By. George P. Nassos
There is continued evidence that climate change, really global warming, is an environmental issue that must be addressed as quickly as possible. The latest evidence is that 2024 was the hottest year in history. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Paris Agreement set a maximum increase in atmospheric temperature of 1.5°C above pre-industrial time by 2050. We have already exceeded that increase when we hit a plus 1.55°C in 2024. What have we been experiencing?
One impact of the rising temperature is the heating of the ocean waters. Since water has a much higher heat capacity than air, it absorbs much more heat than the atmosphere. Increased temperature of the water causes it to expand and thus results in sea level rise. In the last 100 years, the sea level has increased about 7.5 inches. Another problem with the ocean water is its increase in acidity caused by the formation of carbonic acid when the carbon dioxide reacts with the seawater. And this results in more difficulty producing calcium carbonate which is a key component of shellfish causing a decrease in fish population.
The increase in seawater level is also caused by melting ice sheets like Greenland and Antarctica. Now you have the melting freshwater mixed with seawater which causes changes in water circulation. On the plus side, the melting Arctic icesheet has created a new shipping route connecting the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean in the north.
Then we also have the problem of rainfall. The higher atmospheric temperature coupled with an increase in water evaporation from the warmer seawater allows for increases in humidity which results in greater rainfall when a cold front hits the humid air. Hurricanes are occurring more frequently and when they do occur the impact is much greater because of the higher air humidity.
On the other side, we have droughts which are a serious environmental threat across the United States. Climate change exacerbates droughts by making them more frequent, longer, and more severe. In California climate change puts the spotlight on a troubling trend: the rapid alternation between extreme wet and dry conditions, known as “hydroclimate whiplash.”
Antarctica—a land of extremes—is warming faster than ever, and the consequences are profound. King penguins are disappearing, and invasive grasses are spreading across the icy landscape. As sea ice vanishes, sunlight fuels algae blooms that smother marine life, while violent storms churn the Southern Ocean. Science is clear—Antarctica is changing faster than was ever expected.
A persistent period of unusually hot days is referred to as an extreme heat event or a heat wave. Heat waves are occurring more often than they used to in major cities across the United States. Their frequency has increased steadily, from an average of two heat waves per year during the 1960s to six per year during the 2010s and 2020s. Heat waves are more than just uncomfortable: they can lead to illness and death, particularly among older adults, the very young, and other vulnerable populations
Climate change is also having a negative health impact on young adults. Along with other environmental issues, climate change is causing anxiety and stress due to the youth’s concern for the future of the environment. This has been exemplified by 22-year-old Greta Thunberg who began the school climate strikes and public speeches at the age of 15.
But what about the recent fires in Los Angeles and some surrounding towns. They have now been categorized as the most destructive fires in California history. They have been going on for over two weeks and the Santa Ana winds became more intense which helped fuel the fires. California has had fires in the past, usually in the northern part of the state but not to this extent. The big question is what caused these fires.
Most fires are caused by accidents such as a discarded cigarette, electrical equipment malfunctions, or a campground log fire for roasting. The unusual timing of the Los Angeles fires raises the question as to whether they were started by accident. Listening to the news one evening, it was mentioned that the fires were in six different locations, and they all started within a day of each other. Were these fires started by accident or was it premeditated arson. If arson, another big question is who would do this? The Los Angeles police and FBI are investigating these fires to determine the cause. After two weeks, there has not been any explanation given in the news. It is either because the cause of the fires has not been determined, or they don’t want to tell us. I sure hope it is the former.