The Local Solution to Global Warming and Environmental Degradation

In Southern California, it feels like we are at the epicenter of the climate change phenomenon. Though living only a few miles from the coast, we still experience temperatures well in excess of 100 degrees throughout much of the Summer. 

Here in San Diego, we've often been associated with a temperate climate. "Sunny and 70's" was a slogan that was so often repeated by weather anchors on the local news that their existence seemed almost pointless.

Now however, even well into Fall, we experience wide fluctuations on the thermometer, with maybe a 20 degree spit between one day and the next. That is why the term: "Global Climate Instability" is actually more accurate than "Global Warming".

As satellites and computer modeling have improved weekly weather forecasting, long term trends have become much harder to predict. The severity of Droughts, Hurricanes and what is considered here in California to be year round fire season underscore that whether through human generated carbon emissions or other celestial forces, our environment is changing dramatically and there seems to be nothing we can do to stop the juggernaut. 

Or is there?

We decided to take a road trip, up the West Coast to Ashland Oregon. Partly to escape the heat and partly to see how other areas are being affected by and coping with our changing climate. What we found was confirming and also eye-opening and caused me to realize a simple fact:

Those areas with an abundance of trees were cooler, wetter and had fewer and narrower temperature fluctuations. 

 

Now one could effectively argue that cooler, wetter weather gives rise to more trees, not the other way around. But studies of rainforests around the world have proven that they do in fact create their own weather conditions, through the absorption of carbon from the atmosphere; the transport of moisture from the ground into the air, causing localized cloud formations; the preservation and recycling of nutrients in the soil that support colonies of beneficial fungi, bacteria and plant life, which further broadens the carbon sink and the retention of essential water stores. 

When rain does occur, these forest canopies diminish the potentially destructive impact of falling water by acting as a catch and release system, dripping moisture delicately onto the soil to prevent erosion. That water sinks into the spongy, nutrient rich soil and is held there, until aquifers are full and saturation is established. When that happens, water begins seeping out, forming rivulets, then creeks, eventually swelling rivers and filling reservoirs. 

As this simple cycle is repeated over and over, water stores increase, the forest grows, weather patterns begin to stabilize, rain becomes more frequent, droughts diminish and fires become far less frequent severe. 

What Can You Do to Slow or Reverse
the March of Climate Change?

Plant more trees!

It's a simple as that. Plant trees in your yard and encourage others to do the same. Work at your community, town and city level to bring greater awareness to the issue, gaining political and financial support for greater governmental involvement in forest planting, cultivation and maintenance. 

For more information, visit the Arbor Day Foundation. Start working toward your own local movement today. It may be the best way for you to make a lasting and positive impact on our precious planet.

-Shane Eric Mathias