Walpole has received its fair share of extreme weather in the past two years. In August, due to hurricane Irene, Walpole Public Schools were forced to push the start of school to after Labor Day, using two of the five snow days they had reserved for the year. Then, New England was hit with the October snowstorm and they had to utilize another one of the precious snow days. People feared a harsh winter after such an eventful fall. Images of the 67.1 inches of snow that fell last winter haunted the people of New England. They recalled shoveling the heavy snow and staying inside to avoid the roads piled high with snow on both sides. Students remembered having a snow day almost every week. To everyone’s surprise, most days have been above average temperature, and we have not received a snow day since October. Most people have only had to take out their shovels two or three times this winter, and they often enjoy nice weather.
These extremes in the weather are an effect of global warming. Global warming is an increase in the atmospheric and oceanic temperature of the earth. This is caused by pollution and greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. These gases are trapped in the atmosphere and cause a warming of the earth. This explains the warm winter that we have had so far because the average temperature of the earth rose. This also explains the close to 60 degree weather on February 1st when the average temperature for that day is around 36 degrees.
Global warming also affects the intensity of weather and the frequency of storms. An example of this in Massachusetts is the deadly tornadoes from last spring which is very unusual for Massachusetts. Another product of this was the large amount of snow last winter. Boston received over 20 inches more than the average total in the 2010/2011 winter. People all over the country are seeing the effects of global warming. Last May, the Mississippi river had one of the worst floods in history because of two major storms. While so far this winter in Valdez Alaska they are 135.4 inches above the average snow fall total.
The warming of temperatures and the increase of storms are the current effects of global warming. People need to find ways to reduce their pollution production. This will be very difficult for most people because humans are increasing the amount of greenhouse gases with almost everything they do.
Also, the rising temperature is melting the ice and increasing the sea level. This has already affected places like Cape Cod which has seen a steady increase in erosion. Global warming will continue to increase extreme weather all over the world if nothing is done to prevent it.
