Because of global warming, epidemics of parasitic and infectious diseases can erupt in the northern regions
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Global warming threatens mankind with the spread of infectious and parasitic diseases, especially in the northern part of the globe. International experts came to such conclusions at a conference held in Yakutsk.
The conference was attended by more than sixty scientists from different countries (Russia, Japan, Switzerland, Netherlands, China).
The main theme was the study of biological diversity, migration, transformation and conservation of substances in permafrost ecological systems that occur in connection with climate change on the planet.
Participants of the conference presented data on the effect of climate on ecological systems, as well as on the response of the plant-animal-soil-permafrost system.
Scientific conference in Yakutia was organized by the institute of bioproblem of cryolithozone, the North-East Institute. Ammosova MK, Permafrost University, as well as a number of scientific international projects adopted in Japan and the European Union.
During the conference, which lasted three days, experts discussed the problems of ecology.
Senior research scientist of the institute of bioproblem cryolithozone Alexander Kononov noted that any changes in climate lead, in any case, to negative environmental consequences. Climatic changes relate directly to the state of plants, animals, their habitats. In addition, climate change affects human life itself.
According to Alexander Kononov, there are all prerequisites for an increase in air temperature in the Northern part of the globe, which will affect the climate of regions throughout the planet.
Also, the attention of the conference participants was drawn to the fact that in the cold regions of the earth in connection with warming the level of methane emissions increases, the level of glaciers in the oceans decreases. All this leads to an increase in the riverbed and the release of water into the ocean.
The expert also noted that the overall temperature increase does not have a strong impact on permafrost, located at great depth, warming affects only the upper layers of permafrost in the northern regions of the earth.
However, due to global warming, permafrost ecosystems are destroyed, which is directly related to climate change in the Pacific region.
Experts are seriously concerned about this fact, as melting of glaciers and rising temperatures in the North can provoke the multiplication in this region of various viruses and parasites that are not peculiar to this region, which in turn can lead to epidemic among the population.
Particular attention was paid to the melting of ice in the Arctic basin, the reduction of glaciers in the Arctic Ocean, methane emissions in the East Arctic shelf, and rising water levels in the permafrost areas.
As a result of the conference, experts came to the conclusion that warming could cause a rise in diseases among the inhabitants of the North.
After the end of the conference, a round table was held, dedicated to future research and ways to solve the problems of climate change on the planet, in particular in the permafrost zone.
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