For the first time I’m aware of, residents who live in the southeast have prepared for a different tropical storm and/or hurricane for four straight weeks. I’m not sure that’s a record, but I do know that Hurricane Fay’s four landfalls last week Florida is a record. After Fay, Gustav moved in and now we’re dealing with Hanna who’s making her presence known on the entire eastern coast from Georgia to Massachusetts. After getting an email from my mom earlier questioning her own sanity for thinking she could go to Wal Mart on a Saturday with yet another major hurricane on the cusp of entering the Gulf, I couldn’t help but think about a post I did recently on climate law and the repercussions of gas flares in Nigeria.

Scientists and meteorologists have long worked under the assumption that global changes affect our weather patterns. It’s hard to make the connection between humans and the fickle weather conditions. After all, unless you believe in rain dances, it’s hard to understand how we can have any kind of impact on Mother Nature’s weather inclinations. After a little consideration and playing a quick game of “seven degrees of separation”, it doesn’t seem so unlikely.

We all know the Earth’s energy is dependent on the sun. Thirty percent of the sun’s energy is reflected back to the atmosphere, while the remaining seventy percent is recycled as radiation and is also reflected upward. This radiation is absorbed by greenhouse gases and slows its movement (just as it should). These gases serve as an insulation mechanism and a regulator of sorts for Earth.

Scientists say without this insulator, our planet would about 40-45 degrees colder and could not support many of our ecosystems.

So, although the “greenhouse effect” is essential for balance in all life forms, there are problems that we, as humans, contribute to or are responsible for. Practices such as the gases and oils used in major manufacturing plants, including methane and nitrous oxide, our insistence on replacing forests for parking lots (trees use carbon dioxide) and many others that I will honestly say is far beyond my understanding play into this balance scientists and experts say must exist to maintain life.

So, it stands to reason more greenhouse gases equate to more radiation trapped in our atmosphere, thus, increased water and land temperatures. OK, so with that in mind, increased water temperatures means better tropical environments for the development of tropical systems (depressions, tropical storms and hurricanes). Although we hear a lot about this in now, there were rumors at one time of planes flying into the center of Hurricane Camille in 1969 with the intent of dropping dry ice into the center in an effort to cool the water temperatures, thus, knocking some of her “power” down. I’ve never been able to substantiate that, but it serves as proof of the mindsets of those in the late 60s. And, it also begs the question of why aren’t we being more proactive versus reactive?

If you’re wondering about the timeframes or whether we will feel the effects in our lifetimes, or still, suffer the effects in our lifetime, consider this: In the 20^th century, the global temperature raised by only 6/10^th of one percent. Based on computer models from sources including National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a rise of 1.4 degrees can be expected by the year 2100.

This only emphasizes the recent efforts of and the need for climate and environmental laws. Once we step outside our comfort zones and realize there’s more to life as a whole that we are overlooking, it’s only then that the old saying of standing together or falling divided becomes clear and focused.

I don’t pretend to be a big environmentalist and as I mentioned in a previous post, I readily admit I know very little. As someone who has spent her entire life on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, I am doing a huge disservice to myself and my eighteen year old son, as well as any grandchildren I may have (you know….at least ten, maybe fifteen years from now) if I don’t at least acknowledge this reality while keeping an eye on the tropics the six months of the year we live in hurricane season.

**Learn more about Climate law, Environment Law and Other Laws at Lawyerahead Legal Guide.