Dangerous heat can cause a significant amount of threats to human health and the environment. As temperatures rise, it becomes more important to understand the different risks associated with heatwaves.
Heatwaves are one of the leading weather-related death causes in the United States besides hurricanes, with about 600 deaths per year from 1999-2009. Half the nations in the world have experienced high risk temperatures in 2024. In other countries, such as the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia, the carbon pollution from the burning of fossil fuels has caused an increase of around three weeks of elevated heat. These countries are said to be the least affected by heat, but yet still suffer.
Scientists explain that due to the high carbon emissions that 2024 was on track to be one of the hottest years on record.The burning of fossil fuels is known to be the most blatant explanation to the increase in heat waves across the world. In order to gain a level of control over these dangerous heat levels, fossil fuels need to stop being burned.
This map from the Washington Post, shows the change in temperature through celsius due to climate change. This specific map was made back in August of 2024, to show the drastic changes to expect in the United States. As you can see, the Great Lakes Region is not as affected as the states near and around the coast. Those places typically get the hottest and will proceed to increase in temperature throughout the years.
Human Health Risks:
Temperature can compromise an individual's overall health as it affects the body's ability to self-regulate its internal temperature. This can cause serious and even life threatening effects, such as illness, heatstroke, hyperthermia, etc. Pregnant women, elderly individuals and children are the most likely to have troubles regulating their internal body temperature as it is, meaning that they are the most susceptible to these life threatening effects.
Environmental Risks:
Agriculture is one of the biggest environmental factors that is affected by heat. Plants need cooler temperatures, whereas during heatwaves, the plant's growth is negatively affected. When it comes to the effect on agriculture, farm animals and livestock are also severely affected almost in the same way that humans are. Livestock can also experience symptoms of heat stress, more specifically in cows, this can cause a decrease in milk production and growth.
Great Post! I think it's so extremely important to see how livestock contributes to global warming and climate change as well. Many people don't know how effect cattle and beef can have at causing damage to the atmosphere and continuing to heat up the atmosphere.
ReplyDeleteI think it is important to know how global warming is affecting livestock and agriculture. I didn't really realize how much heat can have an impact on plants, livestock, and people. I like how you have brought up multiple different aspects of how Climate Change is changing the world.
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ReplyDeleteIt is heartbreaking to think about how heat stress can disrupt food production and animal welfare. It is so clear that addressing fossil fuel usage is more urgent than ever. Such an eye-opening post! What could be the best way for humans and animals to stay safe during heat waves?
This post feels super pertinent especially considering the fires in California right now. I feel like the rising temperatures generally must also be contributing to increased wildfires. Which may be a misconception on my part but I would assume higher temps making drier foliage would increase fires.
ReplyDeleteI love the inclusion you have of how the heat impacts multiple facets of things in our nation. We do not usually think of how our actions impact animals; this is their planet too and our negative actions play a major role in the detriment of their lives.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great overview of the risks of the current overheating in many countries. I wish more people understood how life threatening this truly is. When farmers and laborers anywhere on Earth are experiencing unlivable temperatures, they themselves and their crops will die. We are not providing the equity or the solution driven changes that will help these people at the speed the damage is taking place. These issues are as much a policy and economic issue as it is the planet's.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea heatwaves caused so many deaths per year. That blows my mind. I have been in Arizona when it was 114 degrees out and it's no joke, so I am so glad you were so thorough with your topic. I think you did a great job at showing just how dangerous these heatwaves are in a multitude of ways. I thought the most powerful piece wasn't even about humans but knowing that the animals are just as affected as we are.
ReplyDeleteit is crazy to see how climate change is getting to record-breaking highs the years 2023 and 2024 were the hottest years I believe so the fact that it's only getting hotter is a crazy thought to have i don't know how we can solve this though since I feel like a sad fact is that fossil fuel cars will never be stopped at least not before its to late.
ReplyDeleteI think because so many of us in the developed have some form of air conditioning, we don't always consider heat to be dangerous because we can escape it. Unfortunately, I think we will reach a point where our AC cannot keep up with the intensity and prolonged nature of increased heat wave. ACs will fail, particularly older models, and not all can afford to overhaul their systems. I hope we can begin to take action to reduce heat and take care of the most vulnerable.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate how you linked the physical health affects that the dangerous heat can have as well. Even in the US there are a lot of people who don't have access to AC, but there are many other countries where is it is much less normalized to have an AC as well. This makes it that much more of a significant problem and risk that people are faced with when intense heat waves hit.
ReplyDeleteGreat comments about the impact of heat on human health and agriculture. I found Brynn's comments about Arizona interesting.
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