Air temperature to rise 5 degrees in 10 years in Kazakhstan

Air temperature has risen 0.8-1.3 degrees in the last 100 years in Kazakhstan, according to Kazakh Meteorological Service data. There is a steady upward tendency of air temperature. It is expected that the temperature will jump another 4.5 degrees in 2020-2030, Tengrinews.kz reports, citing Interfax-Kazakhstan. According to Kazakhstan Meteorological Service this elevation will result in rainfall reduction that might lead to droughts, land degradation and desertification. The process might have a negative impact on agriculture and on the health of the population. The climate change in Central Asia will affect first of all rural area residents, Yekaterina Yushenko, Global Ecological Fund coordinator in Kazakhstan said. The Central Asia is one of the vulnerable regions. The climate change that takes place here might dramatically affect not only the ecological system but people's lifes, too, Yekaterina Yushenko added. “In this connection timely introduction of adaptation efforts is crucial to help reduce the risks of climate change impact on the local societies,” Yushenko said at Adaptation to climate change in Central Asia round-table conference that was held in Almaty. Other experts said that the elevation of air temperature in the mountains had a negative impact on Kazakhstan glaciers. Some small glaciers have already disappeared. The risk of floods, landslides and mudflows has increased in this connection.