Health
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We know that weather and climate can affect many aspects of human and animal behavior. Here is one I did not know about. An article this week in Atlas Obscura discusses languages in different parts of the world and notes that linguists have determined that languages developed in warm parts of the world have developed…
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As temperatures rise across most of the earth, farm workers and others who work outside like roofers, construction laborers, and lawn care employees are being increasingly affected by the high heat stress that occurs when high daytime temperatures and humidity take their toll on those workers, especially if they are doing hard manual labor. One…
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How does climate change affect your neighborhood? A new map provides a detailed look at the different factors that may make your location more or less vulnerable to a warmer climate. The vulnerability depends on the population (more children or older folk are more sensitive to heat), what the land is used for (agriculture is…
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A new study released this week by scientists from Columbia University shows that deaths from hurricanes are likely far higher than the official counts released by the National Hurricane Center, according to an article by Seth Borenstein at Associated Press. The scientists looked at excess deaths after the storms, a standard statistical technique that is…
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As the temperature rises with this week’s heat wave, humans and animals both experience discomfort and potential harm from heat stress and other heat diseases. For livestock like cattle, the heat makes them less likely to want to eat, reducing weight gain and milk production. Prolonged periods of heat can reduce fertility in cows, further…
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The incredibly high temperatures found in Texas over the last couple of weeks were caused by a strong high pressure center that trapped heat near the surface, leading to extreme impacts on energy production and human and animal health. Many people were hospitalized by the torrid conditions, and at least 9 people died from the…
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The North Carolina State Climate Office posted a report on the recent occurrence of skies filled with smoke from the Canadian wildfires and the problems it caused for air quality in their region. You can read it at Rapid Reaction: Smoky Skies Create Unhealthy Air Quality – North Carolina State Climate Office (ncsu.edu).