Introduction
Global warming is here and it’s not going away anytime soon. While scientists and politicians argue over the impact of climate change, we can all agree on one thing: Global warming is real and it will have a major effect on our daily lives as well as our economy. While some parts of the world may benefit from rising temperatures, others will suffer horribly from floods, droughts and other natural disasters. In this article I’ll discuss some of these effects on Canada and the United States specifically.
Hurricanes
There is a greater risk of intense hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea due to global warming. A warmer atmosphere can hold more water vapour so there will be an increase in rainfall which means more energy for the storm. This will also increase the strength of winds and storm surge during hurricanes because there is more energy available for these events. The hurricane season has become longer due to global warming and this increases the chances of having stronger hurricanes with higher wind speeds than before.
To learn more about how climate change affects hurricanes:
Hurricanes are intensifying and becoming more frequent.
Hurricanes are intensifying and becoming more frequent
Researchers have observed that hurricanes are intensifying faster than they used to, and they’re also occurring more frequently in the Atlantic Ocean. These two trends have been linked to climate change, which is causing warmer seas and more moisture in the atmosphere. At this time, it’s unclear whether or not these changes will continue into the future.
Hurricanes will become stronger and last longer
On average, hurricanes around the world are expected to get stronger over time due to human-caused climate change. As ocean temperatures rise (see above), so do sea levels—and as sea levels increase, so does flooding risk from storm surges during tropical cyclones like hurricanes and typhoons (which we’ll cover next). A 2017 study found that if greenhouse gas emissions continue at their current rate, hurricane damage could cost over $35 billion per year by 2100—a significant increase compared with historical figures before 1980.
Warmer seas & higher sea levels
As the sea level rises, coastal areas will become more vulnerable to flooding. These communities will need to adapt their infrastructure.
Wind patterns
- Winds will shift and become stronger, more frequent and more unpredictable.
- Storms will be more intense and damage-causing.
- There will be less snowfall in the winter time, it would not only cause economic loss but also threaten the water supply for millions of people living in the north.
Rain cycling
Rainfall will be affected as well. More rain is likely to fall in higher latitudes and less in lower latitudes, which can lead to increased risk of flooding and landslides. As the world gets warmer, there are two primary mechanisms by which this happens:
- Warmer air can carry more moisture, resulting in heavier rains. This is called convection (the rising of warm air currents).
- Warmer oceans release more water vapor into the atmosphere—and because warmer air holds more moisture than cooler air does, this leads to a greater likelihood of heavy precipitation.
Storms and wind speeds will be a major factor in causing power outages
To help you prepare for the possibility of power outages, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Winds and rain can knock down trees that can then damage power lines. This is especially true when there is flooding because water causes trees to snap at their weakest point, which is usually where branches meet the trunk. In addition, any heavy rain will cause flooding and debris from heavy winds could knock down power lines as well. As such, it’s important to be prepared with a flashlight and radio if you lose power so that you’ll have light and information about when it may return.
- Extreme weather conditions such as tornadoes or hurricanes can also cause damage to electricity infrastructure (transmission lines) which results in widespread blackouts across large areas of territory with little notice given before they happen due to lack of time needed prior notification given beforehand since these events happen so quickly! For example: The average amount of time between when one detects an anomaly on its grid equipment until complete loss off service varies by state but ranges anywhere between 1 hour (Alabama) all through up until 6 hours (California).
Conclusion
The climate is changing and the effects are likely to be felt more in Canada and the US than anywhere else. It’s important that we take action now before it’s too late.