ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY • CLIMATE IMPACTS
climate change impacts guide
LOSS OF TOPSOIL
• Extreme heat: Heat dries out soil,
making it more vulnerable to wind
erosion.
• Extreme weather events: Hurricanes
and flooding can damage crops and
wash away soil.
• Changing rainfall patterns: Periods
without rainfall can dry out soil, making
it more vulnerable to wind erosion.
Heavy rainfall can wash soil away.
• Rising sea level: Rising tides along
coastal waterways can wash soil away.
FUNGUS INVATION IN CORN CROP
• Changing rainfall patterns: Long
periods of heavy rain create ideal
circumstances for fungal diseases to
flourish and damage crops.
SALTWATER CONTAMINATION OF
FRESHWATER SUPPLY
• Rising sea level: A higher ocean tidal
range can introduce saltwater into
groundwater supplies.
INCREASE IN A CROP’S WATER NEEDS
• Extreme heat: Heat dries out soil.
• Changing rainfall patterns: Periods
with low rainfall can dry out soil.
HIGHER FOOD PRICES
• Extreme heat: Damage from heat-tol-
erant weed species can lead to crop
losses.
• Extreme weather events: Droughts,
hurricanes, and flooding can erode soil
and damage crops.
• Changing rainfall patterns: Dry periods
and heavy rains can erode soil and
damage crops.
• Rising sea level: Rising tides can erode
soil, higher salinity can damage crops.
DEPLETION OF FRESHWATER
RESOURCES FOR IRRIGATION
• Extreme heat: Higher temperatures
increase the evaporation rate.
Freshwater in rivers, lakes, and
groundwater may become depleted
if it evaporates faster than it is
replenished.
• Changing rainfall patterns: Periods
with low rainfall can cause freshwater
sources to dry up.
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