Olivia Medovich
Staff writer
This winter’s weather has proven to be far from normal, most people are hanging up their coats and bringing our their shorts, flip-flops, and short sleeves and it’s only the beginning of March.
Temperatures around the U.S. have been unusually balmy with little snow this winter.
As most people continue to enjoy the warm temperatures, others worry about the harmful affects it will have on the planet.
Haluk Cetin, professor of Science and Engineering and Technology, said global warming is to blame for the unseasonable weather.
An increase in the amount of carbon dioxide put into the atmosphere contributes to global warming and in turn speeds up the greenhouse effect, he said.
The greenhouse effect traps gases such as carbon dioxide and methane causes the temperature to rise.
Cetin said some people may be mislead to think the main source of carbon dioxide come from power plants, when in actuality it comes from cars.
“We drive too much,” he said.
Cetin said if actions are not taken to slow down global warming there will be serious repercussions.
“Overall the entire world is going to suffer no matter where you are,” he said.
He said the polar ice caps would completely melt due to the increasing temperatures, which will cause extinction of the polar bears, higher sea levels and a loss of land.
Cetin said with the climate change the intensity of storms is only going to get stronger and more frequent.
On March 2, tornado outbreaks swarmed regions across the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys.
There were at least 28 deaths in Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio reported and immeasurable damage across the regions.
It is only the beginning of tornado season and it could prove to be the worst on record thus far.
Cetin said there are ways to help reduce the effects of global warming.
Decreasing the output of carbon dioxide by using energy efficient alternatives is one way to help the environment, he said.
Cetin said people can also try to use more efficient means of transportation.
Cetin said the unseasonable weather is a political issue as well.
He said some countries are enacting laws to help decrease greenhouse effects, but the U.S. has yet to take this action.
It is a big issue concerning the entire planet,” Cetin said. “Unfortunately, the U.S. is behind on this.”
Mark Powell, graduate student from Henderson, Ky., said he has had enough of the constantly changing weather and wishes it would stay at a consistent temperature.
“It’s the craziest weather I’ve seen,” Powell said. “Rain, snow and 70 degree weather all in a seven day time frame. That’s ridiculous.”