As the U.S. endures a severe winter storm with icy roads and heavy snowfall, former President Donald Trump raised eyebrows on social media. He questioned how global warming could exist when temperatures are so low, labeling advocates as “environmental insurrectionists.”
However, scientists quickly pushed back. They explained that extreme cold can still happen in a warming world. Just because it feels freezing in one area doesn’t mean that global temperatures aren’t rising. In fact, much of the world is warmer than usual right now.
Meteorologists suggest that the warming climate may contribute to colder weather patterns in some regions. Daniel Swain, a climate scientist, emphasized that despite the frigid temperatures, global warming remains very real and is accelerating. Gabriel Vecchi from Princeton University echoed this sentiment, stating that the last few years have recorded some of the highest temperatures ever.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), winter temperatures have risen by 1.3 degrees Fahrenheit since 1995. In the U.S., recent winters have been particularly warm, with last December being one of the hottest on record. This warming trend is a stark reminder that local cold snaps do not negate long-term climate change.
Interestingly, the U.S. only represents about 2% of the planet’s surface. While some areas are experiencing intense cold, many parts of the world—like Australia and Europe—are seeing warmer-than-average conditions. Climate experts, including Michael Oppenheimer from Princeton, note that cold days will still occur, but they may become less frequent as the planet warms.
The current winter phenomenon may also have links to climate change, with researchers exploring how warming in the Arctic could be affecting weather patterns in the U.S. However, this area of study is complex and ongoing, with uncertainties remaining.
On historical records, Trump’s comments about unprecedented cold waves don’t align with actual data. For instance, Minneapolis is expected to drop to minus-11 degrees soon, which is far from the all-time low of minus-33 recorded in 1904. Chicago will likely see temperatures around 2 degrees—still warmer than the record low of minus-23 set in recent years.
Kristina Dahl from Climate Central mentioned that this January, while a few low temperature records might fall, there were still 1,092 new highs recorded across the U.S.
In conclusion, it’s crucial to understand that while cold weather can feel sudden and intense, it doesn’t contradict the reality of climate change. As seasons shift and temperatures fluctuate, global warming is still a pressing issue that scientists are continuing to study. For more comprehensive details on climate science, check out the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) here.
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