Extreme Heat

This past week has lead me to believe even more in global warming.  Currently, Chicago has set record highs in temperature history.  From experience, the past couple of days have been nothing but pure torture with temperatures reaching over 100 degrees over numerous days (a rare occasion in Illinois).  These temperatures did not even seem to be relieved when the sun went down.  Because of this, it has lead me to believe that a climate change is definitely in effect.  This to me is one of the biggest environmental problems in the world.  I have seen this past summer that an overall worldwide temperature increase is occurring.  These past couple of days have lead news stations to put out heat advisory warnings to get peoples attention about the extreme heats and how they should protect themselves from dehydration, heat strokes, and sunburns.  This heat has also affected the ability for individuals to work.  Carpenters and other blue-collar workers have been laid off or stopped working early due to the extreme heat leading to more economic problems.  Also, it has lead this area (the Midwest) into a drought.  More and more families are relying on their home sprinkler systems to help hydrate their plants and lawns (leading us into a more water shortage—see my blog water shortage).  Some farmers who rely on their crops for their livelihood have been having the worst harvest this year due to the drought.  Many corn crops have been destroyed due to the abnormally high heats and lack of rain.  Putting farmers yielding numbers at an extreme low.  Also, wildfires are more likely to happen due to drought and extreme temperatures we have been seeing.  These extreme temperatures definitely affects the environment and wildlife.  It also has bad affects on the entire human race and increasing the economic crisis in America.  There are different actions humans can take to decrease the expansion of global warming, if only we all cared to learn and act in such a way.