“Believing is seeing and seeing is believing.”
Tom Hanks
Data can tell a story, but images have the power to stir emotion. One photo can make more of an impact than a hundred articles. We can read statistics about melting polar ice, rising sea level, drought, and flooding, but a picture is worth a thousand words.
NASA has collected satellite images around the Earth and created a catalog of time-lapse comparisons showing the impacts of climate change. They are striking. I’m sharing a handful, but you can find more here.
Lake Mead – July 2000 to July 2022
Lake Mead, on the Arizona-Nevada border, is the biggest reservoir in the US. As a result of persistent drought, the last time Lake Mead was full was over 20 years ago. It is now at 22% capacity, the lowest since it was first filled in 1937. Although this winter’s record snowfall in parts of the West will help, it won’t solve the problem.
Peyto Glacier – August 1999 to August 2021
Scientists are closely monitoring the declining ice on glaciers around the world. The Peyto Glacier in Banff National Park, Canada is one of group of 47 that are being documented. Over the past 50 years this glacier has lost 70% of its mass due to warmer temperatures.
Flooding in Pakistan – August 4, 2022 to August 28, 2022
Last summer, Pakistan suffered devastating flooding from a monsoon. This series of images was taken just 24 days apart, and shows the dramatic effects. Tragically, 1700 people died, and 8 million people were displaced. World Weather Attribution documented how the storm was exacerbated by climate change.
Great Salt Lake – June 1985 to July 2022
Years of drought, along with an increase in water demand, have caused the Great Salt Lake in Utah to shrink drastically. In fact, it could disappear in as little as 5 years. This would be an environmental and economic disaster.
It is true that there have always been changes in the geography of the Earth. But in recent years, we are witnessing noticeable changes due to accelerated warming. Climate change isn’t just a bunch of computer models – we are seeing the changes with our own eyes. It’s not too late to prevent irreversible damage, so let’s move with urgency to protect our planet and ourselves.
Let’s do something about climate change. Learn about it. Think about it. Talk about it.