Beech Tree News Network

In a text, one of my grandsons recently said, “I’m over summer lol.” Since he works outside as a lineman, I can certainly understand that feeling. Hot temperatures have occurred earlier than normal this year. Some June days were comparable to an August heat wave.

In an AP article, Seth Borenstein reported: “Since 1979, global heat waves are moving 20% more slowly – meaning more people stay hot longer – and they are happening 67% more often, according to a study in Science Advances (ttps://www.science.org/journal/sciadv). The study found the highest temperatures in the heat waves are warmer than 40 years ago and the area under the heat dome is larger.” I have watched and listened to meteorologists talk about heat domes, but had not actually given serious thought to the area under the heat domes being larger, affecting a greater number of people.

In a Science News article, Erin Garcia de Jesús discussed health dangers caused by heat domes. She stated: “Body temperatures that climb too high can lead to faintness, headache and dizziness, hallmarks of heat exhaustion. Heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke if the body doesn’t cool down, causing overheated, oxygen-deprived organs to fail. People with heat stroke may become delirious or have seizures, suffer from permanent organ damage or even die.” Unhoused people and those whose jobs require them to be outdoors may be unable to avoid the heat. Heat can also adversely affect individuals with certain health conditions, on certain medications, or over 65 years of age. The National Weather Service reported that in 2023 in the United States, heat caused more fatalities than any other natural disaster.

Severe heat can negatively affect much that we need: infrastructure (i.e., buckling roadways), agriculture (reducing yield of plants and animals), trees and forests, wildlife, and fish/aquatic life. Heat domes can also lead to other problems such as power outages and decreased air quality due to the buildup of pollutants. Knowledge of these possibilities allows us to prepare for future heat events, reducing heat impact. Intervention will likely require investments of time and money – individually and collectively – to offset the destruction caused by severe heat.

Since my childhood, summer has been my favorite season. As long as the temperature stays under 90 degrees, I am comfortable. However, over 90 degrees is less comfortable. With scientists predicting a hot summer, if you can, stay cool. And I will do the same.