Since the 1900s the chart for hurricane occurrences has been on the rise. Many believe the cause of hurricanes being more present in our current day is because of greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases are gases that trap heat in our atmosphere.
In present day, humans are putting an estimated 9.5 billion metric tons of carbon into the atmosphere each year. The burning of fossil fuels continues to add more carbon as we cut more trees down.
With that in mind, these gases remain in our atmosphere from a couple of years to a few thousand.
With the extra blanket that is formed, the heat on our planet is getting hotter and causing the surface of the ocean to get warmer as well. This extra factor is causing the planet to have an abnormal amount of weather changes.
In the Gulf of Mexico, around 220 miles southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River, Tropical Storm Lee started its venture.
On Sept. 6, Tropical Storm Lee formed into a Category 1 hurricane while it was moving across the east of the Northern Leeward Islands.
As Lee continued to move across the ocean it became a Category 4 strength hurricane.
Surrounding areas were getting ready for impact of Hurricane Lee and preparing for the worst. Weather reports stated Lee caused swells that could cause life threatening surf and rip current conditions.
Although greenhouse gases take years to fade from our atmosphere, there are actions we can do to help prevent the making of more from as close as one’s home.
By washing clothing in cold water, the energy required to wash is reduced, drying clothing by line-dry is also an efficient way of helping reduce the energy wasted in one’s home.
Taking an environmental approach such as planting a small garden could help the earth remove more carbon dioxide from our atmosphere, as well.
In the grand scheme of things, by accomplishing these small tasks, people can work together to make substantial changes to help reduce our abnormal weather patterns and get our planet back on track.
