In recent years, California has been particulary prone to devastating blazes. In summer 2023, smoke wafting down from nearly 900 wildfires tearing through Canada triggered air quality alerts that affected as many as 70 million people across the eastern United States.Īnd then there’s the destruction on the ground. The hazardous air pollution that wildfire smoke creates can spread far beyond the region burned. However, as this region grows hotter and drier, wildfires are growing in size, ferocity, and speed. Wildfires have always been a natural part of life in the western United States and Canada. It also poses a serious health threat, especially for the most vulnerable. And the trend transcends borders.Įxtreme heat increases demand for air conditioning, fueling carbon pollution and putting a strain our energy system that can lead to blackouts. Through 2100, scientists predict hotter temperatures and more frequent and intense heat waves in every region of the U.S., according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. In California, temperatures are estimated to have increased 3☏ in the past century. Over the past 50 years, Austin has seen the number of days with temperatures above 100☏ increase by one month, while Houston has recorded an additional month with temperatures above 95☏. Take the Texas cities of Austin and Houston, for example. It’s not just that individual hot days are breaking records - there’s an overall warming trend. That same month, the average global temperature hit an all-time high. In California’s Death Valley this July, thermometers neared the hottest temperature ever recorded, hovering around 130 degrees. That means more scorching hot days in more places. As global temperatures rise, the hottest temperatures - and the number of areas impacted by extreme heat - are also rising.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |