110 Days When It’s 100 Degrees in Phoenix
Phoenix is known for 100-degree days, according to the National Weather Service. Most years this century have had over 100 of these days. Now, it is on pace for 140, a record.
Phoenix has several problems with heat. The first is that it hits th city along with severe drought. Debate continues over whether the city will have enough water for its population in a decade. Phoenix is still growing in terms of new residents, according to the Census. One of its primary water sources, the Colorado River, is also drying up.
Next is air conditioning, which can be broken into several parts. First is electricity use. Like many US cities, it has an old grid, which makes surges in electricity use a threat of blackouts. Another issue is that most electricity still comes from fossil fuels, primarily natural gas. That contributes to global warming.
Health Emergencies
Another byproduct of extreme heat is that people live below the poverty line. ScienceDirect reports that these people cannot afford both air conditioning and rent or mortgage payments. Some move outside. However, the heat that gathers inside is often more dangerous.
What is the solution? Like many other climate disasters, there’s no single solution. Scientists and the government can’t do anything to stop global warming. Phoenix is in a part of the US where temperatures are high and rising. This risk grows with the heat.
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