THE WEATHER CHANGE
Extreme weather changes in Texas in recent years are threatening the state’s residents with more signs of climate change in the future, according to WFAA reporters David Schechter and Chance Horner.
Multiple signs of climate change occurred in 2017, including record temperatures. The National Weather Service website shows in November 2017 extreme temperatures were reached. Examples of the record heat index for 2017 include 94 degrees on November 2, 90 degrees on November 4, and 94 degrees on November 5.
Texas Observer writer Naveena Sadasivam reported examples of extreme weather events in 2017 that could be linked to climate change. These include softball-sized hail, an increase in wildfires, and the Category 4 hurricane known as Hurricane Harvey. According to the Texas Observer, Hurricane Harvey hit the Texas coast and stalled for several days over Houston, then dumped about 60 inches of rain.
“The amount of rainfall produced by any given storm is increasing because of climate change,” said Sadasivam.
RECENT SIGNS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
A more recent example of climate change in Texas was the winter storm that occurred in February 2021, which proved Texas is not prepared for these extreme changes in weather. Power outages and deaths across the state demonstrated Texans’ lack of understanding of climate change. Gov. Greg Abbott has created no policy on the risks of these extreme weather conditions or how to reduce them, according to Schechter and Horner.
Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon is a climatologist and a professor at Texas A&M University’s department of atmospheric sciences who has been researching the risks of climate change for years. He has warned policymakers about the harmful effects of climate change and his research shows Texas will endure more extreme weather conditions in the future.
“It’s all tied together. Everybody has to worry about everything,” said Nielsen-Gammon.
Nielson-Gammon’s statement refers to the price everyone must pay if climate change continues to cause these weather crises.
STEPS TO PREVENT CLIMATE CHANGE
No Texas agencies or departments have created any policies on climate change yet. The state is threatened with droughts and more extreme weather in the future, according to WFAA News. Residents of the state should take part in climate control prevention to lessen these extreme weather changes.
A few ways to prevent climate change according to AIDA, a regional organization of environmental legal experts, include supporting small agricultural producers, combating short-lived pollutants, and promoting green energy.
Sources Used: Normals, Means, and Extremes
The Green Gossip 