Part 3: Environmental Change
Evidence of Climate Change in France
There is plenty of evidence for climate change in France, as well as in the rest of the world. This evidence includes stark temperature changes, decreases and increases in precipitation, and even changes in the migration patterns of animals and the growth ranges of plants. Take, for instance, the fact that there has been a 50% decrease in snow depth in the Massifs de Chartreuse. Or, as another example, the fact that alpine plants have been retreating upwards into the colder heights of the Alps. There are a long list of things that have been occuring recently in France due to changes in the the climate. Here are a few of them, organized by category.
Changes in Temperature/Precipitation:
- In Alsace, the number of days with an average daily temperature above 10°C (50°F) have gone from 170 (near 1970) to 210 (at the end of the 20th century) days a year
- the Alps are being affected by higher incidences of summer heat waves and droughts
- the global warming going on in mainland France is 30% greater than the average warming in the rest of the world
- there has been an increase in recorded warm nights and a decrease in cooler nights, as well as fewer cool days and increased warm days
- there has been a recorded increase in rainfall during the autumn and winter (5-35%) and a decrease in summer rainfall (2%)
- there is to be an increase in rainfall and a decrease in snowfall
- In Alsace, the number of days with an average daily temperature above 10°C (50°F) have gone from 170 (near 1970) to 210 (at the end of the 20th century) days a year
- the Alps are being affected by higher incidences of summer heat waves and droughts
- the global warming going on in mainland France is 30% greater than the average warming in the rest of the world
- there has been an increase in recorded warm nights and a decrease in cooler nights, as well as fewer cool days and increased warm days
- there has been a recorded increase in rainfall during the autumn and winter (5-35%) and a decrease in summer rainfall (2%)
- there is to be an increase in rainfall and a decrease in snowfall
Flooding
- floods have become increasingly common, with the strongest hitting France in 2005
- these floods are almost certainly caused by increases in rainfall due to global warming
- Europe-scale simulations predict an increase in extreme flow levels in French rivers before the end of the century
- annual levels of flood disasters increased dramatically from 1973-2002 (a flood disaster is defined as a flood that kills more than ten people.)
- flood damages have also increased, France had flood damages greater than 5 billion euros
- flood hazards are to only increase in future cold and wet months, along with flash floods
- snowmelt floods are also to become more common in the spring through warmer temperatures
- floods have become increasingly common, with the strongest hitting France in 2005
- these floods are almost certainly caused by increases in rainfall due to global warming
- Europe-scale simulations predict an increase in extreme flow levels in French rivers before the end of the century
- annual levels of flood disasters increased dramatically from 1973-2002 (a flood disaster is defined as a flood that kills more than ten people.)
- flood damages have also increased, France had flood damages greater than 5 billion euros
- flood hazards are to only increase in future cold and wet months, along with flash floods
- snowmelt floods are also to become more common in the spring through warmer temperatures
Agriculture
- France is one of Europe's most dominant agricultural centres, it in fact leads Europe in terms of agriculture
- possesses about 730,000 farms, with over 7% of its workers in some kind of agriculture-related profession
- the government has made an effort to make farming more modern and efficient by switching to more scientific methods and equipment
- 86% of French farms owned at least one tractor in 1997
- the products that make France one of the top producers in the global market are sugar beets, wine, milk, beef and veal, cereals, and oilseeds
- France's forests are prized for many reasons, and so are not cleared for agricultural purposes as is done in many other countries
- France is one of Europe's most dominant agricultural centres, it in fact leads Europe in terms of agriculture
- possesses about 730,000 farms, with over 7% of its workers in some kind of agriculture-related profession
- the government has made an effort to make farming more modern and efficient by switching to more scientific methods and equipment
- 86% of French farms owned at least one tractor in 1997
- the products that make France one of the top producers in the global market are sugar beets, wine, milk, beef and veal, cereals, and oilseeds
- France's forests are prized for many reasons, and so are not cleared for agricultural purposes as is done in many other countries
Flora and Fauna
- in the Rhone River, species of cold-water fish are being shunted out in favour of thermophilic fish and invertebrate species
- fruit trees (peach, apricot) in the south of France have been flowering 1-3 weeks earlier and are more susceptible to spring frosts and necrosis of the bud
- warmer temperatures have allowed damaging insects, such as the pine processionary moth, to extend their reach and harm greater areas of forest land, negatively affecting the species that depend on the forests for survival
- invasion of evergreen tree species in Alp forests with increasing (and unusual) amounts of European mistletoe
- Alpine plants are being forced to retreat further up into the mountains due to rising temperatures
- increased plant/animal species diversity and richness on mountaintops due to rising temperatures