Weather is Not Climate Change

Weather+is+Not+Climate+Change

Sara Kahn, Op-Ed Editor

As the winter months press on, record low temperatures are rocking the United States. A polar vortex, a wind that is ejected from the Earth’s poles, is causing states of emergency to be declared in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, and other midwestern states. So far, North Dakota has seen the lowest windchill at -65 degrees Fahrenheit. Yet other states are not far behind with -50-degree windchill in parts of Illinois and Minnesota.

The extreme weather has even led to the death of two Michigan residents and one man from Wisconsin, all supposedly by freezing. Weather correspondents have even gone so far as to say not to take deep breaths and avoid talking when outside.

While the weather may be freezing, this is only a rare occurrence. Global temperatures have had a slow but steady rise since 1900. Just because there is a rush of cold in the United States does not disprove that glaciers are still melting and sea and humidity levels are rising.

In a tweet, President Trump said, “What the hell is going on with global warming? Please come back fast! We need you!” Climate experts indicate that global warming is far from gone. In fact, experts predict that the average global temperature will rise about 3 degrees in the next century. This may seem minimal, but as time wears on, these small increases will add up. Climate change must be addressed before it is too late.