@article{Eriyagama:211313,
      recid = {211313},
      author = {Eriyagama, Nishadi and Smakhtin, Vladimir},
      title = {Observed and projected climatic changes, their impacts and  adaptation options for Sri Lanka: a review},
      address = {2010},
      number = {614-2016-40847},
      pages = {pp.99-117},
      year = {2010},
      note = {In Evans, Alexandra; Jinapala, K. (Eds). Proceedings of  the National Conference on Water, Food Security and Climate  Change in Sri Lanka, BMICH, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 9-11 June  2009. Vol. 2. Water quality, environment and climate  change. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management  Institute (IWMI).},
      abstract = {Climate is changing world-wide, and the science community  in Sri Lanka has come up with ample evidence to suggest  that the country’s climate has already changed. During  1961-1990 the country’s mean air temperature increased by  0.016 0C per year, and the mean annual rainfall decreased  by 144 mm (7 %) compared to the period 1931-1960. In  addition, mean annual daytime maximum and mean annual  night-time minimum air temperatures increased. However, the  bigger question of national importance is what Sri Lanka’s  climate will look like in 50 or 100 years and how prepared  is the country to face it. Apart from the Intergovernmental  Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projections at the coarse  global scale, few studies have attempted to project future  climate scenarios for Sri Lanka and to identify climate  change impacts on agriculture, water resources, the sea  level, the plantation sector, the economy and health.  Vulnerability and adaptation to climate change are the  least studied areas. This paper reviews the status of  climate change research and activities in Sri Lanka with  respect to future climate projections, impacts, climate  change mitigation and the country’s ability to adapt, and  identifies existing knowledge gaps. Messages emerging from  this review suggest that Sri Lanka’s mean temperature  during the North-East (December-February) and South-West  (May-September) monsoon seasons will increase by about 2.9  0C and 2.5 0C, respectively, over the baseline (1961-1990),  by the year 2100 with accompanying changes in the quantity  and spatial distribution of rainfall. Extreme climate  events are expected to increase in frequency. These changes  will bring about widespread impacts on the country’s  agriculture and economy For example, an increase of 0.5 0C  in temperature can reduce rice yield by approximately 6%;  extended dry spells and excessive cloudiness during the wet  season can reduce coconut yield resulting in annual losses  between $32 and $73 million to the economy. Pilot studies  in the Galle District suggest that sea level rise could  inundate about 20 % of the land area of Galle’s coastal  District Secretariat Divisions. Adaptation measures already  undertaken in the agriculture sector include the  development of low water consuming rice varieties and the  use of micro-irrigation technologies. Tools have been  developed for predicting seasonal water availability within  the Mahaweli Scheme and annual national coconut production.  However, Sri Lanka is yet to undertake a comprehensive  national study on the vulnerability of her water resources  and agriculture to climate change. The formulation of  detailed and reliable future climate scenarios for the  country is therefore, urgently required.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/211313},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.211313},
}