due to difficulties in calibration. The inability of the SWAT model to take the influence of terraces on steep slopes into consideration and the method how to calculate lateral flow were the main reasons for unsatisfactory calibration, at least for the current version of SWAT used in this study. Alternatively, Budyko’s frameworks were applied to predict the annual and long-term streamflow. However, the effect of changes in land management (e.g., afforestation) on streamflow could not be assessed due to a lack of vegetation factors. Therefore, an empirical analysis tool was derived based on an existing relationship for estimation. This method was found to be the most effective in reproducing the annual and long-term streamflow. The incorporation of temporal changes in land cover and form in the approach enables the estimation of the possible impact of soil conservation measures (e.g., afforestation or terracing). The importance of adaptive land management strategies for mitigating water shortage and securing the water supply services on the Loess Plateau was highlighted. A cross-sectoral view of the multiple services offered by managed ecosystems at different spatial scales under changing environments needs to be integrated to improve adaptive land management policy. In a water limited environment, such as the Loess Plateau, multiple ecosystem services including hydrological services need to be balanced with minimum trade-offs. This can only be achieved when management is based on a holistic understanding of the interdependencies among various ecosystem services and how they might change under alternative land management.
162

Análisis de correlación y teleconexión entre las precipitaciones extremas recurrentes del norte del Perú y anomalías de temperatura superficial del mar / Correlation analysis and teleconnection between sea surface temperature anomalies and extreme rainfall occurred in North of Peru

Rojas Alban, Geraldine Sherezade 21 January 2022 (has links)
La costa norte del Perú es una de las regiones con más impacto negativo por las inundaciones a causa de los eventos de lluvias extremas. El fenómeno del Niño de los años de 1982 – 1983, 1998 y 2017 ocasionaron innumerables pérdidas en infraestructura, se considera que este evento es producto del incremento inusual de la temperatura superficial del mar (TSM). El análisis de la teleconexión entre las anomalías de temperatura superficial del mar (ATSM) y las precipitaciones máximas (PPmáx) que ocurrieron en la costa norte del Perú (Tumbes, Piura y Lambayeque) tiene como objetivo describir la tendencia del comportamiento de las ATSM en relación con las lluvias de gran escala. Para esto se utilizaron correlaciones cruzadas con aplicación de desfases temporales a fin de encontrar la intensidad en la que se asocian las ATSM y las PPmáx. Los datos para la obtención de las PPmáx se extrajeron del producto grillado Piscop, el cual usa como base de información y calibración los registros de las estaciones meteorológicas. En tanto que, para la obtención de las ATSM se extrajeron datos de ERA5-ECMWF calibrado mediante estaciones oceanográficas. Del análisis se observó que las precipitaciones máximas que se registran en la región norte del Perú presentan mayor asociación y significancia menor o igual a 5% cuando se aplican desplazamientos temporales a las ATSM, de 1 mes para puntos ubicados en las regiones NIÑO 1 y NIÑO 2, y de 3 meses para puntos ubicados en las regiones NIÑO 3 y NIÑO 4. Finalmente, la mayor asociación se origina entre las variaciones inusuales de TSM producidas en el Punto de ATSM 3.3 y las PPmáx con desplazamientos temporales de 3 meses. / The north coast of Peru is one of the most negative impact regions by floods due to extreme rain events. "El Niño" effect in 1982-1983, 1998, and 2017 years was caused innumerable losses in infrastructure, that event is considered as a product of an unusual increase in sea surface temperature. Analysis of teleconnection between sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTA) and extreme rainfall (ER) which occurred on the north coast of Peru (Tumbes, Piura y Lambayeque) to describe tren of the behavior of SSTA to large-scale rainfalls. For that reason, cross-correlations with an application of time lags were used to find the intensity in which SSTA and ER are associated. The data for obtaining ER were extracted from the Piscop grilled product, which is based on information and calibration of records of meteorological stations. While obtaining SSTA was extracted from ERA5- ECMWF calibrated by oceanographic stations. From the analysis was observed that maximum precipitations that are recorded on the north coast of Peru present a greater association and significance less than or equal to 5% when time-lag is applied to SSTA, for 1 month for points ubicated in regions NIÑO 1 and NIÑO 2, and for 3 months points ubicated in regions NIÑO 3 and NIÑO 4. Finally, the greatest association originates between an unusual variation of SST produced in 3.3 SSTA point and ER whit a time-lag of 3 months. / Tesis
163

Impact of climate oscillations/indices on hydrological variables in the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer.

Raju, Meena 13 May 2022 (has links) (PDF)
The Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer (MRVAA) is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the United States. The main objectives of this research are to identify long term trends and change points in hydrological variables (streamflow and rainfall), to assess the relationship between hydrological variables, and to evaluate the influence of global climate indices on hydrological variables. Non-parametric tests, MMK and Pettitt’s tests were used to analyze trend and change points. PCC and Streamflow elasticity analysis were used to analyze the relationship between streamflow and rainfall and the sensitivity of streamflow to rainfall changes. PCC and MLR analysis were used to evaluate the relationship between climate indices and hydrological variables and the combined effect of climate indices with hydrological variables. The results of the trend analysis indicated spatial variability within the aquifer, increase in streamflow and rainfall in the Northern region of the aquifer, while a decrease was observed in the southern region of the aquifer. Change point analysis of annual maximum, annual mean streamflow and annual precipitation revealed that statistically decreasing shifts occurred in 2001, 1998 and 1995, respectively. Results of PCC analysis indicated that streamflow and rainfall has a strong positive relationship between them with PCC values more than 0.6 in most of the locations within the basin. Results of the streamflow elasticity for the locations ranged from 0.987 to 2.33 for the various locations in the basin. Results of the PCC analysis for monthly maximum and mean streamflow showed significant maximum positive correlation coefficient for Nino 3.4. Monthly maximum rainfall showed a maximum significant positive correlation coefficient for PNA and Nino3.4 and the monthly mean rainfall showed a maximum significant positive correlation coefficient of 0.18 for Nino3.4. Results of the MLR analysis showed a maximum significant positive correlation coefficient of 0.31 for monthly maximum and mean streamflow of 0.21 and 0.23 for monthly maximum and mean rainfall, respectively. Overall, results from this research will help in understanding the impacts of global climate indices on rainfall and subsequently on streamflow discharge, so as to mitigate and manage water resource availability in the MRVAA underlying the LMRB.
164

Cereal grain yield responses to fertilizer management in sandy soil in a long-term fertilizer experiment in Northeast Germany

Thai, Thi Huyen 15 September 2023 (has links)
Langzeitdüngungsversuche (LTFE) sind für die Agrarforschung von entscheidender Bedeutung, da sie dokumentieren, überwachen, lernen und zeigen können, was in der Vergangenheit geschehen ist, und mit Hilfe von Vorhersagemodellen vorhersagen und simulieren können, was in Zukunft geschehen wird. Diese Modelle dienen dazu, zukünftiges Pflanzenwachstum unter verschiedenen Klima- und Bewirtschaftungsszenarien abzuschätzen und so Entscheidungsprozesse zu unterstützen. In diese Studie wurden die Reaktionen der Getreideerträge auf das Düngermanagement in Sandböden in einem LTFE (1971 bis 2016) in Nordostdeutschland analysiert. Die Ziele dieser Studie waren a) die Analyse der Ertragsreaktionen von Sommergerste, Winterroggen und Winterweizen auf das Düngemanagement, b) die Analyse der Sensitivität der Ertragsreaktionen auf den Zeitpunkt von Wetterereignissen und c) der Vergleich verschiedener Analysemodelle. Die Studie ergab, dass die Reaktion der Getreideerträge auf das Düngermanagement von komplexen Beziehungen zwischen Klimaabhängigkeit, Vorfrucht und Bodeneigenschaften beeinflusst wurde. Die Witterungsbedingungen bei der Aussaat und in den frühen Wachstumsstadien des Getreides beeinflusste den Kornertrag. Bei Wintergetreide waren die Intensität und Dauer der extremen Temperaturen im Sommer, insbesondere die Anzahl der Tage mit einer Höchsttemperatur von über 30°C im Juli, eine wichtige Variable für den Ertrag. Unter den untersuchten Modellen zeigte das LMM-Modell eine bessere Vorhersageleistung als das M5P-Modell, und beide hatten umfangreichere Regressoren als die ANOVA und die BMA. Das M5P-Modell bot eine intuitive Visualisierung wichtiger Variablen und ihrer kritischen Schwellenwerte und offenbarte andere Variablen, die vom LMM-Modell nicht erfasst wurden. Die Ergebnisse dieser Analyse tragen zu umfassenden Strategien für eine nachhaltige Pflanzenproduktion im Hinblick auf den zukünftigen Klimawandel bei. / Long-term fertilizer experiments (LTFEs) are essential for agricultural research as they provide necessary information and data to build predictive models. These models can be used to estimate future plant growth under different climate and management scenarios to support decision-making processes. The current study analyzed cereal grain yield responses to fertilizer management in sandy soil in a LTFE (1971 to 2016) in Northeast Germany. The objectives of this study were to a) analyze yield responses of spring barley), winter rye, and winter wheat to fertilizer management, b) analyze the sensitivity of yield responses to timing of weather events, and c) compare different analysis models. The study revealed that cereal yield response to fertilizer management was influenced by complex relationships among climatic dependence, preceding crop, and soil characteristics. Weather conditions at seeding and early growth stages of cereal were found to be sensitive to grain yield. For winter cereals, the intensity and duration of extreme temperatures in the summertime (harvest year), especially the number of days recorded with a maximum temperature above 30°C in July was an important variable for the yield. Among the investigated models, LMM-model had a better predictive performance compared to M5P-model and both had richer regressors than the ANOVA and BMA-model. The M5P-model presented an intuitive visualization of important variables and their critical thresholds, and revealed other variables that were not captured by the LMM-model. The findings of this analysis contribute to comprehensive strategies for sustainable crop production with regard to future climate change.
165

Climate change and agricultural production in Limpopo Province : impacts and adaptation options

Maponya, Phokele Isaac 12 1900 (has links)
The primary aim of my research was to identify the impacts and adaptation options of climate variability and change on agricultural production in Limpopo province. The following objectives were identified: To understand the impacts of climate variability and change on agricultural production in Limpopo province , To assess the impacts of climate variability and change on agricultural production in Limpopo province and To identify adaptation measures that reduces the impacts of climate variability and change on agricultural production in Limpopo province. A representative sample of 300 farmers aged 16- 65+ years (46 percent males and 54 percent females) participated in the study. The study involved Sekhukhune and Capricorn districts, with 56 percent farmers in Capricorn and 44 percent in Sekhukhune district. The following 11 local municipalities were visited: Elias Motsoaledi, Makhuduthamaga, Fetakgomo, Ephraim Mogale, Tubatse, Lepelle Nkumpi, Blouberg, Aganang, Polokwane, and Molemole. The Limpopo province is one of the poorest provinces in the country, characterized by high unemployment rate, poverty and lack of access to a range of resources that frustrate majority of people ability to secure their livelihoods. In this study the province's economic, biological and physical environment were highlighted. The study further covers the province, s farming enterprises, systems, categories, infrastructure as well as other constraints that maybe facing the emerging farmer in the province. It is assumed that the majority of farmers in both the Capricorn and Sekhukhune districts are using different coping and adaptation strategies in order to increase their crop yields. Literature studies show that climate variability and change adaptation strategies vary from area to area due to agro ecological zones and the harshness of the effects of climate variability and change. It has also been noted that climate change is fast pushing the poorest and most marginalized communities beyond their capacity to respond. This study draws on lessons learned, experiences, and other existing research on climate change impacts and adaptation across the globe. It sets out what is needed to enable people living in poverty to adapt to climate change, and a range of interventions that are available across climate - sensitive sectors. The study has provided a literature review of the impact of climate change on the agricultural sector. In fact, it has documented some of the likely impacts of climate change based on International, continental, regional, national and provincial agricultural sector. The study highlighted the impact of climate change also on various climate - sensitive sectors including understanding water resources, forestry, natural ecosystem human health, infrastructure and coastal zones. This research also confirmed that being a full time farmer, gender, information on climate change, information received through extension services and adaptation to climate change are some of the important determinants of agricultural production, food scarcity and unemployment. A worrying situation is reviewed globally in this study and it can be concluded that climate variability and change is affecting every sector in society and it needs urgent attention. Statistics was used to determine climate variability and change impact on agricultural production. Results indicate that farmers are aware that Limpopo province is getting warmer and drier with increased frequency of droughts, changes in the timing of rains, observed trends oftemperature and precipitation. The study also presented perceived adaptation strategies used by farmers in Limpopo province. Some of their perceived adaptation strategies included: (a) Soil management strategies, (b) Water management strategies and (c) Others like use of subsidies and use of insurance. Other important adaptation options being used by farmers were also discussed in this study including different adaptation measures against colds, heat, frost, abnormal wind, hail, lack of extension support, nematodes, insecticides, worms, temperature and rainfall. The results of this study are potentially valuable to the agricultural sector considering the threats that climate change poses across climate sensitive sectors. / Environmental Sciences / D. Phil. (Environmental Management)
166

Effects of multi-scale rainfall variability on flood frequency : a comparative study of catchments in Perth, Newcastle and Darwin, Australia

Samuel, Jos Martinus January 2008 (has links)
Issues arising from climate change and long-term natural climate variability have become the focus of much recent research. In this study, we specifically explore the impacts of long-term climate variability and climate changes upon flood frequencies. The analyses of the flood frequencies are carried out in a comparative manner in catchments located in semiarid-temperate and tropical landscapes in Australia, namely Perth, Newcastle and Darwin, using a process-based derived flood frequency approach. The derived flood frequency analyses are carried out using deterministic rainfall-runoff models that capture the intrinsic water balance variability in the study catchments, and driven by temporal rainfall event sequences that are generated by a stochastic rainfall model that incorporates temporal variabilities over a multiplicity of time scales, ranging from within-event, between-event to seasonal, multi-annual and multi-decadal time scales. Six climate scenarios are considered for Newcastle, that combine the ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation) and IPO (Inter-decadal Pacific Oscillation) modes of variability, and six different climate scenarios are considered for Perth and Darwin that combine these different ENSO modes and step changes in climate (upwards or downwards) that occurred in 1970 in both regions, which were identified through statistical analysis. The results of the analyses showed that La Niña years cause higher annual maximum floods compared to El Niño and Neutral years in all three catchments. The impact of ENSO on annual maximum floods in the Newcastle catchment is enhanced when the IPO is negative and for Perth, the impact of ENSO weakens in the post-1970 period, while it strengthens in Darwin in the same period. In addition, the results of sensitivity and scenario analyses with the derived flood frequency model explored the change of dominant runoff generation processes contributing to floods in each of the study catchments. These analyses highlighted a switch from subsurface stormflow to saturation excess runoff with a change of return period, which was much more pronounced in Perth and Darwin, and not so in Newcastle. In Perth and Darwin this switch was caused by the interactions between the out-of-phase seasonal variabilities of rainfall and potential evaporation, whereas the seasonality was much weaker in Newcastle. On the other hand, the combination of higher rainfall intensities and shallower soil depths led to saturation excess runoff being the dominant mechanism in Newcastle across the full range of return periods. Consequently, within-storm rainfall intensity patterns were important in Newcastle in all major flood producing events (all return periods), where they were only important in Perth and Darwin for floods of high return periods, which occur during wet months in wet years, when saturation excess runoff was the dominant mechanism. Additionally, due to the possibility of a change of process from subsurface stormflow to saturation excess when conditions suited this switch, the estimates of flood frequency are highly uncertain especially at high return periods (in Darwin and Perth) and much less in Newcastle (when no process change was involved).
167

Atmospheric Variability in Sulawesi, Indonesia / Regional Atmospheric Model Results and Observations / Atmosphärische Variabilität in Sulawesi, Indonesien / Ergebnisse und Beobachtungen zum regionalen, atmosphärischen Modell

Gunawan, Dodo 01 December 2006 (has links)
No description available.
168

Teleconnection, Modeling, Climate Anomalies Impact and Forecasting of Rainfall and Streamflow of the Upper Blue Nile River Basin

Elsanabary, Mohamed Helmy Mahmoud Moustafa Unknown Date
No description available.
169

The impact of climate change on agricultural crop production in the Vhembe District Municipality, Limpopo Province South Africa

Musetha, Mboniseni Aubrey 09 1900 (has links)
The aim of this research was to identify the impacts and adaptation options of climate variability and change on agricultural crop production in Vhembe District Municipality. The study will contribute to the expansion of existing literature on climate change impacts on agricultural sector. The following two main objectives were formulated for the purpose of this study:  To determine the level of awareness of small-scale maize farmers about climate change impacts and threats in Vhembe District Municipality (VDM),  To compare the level of production scales between the farmers who are aware and the farmers who are not aware of climate change impacts and its threats. The study area was the Vhembe District Municipality; a representative sample of 150 farmers (aged 18 – 65+ years, 46 percent males and 54 percent females) participated in the study. Vhembe District Municipality is one of poorest municipalities in Limpopo due to lack of infrastructure development, and as a result of that, there is an increase of socio-economic problems such as food prices increase, unemployment, scarcity of food, and lack of local markets. The study further covers the municipality’s farming enterprises, systems, categories, infrastructure as well as other constraints that may be facing the emerging farmer in the District. The study highlighted the lack of climate change information, reduction of livestock production and crop yields of the farmers in the Vhembe District. The literature studies show climate variability and change adaptation strategies such as planting different varieties, crop diversification, different planting dates and shortening of growing periods. This study draws on lessons learned, experiences, and other existing research on climate change impact and adaptation across the globe. It was concluded during the research that change in climate was already perceived by farmers in the Vhembe District and the study also presented perceived adaptation strategies used by farmers in the Vhembe District. The study concludes that there is lack of local market, and low level of farmers’ awareness about the impact of climate change on the crop production in the Vhembe district. This low level of awareness translates into a low level of crop production which results in increased socio-economic problems, low income, increased unemployment, increased crops diseases and reduced crop yields. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Management)
170

Climate change and agricultural production in Limpopo Province : impacts and adaptation options

Maponya, Phokele Isaac 12 1900 (has links)
The primary aim of my research was to identify the impacts and adaptation options of climate variability and change on agricultural production in Limpopo province. The following objectives were identified: To understand the impacts of climate variability and change on agricultural production in Limpopo province , To assess the impacts of climate variability and change on agricultural production in Limpopo province and To identify adaptation measures that reduces the impacts of climate variability and change on agricultural production in Limpopo province. A representative sample of 300 farmers aged 16- 65+ years (46 percent males and 54 percent females) participated in the study. The study involved Sekhukhune and Capricorn districts, with 56 percent farmers in Capricorn and 44 percent in Sekhukhune district. The following 11 local municipalities were visited: Elias Motsoaledi, Makhuduthamaga, Fetakgomo, Ephraim Mogale, Tubatse, Lepelle Nkumpi, Blouberg, Aganang, Polokwane, and Molemole. The Limpopo province is one of the poorest provinces in the country, characterized by high unemployment rate, poverty and lack of access to a range of resources that frustrate majority of people ability to secure their livelihoods. In this study the province's economic, biological and physical environment were highlighted. The study further covers the province, s farming enterprises, systems, categories, infrastructure as well as other constraints that maybe facing the emerging farmer in the province. It is assumed that the majority of farmers in both the Capricorn and Sekhukhune districts are using different coping and adaptation strategies in order to increase their crop yields. Literature studies show that climate variability and change adaptation strategies vary from area to area due to agro ecological zones and the harshness of the effects of climate variability and change. It has also been noted that climate change is fast pushing the poorest and most marginalized communities beyond their capacity to respond. This study draws on lessons learned, experiences, and other existing research on climate change impacts and adaptation across the globe. It sets out what is needed to enable people living in poverty to adapt to climate change, and a range of interventions that are available across climate - sensitive sectors. The study has provided a literature review of the impact of climate change on the agricultural sector. In fact, it has documented some of the likely impacts of climate change based on International, continental, regional, national and provincial agricultural sector. The study highlighted the impact of climate change also on various climate - sensitive sectors including understanding water resources, forestry, natural ecosystem human health, infrastructure and coastal zones. This research also confirmed that being a full time farmer, gender, information on climate change, information received through extension services and adaptation to climate change are some of the important determinants of agricultural production, food scarcity and unemployment. A worrying situation is reviewed globally in this study and it can be concluded that climate variability and change is affecting every sector in society and it needs urgent attention. Statistics was used to determine climate variability and change impact on agricultural production. Results indicate that farmers are aware that Limpopo province is getting warmer and drier with increased frequency of droughts, changes in the timing of rains, observed trends oftemperature and precipitation. The study also presented perceived adaptation strategies used by farmers in Limpopo province. Some of their perceived adaptation strategies included: (a) Soil management strategies, (b) Water management strategies and (c) Others like use of subsidies and use of insurance. Other important adaptation options being used by farmers were also discussed in this study including different adaptation measures against colds, heat, frost, abnormal wind, hail, lack of extension support, nematodes, insecticides, worms, temperature and rainfall. The results of this study are potentially valuable to the agricultural sector considering the threats that climate change poses across climate sensitive sectors. / Environmental Sciences / D. Phil. (Environmental Management)

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