Natural Wonders in the U.S. at Risk

A Shot at the Hottest Summer on Record

The National Weather Service issued its summer outlook, and it’s a toasty one. Hotter-than-normal conditions are favored in almost the entire contiguous United States, with North Dakota and small portions of Montana, Minnesota, and South Dakota as the only exceptions. The probable switch from El Nino to La Nina increases the risk of a hot summer, and a potentially record hot one. La Nina summers typically feature a semi-permanent upper-level ridge over the middle of the U.S. The combination of heat and drier-than-normal weather is expected to increase drought and fire weather potential in that region. With wetter-than-normal conditions predicted for much of the eastern half of the U.S., the combination of above normal temperatures and rainfall could increase the threat of flooding in that area. The National Weather Service has recently begun issuing HeatRisk forecasts for the U.S., which seeks to improve public understanding of heat health risks.

Ian Livingston and Scott Dance, The Washington Post

Addressing the Climate Issue From the Ground Up, Literally

Pacoima, California is considered one of the hottest neighborhoods in the San Fernando Valley. With minimal tree coverage and an abundance of pavement contributing to an urban heat island effect, air quality has worsened and health risks have increased. To try to lessen the impact of extreme heat, in the summer of 2022 Pacoima partnered with Climate Resolve and GAF to analyze the impact of its cool pavement product. They installed a cool pavement coating to about 700,000 square feet of neighborhood roads, playgrounds, and parking lots. Data suggests the cool pavement coating reduced surface temperatures up to 10 degrees, and reduced ambient air temperatures by about 3.5 degrees. During temperature peaks, Pacoima saw a 20% to 50% reduction in the urban heat island effect.

Kaitlyn Levinson, Route Fifty

Climate Change Destroys Natural Wonders in U.S. Parks

National parks have embodied the pioneering spirit of American in their vast expanses and breathtaking landscapes. The ongoing climate crisis is causing some of these wonders to disappear. Glacier National Park’s grand Grinnell Glacier is now greatly diminished. Fires have sent many of the giant trees in Sequoia National Park up in flames. Even the cacti in Saguaro National Park are struggling with a decades-long drought. Beaches are submerged and dunes are collapsing at Indiana Dunes National Park. Saving the nation’s 63 national parks has not only become a political fight, but also an economic one. President Biden recently announced nearly $200 million to help the parks adapt via funding through his signature climate law. Despite those efforts, the reality is that not everything can be saved.

CBS News