CHICAGO IS EXPERIENCING UNPRECEDENTED WEATHER BROUGHT ON BY CLIMATE CHANGE: CLIMATOLOGIST EXPLAIN
December 17, 2021
Climatologist explains why Chicago is undergoing drastic weather changes in December 2021 as compared to previous years.
This month, Chicago observed no significant snow, intense winds and record high temperature. This left most people curious if the weather pattern will continue or if it can return to the status quo.
An atmospheric scientist with Argonne National Laboratory, Scott Collis, explained that increase in global temperature and the disappearance of arctic sea ice is taking a toll on the jet stream. At about 30,000 feet, the jet stream is a set of winds and directly affects weather patterns.
Collis construed that stationary jet stream cause the weather pattern to remain the same. Despite not every event can be linked to climate change, it is definitely the largest catalyst. According to Collis, global temperature has risen about 1.1 degrees Celsius in recent years. He said if temperature remain under 1.5 degrees Celsius, Chicago could experience more rain, windier winters and falls, less windy summers and a gradual increase in temperature.
Collis warned, “We don’t want to go over that, ever.”
He points out three key actions we can take to slow down climate change. They are; conversations about climate change, using less carbon and lastly, monitoring our carbon footprint.