As abnormal cold wave reigned over the south eastern regions of the USA, Sydney and its adjoining areas in Australia on the other side of the globe recorded hottest weather in last eighty years. According to reports, mercury dropped to 15 to 50 degree Celsius below average in places in south eastern coast in the USA while that in Sydney and its periphery in Australia peaked to almost 50 degree Celsius. In both cases, it was the abnormalities in weather conditions.
There is no doubt that these abnormal weather conditions would stir confusions about "climate change" which has been dominating scientific, environmental, social and political thoughts all around for decades. While weather scientists and common people alike are baffled by the weather conditions in both parts, it is natural that everyone would be sensitised to scratch forehead at climate behaviour on the planet.
Weather and climate are not the same. As meteorologists put it, weather is like mood while climate is the personality. Weather is a day to day affair and climate represents weather conditions that prevail over a long stretch of time. However, weather conditions are indicative of the overall climate conditions which have direct impact on our life and living.
What has happened in the eastern USA is due to the Arctic blast which prompted the cold snap enveloping the cities and plains with record snowfall and halting normal life for days. Weather watchers believe that the blast occurs due to solar system variables mixed with the impact of environmental pollution. Dubbed as the cyclonic bomb, the cold spell has wrecked havoc in the US eastern part and threatens to even batter England as it moves north.
On the other side, Aussies have been sweltering in record heat wave. Besides, there have been reports of abnormal weather conditions from many other parts of the world too. All reports underline extremities, whether it is cold spell or summer scorches or bush fire or drought or flood.
Weather or climate is not controlled by humankind. It is a natural phenomenon and humans or any other living species have been matching it through adaptation. However, though weather or climate act in its own defined cycle, they can be impacted by human behaviour. It has been proved by historical and scientific evidences.
The climate change deniers may once again take no note of the reigning weather abnormalities but those passing through the real feel of massive blizzards or bone piercing cold spell or insatiable heat wave or heart thawing storms would definitely pause for a while and agree that there is a fault-line in our atmosphere.
It is not known if we can fix the fault-line. Nevertheless, we can rally with the logic of science and do our part of controlling our behaviour towards the earth and its resources. This calls for management of extraction, consumption, pollution etc. It is no use debating "global warming" or "global cooling". It is important for ensuring sustainability of life and living on earth. Otherwise, we keep on scaling steadily on the vulnerability index.
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