PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • August 17, 2024
As someone with a master’s degree in environmental science and a history of working with NASA Earth Science missions focused on monitoring the Earth and ocean, I’m here to tell you: There are no “positives” to the changes that our climate is going through – especially when it comes to life in Maine. The climate changes to winter and destabilization of air masses has actually caused more weather extremes – including colder than normal extremes – which can negate “heating bill savings.” Economically, the impact of warmer winters to Maine’s winter-based economy and tourism is a huge negative to many jobs and stakeholders in outdoor recreation. The snow reserves that build up each year are the water stores that feed nature in the spring – filling lakes and reservoirs. Less snow equates to starting off the season on a wetness deficit, which has consequences to natural cycles, fishing, farming, fire risk and more. ~ Carla Lauter, Lisbon