Rising Temperatures and Soaring Concerns: The Summer of Extreme Heat By: Reverend Leo Woodberry
The Consequences of Inaction
As scorching temperatures blanket vast stretches of the United States and the world this summer, a stark reality has taken center stage: the relentless impact of global warming. The sweltering heat waves that have gripped communities, with records shattered and thermometers climbing to unprecedented heights, serve as a poignant reminder that climate change is not a distant threat but an urgent and present danger.
The message is clear: we must take this very seriously. As the planet warms, dangerous weather events, like the record-breaking heat waves we are witnessing, will become more common. The urgency to address this issue cannot be overstated. The most recent seven years, from 2015 to 2021, were the warmest on record. The global mean temperature average, estimated to be 1.17 ± 0.13 °C above the 1850–1900 average, speaks volumes about the trajectory we are on. Moreover, since 2000, an annual average of 70,025 wildfires has raged, burning a staggering 7.0 million acres annually—more than double the average annual acreage burned in the 1990s. These fires, intensified by extreme heat, wreak havoc on ecosystems, air quality, and local economies.
The Scorching Reality
"We have very high scientific confidence that the world will continue to experience summers like this one and, in fact, that the frequency of extreme heat will intensify further in response to further global warming," said Noah Diffenbaugh, a professor of Earth system science at Stanford University. These words underscore the undeniable truth that the relentless march of climate change is fueling these searing summer days. Across the globe, experts like Andrew Kruczkiewicz, a senior researcher at Columbia University’s International Research Institute for Climate and Society, emphasize that warming of the atmosphere and oceans is a direct result of climate change. This has pushed the baseline of what's considered normal in terms of temperature to new, elevated levels.
The Far-Reaching Impact of Extreme Heat
Extreme heat during the summer months reverberates across regions, affecting communities, economies, and ecosystems alike. The consequences are staggering: 1. Human Health: Heat-related illnesses like heatstroke and dehydration escalate, leading to hospitalizations and fatalities. Vulnerable populations, including the elderly and children, are at higher risk. The rise in temperatures worsens air quality, resulting in respiratory problems due to increased ground-level ozone and particulate matter.
19 E. J. TODAY
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online