As snowstorms persist, the dangers of extreme weather become more apparent
By VRITI SHAH — features@theaggie.org
In recent weeks, a series of turbulent snowstorms has held its reign of terror over areas from the Midwest to the East Coast — spanning roughly 2,000 miles across the country. With more than 8 million people under storm warnings and 2 million under blizzard warnings, the intense storms are impacting a vast majority of the nation.
The powerful snowstorms have been hazardous for residents, with at least a dozen states declaring a state of emergency. CBS News confirmed — as of Feb. 1 — there are at least 100 deaths from the snowstorms in Pennsylvania, Kansas, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and New York. Even Florida — a state commonly known for its year-round warm weather — has experienced snowfall and flurries.
Given the ongoing snowstorms, many are feeling apprehensive about the apparent role of climate change in the creation of such extreme weather patterns. Others, however, suggest that the extremities of weather — such as the snowstorms — are proof that global warming is a hoax.
UC Davis students have their own varying opinions on the snowstorms and the impact of climate change.
“I think [the snowstorms are] just a marker of how extreme weather patterns have become — as a result of climate change — of course,” Neeta Prasanna, a first-year microbiology major, said. “I think that the snowstorms getting more severe and affecting people’s lives more [is] just an indication of how much more severe things are getting.”
For Prasanna, the severity of the snowstorms was a signal of the climate crisis. Others noted that the intensity of climate change is exemplified through all types of extreme weather, regardless of temperature.
“I do think [the snowstorms are] a huge climate change indicator,” Eshaal Khalid, a fourth-year anthropology major, said. “We recently had a lot of fog here in California, and it was really dense. It wasn’t anything we had before — it was actually cold. Some were saying it was colder than it was on the East coast [at times]. A lot of people associate climate change with warmer weather. I don’t think that’s necessarily true; I think it’s both.”
As the issue continues to worsen, climate activism has become an increasingly common outlet for change; it has led to increased policymaking decisions that lean pro-climate, according to a study conducted by Yale. Prasanna detailed how the snowstorms have created an unavoidable perception of global warming, urging for a modification in how we treat our environment.
“[Climate change is] not just a problem where a group of people care about it and it’s [not] just scientists that are pushing for change,” Prasanna said. “It’s something that’s affecting people’s lives actively now, and it’s kind of harder to avoid. You can’t really push it off anymore, especially if you’re being affected by it. So, I think it’s a sign that we have to take [climate change] more seriously.”
A call for action is central to discussions on climate change, but many worry about the population’s ignorance as to the changes the climate crisis will truly entail.
“I think climate change is something that’s obviously been affecting us for such a long time, and with such a gravity,” Trayee Reddy, a second-year biochemistry and molecular biology major, said. “I think a lot of people don’t really understand that. It’s even with, like, the small things with our ocean and trash and everything […] it all just kind of builds up. So, with the temperatures rising and even the snowstorms in the East, you can tell that it’s getting to both extremes.”
The reality of climate change is often disregarded, and many believe that false information in the media is a strong factor for the fueling of the climate change controversy. Regarding the snowstorms, President Donald Trump mocked the concept of global warming due to the colder weather.
“Record Cold Wave expected to hit 40 states. Rarely seen anything like it before. Could the Environmental Insurrectionists please explain — WHATEVER HAPPENED TO GLOBAL WARMING???” Trump said in a Truth Social post.
Khalid continued to describe the impact of misinformation when discussing climate change.
“I think a lot of our population isn’t educated, especially those who support Trump and [Make America Great Again] MAGA and Republicans in general,” Khalid said. “But also, people have these ideas that climate change is just specifically associated with hotter, warmer weather. Usually when we talk about climate change, we’re talking about glaciers melting and things like that. People don’t realize that it goes both ways — that extremely cold weather is also a part of climate change.”
While disinformation in the media is significant in shaping people’s views on climate change, Reddy continued to explain that it is crucial to consider the opinions of those in power.
“When someone with that much influence says something like that, it can definitely make, like, the general public think that everything’s okay — when in reality, it’s not,” Reddy said. “I think people need to actually look at science and the facts, instead of listening to people who don’t really know what they’re talking about.”
It is true that it can become difficult to decipher factual information when we constantly engage with a multitude of differing opinions and sources. Prasanna continued to detail how algorithms have created an influx of misinformation in the media.
“I think, honestly, the media thrives on false information,” Prasanna said. “Like, we know for a fact that the algorithms are designed to push misinformation, hatred and just negative forms of discourse. So, I think that the fact that a lot of people know it as ‘global warming’ and not ‘climate change’ is probably something that’s been pushed by social media purposefully and not just, like, something that happens by chance.”
Prasanna continued to discuss the importance of staying aware, taking action and steering clear of misinformation.
“That’s not even the extent of what humans have done to the earth,” Prasanna said.
“I think that people need to stay vigilant and stay informed because, otherwise, chances are you will fall victim to misinformation. The goal of that is to get people off track [in] solving things together.”
Written by: Vriti Shah — features@theaggie.org
