'Dyer' Truths about Canada's Heat Dome
Dire straits ahead ....
Gwynne Dyer’s not a climate scientist. He’s a journalist, but he’s incredibly well-informed on the subject. In fact he’s written a book on it. It’s called “Climate Wars”, which follows up on an earlier one titled “War” (he was a military historian in a previous life). I highly recommend both. Dyer has the priceless gift of being able to explain things in simple terms - unencumbered by the jargon and caveats that we scientists bring to the table.
His explanation in this morning’s Otago Daily Times (Thursday 8 July) of the “heat dome” that caused the temperature to reach 49.6C in Vancouver - about the same latitude as Invercargill New Zealand - is a case in point. This new maximum for Canada smashed the previous record by about 4C! It led to hundreds of premature deaths, and the ensuing wildfires obliterated the town of Lytton, BC (population 250).
I loved his description of why the Heat Dome occurred, and why such events will continue to get worse with Climate Change. More dire straits ahead.
You can read all about it here, but because Dyer is a freelance writer you’ll probably have to pay. Don’t despair though. Eventually the post will show up here at no cost.
Substack, please recruit the man! I for one will subscribe.
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