Maria Carmen Lemos recently spoke at the National Science Foundation about her work looking at adaptive capacity--the resources available for people and communities to adapt to climate threats--in Ceara, Brazil. Lemos' research is geared toward developing a conceptual model of adaptive capacity that could help civic leaders in communities in Brazil, the United States, or other areas, make strategic decisions about how they allocate resources.

Credit: University of Michigan

In the areas of Northeast Brazil Lemos studied, droughts are frequent, and, can be catastrophic. In response, the government created specific measures to address drought, but its ability to effectively implement them was at times complicated by deficiencies in broader, social capacities like income, transportation, literacy and a lack of technology among the poor.

Credit: University of Michigan

Building a model for strategic thinking about adaptive capacity requires gathering and studying an enormous amount of regional data. Adaptive capacity involves variables that can vary wildly among different locations and communities. In contrast to the stressors that affected the areas of Brazil Lemos studied, her research in the Great Lakes found factors such as an increased number of potholes were stressing the community. The region had built up measures for dealing with winters, but was less prepared for increased flooding and cities warming.

Credit: University of Michigan