Summer is a season of rituals: walks on the beach, picnics in the park, camping under the stars. My summer ritual is a family pilgrimage to the beautiful Minnesota Northwoods.I treasure the time away, which follows my busiest time of year at the National Conflict Resolution Center.But this year — in response to the inevitable “how was the weather” question — I found myself grousing a bit. You see, it was too chilly in northern Minnesota to wear shorts.My daughter, who lives in Walla Walla, Wash., couldn’t relate. In fact, she was flatly annoyed with me. The day we spoke, the temperature in Walla Walla was 106 degrees. It’s a place where the average summer temperature is typically 25 degrees cooler. Air conditioning is uncommon.But when it comes to climate, our notions of normal have been upended. Just as the Pacific Northwest has experienced record heat, so has much of the rest of the country — and much of the planet, really. Europe, Africa and Asia have broken temperature barriers that once seemed unimaginable. The heat and lack of rain have left a trail of wildfires.AdvertisementLas Vegas, N.M., has only a two-month supply of water, due to contamination caused by thousands of tons of wildfire ash and debris. Flames in the area gave way to floods, causing burnt soil to encroach the Gallinas River watershed.And recent flood …
It’s time to end the climate change debate – The San Diego Union-Tribune
