The warming continues
Once again Mother Nature saw her home continue to warm.
The past 11 years from 2015 through 2025 have been the warmest in the 176-year observation record with the past three years being the three warmest years on record.
Concentrations of heat trapping gases and ocean heat content continue to rise. Arctic sea ice extent after the winter freeze this year was the lowest on record. Weather and climate related extreme events continued to take their toll across the planet; events ranged from devastating rains, floods and brutal heat that had cascading effects on lives, livelihoods, food supplies and agricultural systems.
Here in the United States we are better equipped to handle some of these events compared to other regions of our planet, however even here the effects were felt over large regions of the country.
The floods, fires and droughts took many lives and caused much destruction. We were fortunate as a large high-pressure weather system kept hurricanes out to sea this summer, however it did allow for much of the heat that parched the country, including our 29 days with 90-plus temperatures here in Uniontown. The average is just 13 and several decades ago it was just nine days above 90.
Since 1750, CO2 levels on Mother Earth’s home have increased from 278 ppm to 424 ppm and this is what’s responsible for the increasing warmth in our oceans. Deniers are quick to point out that the earth has warmed before and that is true but it took hundreds of thousands of years to accomplish what we current humans have been able to do in just 275 years.
World Meteorological Organization is the source for much of this data and the sad thing is the current administration would not even send a delegate to the climate conference this year.
We continue to deny what thousands of scientists and strong evidence show is a real problem. In recent days the administration has suspended wind farm construction along our coasts citing “National Security?” We need every bit of additional energy we can produce and this kind of behavior is perhaps the real threat to our security. Yes, we need to move away from fossil fuels and yes, it can be done over time, bringing along new forms of energy and setting up mitigating structures in our economy and infrastructure to provide food, shelter and safety to our people and perhaps helping the world’s poor and unsheltered have a better life.
It certainly is a better model than being the bully of the world and perhaps in the scheme of things it will pay dividends and lessen some of the strain on our fellow humans across Mother Nature’s home; at least that’s my wish for the coming year.
Looking ahead in the short term, January is usually our coldest month. Last year we had a low of 14 below zero. In 1977 we averaged 15 degrees above normal for the month and in 1950 we were 13 degrees above normal.
Most years we stay a few degrees above or below our normal. Temperature records for the month are a high of 79 again in 1950 and a low of -22 in 1994. Snowfall averages 10 inches with 20 inches in one day on Jan. 8, 1996.
The good news is the darkest days of late December give way to a few minutes of increased daylight and by month’s end sunrise is at 6:38 a.m. and sunset is 5:37 p.m.
Every year we see a January thaw lasting a few days with temperatures in the 60s and sometimes breaking 70.
Let’s hope it comes to visit this year.