{"id":14738,"date":"2020-10-07T09:18:16","date_gmt":"2020-10-07T13:18:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=14738"},"modified":"2023-10-05T13:34:58","modified_gmt":"2023-10-05T17:34:58","slug":"climate-change-and-weather","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/climate-change-and-weather\/","title":{"rendered":"The Message in our Forecasts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There are not-so-hidden messages in the weather and storm trends we\u2019ve been seeing. What does it mean when our winters are shorter and milder or when we experience an increase in storm-induced flooding?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It means our climate is changing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Flooding in Downtown Boston \u00a9<\/em> Matt Beaton, Former Secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Climate Versus Weather<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While weather<\/a> refers to short-term changes to the atmosphere, climate encompasses long-term trends and patterns \u2013 such as average temperatures. Climate change<\/a>, therefore, is the lasting shift in long-term patterns because of the excess greenhouse gasses we release into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shifting Seasons<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Massachusetts, along with the rest of the world, is gradually getting warmer on average, and rising temperatures affect the intensity and duration of our four seasons. Spring temperatures arrive sooner than they have before, hotter summers last much longer, and winters tend to be milder and shorter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These shifts are evidenced by their impacts on the nature around us. You might have noticed your favorite buds and blossoms sprout earlier every year. Perhaps you\u2019ve seen your favorite birds breed or migrat<\/a>e<\/a> sooner<\/a>. You might have even noticed a decline in populations facing new threats because of shifting seasons: like bees that missed<\/a> early blossoms or moose that struggle<\/a> under the now thriving winter tick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weather Weirding & Temperature Extremes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These weather-based impacts aren\u2019t only about the gradual and consistent changes. They also comprise temperature snaps \u2013 sometimes referred to as \u201cweather weirding.\u201d Such snaps are characterized by abnormally cold (or hot<\/a>) temperatures compared to what the average temperature should be: like a freezing cold day in the middle of spring, or an incredibly warm day towards the end of winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Greg Skomal, Senior Fisheries Scientist at the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, explained that it was most likely cold snaps<\/a> that led four thresher sharks to strand in Wellfleet and Orleans in 2018 as they tried to move towards warmer waters at a much faster pace than normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surges in Storms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As temperatures increase, so too does evaporation of moisture and water \u2013 so while our summers are getting really hot, they\u2019re also getting really dry, which can lead to long summer droughts. But this extra-evaporating effect has a flip side. All the additional moisture gets sent into the atmosphere, which increases precipitation (rainfall, snow, sleet, or hail).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In tandem with sea level rise<\/a>, we\u2019re watching extreme weather events, storm surges, and significant flooding rise in frequency and intensity around us because of an increase in the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere and changes in sea-surface temperatures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Nantasket Beach flooding during Hurricane Sandy \u00a9<\/em> Jeff Cutler, Flickr.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Forecasting Hope<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Whether you live on the coast, in the city, or amidst our region\u2019s forests, weather and storms impact all of us and the nature around us. While something as intangible as atmospheric changes might seem near-impossible to tackle, we have good news: you can make a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some ways you can join us in fighting climate change to protect our world:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look to nature for climate solutions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nature can be our first line of defense when it comes to buffering extreme storms and helping us, and the wildlife we love, adapt to climate change. Support one of our urgent, regional land projects to protect these important, natural climate allies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take a climate pledge to mitigate climate change<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Climate mitigation tackles the crisis at its roots: the greenhouse gasses we emit. Remember to challenge your friends, family, and community to take these pledges with you \u2013 we can make a difference when we work together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter, Climate Connection.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every month, we’ll send you updates on climate information, action, community solutions, and how you can have an impact.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There are not-so-hidden messages in the weather and storm trends we\u2019ve been seeing. What does it mean when our winters are shorter and milder or when we experience an increase in storm-induced flooding? It means our climate is changing. Climate Versus Weather While weather refers to short-term changes to the atmosphere, climate encompasses long-term trends […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":126,"featured_media":14740,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[178],"tags":[246,150,366,310],"class_list":["post-14738","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-climate","tag-climate-action","tag-climate-change","tag-storms","tag-weather"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/10\/king-tides.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-3PI","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":15459,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/rain-gardens\/","url_meta":{"origin":14738,"position":0},"title":"When it Rains, it Pours \u2013 This Type of Garden Helps","author":"Rishya N.","date":"April 7, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"A residential rain garden in Leominster, MA - EPA. A rain garden is a collection of plants, often native grasses, shrubs, or flowers. Sounds just like a normal garden, right? Except rain gardens do something a little extra by helping absorb storm water, therefore lessening the damage of flooding. As\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Climate"","block_context":{"text":"Climate","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/climate\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/04\/rain-garden-EPA.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/04\/rain-garden-EPA.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/04\/rain-garden-EPA.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15603,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/mvp-program\/","url_meta":{"origin":14738,"position":1},"title":"The \u201cMVP\u201d of Climate Adaptation","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"April 28, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Climate change impacts all of us. Along with sea level rise, we\u2019re seeing extreme weather, inland and coastal flooding, and severe heat at a greater frequency and intensity. To adapt to climate change means to prepare for impacts like these, and one way that Mass Audubon is acting is through\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Advocacy"","block_context":{"text":"Advocacy","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/advocacy-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/04\/10.14.20-4191.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/04\/10.14.20-4191.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/04\/10.14.20-4191.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/04\/10.14.20-4191.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14725,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/a-king-of-a-challenge\/","url_meta":{"origin":14738,"position":2},"title":"A King of a Challenge","author":"Rishya N.","date":"October 14, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"King tides flooding Boston on March 10, 2020 via MyCoast, a project by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management. Ebbing and flowing, tides are a constantly moving part of nature. At high tide, waters creep up the shore, filling salt marshes and covering our beaches. At low tide, we\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Climate"","block_context":{"text":"Climate","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/climate\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/10\/king-tides-my-coast-photo-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/10\/king-tides-my-coast-photo-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/10\/king-tides-my-coast-photo-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/10\/king-tides-my-coast-photo-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14365,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/climate-and-cities-ama\/","url_meta":{"origin":14738,"position":3},"title":"You Asked, We Answered \u2013 Climate Change and Cities","author":"Rishya N.","date":"July 8, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Last week, Mass Audubon\u2019s Climate Change Program Director, Alexandra Vecchio, took over our Instagram\u00a0story to answer your questions about climate change and cities for our First Friday Climate Action Ask Me Anything (AMA). Here Were the Top Three Most Asked Questions: Boston Youth Climate Strike, September 2019. 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