VOA科学技术2024--Scientists: Climate Change, Growth Worsen Effects of East African Rains

An international team of climate scientists recently released a report on climate change and city growth. They found the effects of heavy rains that struck East Africa in recent months were worsened by climate change and fast development in cities.

The report was produced by World Weather Attribution (WWA). The nonprofit scientific group studies the links between human-caused climate change and extreme weather events.

Heavy rains from March to May caused major flooding across East Africa that killed hundreds of people. The damage also displaced¹ thousands of others, killed thousands of farm animals and destroyed hundreds of hectares of crops.

The researchers used weather data and computer modeling to compare how the severe weather events happening today have changed since pre-industrial times. Specifically, they looked at how human-caused climate change may have affected² the floods.

They examined areas where the effects were most severe, including Kenya, most of Tanzania and parts of Burundi.

The report found that climate change had made the harmful rains twice as likely and 5 percent more intense. The study predicted that with further warming in the future, heavy rains would continue happening more often and become stronger.

Joyce Kimutai is a researcher at Imperial³ College London and was lead writer of the study. She said, "We're likely to see this kind of intensive rainfall happening this season going into the future."

The study also found that the quick growth of East African cities is increasing the risk of flooding.

Highly populated areas were greatly affected by the intense rains, also called downpours. The rains flooded numerous houses and city roads. In some places, the downpours showed weaknesses in city planning to meet the demands of fast-growing populations.

March to May is known in East Africa as the "long rains" season. This is when most of the area's average yearly rainfall takes place. And often, the rains are very heavy.

In 2023, East Africa also suffered widespread flooding after a period of "short rains" from October to December. And before that, the area experienced a three-year drought. WWA scientists found that both events were worsened by climate change.

Philip Omondi is a climate change specialist at the Climate Prediction and Applications Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. He was not involved in the study. He said human-caused climate change results in intense, repeated flooding and droughts.

Shaun Ferris is senior technical advisor⁴ for agriculture and climate change at Catholic⁵ Relief Services in Nairobi. He said more intense weather can put a new level of pressure on old and unplanned buildings and infrastructure⁶. Ferris called for putting up infrastructure that can survive the effects of climate change.

"There is huge pressure on basic services," he said. As an example, he named Kenya's capital Nairobi, where the population has doubled over the past 20 years.

Ferris said the world community needs to start using the United Nations' supported loss and damage fund for climate disasters. The fund was created during the U.N. Climate Conference in 2022 to aid countries most affected by climate change.

Ferris suggested that countries could start using money from the fund now to repair and improve basic infrastructure systems.

Words in This Story

intense - adj. very great in degree: very strong

drought - n. a long period of time during which there is very little or no rain

infrastructure - n. the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) that are needed for a country, region, or organization to function properly

fund - n. an amount of money that is used for a special purpose

1 displaced   

移动( displace的过去式和过去分词 )； 替换； 移走； 撤职

参考例句：

• Gradually factory workers have been displaced by machines. 工厂的工人已逐渐被机器取代。
• He was displaced by another young man. 他已被另一个年轻人顶替。

2 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

3 imperial   

adj.帝王的，至尊的；n.特等品

参考例句：

• They made an objection to the imperial system with resolution.他们坚决反对帝制。
• The Prince Imperial passed away last night.皇太子昨晚去世了。

4 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

5 catholic   

adj.天主教的；n.天主教徒

参考例句：

• The Pope is the supreme leader of the Roman Catholic Church.教皇是罗马天主教的最高领袖。
• She was a devoutly Catholic.她是一个虔诚地天主教徒。

6 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。