No; Just Because There Is Still Cold Weather Doesn't Mean Climate Change Isn't Real.


Courtesy Cloquet Police Department

    No; just because there is still cold weather doesn't mean climate change isn't real.

See, weather is a term used to describe the temperature, environmental conditions, precipitation, etc. of a short period of time, be it a day, week, month, or season -- nothing long term. Climate change on the other hand looks and vast stretches of time, from the dawn of the very planet humans (and life as we know it) call home to today. A better way to encompass climate change is with this statement by Weather.com: "The answer lies in 140 years of climate data, not tomorrow's forecast."

Whilst it is true that 2021 has seen some unusually cold weather in some places (when compared to recent years) it still doesn't account for the gradual increase in the earth's average temperature -- some 0.15 degrees Fahrenheit or a little more than -17 degrees Celsius per decade since 1901 according to the EPA.  This gradual increase in temperature has resulted in severe environmental impacts ranging from rising sea levels, forrest fires, and habitat loss among a slew of other devastating consequences for both humans and animals alike. Colder than normal weather, as seen in parts of the North East and Southern United States, are often results of polar vortexes or cold weather systems like nor'easters among others.

Looking at data collected for over 100 years shows trends of steadily increasing global temperatures that threaten the existence of every life-form on this planet. Infrequent cold weather isn't going to reverse the effects of climate change, the only way to "fix" our climate is to amend our ways and care for this planet not only for human, but all those creatures that call it home. 











Sources:

https://weather.com/science/environment/news/2021-02-14-does-cold-weather-disprove-climate-change

https://www.nrdc.org/issues/climate-change-agriculture

https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-us-and-global-temperature 

https://www.nj.com/weather/2021/02/nj-weather-snow-predictions-from-11-forecasters-ahead-of-sundays-winter-storm.html

https://www.treehugger.com/polar-vortex-linked-to-climate-change-5112639

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2019/12/01/blizzard-closes-highways-drops-nearly-20-inches-of-snow-on-duluth






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