Earth’s temperature is definitely increasing. Honest! The sixth assessment by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Control (IPCC) warns—again—that our emissions of heat-trapping gases have warmed Earth’s climate by nearly 2°F since 1900, and Earth’s average temperature will continue to rise without drastic reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
How so? When the Sun’s short wavelengths of visible light reach Earth, they are absorbed by most objects they strike. These objects, in turn, reflect the energy back into space as long wavelengths, or infrared radiation. However, the pollutants we’ve been spewing into our atmosphere for decades—primarily CO2, but also nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4)—block the long wavelengths from leaving our lower atmosphere.
This is similar to how greenhouse glass allows short wavelengths of visible light to enter but prevents reflected long wavelengths of infrared radiation from exiting, thus heating the greenhouse. Unlike a greenhouse, Earth lacks roof vents to expel any excess heat. To underscore our plight, last July was the hottest month on record.
Another global concern is that of Earth’s 332.5 million cubic miles of water, only 21,830 cubic miles is drinkable. This may be enough for our current population of about 8.1 billion people. But what happens if, as the United Nations predicts, we hit 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050, or 10.4 billion by 2100?
As our population grows, Earth’s temperature will rise, based on our fossil fuel dependence. At the moment, global warming is winning. And while the thousands of IPCC volunteer scientists and other experts have warned us of growing regional and worldwide climate problems, we still aren’t listening.
Major wildfires are increasing worldwide due to temperature rise and more severe droughts. For example, seven Western states and Mexico have faced major water shortages because of reduced flow in the Colorado River caused by rising temperatures. For similar reasons, the Gulf of Mexico’s saline waters are moving up the Mighty Mississippi’s delta because of the river’s much lower, rain-starved flow. And years of drought and climate change have caused major recession at Lake Mead, revealing a few embarrassing secrets of Las Vegas’ wilder days.
Even hurricanes may be affected. In late October, tropical storm Otis developed into a Category 5 “nightmare” hurricane in just 12 hours, before reaching Acapulco with sustained 165-mph winds. Global warming! Scientists are wading through the data to understand how to predict monster storms like this.
If rain interrupts a drought, it often can’t rescue failing crops. The excessively high temperatures that cause the droughts also quickly evaporate any surface water.
Another worldwide problem created by droughts is wildfires. There are more than ever before and they are more destructive each year.
Last summer, a parched Canada reported 45,703,742 acres had burned, nine times its average annual fires of 5.2 million acres. Roughly 6,500 individual blazes released spectacular flames and foreboding reddish smoke that drifted from the US Midwest to the Atlantic Coast and as far south as Miami.
The Canadian blazes took the lives of two residents and four fire fighters, and an August wildfire on the Hawaiian island of Maui took the lives of roughly 100 people, with some still missing as of late October, making it the deadliest US wildfire in over a century.
Smoke is an accompanying problem of wildfires. This includes polluting particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, lead, and methane.
The Sierra Club recognizes these growing catastrophes: Every day brings more news about sea-level rise and climate-fueled disasters. Our task is clear and urgent: We must fight for each other—and the only planet we call home," the Club has stated.