In Texas, rising temperatures are having a significant impact on daily life. John Nielsen-Gammon, the state’s climatologist, reports that temperatures have already increased by an average of two degrees Fahrenheit and are expected to rise even further in the coming years. This increase in temperatures is causing a cascade of effects, including higher ozone levels and increased air pollution in urban areas, which can worsen health problems like asthma.
Climate change is also leading to other consequences, such as more intense precipitation, an increased risk of wildfires, and higher water demand that puts stress on water systems. Nielsen-Gammon predicts that temperatures could increase by 5 degrees or more by the time climate change is under control. This significant temperature change could mean a daily average temperature of 100 degrees in the summer instead of 95 degrees.
Levi Long, a digital media major at Texas State University, is an intern for Texas Community Health News (TCHN), a collaboration between the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and the university’s Translational Health Research Center. TCHN provides stories, reports, and data visualizations free to Texas newsrooms. With the rising temperatures in Texas and the various impacts of climate change, it is important for individuals to stay informed and take action to mitigate these effects on the environment and everyday life.
