Unpredictable Winter Weather Patterns
Maggard is a Senior at Shortridge High School in Indianapolis, and serves as a Director for YEPT.
Unpredictable weather is an age-old joke in the Midwest, however, it is continuing to worsen by the season. Climate Change is playing a huge role in the impacts we’re seeing. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), winters are becoming “warmer and wetter.” But how does this affect Hoosiers, our local environment, and the rest of the world for generations to come? Plant and animal cycles begin to jumble, outdoor activities for the winter are harder to enjoy, and pest populations spiral out of control.
To get some more information on this complex subject I interviewed Dr. Gabriel Filippelli, Director of Indiana University’s Environmental Resilience Institute (ERI). Filippelli says the current weather patterns and the disappearance of winter has many impacts on the environment. According to ERI, “Days with extremely cold temperatures that have historically helped control pest populations are expected to decrease and allow more mosquitoes and ticks to survive and reproduce. Warmer temperatures can also speed up the development periods for ticks and mosquitoes, reducing the time it takes for them to mature and incubate diseases. Longer periods of warmer temperatures will enlarge the window of time for ticks and mosquitoes to obtain a virus, transmit the virus, and spread it across a wider geographic range.”
Plant species are also affected by the changes in winter weather. Plants respond to temperature, so they start leafing out, blooming, and spreading seeds earlier when winter is warmer. Unfortunately, migrating animals respond to seasons, not weather. Ecosystems in which plants fruit, blossom, and seed before the arrival of the migratory species that rely on them, largely birds, cause complications. An example of this is a shortage of food and shelter for birds and their young. Organisms can’t live on a system of mistimed springs, or their populations will suffer, consequently the entire ecosystem is disrupted.
While the temperature has risen one degree (Fahrenheit) over the last century, the increase in temperature is expected to accelerate. An article in the Indy Star stated that, “Last year (2023) was the warmest year recorded in NOAA’s (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) 174-year climate record by a long shot.” This trend is only projected to worsen: according to the Indiana University Environmental Resilience Institute, a five or six degree increase in Indiana's average annual temperatures is expected within the next 25 years.
In Indiana specifically, increased temperature can lead to increased precipitation presenting as rain instead of snow, potentially causing flooding and disrupting ecosystems that depend on cold temperatures. Over the last half century, the average annual precipitation in most of the Midwest has increased by 5 to 10 percent.
Photo by Willian Justen, courtesy Pexels.com
There are several ways that disappearing winter is affecting Hoosiers. “Winters are warmer and less snow build-up, which is in a sense a good thing,” observes Filippelli, noting fewer fossil fuels are required to warm homes, meaning fewer carbon emissions are released and less money is spent. However, there are negatives people often don’t think about. It's not just getting warmer. The more days and weeks that fluctuate between freezing and not, the more significant the impact on streets and roads. Filippelli notes, “The Department of Transportation can’t get the right mix to repair all of the potholes. Roads in disrepair cause an increase in wheel and tire damage, costing Hoosiers money in car repairs and maintenance.”
Dr. Filippelli says that the good news is that when we stop emitting carbon into our atmosphere and reach net zero, the temperature increase could end entirely within a year. However, when it comes to stopping continued climate change, we can’t undo past changes very easily. Until we pull out a significant amount of carbon pollution out of the atmosphere, we're stuck. Much of the damage has already happened, and if we continue at our pace, natural climate patterns will continue to be disrupted.
So what can be done? Dr. Filippelli says Hoosiers always have the opportunity to voice their commitment to dropping carbon emissions by voting for candidates who want to slow the loss of winter and reduce the heat of summer. When we vote for candidates who are not committed to putting forth an effort to preserve our environment and sustainable living, we further global warming and accelerate climate change, leaving it in the hands of posterity to undo the damage. Filippelli adds that “global issues and the loss of winter in Indiana are not caused just by Indiana’s emissions but by global emissions.”
Locally, we can and should get off fossil fuels, like gasoline-powered vehicles and coal and natural gas heating. Overall, these solutions have to be international; for a bigger impact we all have to work together globally. Hoosiers should continue voicing their commitments and ditch the energy resources of the last century. Filippelli says, “Coal was meant for the 1800s. We should be done with it by now.”
Other things that you can do in your day-to-day life to help fight climate change and global warming include:
Shift to renewable energy sources (like wind and solar)
Use alternative transportation like trails and public bussing systems
Reduce, Reuse, and Repair instead of consuming new products
Protest and send messages to your elected officials
Eat smart (eat less meat, throw away less food)
Plant trees and native plants in your community with organizations like Keep Indianapolis Beautiful or in your own backyard
