In the Northern Hemisphere in 2017 and 2018 brought several destructive hurricanes to the shores of North America, the Caribbean, and throughout the Pacific rim. Such extreme weather events are predicted to get more common and more severe with increasing climate change.
Several participating classes in the ISCFC were or are in the path of these storms and we hope for the best for them, their families and communities.
We would love to hear from students affected directly and indirectly by extreme weather events, and also any students who have been following the news this summer.
What are your thoughts about the connection between climate change and extreme weather events? Has this hurricane season increased your concern about climate change or not? Do you think that US citizens and residents (and others in the region) will take climate change more seriously now?
Extreme Weather >
Wild Fires and Natural disasters
As the years go on, we are seeing more wild fires and natural disasters around the world. You might say that wild fires are directly caused by humans and not by climate change (which is also caused by humans) but the truth is that climate change promotes these wild fires. The air is drier and the temperature is increasing which makes it more easier for wild fires to start. This brings me to my next point. If I recall correctly, hurricanes that hit the United States start in Africa and get bigger by gathering warm moist air that comes from the Atlantic ocean's waters. If temperatures are rising around the world, there will be more warm moist air in the ocean which causes more hurricanes to hit eastern North America.
Very well said! I believe that climate change has really affected our planet and the natural disasters that occur in it. I really agree with your statement about how they start in Africa and progress from there by moving to places with bigger populations and other climate issues. Very good point!