Climate Change and the Future Heat Stress Challenges among Smallholder Farmers in East Africa
Agricultural production in sub-Saharan Africa remains dependent on high inputs of human labor, a situation associated with direct exposure to daylight heat during critical periods of the agricultural calendar. We ask the question: <i>how is the Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) going to be dis...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/7/753 |
| _version_ | 1797562310074564608 |
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| author | Genesis Tambang Yengoh Jonas Ardö |
| author_facet | Genesis Tambang Yengoh Jonas Ardö |
| author_sort | Genesis Tambang Yengoh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Agricultural production in sub-Saharan Africa remains dependent on high inputs of human labor, a situation associated with direct exposure to daylight heat during critical periods of the agricultural calendar. We ask the question: <i>how is the Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) going to be distributed in the future, and how will this affect the ability of smallholder farmers to perform agricultural activities?</i> Data from general circulation models are used to estimate the distribution of WBGT in 2000, 2050 and 2100, and for high activity periods in the agricultural calendar. The distribution of WBGT is divided into recommended maximum WBGT exposure levels (°C) at different work intensities, and rest/work ratios for an average acclimatized worker wearing light clothing (ISO, 18). High WBGTs are observed during the two periods of the East African. In February to March, eastern and coastal regions of Kenya and Tanzania witness high WBGT values—some necessitating up to 75% rest/hour work intensities in 2050 and 2100. In August to September, eastern and northern Kenya and north and central Uganda are vulnerable to high WBGT values. Designing policies to address this key challenge is a critical element in adaptation methods to address the impact of climate change. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:26:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2aa9c95ad57840b5b487aab73affb4c6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:26:27Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-2aa9c95ad57840b5b487aab73affb4c62023-11-20T06:55:47ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332020-07-0111775310.3390/atmos11070753Climate Change and the Future Heat Stress Challenges among Smallholder Farmers in East AfricaGenesis Tambang Yengoh0Jonas Ardö1Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies—LUCSUS, Lund University, Biskopsgatan 5, SE 223 62 Lund, SwedenDepartment of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, Lund University, Sölvegatan 12, SE 223 62 Lund, SwedenAgricultural production in sub-Saharan Africa remains dependent on high inputs of human labor, a situation associated with direct exposure to daylight heat during critical periods of the agricultural calendar. We ask the question: <i>how is the Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) going to be distributed in the future, and how will this affect the ability of smallholder farmers to perform agricultural activities?</i> Data from general circulation models are used to estimate the distribution of WBGT in 2000, 2050 and 2100, and for high activity periods in the agricultural calendar. The distribution of WBGT is divided into recommended maximum WBGT exposure levels (°C) at different work intensities, and rest/work ratios for an average acclimatized worker wearing light clothing (ISO, 18). High WBGTs are observed during the two periods of the East African. In February to March, eastern and coastal regions of Kenya and Tanzania witness high WBGT values—some necessitating up to 75% rest/hour work intensities in 2050 and 2100. In August to September, eastern and northern Kenya and north and central Uganda are vulnerable to high WBGT values. Designing policies to address this key challenge is a critical element in adaptation methods to address the impact of climate change.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/7/753climate changefarm workheat stressWBGTmitigationEast Africa |
| spellingShingle | Genesis Tambang Yengoh Jonas Ardö Climate Change and the Future Heat Stress Challenges among Smallholder Farmers in East Africa Atmosphere climate change farm work heat stress WBGT mitigation East Africa |
| title | Climate Change and the Future Heat Stress Challenges among Smallholder Farmers in East Africa |
| title_full | Climate Change and the Future Heat Stress Challenges among Smallholder Farmers in East Africa |
| title_fullStr | Climate Change and the Future Heat Stress Challenges among Smallholder Farmers in East Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Climate Change and the Future Heat Stress Challenges among Smallholder Farmers in East Africa |
| title_short | Climate Change and the Future Heat Stress Challenges among Smallholder Farmers in East Africa |
| title_sort | climate change and the future heat stress challenges among smallholder farmers in east africa |
| topic | climate change farm work heat stress WBGT mitigation East Africa |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/7/753 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT genesistambangyengoh climatechangeandthefutureheatstresschallengesamongsmallholderfarmersineastafrica AT jonasardo climatechangeandthefutureheatstresschallengesamongsmallholderfarmersineastafrica |