The Impact of Perception changes in Germany

The impact of perception changes in Germany varies from region to region. The intensity and frequency of precipitation have been affected by climate change, affecting catastrophic changes. In this post, we will read about some impacts.

perception changes in Germany have increased water evaporation and warmer oceans, leading to more storms all around the globe. Precipitation in Germany has increased by 11 percent since 1881, especially in winter. However, the rainfall has decreased in summer and many Federal States have become dryer. According to the German Meteorological Service (DWD) in July 2017, the rainiest month in Germany got back to 1881. Average rainfall has a direct effect on forest fire duration, especially in areas where warm temperatures cause early snow melting like the Alps. A month after the end of snow-melting, forests are vulnerable to fire and it would be difficult to stop these fires with less anticipated rain.

Perception changes in Germany have risen the sea level, leading to more storms and floods along the country’s North Sea and Baltic Sea coasts, letting saltwater contaminate freshwaters. Without any adaptation, more fresh drinking water could become polluted as the floodwater would contaminate the rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. As a result of precipitation changes in Germany, soil water and groundwater levels are changing. This has a direct impact on soil quality and as a result on agriculture. It is expected that Germany experienced a 30 percent decrease in summer precipitation by 2080 which would lead to uncommon plant diseases, crop yield reduction, and more droughts. For instance, the fungal disease apple scab has caused yield losses, especially in southwest Germany. Plants that are less resistant to water and temperature fluctuation are potentially more vulnerable.

Moreover, Perception changes in Germany have caused mild winters which help the increase of many disease vectors such as the Asian tiger mosquito that bring diseases like malaria or dengue fever, especially in southern Germany. As pollen seasons would last longer than before due to the temperature increment considerable rise in respiratory diseases will be expected.

Perception changes in different Regions with an above-average warm climate will experience more hot days and droughts. This could be particularly significant to agriculture and forestry and also biodiversity. Heat is predominantly threatening to human health in Berlin, Frankfurt am Main, Stuttgart, and the Rhine-Ruhr agglomeration and this could expand in the distant future to the rural areas - especially in East Germany.

Regions with a drier climate will experience strong seasonal fluctuations in temperature and precipitation which will impact water management, agriculture, and forestry. East Germany such as the coastal regions of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, large parts of Saxony-Anhalt, the catchments of the Elbe (especially Spree/Havel), Brandenburg and Thuringia as well as Nuremberg, and Central Franconia will be affected in a distant future.

Regions with a cooler climate, heavy rain and strong winds, moderate temperatures, and a small number of frost days will experience river flooding. The precipitation will increase in winter. In addition, the increase in winter over the whole of North-West Germany and including the North and Baltic Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein. Regions with a low-mountain climate, frost, and heavy rains, as well as high summer and winter precipitation, will see a considerable decline in precipitation in summer and a significant increase in winter, which would increase the number of tourists in summer and decrease them in winter.

Regions with a mountain foothills climate that have above-average summer precipitation will experience more rain and many frost days. Furthermore, a considerably high temperature in summer will cause more demand for energy to cool. so the growth in housing and transportation would enhance the impacts of climate change the on Prealps region and also extends as a line along the northern edge of the Thuringian Forest and the Ore Mountains. Regions with a mountain climate that have high precipitation values are expected to see more heavy rain and winter precipitation values which would cause more frequent and intense floods and flash flooding which would harm biodiversity. Especially in the Alpine region and parts of the Black Forest.  

In summary, perception changes in Germany have affected every region differently, leading to flood, fire, disease, and more importantly biodiversity loss.