Credit : Photo by Brooke Christianson
Wisconsin should prevent climate change
By Colin Mellenberger and Brooke Christianson
Thermostats are ticking up everywhere, and Wisconsin is no different. As global warming increases, Wisconsin will face biodiversity loss and health threats. Midwesterners may be able to avoid certain climate change effects like tropical storms and rising sea levels, but they will have to face their own challenges. Rising temperatures will create a cascade of other events that will affect people’s daily lives.
On Oct. 1, 2023, the temperature in Madison was above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. This kind of temperature is expected in July, but it is alarming in October. The average high temperature in October for Madison should be around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. This is an example of what Wisconsinites have noticed: The area is getting hotter.
According to a study from the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts on The City of Madison website, Wisconsin’s average temperature rose by 3 degrees Fahrenheit since the 1950s. Already, days over 90 degrees Fahrenheit are increasing, and they will not stop. In fact, according to the study from the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change, by 2050, the number of days over 90 degrees Fahrenheit are expected to triple. Wisconsin residents must prepare for the heat’s consequences.
One consequence is an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events such as drought, heavy rainfall, and flooding. According to the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts, by 2100, severe storms are expected to be twice as frequent. In tandem rainfall will increase with these storms. Rain is great for the land in healthy amounts, but issues start to arise with too much of it.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website notes that too much rain can lead to flooding, broken dams, washed out roads, overwhelmed wastewater treatment plants, and more. And as if this was not enough, more rain can lead to a boom in mosquito populations.
This increase in rain can affect agriculture, too. As every Wisconsinite knows, agriculture shapes this state.
According to the website of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, agriculture contributes $104.8 billion every year to Wisconsin’s economy and is responsible for 11.8% of the state’s employment. Unfortunately, warming temperatures can hurt this sector of the economy.
The Wisconsin DNR notes that extreme heat, which will become increasingly common, can stress crops, and decrease their yield. Excess water from rain can wash away seeds and topsoil as well as create an environment where harmful bacteria and fungus would thrive. On top of the issues with crops, the livestock would be at risk. The DNR points out that extreme heat can stress the animals.
According to Mark Mellenberger, a farmer from the Black Hawk area, most animals that farmers raise are not prepared to thrive in 90 degrees, so they end up trying to hide inside “half dead” just to cool down. Putting the animals in this type of danger would decrease their production. Food prices would increase, putting at risk the farmers’ livelihoods. If this vital aspect of Wisconsin culture is lost, who would the people of Wisconsin be? Really, who would the cheeseheads be without their cheese?
Consider the environmental impacts. There is no denying the beauty of Wisconsin’s natural landscape from the lake path behind campus to the Northwoods in upper Wisconsin. However, global warming could damage the ecosystems that create these scenes.
The DNR said increased heat could increase wildfire risk and decrease potential habitats for northern and boreal tree species. Also, some species of fish do not do well in warmer temperatures. Walleye, northern pike, brown trout, and brook trout are cool-water species that may be threatened by warmer water. If global warming gets too severe, these fish may disappear from Wisconsin’s waterways.
Climate change will undoubtedly affect the Madison area. Even if there is no danger of being swallowed by the sea or battered by hurricanes, Wisconsinites should look out for the effects of climate change and work to prevent it.
Colin Mellenberger and Brooke Christianson are freshman at Edgewood College.
