In recent days, a significant portion of the United States has been experiencing extreme weather conditions, with Texas and the Southeast enduring dangerous heat, and the Upper Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions facing thick smoke from wildfires. While these two threats may seem unrelated, there is a common factor exacerbating their impact.
Human-caused climate change is playing a role in making high temperatures, which were once considered rare, more frequent occurrences. Additionally, it is intensifying the heat and dryness that act as fuel for devastating wildfires. As a result, these fires burn longer and more fiercely, emitting greater amounts of smoke.
John C. Lin, an atmospheric science professor at the University of Utah, describes climate change as the “elephant in the room” that is worsening wildfires and their effect on air quality. He points out that climate-related disasters, like the Canadian blazes, are no longer confined to local or regional scales but have become international concerns.
While mild weather and occasional extreme events have always been part of the weather cycle, the burning of fossil fuels is tipping the odds in favor of warmer conditions. John Nielsen-Gammon, the Texas state climatologist, notes that apart from daily temperature records broken in Texas this month, there has been an increase in locations experiencing the hottest weeks on record. This trend indicates that global warming is making heat waves, which are typically associated with Texas summers, even hotter than before.
Despite claims by skeptics that all-time maximum temperature records have not been recently set, other temperature metrics show significant increases. Persistent heat, particularly in Texas, is evident, according to Dr. Nielsen-Gammon, who is also an atmospheric science professor at Texas A&M University.
Overall, human-induced climate change is a driving force behind the worsening heatwaves and wildfires experienced across the United States. These events serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address and mitigate the impacts of climate change on both a local and global scale.
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