Weather, Climate and Society Of Honduras

Chris Horne and Taro Funabashi feat. Vince “Colby” Todd

Honduras is hot and humid almost year-round. Temperatures vary by altitude rather than season. The average high temperature nationwide is 32°C (90°F)

and the average low is 20°C (68°F). Temperatures are coolest in mountain

areas.

Hurricane Fifi, 1974

Hurricane Mitch, 1998 The Caribbean Lowlands: -tropical, wet climate -consistently high temperature and humidity -rainfall evenly distributed throughout the years The Pacific Lowlands -tropical wet-and-dry climate -high temperatures -distinct dry season from November through April The Interior Highlands -tropical highland climate -also have a distinct dry season -temperatures decrease as elevation increases

Honduras is located within the hurricane belt. The Caribbean Coast is particularly vulnerable to

hurricanes and tropical storms. In 1974, Hurricane Fifi destroyed nearly all of Honduras'

banana crop, and Hurricane Mitch in 1998 became the most deadly hurricane in the

Western Hemisphere in two centuries. Storms also affect the Pacific coast of the country, but

these are generally less powerful.

Honduras’ climate and geography allows for vast biodiversity. Tropical climates in the lowlands

and temperate climates in the mountains create diverse habitats for a plethora of flora and fauna. Honduras is home to 738 species of birds, 6,000

species of vascular plants (630 of which are Orchids), 110 mammal species, half of which are bats, and around 250 reptiles and amphibians.

Honduras is home to the only New World big cat, the jaguar. In the region of La Mosquitia lies the

Río Plátana Biosphere Reserve, a lowland rainforest with immense biodiversity. The

Reserve was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list in 1992 because of its cultural

and physical significance. Honduras has rain forests, cloud forests, savannahs, mangroves,

mountain ranges, and the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System.

Hurricane Mitch devastated the Central American world, forming October 22, 1998 and dissipating November 5, 1998. Rainfall was estimated at 75 inches, causing extensive flooding throughout the region. The sheer numbers of the damage speak volumes: nearly 11,000 dead, 2.7 million left homeless or missing, and over $5 billion in damages.

Agricultural Damage: 58% of the expected corn output was destroyed 85% of banana crops were lost, hurting exports as well. 29% of the country’s arable land was destroyed, totaling $1.7 billion. Economic and Social Infrastructures Damage: Transportation and Communication Networks: $579 million Drinking Water and Sanitation Segment: $58 million Housing Sector: $334 million Health Services: $66 million Hurricane damages stretched the deficit to 3% by years end. Prior to the hurricane, the Honduran government looked to cut the deficit to less than 1%. Tegucigalpa The capital city was devastated by flooding, roughly affecting one third of the buildings. Some of the city’s oldest buildings were completely washed away, erasing over 350 years of history. The city’s mayor and 2001 presidential election frontrunners, Cesar Castellanos, was killed in the storm, stripping the country of a preeminent future leader. Epidemiological Effects: A slew of intestinal, respiratory, eye, and skin diseases swept the country following Hurricane Mitch. Overcrowding of shelters and contaminated food and water supplies led to the outbreak of cholera, leptospirosis, and worst of all, dengue. Over 17,000 cases of dengue and hemorrhagic dengue were reported in Honduras after Mitch.

-Torrential rains caused flash floods and mudslides, which took out entire towns and villages, including Choloma, where an estimated 2,800 people were killed -Between 350,000 and 500,000 left homeless -Cost the country an estimated $1.8 billion in damage -Destruction of nearly 80% of Honduras’ banana crop in 1974.

-The sheer number of dead bodies was overwhelming to those conducting relief efforts, and, because the breakout and spread of disease due the decay was such a concern, relief crews began burning the bodies. It was reported that somewhere between 5,000 and 6,000 dead bodies were burned -Because of its unprecedented destruction, the name Fifi was retired from the list of hurricane names and has not been used since.

-GermanWatch’s Global Climate Risk Index 2009 ranked Honduras as the country “most affected by extreme weather events” for a ten year period spanning from 1998 to 2007 -Honduras has been rated the country that will be most heavily affected by climate change: Temperatures in Honduras will potentially rise 3.7 C, and decrease in rainfall could reach 37%. This has an effect on the nation that reaches beyond the weather forecast for the following reasons: -34% of the Honduran GDP is agriculturally based -80% of freshwater use in Honduras is channeled to agriculture, and only 5.6% of cropland is irrigated (or in other words, not reliant on natural rainfall)

In short, the Honduran economy is heavily based on agriculture, which is in turn heavily reliant on rainfall. These factors act as a large multiplier of the effects of climate change on the Honduras

Honduras' economy has been based on one commodity, bananas, since the beginning of the twentieth century. Because the livelihood of the country depends on a single agricultural export, adverse weather and climate conditions greatly

affect Honduras. Hurricane Fifi in 1974 effectively destroyed the Honduran economy, as it killed

approximately 80% of that year’s banana crop. Honduras is now seeing a problem in regards to

the amount of available arable land in the country and is making an attempt at agricultural

diversification. However, bananas remain the country's most important and lucrative export, so the climate plays a huge role in the economical

well-being of Honduras.