Temperatures rising: What is causing the warmer weather and the long-term impact
By: Callum Denault
Published on: April 19th, 2024
Canada is experiencing its warmest winter ever. While the mild temperatures have ushered springtime in early, these come with unexpected side effects. Ranging from impacts on outdoor sports to changing animal behaviours, the historic change in weather has been felt in a variety of ways across Canada and the world.
What is causing the warmer weather?
The recent warm weather has been partly blamed on El Niño, an abnormal system of warm currents in the Pacific Ocean. These climate patterns can affect weather, wildfires, ecosystems, and economies worldwide. El Niño events occur on average every two to seven years, but they don’t happen on a regular schedule.
However, El Niño is not the only cause of warmer weather. While El Niño is a naturally occurring climate phenomenon, it is now happening in the context of climate change. Rising temperatures in the equatorial Pacific region caused by global warming could create stronger El Niño events.
With temperatures already rising due to climate change, an amplified El Niño event could raise global temperatures even higher as it releases heat into the atmosphere. This could result in more severe climate disasters, such as Canada experiencing the worst wildfire season on record.
Some problems caused by a mild winter
Regarding road safety, potholes are forming earlier due to the warm weather. A combination of warm days and cold nights causes roads to break, typically by water seeping into cracks and expanding when it freezes. While the current conditions have made it easier for cities to fill potholes, there is still cause for concern about the effects of the rapidly shifting temperatures.
CTV News reported that Montreal and Kitchener outdoor sports involving ice or snow are also heavily affected by the weather.
Some activities can still be practiced, however the conditions are less than ideal. For example, while cross-country skiing trails have remained open, skiers have admitted that it was harder to ski this year.
Other activities have been rendered basically impossible by the warm weather. Ice fishing is one activity that has been hit particularly hard as warmer temperatures have prevented lakes from freezing. Many ice rinks have also been closing earlier in the season due to premature melting.
Additionally, there are concerns for businesses selling winter sports equipment as they face low sales. Some have been forced to pivot to selling equipment for spring activities in response to the lack of snow.
How plants and animals respond to warm winters
The Canadian government’s agricultural department predicts positive and negative impacts on the ability to grow food.
Opportunities to grow warmer-weather crops may appear during times of the year that are typically too cold for them to survive. On the other hand, the rising temperatures caused by global warming might make spring and summer months less hospitable for edible plants. In particular, the government warns that summers will be hotter and drier for most of Canada.
Moreover, animals that typically remain dormant or at least hidden during winter are now being sighted much earlier than normal.
Due to mild weather, ticks, spider-like, blood-sucking parasites that spread disease, are also being seen earlier than usual. These parasites can be found on tree branches, in tall grass, and even in someone’s backyard if poorly maintained. Bears are also waking out of hibernation sooner than expected, with the Ontario government issuing a warning that black bears might search for food near people’s homes.
Other, smaller animals waking up from hibernation early might face health risks. Because animals usually hibernate to save energy, waking up during a winter that feels like spring could leave these animals skinny and weak.
Warmer temperatures worldwide
Canada is not the only country affected by the warm winters brought by climate change. The U.S. is experiencing many of the same issues, such as an early boom in parasites like ticks and mosquitoes. The U.S. is also experiencing difficulties in farming plants that use the cold winter months as part of their process for making fruit. Likewise, several outdoor sports, including Indigenous traditions going back thousands of years, have been disrupted in parts of the U.S. due to a lack of snow and ice.
Most land regions have been experiencing more hot days, especially in the tropics. Tropical climates could also face more intense stores with heavier rainfall. It is projected that the intensity of tropical cyclones could likely increase if temperatures rise to 2 degrees C.
Looking forward
While the impact of human activities on Earth’s climate to date is irreversible, there are steps we can take to prevent further damage.
There are steps you can take at an individual level, such as adopting a plant-rich diet. It has been found that livestock production contributes approximately 15 percent of the world’s global greenhouse gas emissions every year. You can also lower your carbon footprint by switching to brands with sustainable practices.
However, while individual efforts are essential, governments and policymakers must also take action. Some options include investing in sustainable energy solutions and reducing the reliance on fossil fuels. Another solution is to enhance public transit options and increase cycling routes while placing bans or taxes on polluting vehicles.
You can help encourage governments and policymakers to make the necessary changes through peaceful protests. You can also vote for government leaders who take climate change seriously and have actionable plans to address the issues.
We all must do our part to ensure the world is habitable for future generations while protecting the planet that has kept humans, animals, and ecosystems safe for billions of years.