Cold, frigid and unbearable: all words that have been used to describe winters in South Dakota. The chill freezes roads and hangs icicles on cars, but why has this winter been different?
South Dakota is no stranger to weird weather and spikes in temperatures. Wind changes are a main cause of this, especially the Chinook winds. Chinook winds are warm down-slope winds that are dry and cause snow to melt. They can cause high winds that are dangerous to drive in. The moist air from the Pacific is pushed up mountains, where it turns dry as all the moisture is lost, and then descends, creating gusts of warm air that dramatically change the winter weather. These winds are forecasted to make early January hit highs of approximately 65 degrees Fahrenheit, which will then be followed by snowy weather, but there is a hidden factor as to why.
Climate change is a shift in global weather patterns, mostly caused by higher levels of carbon dioxide and fossil fuels in the atmosphere, which heat the Earth. For South Dakota, this means less snow during winters, more heavy rainfall and hotter summers. This hot weather affects farming as well, with crop yields being drastically changed due to poor soil conditions and heavy rainfall. Climate change is a problem not only for our country but also for our world. Many may think of this as bigger than them, but that is not the case. Climate change can be helped by little changes to someone’s routine. Here are some examples.
What can we do to help?
Take greener transportation
Cars produce carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, which contributes to pollution, respiratory issues when breathing in and climate change. If everyone has a car all driving at the same time, this amount seems to be multiplied too many times to count. If people decide to take public transportation, carpool in one car, bike, or even walk when they can, it helps to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide being pushed into the atmosphere.
Use renewable energy
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, renewable energy is about 81% of South Dakota’s total in-state electricity, which makes sense as wind and solar energy have been gaining popularity as it becomes less expensive to use. Using renewable energy decreases the amount of fossil fuels and carbon emissions being put into our atmosphere, allowing for a healthier environment. Electric cars, solar panels and wind turbines are just some examples of everyday renewable energy.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
When something is thrown away, it may go into a landfill. These landfills produce tons of carbon dioxide and methane gas, which worsens climate change. Even moving or extracting plastic out of landfills requires fuel (gas, oil and coal), which contributes to climate change. Most products will have a sign on the bottom which will say if it can be recycled or not. Always check this before you toss something into the trash bin.
Be more informed about climate change
What is a city doing to help climate change? A state, a country? Always try to be informed about the situation of climate change, and be sure to have updated, trustworthy information.
Here are some sources for staying informed:
https://www.ipcc.ch/about/
https://www.epa.gov/climate-change
https://www.nature.com/nclimate/
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