Earth Equity News

The New Norm: Record-Breaking Heat. Climate Central, July 6, 2010. “The intense heat wave that is gripping the crowded metropolitan corridor and toppling records from Washington, DC to Boston, with temperatures hovering near or just above 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the first full week of July, is raising questions about whether events like this are likely to become more common and/or severe as the climate warms in response to greenhouse gas emissions. The short answer: yes and yes, but with an important caveat. No individual extreme weather event -- including this heat wave -- can be caused by climate change. Rather, what climate change does is shift the odds in favor of certain events. As Climate Central detailed last summer, a small amount of global warming could have a large effect on weather extremes -- including extreme heat events, which are forecast to be become more frequent, more intense, and longer lasting (see the US Climate Change Science Program report). Extreme weather and climate events can cause significant damages, and heat waves are considered public health emergencies. According to the Centers for Disease Control, heat is the number one weather-related killer in the US. Hot temperatures contribute to increased emergency room visits and hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease, and can cause heat stroke and other life-threatening conditions.”