Has the weather seemed a little wonky this winter?
“Climate change is happening now and it’s affecting you now,” said Cameron Wake, a research professor of climatology and glaciology at the University of New Hampshire, but anyone who has been living in New Hampshire for a while knows that winter is not the same as it used to be.
Winters are changing, and they’re changing fast.
“Over the last 50 years, winters have warmed 6 to 7 degrees Fahrenheit,” said Wake. “Ice on ponds and lakes is melting seven to 10 days earlier.”
But those aren’t the only effects. Signs of a changing climate are echoing in all areas of the ecosystem and infrastructure. Many drivers have been noticing a lot more potholes and frost heaves this year. And no, it’s not a coincidence.
“It does tend to occur when we see these freeze/thaw/rain events,” said Seth MacLean, Peterborough Public Works director and assistant town administrator. “We are seeing the effects of climate change in these ways.”
In addition to tarmac damage, MacLean said roadways have experienced more flooding events, washouts and water main breaks in recent years. He attributes these issues to the unprecedented winter rainstorms and freeze-and-thaw patterns that have become more common. He explained that the town is having to plan for climate change every year now.
“We’re planning for it but it’s expensive and takes a long time,” he said.
MacLean feels lucky that the Peterborough community is committed to protecting the environment and that the town is working to implement renewable energy sources that will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“People here tend to take a very pragmatic approach,” he said. “They understand these aren’t little isolated incidences. Community resilience is essential to deal with climate change and be a global partner on this issue.”
Fewer days of ice on ponds and lakes in the region “changes the ecosystem’s dynamic,” Mary Stampone said. She’s a New Hampshire climatologist and associate professor of geography at UNH. “Our weather is always variable, ups and downs, and we still have all these ups and downs, but the base level is getting warmer.” This means in the winter the temperature rises above freezing more often and our region experiences many more freeze-and-thaw cycles over the season.
Stampone said animals that have adapted to a colder climate are going to struggle and animals that may not have survived here before now can. And she added, “changes are happening faster than animals can adapt.” She explained that foxes often cross frozen surfaces to find food. When the body of water isn’t frozen they have to travel much farther, around the pond or lake, to get to the other side. This expends more energy that they may not be able to replace.
“If we want to maintain any character of winter we have to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Wake. “These trends are going to continue. The real question is how much? That depends totally on what we do.”
And changes will effect the economy and winter recreation. Winter activities like ice derbies, downhill and cross-country skiing will struggle without adequate ice and snow cover.
Ticks have been a big indicator of a changing climate in New England, and most people who spend time outdoors will have noticed that ticks are coming out earlier and there are a lot of them.
“Warmer winters are allowing a northward spread,” said Wake, and with that spread they are carrying diseases to humans and mammals that live here.
Wake and Stampone have both found hope in their students’ engagement and commitment to learning about and acting to protect the environment.
“The younger generation is hyper-aware,” Stampone said.
Wake said many more students are taking sustainability classes, demanding more sustainability classes and are going into sustainability-related careers.
“Ultimately, there needs to be a social movement to drive this change,” he said, “It requires communities coming together and addressing this challenge.”
So what is important to focus on?
Wake said, “Absolutes are not going to work. Addressing the climate crisis doesn’t mean depriving ourselves. It’s about choices. Where do we get our energy from?”
And it’s not just about individuals changing habits, even though that is still important. It’s thinking about how institutions are powered, holding the places where, as Wake said, “we work, play and pray” accountable and deciding to invest money in environmentally conscious companies.
“Right now is the time. We are still going to see changes, but this is still manageable. Ecosystems are adapting. Things are still OK. If we mitigate emissions we can avoid worse-case scenarios,” Stampone said.