While South Georgia experiences extreme heat, there is more to it than just unbearable temperature levels. Prolonged periods of heat bring additional stress to South Georgia’s natural resources, such as water supply, agriculture and livestock. The impact of heat will remain even when the temperatures start dropping.
The first threat that the heat poses to southern communities is in relation to water. The higher temperatures contribute to increased evaporation from the soil and from such sources as ponds, lakes, and rivers. Heat combined with lack of rain makes the area become drier, which leads to possible drought and increases pressure on the local water resources, and while the drought report says that the drought has officially ended as of August 6th, 53 percent of the state is still reporting as abnormally dry.
The problem becomes acute because in South Georgia, agriculture is an important part of the regional economy, and farmers rely on consistent water supply to keep crops growing in conditions of high temperatures. While under heat conditions, crops tend to lose their moisture faster, which means that more irrigation is required and that will put additional pressure on groundwater and other water resources.
This means that our agriculture is suffering directly from extreme heat. Heat stress has a negative effect on crops’ development, especially during such critical stages of development.
Cattle and other livestock have to face their difficulties as well. Long lasting hot conditions lead to the development of heat stress among animals which will require them to need to be provided additional water and shelter from the sun. Dry pastures will also not be able to provide sufficient feed for the animals, making the farmers spend more money on their care.
Another environmental issue is associated with the increased risk of wildfires. Hot and dry weather removes moisture from plants and makes them become perfect fuel for fires. In the case of prolonged drought periods, they become flammable. Any fires started either naturally or by humans are going to spread faster through dry vegetation especially with the help of windy weather conditions.
The extreme heat is leading to the increase of evaporation and water demands. Being in a drought makes the soil dry and when that happens it could lead to crumbling and with that increased dryness will dry out vegetation causing crops to die out. Dry vegetation also creates a new threat – increased possibility of wildfires.