Article #5: 10/22/12
University of Colorado at Boulder. "Climate variability and conflict risk in
East Africa measured by researchers." ScienceDaily, 22 Oct. 2012. Web.
22 Oct. 2012.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121022162649.htm
Topic in Environmental Science: Climate
This article was about a study taken with the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder. The study was done to observe and figure out whether changes in rainfall and temperature leads to more conflict in certain areas of East Africa. Data was examined from nine countries in East Africa; Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda. The study took place between 1990 and 2009 and the research team observed the climate and the violent conflicts that occured within that time period. They also looked specifically at under what type of conditions the conflicts took place. The study revealed that there wasn't a climate effect on the conflicts in East Africa during the times of normal and dry precipitation or average and cool temperatures. Very hot weather however, was found to increase the risk of conflict while wet periods reduced the risk of conflict. It was found that the effects of climate on conflict varied in different countries, meaning the effects are different in Ethiopia than in Tanzania.
I chose this article because the topic of climate having an effect on peoples' actions is interesting to me. It was understandable that the hotter the weather was, the more risk for conflict because I know from personal experience that my mood is not great when I am too hot. I would like to know more about the study and see a more detailed report on the study.
Topic in Environmental Science: Climate
This article was about a study taken with the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder. The study was done to observe and figure out whether changes in rainfall and temperature leads to more conflict in certain areas of East Africa. Data was examined from nine countries in East Africa; Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda. The study took place between 1990 and 2009 and the research team observed the climate and the violent conflicts that occured within that time period. They also looked specifically at under what type of conditions the conflicts took place. The study revealed that there wasn't a climate effect on the conflicts in East Africa during the times of normal and dry precipitation or average and cool temperatures. Very hot weather however, was found to increase the risk of conflict while wet periods reduced the risk of conflict. It was found that the effects of climate on conflict varied in different countries, meaning the effects are different in Ethiopia than in Tanzania.
I chose this article because the topic of climate having an effect on peoples' actions is interesting to me. It was understandable that the hotter the weather was, the more risk for conflict because I know from personal experience that my mood is not great when I am too hot. I would like to know more about the study and see a more detailed report on the study.