Heat Waves of Destruction

by Lauren Jensen

            The most controversial topic in environmental news is and has been global warming and now that the world is starting to acknowledge this catastrophe many more issues will come into focus. Although some of the changes to come may be unavoidable they must be approached in a proactive way in order to diminish the effects on humans. One threat to maintaining the existence we have so difficulty gained is more severe heat waves. These heat waves will change the world through the health of vulnerable individuals as well as climate change.

            It is important to be prepared and knowledgeable about the events to come in the case that global warming increases to the levels predicted by qualified scientists. A study performed by two scientists, Meehl and Tebaldi, was based on the a global climate model in which the human and natural forcings are input and predictions of the aftermath are expelled. The increased global warming caused by “greenhouse gases, sulfate aerosols, ozone, volcanic aerosols, and solar variability,” as stated in the Science journal, will lead to a higher average climate. This will mean less variability into colder seasons and more intense warm seasons. So heat waves in the summer months, which mean periods of extreme heat and humidity throughout the day as well as no relief in the night, will be a at a higher average as well. The damaging effects of heat waves are already known to many populations, however with heat waves at temperatures unseen the consequences to come are unknown.

            In the study of a global climate model it was shown that heat wave patterns in cities such as Chicago and New York City could increase in length as well as intensity in the second half of the twenty-first century. This would put susceptible people including elderly, those who live alone and people with health problems at great risk. Many elders in our society fit into all three of these categories and therefore are in the greatest danger of harm caused by these heat waves. The aged are perhaps the most important in our society as life comes full circle and they depend on the those around them to help when necessary. So in order to minimize the effects if global warming and heat wave intensity increases we must acknowledge the risks and prepare the vulnerable before hand. Some methods of avoiding true problems, such as death, are stay hydrated, stay indoors in air conditioning if possible and to check on those around you who are young, old and have heart or health issues. Maintaining watch on defenseless people in these times could mean the difference between their life and death.

            While heat wave increases are said to be caused by the increasing global warming, they could also be a cause of global warming in themselves. In the Nature journal, it was published that in 2003 a European heat wave affected plants in a peculiar way. In these heat waves in Europe it was found that “lands were 20% less productive than during an average year,” according to the Nature journal. In addition, it was found that plants in these extreme temperature actually gave off more CO2 than they took in. Which means that they were contributing more to global warming than they were helping which is extremely nerve-racking due to the fact that the high temperatures were caused by global warming itself. The effects will just keep building on each other and changing the world’s environment. It has been said that global warming could help European growing, due to their short growing seasons and higher latitude. However without taking into account that this warming could be of an extreme nature the true test will be soon to come.

            The way that heat waves will change everyday lives is not necessarily a concern because its nature is meant to be only in extreme times. But with the studies shown and the possibility of these extreme heat waves and the temperatures foreseen appearing about once every two years the effects will be much more universal. With more deaths and more CO2 emission creating more global warming, the horrific possibilities are endless. So before it is too late we must come to the conclusion that it is better to be safe than sorry and proactive rather than reactive. It is time to take measure to protect ourselves from this growing issue and ensure a future for ourselves and our loved ones.

Works Cited

Black, Richard. “Heat Wave Makes Plants Warm Planet.” BBC News. 21 Sept. 2005. 14 Nov. 2007 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4269066.stm

McGregor, Glenn, Mark Pelling, and Simon Gosling. England. Science Programme. The Environment Agency. The Social Impacts of Heat Waves. Aug. 2007. 14 Nov. 2007.

Meehl, G.A. and C. Tebaldi, 2004: More Intense, More Frequent, and Longer Lasting Heat Waves in the 21^st Century. Science, 305, 994-997.

“More Intense Heat Waves Could Slam California’s Energy Grid.” Physorg.com. 19 Sept. 2005. < http://www.physorg.com/news6593.html>