A new study conducted in part at Texas State University found that melting Arctic ice is increasing the number of heatwaves in the U.S.
The study, which examined climate data between 1979 and 2016, found that as temperatures in the Arctic sea rise, the number of extreme weather events in the U.S. rise too.
That includes heat waves, droughts and more harsh winters– some of the symptoms climate scientists have predicted would become more frequent due to climate change.
Although the study did not focus on linking warming Arctic temperatures to climate change, other studies and climate scientist generally agree that the frosty region’s temperature increase and decline in sea ice is a result of man-made global warming.
Texas has already started seeing some of those effects. Last year, Texas experienced the hottest summer ever in the U.S., part of a decade-long trend that has seen the Lone Star State receive more and more hot days.
In terms of natural disasters, a 2018 government report acknowledged that Hurricane Harvey’s rainfall was made worse by climate change.
Fernando covers Texas politics and government at the Texas Signal. Before joining the Signal, Fernando spent two years at the Houston Chronicle and previously interned at Houston’s NPR station News 88.7. He is a graduate of the University of Houston, Jack J. Valenti School of Communication, and enjoys reading, highlighting things, and arguing on social media. You can follow him on Twitter at @fernramirez93 or email at fernando@texassignalarchive.com
