Invisible Environmental History: Infectious Disease in Late Antiquity

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 116-131
Author(s):  
Kyle Harper
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Climate Variability ◽  
Environmental History ◽  
Late Antiquity ◽  
Specific Reference ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
Pathogenic Microbes ◽  
Biological Environment ◽  
The One

Abstract This study argues that the biological environment is properly a part of environmental history. The microorganisms— bacteria, viruses, protozoa—that cause infectious disease were the principal cause of mortality in ancient societies, but the particular array of pathogens was both locally specific and unstable over time. Pathogenic microbes are ecologically sensitive, so the background of local climate, and the influence of climate variability and climate change, determined patterns of disease and mortality. The connections between climate variability and climate change, on the one hand, and the disease profile of a population, on the other, are complex, and this paper traces some of the main pathways of influence, with specific reference to a few of the best known diseases and epidemic events in the later Roman period.

scholarly journals Do Farmers Perceive the Trends of Local Climate Variability Accurately? An Analysis of Farmers’ Perceptions and Meteorological Data in Myanmar

Climate ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yarzar Hein ◽  
Kampanat Vijitsrikamol ◽  
Witsanu Attavanich ◽  
Penporn Janekarnkij
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Variability ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Adaptation Measures ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
Weather Information ◽  
Farming Community ◽  
The Government

With the existing state of issues related to global climate change, the accuracy of farmers’ perceptions of climate is critically important if they plan to implement appropriate adaptation measures in their farming. This article evaluated if farmers perceive the trends of local climate variability accurately, and was verified by the historical meteorological data analysis. Ordered probit perception models were applied in this study to determine the factors influencing the accuracy of farmer perception. It was observed that farmers’ perceptions of the rainfall amount during the early, mid, and late monsoon periods were highly accurate, and they also accurately perceived summer temperature change, but less accuracy of perception was observed of the temperate changes of the winter and monsoon seasons. Access to weekly weather information, participation in agricultural trainings, farming experience, and education level of the farmer were the major factors determining the accuracy of perception in this study. Based on the empirical results, this study suggested policy implications for (a) the locally specified weather information distribution, and (b) integration of weather information into agricultural training programs, which are available to the farming community to enhance the government implantation of the Myanmar Climate Smart Agriculture Strategy and Myanmar Climate Change Master Plan 2018–2030.

Climate and Health across Africa

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin F. Zaitchik
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Climate Variability ◽  
Early Warning ◽  
Climate Extremes ◽  
Early Warning Systems ◽  
Climate Impacts ◽  
Temperature Extremes ◽  
Crop Failure ◽  
Weak Institutions

Humans have understood the importance of climate to human health since ancient times. In some cases, the connections appear to be obvious: a flood can cause drownings, a drought can lead to crop failure and hunger, and temperature extremes pose a risk of exposure. In other cases, the connections are veiled by complex or unobserved processes, such that the influence of climate on a disease epidemic or a conflict can be difficult to diagnose. In reality, however, all climate impacts on health are mediated by some combination of natural and human dynamics that cause individuals or populations to be vulnerable to the effects of a variable or changing climate.Understanding and managing negative health impacts of climate is a global challenge. The challenge is greater in regions with high poverty and weak institutions, however, and Africa is a continent where the health burden of climate is particularly acute. Observed climate variability in the modern era has been associated with widespread food insecurity, significant epidemics of infectious disease, and loss of life and livelihoods to climate extremes. Anthropogenic climate change is a further stress that has the potential to increase malnutrition, alter the distribution of diseases, and bring more frequent hydrological and temperature extremes to many regions across the continent.Skillful early warning systems and informed climate change adaptation strategies have the potential to enhance resilience to short-term climate variability and to buffer against negative impacts of climate change. But effective warnings and projections require both scientific and institutional capacity to address complex processes that are mediated by physical, ecological, and societal systems. Here the state of understanding climate impacts on health in Africa is summarized through a selective review that focuses on food security, infectious disease, and extreme events. The potential to apply scientific understanding to early warning and climate change projection is also considered.

scholarly journals “It’s Not Balancing out Like It Should Be”: Perceptions of Local Climate Variability in Native Oklahoma

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 317-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randy A. Peppler
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Native American ◽  
Climate Variability ◽  
Public Discourse ◽  
Ways Of Knowing ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
Weather Information ◽  
Local Environments ◽  
The World ◽  
Real Phenomenon

Abstract Fieldwork was conducted in 2009–11 with Native American agriculturalists and traditionalists in southwestern Oklahoma on the form and use of their weather and climate knowledge: how it is constituted, how it is used in agricultural decision-making, and the extent to which their own weather knowledge is valued in light of other forms of weather information available. Conversations rekindled memories of knowledge imparted and stories told by previous generations and illuminated observational signs some still rely upon. Conversations also revealed that while the agriculturalists and traditionalists are acculturated into contemporary society, they still hold tightly to culturally important ways of knowing about and being in the world and are keen observers of their local environments. Given the contemporary relevance of climate change and its impacts on Indigenous peoples, this paper focuses on their observations and thoughts about climate variability: Have you noticed changes? What impacts do these changes have on you, including both on your agricultural activities and your trusted observational signs? What do you think about the public discourse on climate change? According to most, a changing climate is a real phenomenon perceived at the local scale and is impacting their ability to observe relied-upon indicators, and has caused them to make changes in their agricultural endeavors. The knowledge professed by those in this study can be placed within the larger context of Indigenous environmental knowledge formation, as it follows closely with that discovered through archival research and that described by other inquiries from around the world.

Green Architecture and its applications in Hospitals:Analytical study of existing project to extract the mechanisms of applying green architecture in hospitals

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-93
Author(s):  
Anfal Muayad Mayoof
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Analytical Study ◽  
Complex Function ◽  
Green Building ◽  
Green Buildings ◽  
Social Aspects ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
Green Architecture ◽  
Reduce Energy Consumption ◽  
The One

Hospitals are the major contributor to environmental corruption and the biggest drain onenergy in their life cycle because they are complex, multifunctional giant facilities. Several recent studieshave been carried out to find the most suitable solutions to reduce energy consumption provide it on-siteand contribute to supporting economic, environmental and social aspects. The reason for the slowmovement of green buildings for hospitals is to focus on a suitable design for the complex function thatdeals with the local climate, natural resources, economy and cultural values and avoid the one-size-fits alldesign. This made the solutions used multiple and varied, different for greening of the hospital and put theresearch in the absence of a clear perception of the mechanisms of the application of green architecture inhospitals and this identified the problem of research. Therefore, the study looked at an analytical study ofexisting project models designed according to the strategies and standards of green architecture todetermine the strategies adopted in each project, and by adopting the analytical method after determiningthe strategy used in each building to achieve the green architecture and then comparing them according tothe standards adopted using the global LEED system Green Building Council. The results that will bereached are the mechanisms of applying Green Architecture to Hospitals.

VARIABILIDAD CLIMÁTICA, CAMBIO CLIMÁTICO Y PESQUERÍAS EN EL ECUADOR.

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johnny Chavarría Viteri ◽  
Dennis Tomalá Solano
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Variability ◽  
Pacific Decadal Oscillation ◽  
El Niño ◽  
El Nino ◽  
Southern Oscillation ◽  
El Niño Southern Oscillation ◽  
El Nino Southern Oscillation ◽  
Current Action ◽  
Palabras Clave

La variabilidad climática es la norma que ha modulado la vida en el planeta. Este trabajo demuestra que las pesquerías y acuicultura costera ecuatorianas no son la excepción, puesto que tales actividades están fuertemente influenciadas por la variabilidad ENSO (El Niño-Oscilación del Sur) y PDO (Oscilación Decadal del Pacífico), planteándose que la señal del cambio climático debe contribuir a esta influencia. Se destaca también que, en el análisis de los efectos de la variabilidad climática sobre los recursos pesqueros, el esfuerzo extractivo también debe ser considerado. Por su parte, la acción actual de la PDO está afectando la señal del cambio climático, encontrándose actualmente en fases opuestas. Se espera que estas señales entren en fase a finales de esta década, y principalmente durante la década de los 20 y consecuentemente se evidencien con mayor fuerza los efectos del Cambio Climático. Palabras Clave: Variabilidad Climática, Cambio Climático, ENSO, PDO, Pesquerías, Ecuador. ABSTRACT Climate variability is the standard that has modulated life in the planet. This work shows that the Ecuadorian  fisheries and aquaculture are not the exception, since such activities are strongly influenced by ENSO variability (El Niño - Southern Oscillation) and PDO (Pacific Decadal Oscillation), considering that the signal of climate change should contribute to this influence. It also emphasizes that in the analysis of the effects of climate variability on the fishing resources, the extractive effort must also be considered. For its part, the current action of the PDO is affecting the signal of climate change, now found on opposite phases. It is hoped that these signals come into phase at the end of this decade, and especially during the decade of the 20’s and more strongly evidencing the effects of climate change. Keywords: Climate variability, climate change, ENSO (El Niño - Southern Oscillation) and PDO  (Pacific Decadal Oscillation); fisheries, Ecuador. Recibido: mayo, 2012Aprobado: agosto, 2012

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