Former Digital Production Assistant at NOVA

Aerial view of brown floodwaters surrounding a house whose roof is patched with blue tarps

Aerial view of hurricane flooding in Louisiana. Image Credit: E4C, Getty Images

4 major effects of climate change in America

<p>As the Earth gets warmer, higher temperatures set a new baseline for <a href="/wgbh/nova/video/weathering-the-future/">extreme weather</a> events. An increase of just a couple of degrees in global average temperature can make hazards like fires and hurricanes more powerful and more frequent. Thanks to its size, location, and varied geography, the United States is vulnerable to a variety of extreme weather events. Here are four that NOVA explores in the documentary “<a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/weathering-the-future/">Weathering the Future</a>.”</p>
<div class="related"></div>
<h3>Heat Waves</h3><p><a href="/wgbh/nova/article/why-are-cities-hot-urban-heat-islands/">Heat waves</a> are becoming more frequent and intense in the U.S., with major cities now averaging about six per year. In September 2022, temperatures in San Jose and Sacramento soared to well over 100 degrees, pushing California’s electrical grid nearly to its limit. Soon after, the state moved forward with plans to create the nation’s first heat wave ranking system. But what are heat waves, and why do they happen?</p><p>According to the National Weather Service, a heat wave is a period of abnormally hot weather that lasts more than two days. It occurs when a high-pressure system moves over an area and forces air downward. Warm air at the ground that would normally rise to the cooler upper atmosphere and create rain is instead trapped in place. This trapped air continues to warm, driving a heat wave. This is dangerous because heat is the leading cause of weather-related death in the U.S. It overwhelms human bodies, causing muscles to slow, heartbeats to weaken, blood pressures to plunge, and kidneys to shut down.</p><h4>WATCH: HOW EXTREME HEAT OVERWHELMS THE HUMAN BODY</h4>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/MxZn08ZQQGUr5WIyfSEbjA==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<p>What can be done to protect communities from what some call a silent killer? One approach is to target roads. Asphalt and concrete absorb the sun’s energy and radiate it back as heat well into night, warming the air after the sun goes down. “So far, the data is telling us that those areas that are most plagued with asphalt and concrete, and a lack of vegetation, you know, are the places where it's hottest,” Na’taki Osborne Jelks, an environmental health scientist at Spelman College, said in an interview for “Weathering the Future.” In collaboration with Arizona State University, the city of Phoenix is recoating asphalt roads with a special sealant that reflects away more sunlight so that it can’t be absorbed and radiated as heat. One study projects that this approach could lower the average temperature of some cities by 2.5 degrees.</p><p>Replenishing lost vegetation is another solution because the loss of trees in cities makes them hotter. Direct sunlight can add up to 15 degrees F to what the human body experiences. Adding vegetation can both cool the air and provide shade.</p>
<h3>Wildfires</h3><p>As increasing temperatures have led to warmer, drier conditions in some areas, <a href="/wgbh/nova/article/california-wildfires-native-american-controlled-burn/">wildfires</a> have escalated, becoming both more frequent and more intense in recent decades. The West and Southwest have experienced this acutely: Between 2012 and 2021, over 24% of forested land in California burned.</p><p>The Federal Emergency Management Agency describes a wildfire as “an unplanned, unwanted fire burning in a natural area, such as a forest, grassland, or prairie.” The cause can be anything from lightning to a stray cigarette to arson. <a href="/wgbh/nova/video/decoding-the-weather-machine/">Climate change</a> has intensified wildfires in part because warmer temperatures can dry out trees, grasses, and shrubs, making them even more combustible. But this is compounded by the fact that long-standing policies of fire suppression in the West have led to a buildup of these wildfire fuels. </p><p>Some Western states are addressing the issue by embracing <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/california-wildfires-native-american-controlled-burn/">Native American burning practices</a>. Regular low-intensity fires can thin out the forests and eliminate the fuel that causes wildfires to burn out of control. And for thousands of years, some Native American groups in the West used fire to shape and protect the landscape. “Fire is not inherently bad. This landscape evolved with fire. The species on this landscape are fire dependent species. You can’t take fire out of this landscape,” Leaf Hillman, a tribal elder of the Karuk people of northern California, told NOVA. But starting in the 1800s, White settlers in the West wanted to prevent fires they thought would threaten their towns and the forests they saw as a source of income. They criminalized intentional burning and punished Native Americans who followed their traditional fire practices. Now, California forests are twice as dense as they were 200 years ago.</p><p>But as wildfires burn increasingly out of control, state and federal agencies are reconsidering their strategy of fire suppression. In California, the Karuk and other Native American groups are working to bring back their ancient practices. And the U.S. Forest Service is also adopting “prescribed burn” practices to manage forests with fire on a larger scale. Intentional burning allows people to select specific areas to burn and do so when conditions like humidity and wind are such that the risk of escape is lowest. The result? A methodical process that nurtures native species and helps keep wildfires contained.</p>
<div class="ad"></div>
<h3>Drought &amp; Water Scarcity</h3><p>In addition to driving heat waves and wildfires, climate change creates more frequent, longer, and more severe droughts. The Southwest has been hit especially hard, and is experiencing its most persistent drought in over 1,200 years. (Intense rainfall in recent months has brought relief to parts of California, but has not ended the drought entirely.)</p><p>Rising temperatures have a direct impact on the water cycle and the hotter it gets, the drier the landscape can get. This can eventually lead to <a href="/wgbh/nova/video/how-the-west-is-making-it-rain-with-science/">extreme drought</a>. Droughts affect not only surface water like lakes and rivers, but also the groundwater that is stored in aquifers and the soil. Groundwater is mostly rainwater and snowmelt that’s captured in spaces below ground, where wells can tap it for drinking water. But once that water gets used up, the dry ground sucks the surface water downward.</p><h4>WATCH: HOW SEWAGE BECOMES DRINKING WATER</h4>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/ZoRAuLj84qulH3U5RihgfQ==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<p>One place that has dealt with a water shortage is Orange County, California, whose growing population was already straining its groundwater supply by the late 1990s. And because Orange County is on the coast, its groundwater aquifer is connected to the ocean, which means that when groundwater is depleted, salty ocean water can replace it. With a water system nearing its breaking point, the county turned to a surprising source: wastewater.</p><p>“Wastewater is anything that you generate in a home that ends up in the drain. That includes the toilet, the washing machine, the sink,” Mehul Patel, executive director of operations at the Orange County Water District, told NOVA. This approach uses a process called <a href="/wgbh/nova/article/seawater-desalination-reverse-osmosis-thermal/">reverse osmosis</a> to push the wastewater through tightly wrapped membranes that filter out the impurities like pharmaceuticals, viruses, and salts. Residents in Orange County, California, have been using this <a href="/wgbh/nova/video/how-sewage-becomes-drinking-water/">recycled wastewater</a> as an abundant and nearly drought-proof source of drinking water for years. </p>
<h3>Hurricanes</h3><p>While climate change can cause extreme weather tied to heat, it can also cause extreme weather tied to wetter conditions. Today, during <a href="/wgbh/nova/video/what-makes-a-hurricane/">hurricane season</a>, the Gulf of Mexico is about one to two degrees warmer than it was in the 1980s. And that warmer water supercharges storms. Research suggests that hurricanes are both becoming stronger and moving more slowly over land.</p><p>It might seem counterintuitive, but the deadliest part of a hurricane isn’t wind, but <a href="/wgbh/nova/video/how-storm-surges-work-why-theyre-deadly/">storm surge</a>–ocean water that’s pushed toward shore by a hurricane’s strong winds. And rising sea levels mean higher storm surges that increase the flood risk in coastal areas. In September 2021, Hurricane Ida hit southeastern Louisiana, causing a major storm surge. It’s estimated that Ida wiped out more than 75 square miles of wetlands and destroyed about 13,000 homes.</p><p>To counteract the wetter, stronger hurricanes wrought by climate change, Louisiana is working to protect its coast with efforts like releasing sediment into endangered wetlands, upgrading levees and seawalls, and installing new floodgates. But these large-scale projects will take years to complete, so in the meantime local organizations and tribes are working on cheaper and faster solutions. They’re bagging leftover oyster shells from restaurant kitchens and piling them in specific wetland areas to create breakwater reefs. These artificial reefs contribute to the natural oyster life cycle by acting as a breeding ground for new oysters. Right after birth, oyster larvae attach themselves to older oyster shells and begin creating their own shells. As the oyster beds grow in size and height, they weaken the waves before they reach the shore, helping protect land and slow erosion.</p><h4>WATCH: WEATHERING THE FUTURE</h4>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/MzvProzqnogqxkXx16IMRQ==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<div class="newsletter"></div>

<p data-block-key="wkzod">Warming temperatures are causing extreme weather patterns across the country. But communities are pushing back with solutions old and new.</p>

Looking up at a red-and-white striped fish with long fins in the foreground with a diver in the background against the bright blue surface of the water

Invasive lionfish are spreading rapidly through the Atlantic Ocean. But what makes a species invasive? Image Credit: G1les / Pixabay

8 wild nature documentaries to watch now on NOVA

<div class="related"></div>
<p>From the hidden wonders of animal poop to the complex “landscape of fear” in a national park, NOVA has investigated some of the most fascinating phenomena of the natural world. Now we present a selection of nature documentaries from the past five years so you can explore the science behind the drama and beauty of the wilderness from your own home.</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/saving-the-right-whale/"><b>Saving the Right Whale</b></a><b> (2023) </b></h3><p>North Atlantic right whales are among the planet’s most critically endangered large ocean mammals. With fewer than 350 remaining as of 2023, they could be extinct within 20 years. But teams of marine biologists and whale rescuers are determined to help save the species. Follow their efforts and get a glimpse into the lives of these giants of the sea and their prospects for survival.</p>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/GwojimujrKEPRQCmq8aSFw==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<h3>Arctic Sinkholes (2022)</h3><p>Colossal explosions shake a remote corner of the Siberian tundra, leaving behind massive craters. In Alaska, a huge lake erupts with bubbles of inflammable gas. Scientists are discovering that these mystifying phenomena add up to a ticking time bomb as long-frozen permafrost melts and releases vast amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. What are the implications of these dramatic developments in the Arctic? Scientists and local communities alike are struggling to grasp the scale of the methane threat and what it means for our climate future.</p>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/reGjuZ4WrDNb4Wo54F7V9Q==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/secrets-in-the-scat/"><b>Secrets in the Scat</b></a><b> (2022)</b></h3><p>Scott Burnett is “Scatman” — an Australian ecologist on the trail of the secrets of poop. By identifying and analyzing animal scat for DNA and hormones, he discovers essential details of their behavior, how they fit in the ecosystem, and even how to protect them. From the mysterious cubic poop of wombats to the precious pink waste of whales, join scientists as they explore nature’s smelliest secrets.</p>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/kVieY3ISx8jfg3yFdZQDQQ==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/ocean-invaders/"><b>Ocean Invaders</b></a><b> (2022)</b></h3><p>Lionfish – long prized in home aquariums – have invaded the Atlantic, and are now one of the ocean’s most successful invasive species, wreaking havoc in waters across the globe. Join ocean explorer Danni Washington on a journey to find out how they took over, why they’re doing so much damage, and what can be done about it. These fascinating creatures are a window into the impacts of invasive species in a globalized world where human activity is an increasingly powerful evolutionary force.</p>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/khiIpgKalGJi68FZtbXdrA==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<div class="ad"></div>
<h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/butterfly-blueprints/"><b>Butterfly Blueprints</b></a><b> (2022) </b></h3><p>The hidden scientific secrets of butterflies reveal them to be more inventive and resilient than we ever imagined. Follow their extraordinary life cycle and migrations to tropical rainforests, windswept prairies, and even <i>inside</i> a chrysalis as it’s being spun. Discover how butterfly science is inspiring groundbreaking technology, including more efficient solar power cells, and bulletproof vests stronger than Kevlar.</p>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/PJGurgcYWUNHH2r23q95CA==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/reef-rescue/"><b>Reef Rescue</b></a><b> (2021) </b></h3><p>Coral reefs are not just beautiful, they are also home to over a quarter of all marine life and are crucial to human societies around the globe. But as the climate changes and oceanic heat waves become commonplace, corals are bleaching and reefs are dying off. Now, marine biologists from across the world are teaming up to counteract this catastrophe with a technique called assisted evolution. Follow scientists as they attempt to crossbreed heat-resistant corals, and even transplant corals’ algae, in a race to save the coral reefs from extinction. </p>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/S4FUx3KjLy0anFhePN6FfA==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<h3>Nature’s Fear Factor (2020)</h3><p>For animals in Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park, the normal balance of competition and predation was upended when a war wiped out the top predators. The remaining animals didn’t simply grow in numbers — they began behaving in unusual ways, veering outside their typical territories and feeding patterns. Could it be that it’s not just predators’ kills that keep other populations in check, but also the fear they inspire? NOVA joins a team of scientists as they reintroduce wild dogs to Gorongosa to find out if restoring the park’s “landscape of fear” can restore balance to an entire ecosystem.</p>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/aOsukWCMBPhixR2uK3O0xA==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<h3><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/kilauea-hawaii-on-fire/"><b>Kīlauea: Hawaiʻi on Fire</b></a><b> (2019) </b></h3><p>In May 2018, Kīlauea volcano erupted, obliterating neighborhoods with devastating force and uprooting thousands of local residents. It is Hawaiʻi’s most destructive volcanic eruption in generations. How can one of the most beautiful places on Earth suddenly transform into a roaring inferno, sputtering molten lava and bombs of volcanic rock the size of refrigerators? On the ground in the early days of the eruption, NOVA joins scientists and residents alike on a breathtaking journey to investigate Kīlauea’s recent spike in activity. Along the way, some of Hawaiʻi’s biggest secrets are revealed: Why did these geologically distinctive volcanoes form in the middle of the Pacific? How did life establish itself on the remote islands? What does this tell us about the future of Hawaiʻi? And what dangers yet lurk for the inhabitants of the island paradise?</p>
<div class="cove-video">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="inline-cove-player" frameborder="0" height="100%" id="partnerPlayer" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//player.pbs.org/partnerplayer/igpB0yWE5bGegp10uNdX6Q==/?topbar=false&amp;end=0&amp;endscreen=true&amp;start=0&amp;autoplay=false" width="100%">
</iframe>
</div>
<div class="newsletter"></div>

<p data-block-key="s98ix">Check out some of NOVA’s best nature documentaries available for streaming.</p>

Shyla Duff

Articles

4 major effects of climate change in America

8 wild nature documentaries to watch now on NOVA

Support Provided By