Spring 2017 will likely see a continuation of warmth seen so far this winter, warmer for portions of the South, according to an outlook released by The Weather Company, an IBM Business. Current indications are that the best chance for warmer-than-average temperatures from March through May will be found from southeastern Arizona through the southern Plains eastward into Alabama.
La Niña has played a significant role in temperatures over the last few months but is expected to end and transition to ENSO-neutral conditions by this spring. How the atmosphere responds to this transition will be an important factor in temperatures across the contiguous U.S. The weather will have a direct correlation to any upswing in real job growth since the colder weather will hinder the agricultural community as well as fishing and lumber industries.
Significant storms preclude many workers from being able to report to their jobs and that can create significant declines in revenue for the duration of the inclement weather, or even a much longer period of time. What’s more, consumer activity is usually suppressed during extreme weather events. Not many people are browsing and shopping during major snow- or rainfall. Thus we often see massive losses in sales and revenue. For example, according to Planalytics, the snowstorm that hit the northeast in late January eliminated $500 million in sales, even though the storm did not even remotely live up to expectations.
Extreme weather tends to incite fear amongst the general population. Common behaviors in response to dangerous forecasts include filling up gas tanks and stocking up on essential items such as nonperishable food, water, flashlights, and batteries, in the event that power outages ensue. While such behaviors can pump significant money into local economies, this effect is usually temporary.
Extreme weather can also inspire companies to innovate in preparation for future occurrences. For the winter season, products that have become commonplace include snow chains for automobile tires and snow blowers for quick snow removal. In anticipation of tornadoes and hurricanes, innovators have developed products like hurricane shutters, doors that can sustain heavy wind-pressure and concrete walls.
Snow removal, rehabilitation and repair efforts can cost a lot of money. For example, the city of Buffalo budgeted approximately $9 million for snow removal alone in 2014-2015. BBVA Compass economists estimate the recent flooding caused by heavy rains in parts of Texas to cost anywhere between $200 million and $550 million. This cost accounts for physical damage, in addition to lost productivity and revenue.
What happens when forecasts are incorrect? While meteorologists are very skilled and technology is ever-advancing, forecasts are still predictions of the future. There is no guarantee of accuracy and when it comes to weather, things can change very rapidly. But when it comes down to it, people hate being told the wrong thing. So when communities are being instructed to take significant precautions against impending weather conditions and the conditions don’t ever come, people are often not pleased, to say the least.
The largest question is how you personally are causing your weather to change slowly by your actions, and what you grow or do not grow in your gardens, and the jobs you are building careers in. Are you part of Global Warming? If you have been in the Northeast in the last week, or even as far south as South Carolina, you have a hard time believing there is Global warming when there is lower than usual temperatures and lots of snow everywhere. The Easter Bunny did not bring eggs, but his white cotton tail added many hours of people staying at home.
Jobs like: Field Technician III – Limnology
National Ecological Observatory NetworkMaine Trail Crew
Maine Appalachian Trail ClubThat are considered green jobs can be found on sites like EcoEmploy.com, and many other sites can be found by going to the green career listing mega page called Walk of Life.
Now the huge question is with several scientists questioning global warming, while others state that cows exude more CO2 than the autos on the highway, one may find it hard to be agreeable to weather conditions being controlled by your car as the snow is dropping in feet, not inches and the temperature plunges to 30 degrees overnight.
America can all agree that trash and other pollutants need to stop. In 2007, the United States produced 254 million tons of garbage. Alarmingly, the average American throws away nearly 7 pounds of trash on a daily basis, according to PlanetThoughts. The U.S. consumes 30 percent of the world’s resources despite making up only 5 percent of the world’s population. If Americans would stop tossing cans, wrappers and other trash, then at least America could be greener in a better world. We spend so much time on what is in it for me, maybe America needs to go back to charging deposits on cans and bottles in every state and then there is something in it for every person.
Tomorrow’s technology may be today’s trash, and the screams of global warming may be the expense of tomorrow when one looks at the full picture. The one thing we all know is that wildlife and the planet would appreciate less trash and more consideration to what we do daily that harms the greenery and animals while depleting the World’s resources at an alarming rate…
Tags: Global Warming
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