COLUMBIA, SC (WACH) — Melting polar ice caps, rising ocean waters and extreme wildfires are all side effects of climate change in different parts of the world, but not so much here in the Midlands.
It can be easy to assume climate change is their problem, not ours, so why should we care?
The skyWACH Weather Team spoke with experts around the Midlands to explore some of the ways human-caused climate change is impacting us at home.
Urban Heat Islands
A heatwave that would have occurred once every 10 years in the pre-industrial climate is now expected to happen 2.8 times every 10 years and be 1.2C hotter.
In places like downtown Columbia, structures such as buildings and roads absorb and re-emit heat more than natural landscapes.
These result in urban islands of hotter temperatures compared to surrounding rural areas.
We spoke with city leaders who are exploring ways to reduce the impacts of intense urban heating for those most vulnerable.
Fighting the Flood Problem
The impacts of climate change go well beyond hot temperatures.
Warmer air is capable of holding more water vapor, leading to more heavy rain and flooding.
After the infamous 2015 Midlands flood, the City of Columbia invested millions to make infrastructure changes before the next flood disaster.
Alligators at Risk?
In Aiken County, students and faculty at the University of Georgia’s Savannah River Ecology Lab are exploring the future of the American Alligator in a warmer climate.
Alligator nest temperatures are directly tied to the gender of their offspring.
Will warmer nest temperatures create an imbalance of alligator genders and put the species at risk?
Poison Ivy Feasts on Carbon Dioxide
About 85 percent of Americans are allergic to poison ivy.
It is a regular hazard for hikers and gardeners, affecting as many as 50 million people every year.
We spoke with experts at the University of South Carolina about why poison ivy is expected to thrive on rising greenhouse gases.
A Dimmer Future for Fireflies?
Congaree National Park is one of the few spots where synchronous fireflies call home.
The display attracts thousands to the Midlands every year.
Fireflies rely on wet weather, and tend to go dark during extended dry stretches.
With drought becoming more common and severe due to climate change, what does the future have in store?
Fortifying Homes from Natural Disasters
A record 28 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disasters occurred in the United States last year.
The overall number of tropical systems is not increasing, but climate change has increased the frequency of the most intense and destructive storms.
We visited a one-of-a-kind facility in Chester County where engineers are simulating nature’s worst weather to determine what it takes for homes and businesses to survive.
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Publish date : 2024-08-29 01:39:00
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