The grassroots organization I'm directing documented some of the effects of climate impacts on local residents.
We found that people working in agriculture are disproportionately affected by extreme heat conditions.
This seems quite obvious but very helpful to have some data that proves it.
People who are working outside are directly experiencing extreme weather. Others who spend most of their time inside are more protected and less aware of the changes.
Many people work picking raspberries which are grown in hoop houses under plastic. It can be 10-20 degrees hotter under the plastic. People are getting dehydrated, fainting, going to hospital, or losing pay if sent home.
This area had an average of 4 "extreme heat" days per year in the past. Extreme heat for this area is 87 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
Prediction is from 40-70 days over 87 degrees per year by 2080.
Because it was formerly a very comfortable climate schools and homes were not built with air conditioning. A teacher recorded a week of temperatures between 90-100 degrees in his high school class room last year. People can't think well in the heat.
We have thankfully not had wildfires in our County but at times have bad air quality from fires in other places.
Where can homeless people go to escape heat and smoke? What is the effect on food if grown in extended smoky conditions? The smoke
is full of toxins due to all the toxic materials inside homes and cars.
Our area suffered from a long drought. This was followed by one winter with heavy storms that caused over 100 million dollars in damage.
There is much concern about salt water intrusion in wells - rising sea
levels combined with ground water depletion from droughts.
What can be grown here is shifting. Not enough dependable chill for apples and some other fruits. Rain coming at some unpredictable times which affects strawberries - much loss if they are rained on.
Temperature reached 114 degrees one day a year ago where I used to live - avocados burned and fell off trees.
There is much less fog than there used to be. We've had hot winters - many days in 70s, 80s in December, January.
The air feels different - more humid, sometimes almost tropical. It stays warm into the evening. When I first moved to this area in the 1980s for many years I would never go anywhere without a sweater. It always cooled down at night. It often felt cold. It's really different now.
Love,
Nancy