To demonstrate that climate change is happening, some Vermonters went inner tubing in a river in January. As one who has spent considerable time in Vermont during the winter, I can say this is beyond unusual.
This overly warm Vermont weather, it’s said, is in part due to an El Nino condition as well as global warming. However El Nino’s can be triggered by global warming.
A growing number of scientists are looking to see how global warming may be altering the typical El Nino patterns. Once happening every five to seven years, they are now happening every two to three years, and are often longer in duration and more intense.
Vermont gets much its money from tourism and skiing, with the Christmas / New Years week often being make-or-break time for ski areas. This Xmas season was unusually warm, with little or no snow, and that means the ski areas took a major financial hit.
Looking at Vermont ski area conditions, a few are completely closed (in January!) and virtually all the rest are operating with a greatly reduced number of trails and lifts open.
This is just one example of how global warming impacts entire areas and industries. And if it stays too warm, the maple syrup won’t flow this season either.
Global warming will become a major political issue in the next few years as climate change affect us all in a multitude of probably unexpected ways. We need solutions. Now.
