Processes of adaptation to climate variability: a case study from the US Southwest

Abstract

The nature of adaptation to climate variability in the Southwest US is explored using the Middle San Pedro River Valley in southern Arizona as a case study. An integrated vulnerability assessment focuses on the dynamic interaction of natural climatic and hydrological systems with socio-economic systems. This approach reveals that residents in the study region do not perceive short-term or long-term vulnerability to climate variability or climate change. The paper uses an ethnographic field approach to examine the technical and organizational factors that constitute the adaptation process and reduce vulnerability to climate in the valley. It concludes by discussing the potential dangers of ignoring climate in a rapidly growing, semi-arid environment. KEY WORDS: Climate variability · Climate vulnerability · US Southwest · Livelihood · AdaptationResale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisher

Adapting to climate change: Public water supply in England and Wales

“…There have, however, been very few case studies either of how individuals and organisations are actually adapting to climate change, or of the constraints on their actions and decisions: a exception is the agriculture sector (e.g. Bryant et al, 2000;Finan et al, 2002), although here it is difficult to separate adaptation to climatic variability from adaptation to a long-term climate change.…”

News coverage of drought impacts and vulnerability in the US Carolinas, 1998–2007

“…Comparison of agricultural and ranching vulnerability on either side of the US-Mexico border demonstrated the roles of class, ethnicity, access to resources, and state involvement in the dynamics of vulnerability (Vásquez-León et al 2003). Exploring vulnerability and adaptation to climate variability over 100 years in Arizona revealed a dynamic interaction between climate and changes in organizational and technological factors over time which served to increase adaptation and reduce vulnerability among farmers, ranchers, and emerging urban populations (Finan et al 2002). Also working in Arizona, Collins and Bolin (2007) trace the historical emergence of vulnerability to water scarcity, a stress similar to drought, at a regional level, at a finer scales use GIS to examine the intersections of biophysical and social vulnerabilities.…”

Increasing Social–Ecological Resilience by Placing Science at the Decision Table: the Role of the San Pedro Basin (Arizona) Decision-Support System Model

“…However, even if technological investments represent an adaptation to climate variability, they may not be sustainable over the long term, because their effects have yet to be seen (Finan et al 2002) and may include stimulating demographic growth in the basin. If pumping extractions exceed natural recharge, then the water resource is being mined, and the dynamics of aquifer-related ecosystems will be negatively affected.…”