IOWA CITY, IOWA (September 19, 2019) —Just weeks after July 2019 became the hottest month in 140 years of record-keeping, 216 science-faculty and researchers from 38 Iowa colleges and universities have endorsed the ninth-annual Iowa Climate Statement 2019: Dangerous Heat Events to Become More Frequent and Severe.
The statement, released September 18, warns Iowans and Midwesterners of sobering extreme-heat projections for the region. Based on the most up‐to‐date scientific sources, the statement makes clear the urgency of preparing for dangerously-hot summers in coming decades.
“It’s time to get serious about reducing greenhouse gas emissions within the next 10 to 15 years,” said Jerry Schnoor, Co-director, Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research, University of Iowa. “It is our best hope for lessening the impact of these dire predictions for people in Iowa.”
“Heat is the leading cause of weather‐related deaths in the US,” said Peter S Thorne, director of the University of Iowa Environmental Health Sciences Research Center. “Iowans that work outside will need to take special precautions.”
Highlights from the statement
- By midcentury, temperatures in Iowa will exceed 90-degrees Fahrenheit 67 days per year, compared to a 23‐day average in recent decades.
- By mid-century, the average daily high temperature for each year’s hottest five-day period will be 98 degrees, compared to 92 degrees in recent decades.
- Once per decade, five‐day average high temperature will be 105 degrees.
- Extreme-heat is the leading weather‐related cause of death in the US. Low‐income neighborhoods, the elderly, outdoor workers (especially construction and farm labor), and domestic animals are especially vulnerable.
- Confined livestock are at increased risk for death and widespread productivity-losses. Producers will need to adjust their operations to deal with extreme-heat events.
- Adaptations to increasing heat-waves will require expanded disaster-preparedness, increased energy-use, and curtailment of outdoor work and recreation during times of extreme-heat.
“Many homes, particularly in low-income neighborhoods, are not equipped with air-conditioning,” said David Courard-Hauri, Chair of Environmental Science and Sustainability, Drake University. “More 90 degrees Fahrenheit days will place a greater burden on low-income families paying higher energy bills to stay cool in the summer.”
“Our furry pets are also vulnerable just like people are,” said Peter Levi, Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Science and Sustainability, Drake University. “Pet kept outdoors or in homes without climate control will be will be negatively affected, and pets left in vehicles will succumb to the heat more rapidly.”
The UI Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research has released annual climate-statements since 2011. These statements, vetted by Iowa’s top experts, place pivotal climate-change research into an Iowa‐specific context, encouraging preparedness and resilience in the face of a climate-crisis.
The lead authors of the 2019 statement include Gene Takle, Emeritus Professor of Agronomy, Iowa State University; Peter S Thorne, Professor and Head, Occupational and Environmental Health, Director, Environmental Health Sciences Research Center, College of Public Health, University of Iowa; Brett Ramirez, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University; David Courard-Hauri, Chair of Environmental Science and Sustainability, Drake University; Jerry Schnoor, Co-director, Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research, University of Iowa and David M. Cwiertny, Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Director, Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination, University of Iowa.
Also contributing to the statement were Ulrike Passe, Associate Professor of Architecture, Director, Center for Building Energy Research, Iowa State University; Albert E Jergens, Professor, Associate Chair for Research and Graduate Studies, Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Iowa State University; Karin Allenspach, Professor of Translational Medicine, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Iowa State University; David A Swenson, Associate Scientist, Department of Economics, Iowa State University; Elizabeth A Stone, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa; David Osterberg, Professor Emeritus, College of Public Health, University of Iowa and Emily Heaton, Associate Professor, Biomass Crop Production, Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University. Editing assistance from Nancy G Wyland, Center Coordinator, Environmental Health Sciences Research Center, College of Public Health, University of Iowa.
The 38 Colleges and Universities of statement endorsers:
Central College
Clarke University
Clinton Community College
Coe College
Cornell College
Des Moines Area Community College
Des Moines University
Dordt College
Drake University
Eastern Iowa Community College
Ellsworth Community College
Grandview University
Grinnell College
Indian Hills Community College
Iowa Central Community College
Iowa Lakes Community College
Iowa State University
Iowa Valley Community College
Iowa Western Community College
Kirkwood Community College
Loras College
Luther College
Maharishi University of Management
Morningside College
Mount Mercy University
Northeast Iowa Community College
Northwestern College
Scott Community College
Simpson College
Southeastern Community College
Southwestern Community College
Saint Ambrose University
University of Iowa
University of Northern Iowa
Upper Iowa University
Waldorf University
Wartburg College
Western Iowa Tech Community College
