September Heat Wave

The pattern is striking: Nashville reached 100°F or higher on five of the first 19 days, including 101°F on September 5, and then another run of 100, 99, 99, 100, and 100°F from September 15–19. The National Weather Service reports that September 18 and 19 both reached 100°F, with September 19 setting/tieing the daily record.

These temperatures were caused in part by a high-pressure dome of hot air stalled over Tennessee. We could dismiss it as an isolated weather event, except it is occurring everywhere on the planet. Maybe we should have a look at how we are doing in reducing greenhouse gases, notably carbon dioxide. The chart below shows that we are not only failing to slow the production of CO2, but the rate of change is actually increasing.

We have met the enemy, and he is us.