Global Warming Comes to America

Do you think climate change is a myth, or that it won’t happen here? It’s not, and it is already happening here.

Ask the people of New Jersey, which is one of several areas that seem to be warming faster than the rest of the country—or the world. On New Jersey’s Lake Hopatcong, people used to skate, play hockey, and race ice boats on the frozen lake during the winters. Now they often have to cancel ice fishing contests because the ice is too thin to be safe. In the spring and summer, the warmer weather promotes the growth of aquatic weeds and blue-green algae that interfere with people’s ability to use the lake. Mosquitos like the warmer climate, too, so mosquito season begins earlier and ends later.

Or ask the people of New England, where lake ice breaks up 1-2 weeks earlier than it used to in the 19^th century, and where rising sea levels are encroaching on beachfront homes. Sea levels are rising for two reasons: (1) ice in the Arctic and Antarctic is melting, and (2) like most things, water expands as it warms—and the oceans are warming.

In the contiguous forty-eight states, portions of the west, north, and northeast are warming faster than other areas of the country, although no region is exempt. Climate change has impacted the south least of all—especially Alabama and Mississippi.

The albedo effect is one factor impacting northern and high altitude areas, as I discuss in chapter 11 (“Apocalypse Soon”) of my book, Beyond Blind Faith. The albedo effect refers to how much of the sun’s energy a surface absorbs or reflects. Snow and ice are very good at reflecting that energy back into space. As temperatures warm, there is less snow and ice, and thus less energy is reflected—and more is absorbed.

To read more about climate change, and how it may be fulfilling biblical prophecy, read “Apocalypse Soon” by clicking here.

This blog entry is based primarily on The Washington Post article, “Extreme Climate Change Has Arrived in America,” which is posted online at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/national/climate-environment/climate-change-america/.