Environment and Climate Change in Panama Essays -- Weather Panama Envi

Environment and Climate Change in Panama Home to vast tropical rainforests, an immense variety of animal and plant species and the seaway that connects the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, Panama relies heavily on all these resources for its economy. However, environmental challenges threaten the sustainability of these assets and therefore create a significant problem for the country. This paper will examine the effect of weather and climate change on Panama coupled with a specific focus on the Panama Canal. It concentrates largely on the effects of deforestation, coupled with the effect of El-Nino, and examines how this has had significant economic and social consequences. Panama has a tropical maritime climate, which provides the country with a long, rainy season between May and January and a short, dry season between January and May. Average temperatures are usually high and humidity levels almost never drop below 80%. The country’s carbon emissions are not significant to account for a percentage of the world emissions and they have relatively stayed the same during the period 1995-2000.[i] Forest area stood at 38.6% on 2002, with nationally protected areas at 21.7% of total area.[ii] In general, data has shown an increase in highly â€Å"unusual extreme weather events† since 1992 in the Latin America region and has predicted that these phenomena will become more frequent. These unusual events, coupled with local social and demographic factors, have created emergency conditions in Panama. One of the most significant challenges to Panama’s environment today is deforestation. Forest area has decreased from 45.6% in 1995 to 38.6% ... ....† Retrieved on 11/09/2007 from: Fonseca, Gustavo A.B. â€Å"No Forest Left Behind.† PLOS Biology. 08/14/2007. Retrieved on 11/10/2007 from: United Nations Environment Programme. â€Å"Climate Change Hits Hard on Latin America and the Caribbean.† Press Release. 2007. Retrieved on 12/13/2007 from: University Corporation of Atmospheric Research. Reducing the Impact of Environmental Emergencies Through Early Warning and Preparedness. â€Å"Panama Canal Case Study: Impacts and Responses to the 1997-98 El Nino Event.† Retrieved on 11/10/2007 from: