While people may have wanted to walk around in warm sweaters and jeans to embrace the autumn spirit, this fall kept everyone in their shorts and tank tops much longer than expected. As this autumn progressed, it took much longer for the temperatures to dip, causing some climate confusion. There are many explanations that lead to the root of this issue; however, climate change is at the forefront.
One surprising factor that contributes to the overwhelmingly warm fall is the rising temperatures of the Pacific Ocean. In her studies for the University of British Columbia, atmospheric scientist Lualawi Mareshet Admasu discovered that there is a major heat wave altering the jet stream over the Pacific Ocean. The jet stream is a band of air that flows over the entire northern hemisphere from west to east. Because the ocean is a segment of the water cycle, the ocean absorbs the excess atmospheric heat, which is created through greenhouse gases. That heat then goes to the jet stream and alters the cool temperatures on land than were expected.
The warming of the jet stream is a continuous issue, as it also occurred in 2013 with a heat wave so bad it was considered “the blob.” William Cheung, a director for the Institution of Oceans and Fisheries, did a deep dive into these recurring heat waves to decipher why they continually pop up. In an interview with CBC, Cheung states, “Marine heat waves are being made worse and more frequent by global warming…there have been marine heat waves every year since 2019.” Cheung continues to describe the severity of his point by stating, “We would be seeing more frequent and more intense heat waves happening as we move forward, if we don’t do a good job of mitigating climate change.”
According to data recorded by the NOAA, the average high for September of 1995 was 68.6 degrees Fahrenheit with a low of 44.2 degrees. In comparison, the most recent data provided was from September 2024, with an average high of 76.6 degrees and a low of 51.2 degrees. Raising the average temperature by almost 8 degrees in less than 30 years.
Not only is the climate crisis affecting the temperature, but it in turn is also negatively impacting agriculture and wildlife. The ever-loved autumn colors and leaves are at high risk when considering the climate crisis, as the key factor to create the beautiful autumn blend is under attack. Trees use cooler temperatures as a signal to begin the decaying process. Alternatively, if the temperatures get too warm and dry, the trees may become “stressed” or overworked and strip their leaves before even turning colors. As the colorful foliage continues to decline, we will begin to lose more and more of what makes fall beautiful.
Additionally, the hibernation and care of wildlife are compromised with an increase in temperatures. Without the necessary environmental clues, migratory animals may have a delayed migration, leading to a disturbance in food availability for those animals. Similarly, animals that hibernate, such as bears or squirrels, may have their natural rhythms affected by the increase in temperature. This leads to a shorter foraging period, causing the animals to be unprepared for their hibernation.
While the weather will continue to ebb and flow, a major factor for the unexpected changes is the climate crisis. Although a ten-degree weather change may not be significant in the short term, the long-term effects when precautions are not taken are highly significant. According to the United Nations, some small ways to create a big impact against climate change is energy conservation through using LED light bulbs or replacing oil and gas appliances with electricity, reducing, reusing, and recycling whenever possible, and changing transportation methods to biking or walking, compared to driving when possible. Bigger changes include speaking out, and increasing political pressure to get the government involved.
Ultimately, the continual increase in temperatures throughout this autumn has unseen consequential impacts that play a large role in the state of the environment. While it will not bring us back to the way things were, with small lifestyle changes, we can stabilize the weather to keep our cozy sweaters in use and our trees bursting with color!
