Is It Getting Warm In Here?

Climate change, global warming, greenhouse gases, polar ice caps melting... these are all buzz words that we hear tossed around. But what do they mean? Is the climate really changing?

This is is really an extensive topic. There are people who believe that climate change is real, its not good, and we are the cause.  There are people that think the whole thing is a hoax, that its not that big of a deal. Then there are people who may concede that the climate is heating up, but are hesitant to blame it on people.

Let's start with the, "climate change is real and happening", argument. According to the EPA, "Earth's average temperature has risen by 1.4°F over the past century, and is projected to rise another 2 to 11.5°F over the next hundred years".

Oh wow, a couple degrees warmer! That doesn't sound like very much, why is it so important? I mean sure that video up there shows things have heated up, but its still pretty cold in the arctic! And, its still snowing in the north; pretty sure Winter Storm Nemo proved that one...

Well, first the rising of 1.4°F is an average. In some areas, like the arctic regions, that number is actually higher. Second, while we may not think a couple of degrees makes a difference, Mother Nature doesn't agree. Animals such as penguins and butterflies are feeling the effects. National Geographic reports that the number of Adélie penguins have declined.

Say whaaaat?

Species of foxes, butterflies, and arctic plants have been found farther and farther north, trying to find cooler weather. There are some species that are enjoying the warmer weather like the Spruce Bark Beetle. (I was going to post a picture of these, but yuck! If bugs don't give you the heebie-jeebies then go ahead and do a Google Image search, have fun.) These beetles have had a huge increase in numbers and are destroying forests in Alaska.

Animals aren't the only ones feeling the change.  The weather is starting to make a statement too.  In 2008, National Geographic released an article, Strong Hurricanes Getting Stronger; Warming Is Blamed.  Warmer ocean temperatures means stronger hurricanes.  Some scientists believe that climate change is the cause of the warmer temperatures and nastier hurricanes, while others say this is "a natural storm cycle".  But, with a naturally cooler North Atlantic ocean with its typically weak hurricanes, now flinging much stronger storms at the East Coast, it does make you wonder...

According to a nyc.gov hazards web page:

Many hurricane experts say the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico have begun to spin off more frequent and destructive hurricanes than in previous decades. Tropical storms have been on the rise since 1995, and a record 15 hurricanes made their way into the North Atlantic in 2005.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is also concerned.  Heat waves can be extremely dangerous, like the heat wave in Australia early this year that was so extreme, "Australia weather forecasters had to add a new color to their heat maps to show temperatures between 123 and 129 degrees."  (That link leads to a great article, check it out.)

Extreme heat can lead to dehydration, and even trouble breathing for people who have asthma and other respiratory conditions.

The WHO also predicts a rise in sea levels and more extreme storms that will cause people to move away from the coast and other low-lying areas.  This can lead to, "the risk of a range of health effects, from mental disorders to communicable diseases".  The water supply may be affected by drought and changes in when we get rain or snow and how much we get. People don't always realize that a snow-less winter can lead to drought conditions in the summer. Flooding will occur more often in some areas, which can contaminate drinking water, cause injury and death, and even cause an increase in mosquitoes.

Not only are mosquitoes incredibly annoying, but they can also carry diseases such as West Nile Virus.  With the higher temperatures and increase in insect activity, we will continue to see more and more of these viruses, like West Nile and Malaria, over here in the United States.

And the list of changes goes on! I could keep writing this for hours and have the longest blog post EVER! But, I think its about time to wrap this up before I put you to sleep and you have a nightmare.  There is so much more to cover on this topic and I will get there.

Next I want to take a break from all this info, and review a great book on the topic by Dr. Heidi Cullen.

From there we will take a look at the other side of the climate argument and see what other people are
saying on the topic.

I know this is a disturbing issue and some people have strong opinions about it. I urge you to keep an open mind, consider both sides of the argument, and draw your own conclusions... so come back soon!