July is traditionally the hottest month in the U.S., but recent Julys are much hotter than those during the time of the Founding Fathers. As the nation marks its 250th birthday, a severe heat wave highlights the significant climate changes since the American Revolution. The U.S. has warmed by about 3 degrees Fahrenheit, outpacing the global average increase of 2.5 degrees. This warming is largely due to greenhouse gases from fossil fuel burning, which began during the Industrial Revolution. Carbon dioxide levels have risen from 280 parts per million in the 18th century to over 430 ppm today. The U.S., historically the largest greenhouse gas emitter, experiences varied climate impacts: some regions warm faster, some get wetter, others drier. Heat waves are now more frequent and intense, with cities like Philadelphia seeing significant temperature rises. Scientists note that current heat levels would have been nearly impossible at the nation’s founding.
QUESTION: How might the increasing frequency and intensity of heat waves impact your daily life and future plans?
July 4 heat wave would’ve been ‘virtually impossible’ in 1776
