Hotter temperatures have been linked to a rise in energy poverty, with more people struggling to meet their energy bills from their household income. Flickr / CC by 2.0
By Emma Charlton
The effects of climate change may more far-reaching than you think.
Hotter temperatures have been linked to a rise in energy poverty, with more people struggling to meet their energy bills from their household income, according to a new study published on ScienceDirect by researchers from Italy's Ca' Foscari University.
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<p class=""><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/07/air-conditioners-inequality-energy-poverty-climate-change/" target="_blank">World Economic Forum</a>.</em></p>
<div id="8d41e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a5ee84b11a5a425f469fc093daeab875"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1270064316817997825" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">New #research shows households spend a lot more on electricity when they get air conditioning. Along with… https://t.co/ShIZ7Bi7P3</div> — American Scientist (@American Scientist)<a href="https://twitter.com/AmSciMag/statuses/1270064316817997825">1591641904.0</a></blockquote></div><p>The analysis looks at eight countries – Australia, Canada, France, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland – and investigates how households respond to excess heat. They have found an uptick on the purchasing and use of air conditioners, which has led to a greater consumption of electricity, and a greater proportion of income being spent on energy.</p>
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Value of air conditioning imports in selected OECD countries. ScienceDirect
<p>Households spend between 35% and 42% more on electricity when they adopt air conditioning, the study says.</p><p>As temperatures increase around the world, cooling is emerging as a new, basic need – even in countries that traditionally have not previously required such appliances.</p><p>That puts an additional burden on families who might not be able to afford the most efficient appliances and could result in spending being diverted away from food or education towards cooling, the researchers write.</p><p>"Climate change and the growing demand for air conditioning are likely to exacerbate energy poverty," the study says. "The number of energy poor who spend a high share of income on electricity increases, and households in the lowest income" groups are the most negatively affected.</p><p>Energy poverty is an issue that goes beyond air conditioning, with 800 million people lacking access to electricity and many more struggling with an erratic and limited service.</p>
The ‘Golden Thread’
<p>The <a href="https://www.endenergypoverty.org/reports" target="_blank">Global Commission to End Energy Poverty</a> calls access to energy the "golden thread" that weaves together economic growth, human development, and environmental sustainability. And one of the <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/archive/sdg-07-affordable-and-clean-energy" target="_blank">United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals</a> is to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030.</p><p>Sustainability also has a large role to play in the future of energy and failing to embed green policies in COVID-19 stimulus packages and underinvesting in green infrastructure are current risks, according to the <a href="http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_COVID_19_Risks_Outlook_Special_Edition_Pages.pdf" target="_blank">World Economic Forum</a>.</p><p>In its vision for a 'Great Reset' – building a better world after the pandemic – the Forum and the IMF jointly backed the <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/06/end-fossil-fuel-subsidies-economy-imf-georgieva-great-reset-climate/" target="_blank">transition to a green economy</a> and called for an end to fossil fuel subsidies.</p>
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Along the northern shores of the Gulf of Mexico, oysters live in coastal estuaries where saltwater and freshwater meet and mix. Flickr / CC by 2.0
Along the northern shores of the Gulf of Mexico, oysters live in coastal estuaries where saltwater and freshwater meet and mix.
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<p>LaDon Swann of the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium says the shellfish require water that's salty, but not too salty.</p><p>"So it's kind of like Goldilocks. … You know, an oyster's really looking for that perfect location," he says. "When they find that water that's just right, that's where they make their home."</p><p>But climate change is throwing off that balance. When heavy rain falls, too much freshwater may flow from the Mississippi River into the oyster reefs.</p>
<p>"Oysters can survive that for a short period of time, but if it goes beyond just a few days, then it affects their health, and ultimately you see mass mortalities of oysters because of the freshwater inflow," Swann says.</p><p>On the other hand, when there's not enough rain, the water around oyster beds gets too salty. That allows saltwater predators – such as a snail called the oyster drill – to enter oyster habitat.</p><p>This snail can make a hole in the oyster's shell, suck it out, and digest it.</p><p>So Swann says as climate change causes precipitation extremes at both ends of the spectrum, wild Gulf Coast oysters may lose the "just right" Goldilocks zone they need to thrive.</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from </em><a href="https://www.yaleclimateconnections.org/2020/07/increasingly-extreme-weather-could-wreak-havoc-on-wild-gulf-coast-oysters/" target="_blank"><em>Yale Climate Connections.</em></a><a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/r/entryeditor/2646348638#/" target="_self"></a></p>From Your Site Articles
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Wine cultivation, typically associated with more southern slopes in France, Spain and Italy, is now taking off in places like Denmark, Sweden (pictured) and the United Kingdom. Jonathan Nackstrand / AFP / Getty Images
By Martin Kuebler
With hotter summers, severe storms and prolonged dry spells in the forecast, the outlook for Europe's farmers is daunting.
<p>Average annual temperatures are expected to increase anywhere from 1 to 5.5 degrees Celsius (1.5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit), with the strongest warming projected across the south of the continent in the summer months.</p><p><a href="https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/cc-adaptation-agriculture" target="_blank">A September 2019 report by the European Environment Agency (EEA)</a> noted that heat stress, extreme weather events like flash floods and hailstorms, and water shortages have already changed growing conditions for several crops in Europe — especially for Mediterranean staples like olives and wine grapes.</p>
<div id="7b57a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a3140c63ff0a97771d0ad3f85329d728"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1174945780358008833" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">❓How concerned are you about the impact of #climatechange on #farming in #Europe? #Adaptation will be crucial - fin… https://t.co/XPkbPic6DY</div> — EU EnvironmentAgency (@EU EnvironmentAgency)<a href="https://twitter.com/EUEnvironment/statuses/1174945780358008833">1568963878.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Places in northern Europe, meanwhile, could see agricultural benefits from climate change, including longer growing seasons and a shorter frost period "allowing the cultivation of new crops and varieties," said the report. Suitable cropland around the Baltic Sea could more than double by 2100, from 32% of land area today to about 76%, with certain crops now common to southern Europe taking root further north.</p>
UK, Scandinavian Wines
<p>Those climatic changes have already borne fruit — quite literally. In the northern German state of Lower Saxony, where average temperatures have risen nearly 2 degrees Celsius in the last several decades, some farmers have started cultivating fruits typically found further south, such as apricots and nectarines. And wine cultivation, typically associated with more southern slopes in France, Spain and Italy, is now taking off in places like Denmark, Sweden and the United Kingdom.</p><p><a href="https://www.ryedalevineyards.co.uk/" target="_blank">Ryedale Vineyards</a>, in northeastern England, has been producing British wines since 2006. As one of the UK's northernmost wineries, it relies mainly on hybrid disease-resistant grape varieties more suited to northern Europe's cooler regions.</p><p>The warming trend of the past decades has seen the UK's wine industry quadruple in size since 2000, with English vineyards producing some 13.2 million bottles in 2018. But the changing climate does pose other challenges, including unusual weather patterns and increased risk of disease associated with wetter summers. which have been linked to climate change.</p><p>"Unpredictable weather events, droughts and intense summer storms are a real problem and seem to have increased in frequency," said Jon Fletcher, who runs Ryedale Vineyards with his family. In an email to DW, he listed off the challenges: late frosts, destructive hailstorms and dry spells that can last for months. "This year we have already had the sunniest May on record and no rainfall for two months, so the unpredictable weather continues."</p><p>"Climate change is posing a risk for the sustainability of vineyard management at global scale and, particularly, in Europe," said Josep Maria Sole of <a href="http://visca.eu/" target="_blank">VISCA (Vineyards Integrated Smart Climate Application)</a>, an EU-funded project that aims to help Europe's wine industry develop medium- and long-term adaption strategies. He said wine producing areas will increasingly suffer from intense heat waves and droughts and, in certain regions in Spain, more intense spring frosts, which can damage grapevine buds.</p><p>Blaz Kurnik, an expert on climate change impacts and adaptation at the EEA, said these higher temperatures, especially warmer winters, will also favor the introduction of new diseases and pests, including the olive fruit fly. Increasing swarms are threatening Europe's olive oil industry, responsible for around three-quarters of the world's supply. "In the worst-case scenario, up to 80% of [Italy's] olive trees will be affected by this every year," said Kurnik, adding that flies were also infesting Spain's olive groves.</p>Mango, Avocado and Lychee: Europe's Future Cash Crops?
<p>Italy, which ranks second in the world for olive oil production, saw a disastrous harvest in 2018. Bad weather and frost caused production to drop by 57%, representing a loss of nearly €1 billion ($1.13 billion).</p><p>Sicily is one of Italy's top olive oil-producing regions, along with Calabria and Puglia. But some farmers there have begun focusing their attention on crops native to tropical regions, including mangoes, avocado and lychee fruit. </p><p>Tropical crops were first introduced to Sicily back in the 1970s, but recent years have seen an exponential growth of these crops and the introduction of new species such as papaya, replacing citrus fruits which "are no longer remunerative," said Vittorio Farina, an associate professor in agriculture at the University of Palermo.</p><p>"The favorable climate of many areas in the Mediterranean basin is promoting tropical fruit cultivations," he said in an email to DW. "In fact, the predominant mango and avocado production is concentrated in tropical countries, but recently its cultivation has spread outside the traditional geographical regions to the Mediterranean basin and in particular in Egypt, Israel, South Africa, Europe, mainly Spain and Italy."</p><p>Farina said a succession of milder winters has favored the expansion of mango, avocado and papaya orchards destined for export markets further north, though the corresponding drier summers and extreme weather events remain a challenge.</p><p><span></span>"The problem of the scarcity of water resources for agriculture will increasingly impose the introduction of species with low water requirements," said Farina, suggesting the possible introduction of fruit like the cactus pear. "For most other tropical species, irrigation in the warm months in the dry areas is an essential condition for obtaining a quality product." Farina said they were testing precision irrigation strategies to limit the water footprint of the tropical crops.</p>Finding the Right Solution
<p>Margarita Ruiz-Ramos, an associate professor at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, told DW that new crops were also being tested in Spain, including pistachios. However, she stressed that the priority now was experimenting with different varieties of existing crops that could withstand new growing conditions — such as types of fruit that don't rely as heavily on winter chill to produce spring blossoms.</p><p>"There already is the possibility to adapt the variety without changing the [main] crop in the short to medium term," she said, pointing out that some crops could also shift to other more suitable areas within the same country.</p><p>As part of her work at the <a href="http://ceigram.upm.es/" target="_blank">Research Center for the Management of Agricultural and Environmental Risks</a>, Ruiz-Ramos analyzes crop varieties, planting schedules, soil conditions, irrigation options and many other variables to find the optimum strategy for farmers and "design locally tailored adaptations." The most promising solutions are then tested in the field.</p><p>"It's a compromise between different needs. And that's why it's not so obvious as to just bring in some African crops," she said. However, she didn't rule out the fact that dramatic temperature changes could one day lead growers to take a chance on non-native crops.</p><p>Yves Madre, a co-founder of <a href="https://www.farm-europe.eu/" target="_blank">Brussels-based think tank Farm Europe</a>, said the EU's farming sector needs to be more open to new breeding techniques that would introduce drought and disease-tolerance genes to existing crops, which can include genome editing.</p><p>With more innovation and investment, he said the EU would be able to meet its goals in terms of food security and growth, especially in rural areas.</p>From Your Site Articles
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Sockeye salmon are seen swimming at a fish farm. Natalie Fobes / Getty Images
By Peter Beech
Using waste food to farm insects as fish food and high-tech real-time water quality monitoring: innovations that could help change global aquaculture, were showcased at the World Economic Forum's Virtual Ocean Dialogues 2020.
<p>Two young entrepreneurs addressed a breakout session of the event called <em>Harnessing the Power of Innovation to Achieve SDG14.</em> Syrine Chaalala, co-founder of the French-Tunisian company <a href="http://nextprotein.co/" target="_blank">nextProtein</a>, and Charlotte Dupont, co-founder of the French company <a href="https://www.bioceanor.com/products-and-services" target="_blank">BiOceanOr</a>, revealed the ideas that drove their rapidly accelerating startups.</p><p>Chalaala's nextProtein uses food waste to mass-produce insect protein to feed farmed fish in place of fishmeal – the production of which, often from corporate fisheries' by-catch, can lead to the depletion of ecosystems and the collapse of local fisheries. As our demand for farmed fish is growing 8% a year, her innovation could play a vital role in reducing the knock-on impact of aquaculture on the ocean.</p><p>She said that farming insects requires a fraction of the space as animal feed production – 100 square meters (1,076 square feet) of space can produce as much protein as 100 hectares (247 acres) of soy field.</p><p>"Because we wanted to have maximum impact, we wanted to provide solutions to other problems," said Chalaala, naming food waste and land scarcity as two key issues her business tackles. "Here, we can convert 20 kilos (44 pounds) of food waste into 1 kilo (2 pounds) of product."</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM2NjM0OS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTU5ODgwNzI4Mn0.97Q4mo_iOgbdUuiRS35PKdK1-e0QKv8C3-ewjkAmhTg/img.png?width=980" id="e712b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="94432f70b397eba50b44653468421d60" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Fly fishing. nextProtein
<p>The method uses vertical farming, little energy and almost no water – testament, said session host Christian Lim of <a href="https://www.blueoceanspartners.com/" target="_blank">Blue Oceans Partners</a>, to the efficiency of the insects at thriving on low input. The insect nextProtein uses is the Black Soldier Fly, selected due to its high-yield quality, and the ease of processing it into powder, oil and fertilizer. Her business is aiming to produce 100,000 tonnes of insect protein annually by 2025 – or around 10% of the insect meal market.</p><p>Meanwhile Charlotte Dupont and her colleagues at BiOceanOr have developed what they term "the first underwater weather station for real-time monitoring of water quality." One of its many applications is for fish farmers who aren't yet monitoring their water quality in real time.</p><p>She painted a picture of an industry that is only reluctantly changing, with water quality largely still monitored by hand. Since this process is time-consuming and arduous, it's generally done only once a day. But once the firm's underwater 'weather-stations' are installed, farmers can get a moment-by-moment grasp on conditions for their stock.</p><p>"Our first customer called us a few days later to tell us our tool wasn't working – the oxygen levels couldn't be so low," she said. But the equipment was fine: the unprecedented readings had thrown him. He was used to taking his readings only once a day, in the late morning, and had no idea how low oxygen levels could get overnight.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM2NjM1My9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMTIyMTUyNn0.x-eiOr4B5_0GZvmVnYiD0YYGyDR32PO0YJ0H-3tFrzM/img.png?width=980" id="b4249" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8a25143f13bdf53b3e5fdfd0833eaf7c" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
BiOceanOr's AquaREAL system. BiOceanOr
<p>"There are a lot of aquaculturists who don't realize right now the power of real-time monitoring," said Dupont. "It's a knowledge that they transmit from generation to generation, like agriculture a century ago: 'I know it because my father knows it.' They think there's nothing you can learn from tools, but just as in agriculture, there's a lot you can learn."</p><p>"I think data will be really central in the future," said Dupont, predicting a future where people subscribe to the water forecast just as today they subscribe to a weather forecast.</p><p>"With sensitive ecosystems like reefs and coastal systems, people will be able to subscribe to the data and see what is going on," she said. These water-quality forecasts will play a vital role in protecting ocean health.</p><p>Their session provided a short but telling insight into two crucial innovations in aquaculture as we set a course for a sustainable blue economy in the post-COVID-19 era. For more from the Virtual Ocean Dialogues 2020, you can access the whole event <a href="https://www.weforum.org/events/virtual-ocean-dialogues-2020/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/06/virtual-ocean-dialogues-water-forecasting-fish-farms-waste-innovation-blue-economy/" target="_blank">World Economic Forum</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Shanika Reaux walks through the devastated Lower Ninth Ward on May 10, 2006 in New Orleans, Louisiana, after her home was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Mario Tama / Getty Images
The big three broadcast channels failed to cover the disproportionate impacts of extreme weather on low-income communities or communities of color during their primetime coverage of seven hurricanes and one tropical storm over three years, a Media Matters for America analysis revealed.
<p>Evening news programs for ABC, CBS, and NBC from 2017 through 2019 aired 669 segments on eight storms, but never once discussed the disproportionate harm inflicted upon marginalized communities, often compounded by <a href="https://newsletter.climatenexus.org/e2t/tc/VVpTCP84cTPKVxPt4P6QtKsgW5n2k0f49S0dwM3ZwQ75nxGrV3Zsc37CgDFPW2NYhr57SFc-mW7l0XZZ7HJQHsW4N7K6M6jLlYhN6lS6Xyb6bscW2GR-XG2gBCPYW41TTzx6cpPCqW8bvNXl6fQ-97W6sj32Y1hNZjBV5k3zp436cPDW7KfLX114c3nNW8Gpfn391ZxXTW157MFS8yxPRWW3hdtLl580rddN6bkqM4wdtVqW6XFnDj4FpjQyW8Qpmbc89qZKlW8NLGXb7Zwgm2W4PP6Bp6t4D7lVnnxhq8XFB4CW6zYjvB7KJFBZVf5CPB3kl0MzN1RrqRqW3hKTW2HsRkd3fcJzXW6JypmQ6nSf--W80rxRN8Gn8TLW5J4L9Q6Lx54vW4LvHtX4Rkz_zW9c_phn7TTgg0W8yl90s6Wvtb-W56xQ131l1kXLW4MjZ7x3DlHjFN6gMb4B_72vDW91MSRk1mtFvRW4S7rq29lJ7CB3pVB1" target="_blank">discriminatory practices</a> in the <a href="https://newsletter.climatenexus.org/e2t/tc/VVpTCP84cTPKVxPt4P6QtKsgW5n2k0f49S0dwM3ZwRD3p_9LV1-WJV7CgMbZW7qblky26JBq4W5rNhZ95m5YFWW6bP6qP7HyL85W5_29qx78Fc8kW39VxXt4rdgHQW8Kn4Wr9314f5W6xHRrG7PJ8FZW3NnvDL7d4t1XW4pV_ym8wL05fW5bBJnQ8sm0QdW6tdVjm6sxZsZN126yptttdLBN8wbVwl9vnXDVmcGfF1TNtCYV_z7r35cHnT-W5_vRXh2_T96MW279lM66brN3bW1cS7rr632bSbW3jlbCZ4KFKGvN8YdCwvPPBrYW8c4QZ18wc4ykW5SmySD2hS3lPW42kmCg41H_w-W4l3SXL6TyXt3W3GFm5b3WwxtsW1y-kfM5g_f08W4KT8MQ4J8JLCN8-kLF5R4FS934G41" target="_blank">distribution</a> of <a href="https://newsletter.climatenexus.org/e2t/tc/VVpTCP84cTPKVxPt4P6QtKsgW5n2k0f49S0dwM3ZwQL3p_8SV1-WJV7CgBtyW3B-d_R5Zf1BMW8VY3b15c4Tb-W3By2gv7Gjw-KW731Qwt3DP6ndW3XhVq38DGFrjW4PYRtL87yRVXW85T2sP2-vYMRW8BKSr15wjF_2N5_LvHq516CbW2d3q107Z6vGtW9kTWcl671nhWW1Y9G4k4M9M2vVH3K998C8dslW837vfQ2DFGpLW2dphq45yX7xKW10mGfP7ll4PTW1x5BfV19tWZPN7CnWWFKB58lN9lbwgTQMWp2N1FRV6NFB9hWW7hM3RW3KjMJcW4fwksf5QQw4531nB1" target="_blank">federal aid</a>. Communities of color, low-income communities, and communities with low English proficiency -- three groups that often overlap -- are <a href="https://newsletter.climatenexus.org/e2t/tc/VVpTCP84cTPKVxPt4P6QtKsgW5n2k0f49S0dwM3ZwR13p_97V1-WJV7CgW-ZW6Vhd0_7HBzHmW4YqFxS3pbGSGW2JY85Q2MKKL9W34QCb354d6f-W1J0mww7hpS9BW3BDd4s4Gx98_W936cQX2RZnP1W7tdmrn68N3wtW7mxw2Q7W7xW0W8ZqbDb4RvbmMW8C0M8b8MGzMwN4n8CBVh81NZW9bpNBW4Xg5sGVdBVHb5xxy_-N38bDtCHTSVpW416Zgs5K6s-gW18n0FB62cWJdW84yYWz1w7TdlW69MmPh45klXmW2dbxgR273TtWW498BX095bvy1W4Fd6f86D8CnCW4p_Tbc4YZ96NW7sJLPp1fGdLj2tZ1" target="_blank">disproportionately hurt</a> by <a href="https://newsletter.climatenexus.org/e2t/tc/VVpTCP84cTPKVxPt4P6QtKsgW5n2k0f49S0dwM3ZwQ75nxGrV3Zsc37Cg_46W2ZfH6-4mS0-GW1Fh4V188wQZSVx_XpF7vXf47W44n5MY6qsN33W1rBz0L4t0J5SW6yGdN95-xxw8W14_q6j744ZYDW9crgZ94qkdc-W8nQy2f7gmYccW6gPwyr8SNn--W74-4Qz2MzNLpW3VFCnh5Rn7kkW2VH50V62yHG8VMLjyK7WwDQzW7h2PK97xtD7SVl6bQy3_9hsJW81FcqG5MJbM0W4Xk_dW92V1XyW1b5DLq8c-GpWW8zhns35VbqsNW7X3N7887QPRyW2z5Z3K7Zj4PHVDyMp35wGHPzV8BXhb4ff9LxW394YY58QDPJjW1XjY7k2wTzR2W7pFdNq25-VSkW6hbwFt4_L6j-W42yPMx1-cQR_W2SWK3Y3HNtT1W8smDYf7cJ9lRW7BMzc314b3HpW6yRw5h6g-cspW8fdNY44VvkS53j9R1" target="_blank">extreme weather</a> because <a href="https://newsletter.climatenexus.org/e2t/tc/VVpTCP84cTPKVxPt4P6QtKsgW5n2k0f49S0dwM3ZwPS5nxG7V3Zsc37CgStDW4QsmST6HbLv3W874DjS7pJDBvW1v9xrk7YjhPcW8w_HZM8-hnbtW2K19Nn6LXByDW4b1k3N6Z-kD6W7RBCr-6b6P8hVrC4DT293WSRVmjrKW8mVSZ8W68f5YQ3q-pzRW1Vxrq-4vzyDDW5chNZ58vH27dW6RJQdn1lSjK1W8f-g4v2YXM-XW1KkwKH5y6jRdW1BkJBt6FymgnW5CrVJn6gMfhGW6SPnrr1cvBtQW4tFb-D44GLGNW98zBhx2ktK6xW8RzN-B9g8TM5V_X1CV1_lYN7W7hR5WB4sXtp4W6BFC-Y73p0CVW8CLhsG2ZN8JfMvjqpdGPCMyW5r-0Sp5jnXl3W4z5Sl14xsv83W5cjbSf7LHCYGW5X2ntG1yTWvgW7tnfbY4VnXrhW7Wb8L1198ZRc3l3x1" target="_blank">legacies</a> of racism, economic exploitation, and <a href="https://newsletter.climatenexus.org/e2t/tc/VVpTCP84cTPKVxPt4P6QtKsgW5n2k0f49S0dwM3ZwPS5nxG7V3Zsc37CgLb1W418jQH5NvpDQW5BYVQZ66pB2qW4SHhrV893KY8VNysmk98lWB-W8l-Tn65JrgGWW8yNYHM1dkYbjW4xs4Nj47X512N1Lcrg7dYmFYVxdtzH8V60ZXW2m2H2024fYZPW1_15Wf5DncPjW5cMYD03syHhNW6P4t5y2mcdjMV8N3l82y3b0qW36_KK-929tgMW2YRWbK2V34CwN7l17B7sgFDwF7ddlzNylycW79ChnD585T79W1djBwN2S5yw6W87_39p7fnx07W6B7TMv8MQ_JNW7bqZKV2vGXQtW4fyk6N5TLz7HW4FvpJy5292tpW18rSlV3RL0CyN7fhRKJSsqNdW78VN045VZPZ9N5yfFTWRSD8ZVkKf954Mtd8vW50Dtyp4NQ-PHW8hMl7X6y4hf92H31" target="_blank">environmental injustice</a> have left them less equipped to prepare for, evacuate, and rebuild after storms. </p>
<p>While the corporate broadcast channels failed to inform audiences about it, PBS managed to include nine mentions of impacts on low-income communities and communities of color out of 233 segments on extreme weather events over the time frame analyzed by MMFA. </p>
<p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/broadcast-networks/three-years-corporate-broadcast-news-hurricane-coverage-failed-mention-specific" target="_blank">Media Matters for America</a><br/><a href="http://www.chron.com/technology/businessinsider/article/EPA-blasts-Associated-Press-journalist-over-12170978.php" target="_blank"></a></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, and sign up for daily </em><a href="http://climatenexus.us4.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=d1f5797e59060083034310930&id=7c84c08aaa" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Harmful algal blooms, seen here at Ferril Lake in Denver, Colorado on June 30, 2016, are increasing in lakes and rivers across the U.S. Helen H. Richardson / The Denver Post / Getty Images
During summer in central New York, residents often enjoy a refreshing dip in the region's peaceful lakes.
But sometimes swimming is off-limits because of algae blooms that can make people sick.
<iframe style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/14386367/height/45/theme/standard/thumbnail/yes/direction/backward/" height="45" width="100%" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe>
<p>"Some of the algae may produce chemical toxins that can have harmful effects on people, fish, shellfish, terrestrial and marine mammals, and birds," says Jennifer Graham, a research hydrologist with the United States Geological Survey.</p><p>She says reports of harmful algal blooms are increasing across the country, and climate change could be part of the reason.</p><p>Some harmful algae prefer warm temperatures, so blooms may be growing more common as rivers and lakes warm.</p>
<p>Extreme weather can also contribute to algal blooms because heavy rain can cause nutrients to run off farm fields and sewage systems into waterways.</p><p>"Nutrients are basically the food source for algae," Graham says.</p><p>In New York's Finger Lakes and other locations across the country, the USGS is monitoring algal blooms.</p><p>Graham says they are trying to better understand toxic bloom growth and severity, so local agencies can make informed decisions about how to protect people.</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.yaleclimateconnections.org/2020/05/as-u-s-lakes-and-rivers-warm-reports-of-harmful-algal-blooms-are-on-the-rise/" target="_blank">Yale Climate Connections</a>.</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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On average, there are more heat-related deaths in the U.S. each year than hurricane- or flood-related fatalities combined.
fotograzia / Getty Images
fotograzia / Getty Images
By Sara Peach
When your body gets too hot, you may experience a heat-related illness such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Such illnesses can be dangerous. In fact, on average, there are more heat-related deaths in the U.S. each year than hurricane- or flood-related fatalities combined.
But heat exhaustion and heat stroke are preventable. Read on for some do's and don'ts.
<p><strong>DO: Know the symptoms of heat stroke.</strong> According to the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/warning.html" target="_blank">CDC</a>, signs of heat stroke, also known as hyperthermia, include:</p><ul><li>Body temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit or more (40 degrees Celsius)</li><li>Fainting</li><li>Confusion</li><li>Fast and strong pulse</li><li>Dizziness</li><li>Skin that is hot to the touch. The skin may also be red, dry, or damp.</li><li>Upset stomach, nausea, or vomiting</li></ul>
<p><strong>DO: Call 911 immediately if someone is showing heat stroke symptoms.</strong> Heat stroke is a medical emergency. In the U.S., dial 911.</p><p>While you wait for help, the CDC recommends that you provide first-aid treatment:</p><ul> <li>Move the person to a cooler place out of the sun.</li><li>Cool the person by applying cold, wet cloths or by placing the person in a cool-water bath.</li></ul><p><strong>DON'T:</strong> Do not delay care, even if you are worried that the person may contract COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Hospitals are working to protect patients during the pandemic, for example by limiting visitors and separating COVID-19 patients from others.</p><p><span></span><strong>DON'T:</strong> If a person is showing heat stroke symptoms, do not force them to drink water or other fluids.</p>
<p><strong>DO: Know the symptoms of heat exhaustion.</strong> Heat exhaustion is a less serious condition than heat stroke. But without treatment, it can progress to heat stroke, according to <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/heatrelated-illnesses-heat-cramps-heat-exhaustion-heat-stroke" target="_blank">Johns Hopkins Medicine</a>. The <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/warning.html" target="_blank">CDC</a> lists the following symptoms of heat exhaustion:</p><ul> <li>Heavy sweating</li><li>Cold, pale, and clammy skin</li><li>Fast, weak pulse</li><li>Nausea or vomiting</li><li>Muscle cramps</li><li>Tiredness or weakness</li><li>Dizziness</li><li>Headache</li><li>Fainting</li></ul><p><strong>DO: The CDC advises you to treat heat exhaustion by taking these steps:</strong></p><ul><li>Move to a cooler place out of the sun.</li><li>Remove or loosen your clothes.</li><li>Cool yourself by applying cold, wet cloths or by bathing in cool water.</li><li>Take sips of water.</li></ul><strong>DO: Seek immediate medical help if you experience any of these problems:</strong><ul><li>You vomit</li><li>Your symptoms worsen</li><li>Your symptoms do not go away within one hour</li></ul>
<p><strong>DO: To reduce the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, watch the forecast.</strong> Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are more likely to occur when the weather is hot, so monitoring the weather forecast is an important prevention step.</p><p>Keep in mind that asphalt and concrete absorb heat, so if you live in an urban area with many parking lots, buildings, and other structures, your block may be significantly warmer than other areas of your city.</p><p>High humidity is also dangerous. On hot days, you cool down as sweat evaporates from your skin. But when the air is very humid, sweat evaporates from your body only slowly, which prevents it from cooling itself effectively.</p><p>When you check the weather forecast, look for the heat index, a number that includes the effects of both temperature and humidity levels. If the heat index is 91 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, you should take steps to stay cool, according to the <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heat-exhaustion/symptoms-causes/syc-20373250?page=0&citems=10" target="_blank">Mayo Clinic</a>.</p><ul><li>Make sure to drink plenty of water. Avoid caffeine.</li><li>Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.</li><li>Avoid exercising outdoors during the hottest times of the day.</li><li>If you are playing, exercising, or working outdoors, take breaks to cool down under shade.</li><li>If you supervise people who are playing or working in hot weather, offer them plenty of chances to take breaks and drink water.</li></ul>
<p><strong>DO: Seek shelter during heat waves.</strong> To stay healthy, your body needs a break from high heat and humidity. If you do not have air conditioning, seek shelter in air-conditioned buildings. Many communities offer cooling centers in libraries and other public spaces. But those buildings may be closed or have limited capacity because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so also consider these options:</p><ul> <li>Do you have friends or family members living in an air-conditioned building who would allow you to shelter with them?</li><li>Do you know someone who would allow you to borrow a window AC unit?</li><li>Is your local government offering window AC units or temporary shelter in spaces where self-isolation is possible, such as in <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/06/climate/coronavirus-climate-change-heat-waves.html" target="_blank">hotel rooms</a>?</li></ul><p><strong></strong><strong>DO: Know who is most at risk for heat-related illnesses.</strong> Anyone may fall ill as a result of overheating, but some people are at special risk:</p><ul><li>Athletes</li><li>Outdoor workers</li><li>People who lack access to air conditioning</li><li>Children</li><li>People age 65 or older</li><li>People who take certain drugs. According to the <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heat-exhaustion/symptoms-causes/syc-20373250?page=0&citems=10" target="_blank">Mayo Clinic</a>, some drugs may reduce your body's ability to maintain its temperature or hydration levels. Such drugs include beta blockers, diuretics, antihistamines, tranquilizers, antipsychotics, and others.</li></ul><div></div>
<p><strong>DO: Understand that global warming is making heat waves more frequent.</strong> Carbon pollution from vehicles, factories, and power plants is trapping extra heat in the Earth's atmosphere, much like an overly thick blanket can trap too much heat around you at night. That extra heat is making heat waves more frequent.</p><p>In the future, <a href="https://nca2018.globalchange.gov/chapter/2/" target="_blank">scientists expect</a> that days with high temperatures hotter than 90 degrees Fahrenheit will occur more often. That means that people and communities will need to take more care to prevent heat-related illnesses.</p><p><strong>DON'T:</strong> Even if you live in the northern U.S., don't assume you are immune from heat exhaustion and heat stroke.</p><p>As heat waves become more common, they are occurring even in places that usually experience cool summers, such as northern parts of the U.S. In fact, heat waves in those regions can be particularly dangerous because many buildings lack air conditioning.</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from </em><a href="https://www.yaleclimateconnections.org/2020/05/how-to-spot-the-symptoms-of-heat-stroke-and-heat-exhaustion/" target="_blank"><em>Yale Climate Connections</em></a>.</p>From Your Site Articles
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Below-average temperatures are expected in the Midwest and East this weekend. NOAA / National Weather Service
It will be warmer in Fairbanks, Alaska, than it will be in New York City, Philadelphia, Cleveland and even Atlanta this weekend, AccuWeather predicted Wednesday.
<p>The reason? The polar vortex is heading south, bringing with it potentially record-low temperatures for May, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/06/cold-arctic-air-could-bring-record-low-temperatures-to-eastern-us-in-may.html" target="_blank">CNBC explained</a>. BAM Weather meteorologist Ryan Maue said that more and more scientists are beginning to link weather swings like this one with the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/" target="_self">climate crisis</a>.</p><p>"This is not just some random one-off weather event but an obvious trend toward hyper-extreme atmospheric circulations outside the normal bounds of what we typically experience in May," Maue told CNBC. "It's not always hotter and drier with rapid climate change, but also colder and wetter."</p>
<div id="0ad11" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="528ace879818bd9701c8499831dec4cf"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1257799038797336577" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">One of the big weather themes later this week and weekend will be the warm temperatures in the West and cold temper… https://t.co/cUSHa7kTAA</div> — National Weather Service (@National Weather Service)<a href="https://twitter.com/NWS/statuses/1257799038797336577">1588717634.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p><br>The cold weather is coming because part of the polar vortex will separate from its circulation over the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/arctic" target="_self">Arctic</a> and dip down over the eastern Great Lakes and New England, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/05/06/polar-vortex-unleash-winterlike-cold-across-eastern-half-nation-with-snow-northeast/" target="_blank">The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang explained</a>.</p><p>This will likely break records for upper-air temperatures, leading to readings of negative 30 degrees Fahrenheit at the 500-millibar level (about 18,000 feet above sea level) over upstate New York, northern Pennsylvania, and Lakes Erie and Ontario.</p><p>"Of course, no one lives at the 500 millibar pressure level in this region, but meteorologists look to this temperature as an indication of how unusually cold is an air mass," Matthew Cappucci wrote for The Washington Post. "With air that cold upstairs, it's no surprise that surface temperatures are going to be chilly as well."</p><p>On the surface, record-low daily maximums could reach Boston, Providence, Rhode Island and Hartford, Connecticut. Other places could also report record lows for May, as temperatures in the mid-20s are forecast for Detroit and Pittsburgh, CNBC reported.</p><p>Cold temperatures will be most extreme east of the Rockies, over the Great Lakes and in the Northeast, where they could be as much as 20 to 25 degrees below seasonal highs.</p><p>However, it could freeze as far south as northern Georgia and in the higher elevations in the Carolinas, The Washington Post reported.</p>
<div id="c869a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f002b9eda0fcb557ce4df4b884f98c52"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1258026991925841923" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Parts of the Southeast are facing the risk of a freeze this weekend as record-challenging cold air plunges into the… https://t.co/R7sLIY9XjQ</div> — AccuWeather (@AccuWeather)<a href="https://twitter.com/breakingweather/statuses/1258026991925841923">1588771982.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>It could also snow over the Appalachian Trail from North Carolina to Maine and in New England. While May snows have been recorded with similar weather patterns in places like Buffalo, New York and Pittsburgh, this weekend's snowfall is predicted to be more widespread, AccuWeather reported. It could cover a 500-mile stretch from Ohio to New England, which AccuWeather said was unusual.</p><p>Scientists are investigating whether the Arctic's rapid warming is making it more unstable, pushing cold air further south, CNBC reported. A <a href="https://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/10.1175/BAMS-D-16-0259.1" target="_blank">2018 study</a> found that there had been more times when the polar vortex had weakened in the winter over the last 37 years.</p><p>"The cold is very unusual," Maue told CNBC. "It is difficult to pinpoint the cause-and-effect or correlation-causation with <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/extreme-weather" target="_self">extreme weather</a> events and climate change. But changes in the behavior of the jet stream are becoming more accepted by scientists looking for physical reasoning behind what we are seeing on weather maps."</p><p>While the cold snap may make social distancing easier, it could be a challenge for those who have been prompted by coronavirus lockdowns to <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/urban-farming-coronavirus-2645686792.html" target="_self">try home gardening</a>.</p><p>"Get ready to cover or bring in any sensitive plants you bought during the surge of warm weather this past weekend," Paul Pastelok, AccuWeather's top long-range forecaster, said.</p><p>He warned that the cold temperatures could have a negative impact on new or sensitive plants, orchards and vineyards.</p>
<p><br/></p><p><br/></p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/breakingweather/status/1258026991925841923" target="_blank"><br/></a></p><p><br/></p><p><br/><br/></p>From Your Site Articles
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Flooding is the most common and most expensive natural disaster in the U.S., according to FEMA. And the risk of catastrophic floods in the U.S. is only rising as climate change intensifies downpours in areas like the Northeast and Midwest. In the West, flooding risks rise following major wildfires that denude hills of trees and undergrowth.
<p>In addition to threatening personal safety, floods can cause significant structural damage to residences. According to the National Flood Insurance Program, just one inch of water can cause <a href="https://www.floodsmart.gov./flood-insurance-cost/calculator" target="_blank">up to $25,000 worth of damage</a> to an average home.</p><p>But homeowners can mitigate the damages of flooding in a few key ways, from advance preparation to damage control after the fact.</p><p>Read on for some actions useful for defending your home from floods.</p>
DO: Take Steps Now to Protect Your Home From Future Flooding.
<ul><li>Assess your level of risk. Search for your address in <a href="https://msc.fema.gov/portal/search" target="_blank">FEMA's map</a> to see how high the risk for flooding is in your area. Don't be lulled into a false sense of security simply because you live in an area with low or moderate risk. Even in these lower-risk areas, your home is still five times more likely to experience a flood than a fire during the next 30 years.<br></li><li>Seriously consider getting flood insurance. Most homeowner insurance does not cover damages from floods. Waiting until the last minute to get flood insurance doesn't work: It typically takes <a href="https://www.fema.gov/news-release/2018/05/01/dont-wait-buy-flood-insurance-today" target="_blank">about 30 days</a> to take effect. (There are some exceptions to this waiting period.)<br></li><li>Document and store important files and keepsakes in a safe location. Keep photographs of especially valuable property. Keep a digital copy of important documents and photos in a safe off-site location.</li></ul><ul><li>Compile an emergency kit, using the <a href="https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/atg/PDF_s/Preparedness___Disaster_Recovery/Disaster_Preparedness/Flood/Flood.pdf" target="_blank">Red Cross Flood Safety Checklist</a> as reference.<br></li><li>Coordinate with all family members and residents on your property on an evacuation route and emergency contacts plan.<br></li><li>If you live in a floodplain, work with a professional to take further actions to safeguard your home like:<br>– <a href="https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1404150306122-7fa382623802512d66e4835281547fd0/FEMA_P312_Chap_9.pdf" target="_blank">Elevating or anchoring critical appliances</a> like your furnace and water heater.<br>– <a href="https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1404150139578-ee3a6bc655a236dceba367adcfb8c982/FEMA_P312_Chap_8.pdf" target="_blank">Building barriers</a> like a levee or flood wall.<br>– Waterproofing the basement, installing a flood alarm, maintaining a battery-operated sump pump, and installing <a href="https://www.flash.org/peril_inside.php?id=52" target="_blank">flap or check valves</a> to temporarily block drain pipes.</li></ul>
DO: Take Swift Action When a Flood Watch or Warning Is Announced.
<ul><li>Listen to <a href="https://www.weather.gov/nwr&ln_desc=NOAA+Weather+Radio/" target="_blank">NOAA Weather Radio</a> for important updates.<br></li><li>Confirm that your emergency kit and evacuation plan are up to date and accessible.<br></li><li>Clear gutters and use sandbags if needed to divert water away from the foundation of your home.<br></li><li>Move valuables to a higher or otherwise safer room.<br></li><li>Prioritize personal safety, and don't walk, swim, or drive through floodwater.</li></ul>DO: Address Flood Damage After the Fact.
<ul><li>Avoid contact with floodwater, which may contain sewage or other contaminants or materials such as timber or solid wastes.<br></li><li>Call your insurance provider as soon as possible. If you're renting, call your landlord instead.<br></li><li>When the weather dries, open windows to improve ventilation and help your home air out.<br></li><li>Immediately discard anything that may pose a health risk, including food, clothes, rugs, and other belongings. (For insurance purposes, you'll need to take pictures of some items first, including serial numbers on major appliances.)</li></ul><ul><li>Check in and around the home for <a href="https://www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services/home-structural-elements.html" target="_blank">structural damage</a>. Look for loose power lines and foundation cracks. Sniff for gas. Use extreme caution if you notice sagging ceilings or floors, and/or damaged stairs.<br></li><li>Make whatever temporary repairs you can before insurance repairs can kick in. For example, you may need patch holes or brace walls.<br></li><li>Address mold safely by cleaning up with personal protective equipment, including an appropriate face mask, rubber gloves, and rubber boots. EPA has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.epa.gov/mold/mold-cleanup-your-home">more details</a> on how and why these precautions are so important.</li></ul><p><em>* For more resources, visit FEMA's "<a href="https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1409002852888-3c5d1f64f12df02aa801901cc7c311ca/how_to_prepare_flood_033014_508.pdf" target="_blank">How to Prepare for a Flood</a>."</em></p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.yaleclimateconnections.org/2020/04/how-to-protect-your-home-from-flood-damage/" target="_blank">Yale Climate Connections</a>.</em></p>
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Small iceberg in ice fjord with mountainous background, Southern Greenland. Education Images / Universal Images Group / Getty Images
Greenland's kilometers-long ice sheet underwent near-record imbalance last year, scientists have reported on Wednesday.
The ice sheet suffered a net loss of 600 billion tons, which was enough to raise the global watermark 1.5 millimeters, accounting for approximately 40% of total sea-level rise in 2019.
The alarming development was reported in "The Cryosphere," a peer-reviewed journal published by the European Geosciences Union.
<p>Researchers noted that the massive melt was not due only to warm temperatures but also to unusual high-pressure weather systems, which suggested that scientists may be <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/tipping-points-some-corners-of-the-globe-have-a-key-impact-on-climate-change/a-16196401" target="_blank">underestimating the threats the ice faces</a>.</p><p>The unusual high-pressure weather systems are linked to climate change and they have blocked the formation of clouds, causing unfiltered sunlight to melt the surface of the ice sheet. </p><p>Fewer clouds also meant less snow, which researchers found to be some 100 billion tons below the 1980-1999 average. </p>
<p>"These atmospheric conditions are becoming more and more frequent over the past few decades," said lead author Marco Tedesco, a scientist at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.</p><p>"This is very likely due to the 'waviness' in the jet stream," a powerful, high-altitude ribbon of wind moving from west to east over the polar region, he said. </p><p>"We're destroying ice in decades that was built over thousands of years," Tedesco warned. </p><p>Greenland's ice sheet is the second largest in the world and it is located high in the Arctic region, where average temperatures have risen 2 degrees Celsius since the mid-19th century, twice the global average. </p>
<p class=""><em>Reposted with permission from </em><em><a href="https://www.dw.com/en/record-shrinking-of-greenlands-ice-sheet-raises-sea-levels/a-53155868?maca=en-VAM_volltext_ecowatch-28485-html-copypaste" target="_blank">Deutsche Welle</a>.</em><a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/r/entryeditor/2645742998#/" target="_self"></a></p>From Your Site Articles
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An aerial view of a notice dug into the sand reading #STAYHOME on Tamarama Beach on April 02, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. James Gourley / Getty Images
By Ellen Wright Clayton
Will SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, fade away on its own this summer?
After all, other viruses – including influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which causes bronchiolitis in little children – are mostly seen in the winter.
<p>The National Academies' Standing Committee on <a href="https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/standing-committee-on-emerging-infectious-diseases-and-21st-century-health-threats#sectionCommittee" target="_blank">Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats</a> <a href="https://www.nap.edu/catalog/25771/rapid-expert-consultation-on-sars-cov-2-survival-in-relation-to-temperature-and-humidity-and-potential-for-seasonality-for-the-covid-19-pandemic-april-7-2020" target="_blank">recently addressed the question</a> of whether SARS-CoV-2 will follow the same pattern. The group of experts corralled the research that's been done so far – much of it not yet peer-reviewed – to assess the evidence.</p><p>While there is some reason to hope that things may get better as the weather warms up, there is plenty of reason for the U.S. to keep its guard up.</p>
Are Heat and Humidity Reason for Hope?
<p>Although the U.S. is early in the course of the pandemic, there is evidence from other countries that SARS-CoV-2 spreads more rapidly in cold, dry weather.</p><p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.03.30.20044099" target="_blank">One preprint study of 30 Chinese provinces</a> showed that the number of COVID-19 cases went down by between 36% and 57% for every 1.8 degree Fahrenheit increase in temperature. When temperatures held steady in the low 40s F, the number of cases went down between 11% and 22% with each 1% increase in relative humidity (how much water is in the air).</p><p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.03.27.20045658" target="_blank">A larger preprint study looking at 310 regions in 116 countries</a> found that 11% more cases were reported when the temperature went down 9 degrees, the relative humidity went down 10% and when the wind speed went up.</p><p>Laboratory research also suggest that the virus survives longer in cold conditions. One study showed that SARS-CoV-2 lasts for 14 days at 40 F in lab media but <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S2666-5247(20)30003-3" target="_blank">is gone after one day at 98.6 F</a>.</p><p>These and other studies suggest that warm, humid weather may slow the spread of this virus, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.02.12.20022467" target="_blank">although not all</a> <a href="https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.03.29.20046706" target="_blank">commentators agree</a>.</p><p>New research on this topic appears almost daily, and scientists are watching to see what happens as summer comes to the Northern Hemisphere.</p>Which Clues Call for Caution?
<p>COVID-19 is already spreading in many parts of the world where it's hot, including Australia and South America, demonstrating that high temperatures are not enough to stop the disease.</p><p>The most important reason to be concerned about ongoing spread is the fact that this is a brand new virus for humans, so almost everyone is susceptible to being infected.</p><p>In fact, weather actually appears to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.03.18.20036731" target="_blank">play a minor role</a> in the rate at which this virus spreads.</p><p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/13/opinion/coronavirus-what-we-know.html" target="_blank">Other influences on infection rates</a> include individual behaviors, cultural practices, geography, income and living conditions. <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/social-distancing.html" target="_blank">Public health practices</a> such as social distancing, the intensity of testing for infection, contact tracing, quarantine of people who are exposed and isolation of people who are actually infected also play a big role in how the coronavirus spreads.</p><p>The news from other viral diseases <a href="https://www.nap.edu/catalog/25771/rapid-expert-consultation-on-sars-cov-2-survival-in-relation-to-temperature-and-humidity-and-potential-for-seasonality-for-the-covid-19-pandemic-april-7-2020" target="_blank">is not encouraging either</a>. The two most serious coronavirus diseases that are closely related to COVID-19, the first SARS outbreak and MERS, <a href="https://www.nap.edu/catalog/25771/rapid-expert-consultation-on-sars-cov-2-survival-in-relation-to-temperature-and-humidity-and-potential-for-seasonality-for-the-covid-19-pandemic-april-7-2020" target="_blank">did not vary with the seasons after they emerged</a>. In fact, MERS is still <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/mers/index.html" target="_blank">found year-round in the Middle East</a>, where it is hot and dry. Pandemic influenza infections have emerged at different times of the year as well.</p>What Should We Do?
<p> The <a href="https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp2003762" target="_blank">long-term solution to SARS-CoV-2</a> will be to develop a <a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/can-we-really-develop-a-safe-effective-coronavirus-vaccine/" target="_blank">safe and effective vaccine</a>. This work is proceeding at unprecedented speed, but it will still take anywhere from months to a few years and will require trials involving thousands of people and massive international leadership and collaboration. </p><p> Until there's a vaccine, prevention will require avoiding exposure to people who can spread the virus. Communities need to test people to find out who is contagious and engage in serious contact tracing, quarantine and isolation. Scientists need to learn more about how to determine if someone is immune and how long immunity lasts, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/13/opinion/coronavirus-immunity.html" target="_blank">a big open question at the moment</a>. As individuals, each of us will need to follow expert scientific advice about good hygiene practices and distancing. </p><p> <a href="http://doi.org/10.1126/science.abb5793" target="_blank">SARS-CoV-2 is likely to keep circulating</a> until the human population has widespread immunity, which hopefully will come not from an unchecked pandemic but from developing and deploying a safe and effective vaccine. </p><script type="text/javascript" src="https://theconversation.com/javascripts/lib/content_tracker_hook.js" id="theconversation_tracker_hook" data-counter="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/136218/count?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" async="async"></script>From Your Site Articles
- Will Warmer Weather Curb the Spread of Coronavirus? - EcoWatch ›
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