Like most, I am saddened by the devastation in Southeast Texas from Hurricane Harvey and uplifted to hear how so many are helping with relief efforts. I am also saddened by the lack of leadership and action from our government to address the factors that worsened the flooding from Harvey – climate change.
Michael Mann, a distinguished professor of atmospheric science at Pennsylvania State University, explains the cause-effect of climate change and severe weather patterns:
When there is an increase in sea temperatures, the warmer water increases moisture content in the atmosphere. That increased moisture feeds a weather system, like a hurricane, increasing potential for greater rainfalls and flooding. He states “Harvey was almost certainly more intense than it would have been in the absence of human-caused warming, which means stronger winds, more wind damage and a larger storm surge”. He concludes “While we cannot say climate change “caused” Hurricane Harvey, we can say that it exacerbated several characteristics of the storm in a way that greatly increased the risk of damage and loss of life. Climate change worsened the impact of Hurricane Harvey.”
How bad does it have to get before we address climate change? The cost of doing nothing is totaling billions in severe storm damage. I ask our Congressional leaders Sens. Cory Gardner and Michael Bennet to support legislation to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and I ask Rep. Scott Tipton to join the 52-member bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus in the House.
Susan Atkinson
Durango
