Vital Climate Graphics Latin America and the Caribbean

Publication date: 2005 , Published in series: Vital Graphics

Vital Climate Graphics Latin America and the Caribbean is a collection of graphics that highlight greenhouse gas emission trends, observational evidence, and projected impacts of warming and adverse weather events in the region. Despite the relatively small contribution of Latin America and the Caribbean to global warming, the fragile natural environments, livelihoods and resource-dependent economies of the region could be threatened by the impacts of global climate change. This collection of graphics is designed to present the complex subject of climate change into material that can be useful to a broad range of readers.

See the Vital Climate Graphics Latin America and the Caribbean web-site for full details.

Annual deforestation in the Amazon and resulting CO2 emissions According to the World Resources Institute,Brazil had the highest carbon dioxide equivalent emissions in the region in 2001, primarily due to changes in land use.) Most of the region’s forests are in [..]
Brazilian alcohol transport fleet and regional climate benefits In Brazil there are noticeable benefits for using alcohol as a fuel over traditional gasoline. This graphic illustrates the reduction in use of fossil fuels (gasoline) in favor of ethanol/alcohol. [..]
CH4 emissions in 2000; Latin America and selected countries Since pre-industrial times, the atmospheric concentration of methane (CH4) has increased by 150%. Methane is a greenhouse gas that has a global warming potential that is 23 times stronger than CO2. [..]
Change in precipitation for scenarios A2 and B2; Tropical America When global surface temperatures increase, changes in precipitation and atmospheric moisture are very likely to increase: the hydrological cycle will be more active, and the atmosphere will increase [..]
Changes to Coconut Beach (Dominica) after the 1995 hurricane season During a period between May 1994 to September 1995 the profile of the beach dramatically changed. A rising sea level combined with more storms, washed away vulnerable beaches. With the sand gone, the [..]
Climate impacts and tropical diseases in Colombia Shows comparative trend between air temperature in Colombia and levels of malaria and dengue fever. When temperatures increase, especially in combination with more precipitation, vector borne [..]
Climate impacts of El Niño Phenomenon in Latin America and the Caribbean El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a natural phenomenon that has occurred for centuries. Ocean and atmospheric conditions in the Pacific tend to fluctuate between El Niño (warming) and a drop in [..]
CO2 emissions from transportation in 2000; selected countries of Latin America and the Caribbean A comparison of transportation CO2 emissions from selected Latin American and Caribbean countries. Increased transport is one of the main reasons for increased CO2 emissions, both in developed and [..]
CO2 emissions in 1990 and 2000 Latin America and selected countries A comparison of the total level of CO2 emissions from Latin America compared to selected countries. Emissions from Latin America and Caribbean increased more than the world average between 1990 and [..]
CO2 emissions in the world and in Latin America and the Caribbean A comparison between the amount of CO2 emissions of the world and latin America and the Caribbean. Since pre-industrial times, the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases has grown [..]
CO2 emissions per person in Latin America and the Caribbean compared to the world and OECD average emissions Emissions of greenhouse gases are on the increase around the world, contributing to man-made global warming and climate change. This graphic displays greenhouse gas emissions per capita in Latin [..]
CO2 emissions, energy use and economic development; Latin America and the Caribbean Economic growth and increased energy demand are closely linked to increased emissions of CO2. If there is a shock in the economy, the response as reduced emissions of CO2, can be almost without [..]
Dengue fever incidence; Trinidad and Tobago Shows the increase in dengue fever as temperature rises in correlation with El Niño in Trinidad and Tobago. There is neither good prophylactic nor cure for dengue fever, a disease spread by Aedes [..]
Energy consumption, economic development and CO2 emissions; selected Latin America countries As a rule of thumb, economic growth is closely related to growth in energy consumption because the more energy is used, the higher the economic growth. However, it is possible to decouple energy [..]
Increase in rainfall over Buenos Aires 1900-2000 There are indications of changes in precipitation patterns over Latin America and the Caribbean during the last decades. In Argentina, for example, precipitation increases have been observed over [..]
Intense hurricanes in the Atlantic Basin Global average temperature increased by 0.6 ° C over the last century, while sea levels rose by 9 to 20 cm. The IPCC projects increases in the global average surface temperature by between 1.4°C and [..]
Major CH4 emitting countries in Latin America and caribbean Shows the main producers of CH4 from countries in Latin America and the Caribbean and the source of the emissions. Brazil, a leading cattle-ranching country, has the highest methane emission level in [..]
Major N2O emitting countries in Latin America and Caribbean Shows the levels of N2O emissions from major Latin American and Caribbean countries and the source of the emissions. Brazil is one of the world’s largest emitters of N2O. Most of the N2O emissions in [..]
N2O emissions in 2000; Latin America and selected countries Since pre-industrial times, the atmospheric concentration of nitrous oxide (N2O) has increased by 16%. Nitrous oxide is a greenhouse gas that has a global warming potential that is 296 times stronger [..]
Population growth The population in Latin America and the Caribbean grew by 85 percent between 1970 and 2001, from 285 million to about 528 million. In the same time, the annual growth rates fell from 2.5 percent to [..]
Projected changes in maize crops, Venezuela Agriculture is a key sector in the region’s economy and it employs an important proportion of the economically active population. Climate change could adversely affect Latin American agricultural [..]
Quick retreat of the Santa Rosa glacier, Peru Several mountain glaciers now disappear at a frightening rate as in the Santa Rosa glacier of Peru. A warmer climate often leads to increased precipitation. Much of the increased precipitation comes [..]
Rapid decline of the San Quintin glacier, North Patagonia Glaciers grow and retreat at intervals depending on local climate changes, particularly variations in temperature and precipitation . Retreating and diminishing mountain glaciers all over the world, [..]
Rapid retreat of glaciers in the Cordillera Blanca, Peru There is now ample evidence of a major retreat of most mountain glaciers during the last 100 years in response to widespread increases in temperature. In recent decades, the rate of glacial recession [..]
Regional differences in CO2 emissions Latin America and the Caribbean Compares the total amounts of CO2 emissions from the three main regions within Latin America and the Caribbean. CO2 emissions in the region vary considerably. The highest emissions come from South [..]
Retreat of the ice cap on the Volcano Nevado Santa Isabel (Colombia) Shows the retreat of the glacier on the volcano Nevado Santa Isabel and the correlation of global warming. With spectacular mountain peak glaciers melting away, the area becomes less attractive to [..]
Sea level rise due to the melting of mountain and subpolar glaciers Oceans change as a result of the impact of climatic variability on glaciers and ice caps that further contributes to fluctuation sin sea leve. Observational and modelling studies of glaciers and ice [..]
Sea level rise: Costa Rica coastal communities under threat Sea level rise is an important indicator of climate change. A rise in sea level may result in flooding, salinisation of fresh water, coastal erosion and in some cases loss of land to the ocean. As [..]
Sources of electricity in Latin America and the Caribbean Shows the amount of power that is used in the three main regions from fossil fuels, hydropower and other sources. While Central America and the Caribbean have a very carbon intense electricity [..]
Top 10 CO2 emitting countries in 2000; Latin America and the Caribbean Brazil is the world’s second largest emitter of carbon dioxide (CO2) from land use change. Only Indonesia emits more. In 2000 CO2 emissions from land use change in Brazil represented 18% of the [..]
Trends in economy, Latin America and the Caribbean In the period 1970-2002, Latin American economic development indicators were fluctuating significantly – from a decrease of 5.6 percent in 1971-1980 GDP growth to only 1.2 percent in 1981-1990, and an [..]
Trends in regional average surface temperatures Latin America and the Caribbean follows the global trend of recent increases in temperatures. Observational records show that the region, with a few variations, has been warming through the 20th [..]
Tropical hydropower dams as greenhouse sources Large tropical hydropower reservoirs in Latin America may have a potential adverse impact on the climatic system through releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Submerging large areas of land [..]
Use of renewables and combustible waste for energy production in 2001; Latin America and the Caribbean Approximately 12 % of the world’s energy supply comes from renewable energy sources (biomass, waste and other renewables, excluding hydropower). The average renewable share in Latin America is higher [..]