Climate vulnerability and risks to an indigenous community in the arid zone of South Africa

2022 ◽  
Vol 199 ◽  
pp. 104718
Author(s):  
M.I. Samuels ◽  
M.L. Masubelele ◽  
C.F. Cupido ◽  
M.B.V. Swarts ◽  
J. Foster ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Indigenous Community ◽  
Climate Vulnerability

Implications of potential biome boundary shifts for small mammal assemblages in the arid zone of South Africa

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laetitia Piers ◽  
Igshaan Samuels ◽  
Mmoto Masubelele ◽  
Adriaan Engelbrecht
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Mammal Assemblages

scholarly journals Biotic responses to extreme hypersalinity in an arid zone estuary, South Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 107 ◽  
pp. 160-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.H. Wooldridge ◽  
J.B. Adams ◽  
M. Fernandes
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Arid Zone

Stable isotope and 14C study of biogenic calcrete in a termite mound, Western Cape, South Africa, and its palaeoenvironmental significance

2009 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 258-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alastair J. Potts ◽  
Jeremy J. Midgley ◽  
Chris Harris
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Late Quaternary ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Cam Plants ◽  
Termite Mounds ◽  
Last Glacial Period ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Progressive Decline ◽  
The Last Glacial

AbstractLate Quaternary terrestrial climate records from the semi-arid zone of the Western Cape of South Africa are rare. However, palaeoenvironmental information may be inferred from ancient termite mounds of the region. Calcrete lenses in these mounds have δ13C and δ18O values that show systematic changes with radiocarbon dates, which range from 33,629–36,709 to 21,676–23,256 cal yr BP. These dates confirm that these heuweltjies had been present in the landscape since the last glacial period. The decrease in δ13C and δ18O from 33,629–36,709 to 21,676–23,256 cal yr BP indicates that climate information is recorded by the calcretes. It is suggested that a progressive decline in air temperature and an increase in moisture availability, and a decline in abundance of C4 or CAM plants, occurred in the region during the time heuweltjie calcite precipitated.

scholarly journals Evaluating management options that use climate forecasts: modelling livestock production systems in the semi-arid zone of South Africa

2004 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 33-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
PK Thornton ◽  
RH Fawcett ◽  
KA Galvin ◽  
RB Boone ◽  
JW Hudson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Livestock Production ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Climate Forecasts ◽  
Semi Arid

scholarly journals Human response and adaptation to drought in the arid zone: lessons from southern Africa

2009 ◽  
Vol 105 (1/2) ◽  
Author(s):  
P.J. O'Farrell ◽  
P.M.L. Anderson ◽  
S.J. Milton ◽  
W.R.J. Dean
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
The State ◽  
Resource Base ◽  
Response Strategies ◽  
The Arid Regions

Human adaptation and response to drought is primarily through evasion or endurance. A review of historical agricultural practices in southern Africa demonstrates evidence of drought evasion response strategies in well-established transhumance routes, where herders move livestock on a seasonal basis in order to exploit resources subject to different climatic regimes. European settlers to the arid regions of South Africa quickly recognised the necessity of these evasion options to survive drought, and adopted the transhumance practices of indigenous farmers. Areas of geographically diverse resource bases became hotly contested by settlers and indigenous farmers. The success of evasion systems are shown to hinge on good social and institutional support structures. When movement is not an option, drought endurance is pursued by attempting to limit the damage to the natural resource base. This is through a number of means such as forage conservation, varying livestock types and numbers, water and soil conservation and taking up alternative livelihood options. State responses to drought over the last century reflect the general South African pattern of racially divided and unjust policies relating to resource access. Historically the state provided considerable support to white commercial farmers. This support was frequently contradictory in its aims and generally was inadequate to enable farmers to cope with drought. Since the advent of democracy in 1994, the state has intervened less, with some support extended to previously disadvantaged and poor communal farmers. Climate change predictions suggest an increase in drought, suggesting that the adoption of mitigating strategies should be a matter of urgency. To do this South Africa needs to build social and institutional capacity, strive for better economic and environmental sustainability, embed drought-coping mechanisms into land restitution policy to ensure the success of this programme, and acknowledge the diversity of the agricultural sector.

Time and Latitude in South Africa

1972 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 27-38
Author(s):  
J. Hers
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Astronomical Observations ◽  
Royal Observatory ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Astronomical Determination ◽  
Limited Accuracy ◽  
Better Than

In South Africa the modern outlook towards time may be said to have started in 1948. Both the two major observatories, The Royal Observatory in Cape Town and the Union Observatory (now known as the Republic Observatory) in Johannesburg had, of course, been involved in the astronomical determination of time almost from their inception, and the Johannesburg Observatory has been responsible for the official time of South Africa since 1908. However the pendulum clocks then in use could not be relied on to provide an accuracy better than about 1/10 second, which was of the same order as that of the astronomical observations. It is doubtful if much use was made of even this limited accuracy outside the two observatories, and although there may – occasionally have been a demand for more accurate time, it was certainly not voiced.

Combining Professional Interests and Travel: People to People Citizen Ambassador Program

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 47-54
Author(s):  
Alex Johnson ◽  
Amanda Hitchins
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Communication Disorders ◽  
Social Conditions ◽  
Speech Language Pathologists ◽  
Exchange Program

Abstract This article summarizes a series of trips sponsored by People to People, a professional exchange program. The trips described in this report were led by the first author of this article and include trips to South Africa, Russia, Vietnam and Cambodia, and Israel. Each of these trips included delegations of 25 to 50 speech-language pathologists and audiologists who participated in professional visits to learn of the health, education, and social conditions in each country. Additionally, opportunities to meet with communication disorders professionals, students, and persons with speech, language, or hearing disabilities were included. People to People, partnered with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), provides a meaningful and interesting way to learn and travel with colleagues.

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