Teens vs. Climate Change

Miko Vergun has spent most of her life in Portland, Oregon. But the 16-yearold is originally from the Marshall Islands, a chain of about 1,000 small islands in the South Pacific. Scientists say that the low-lying islands are at risk of being submerged within the next few decades because of climate change.

As global temperatures rise, glaciers and ice sheets melt. The meltwater pours into the ocean. Also, water expands as it warms. Both of these factors cause sea levels to rise, explains Natalie Mahowald, an atmospheric scientist at Cornell University in New York. “Some of the islands might be saved if we reach the goals of the Paris agreement,” she says. “If we don’t, the Marshall Islands will cease to exist.”

Miko Vergun has spent most of her life in Portland, Oregon. But the 16-year-old came from the Marshall Islands. This chain of about 1,000 small islands lies in the South Pacific. Scientists say that the low-lying islands could be underwater within the next few decades. Why? Because of climate change.

Glaciers and ice sheets melt as global temperatures rise. The meltwater pours into the ocean. Also, water expands as it warms. These factors cause sea levels to rise, explains Natalie Mahowald. She’s an atmospheric scientist at Cornell University in New York. “Some of the islands might be saved if we reach the goals of the Paris agreement,” she says. “If we don’t, the Marshall Islands will cease to exist.”

Some of Miko’s friends from the Marshall Islands have been forced to leave. Erosion from rising seas is slowly eating away at the islands. They aren’t the only places under threat. In the U.S., it’s estimated that sea-level rise could displace 13 million people living in coastal areas by 2100. Those areas include cities like Boston, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York City, and Philadelphia.

Ten-year-old Florida resident Levi Draheim lives on a barrier island—a long deposit of sand—off the Atlantic coast of Florida. It’s likely that his entire island will be underwater by 2050, says Mahowald. Levi says rising seas have already washed away the island’s beaches. “I’m scared because my home might be gone someday,” he says.

Miko’s friends from the Marshall Islands are already affected. Some of them have had to leave. As seas rise, erosion is slowly eating away at the islands. They aren’t the only places at risk. Experts say the same thing could happen along coasts in the U.S. There, 13 million people could be forced to leave by 2100. Those areas include cities like Boston, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York City, and Philadelphia.

Ten-year-old Levi Draheim lives on a barrier island. This long stretch of sand sits off the Atlantic coast of Florida. Mahowald says that his whole island will probably be underwater by 2050. Levi says rising seas have already washed away the island’s beaches. “I’m scared because my home might be gone someday,” he says.

Rayne, Louisiana, where 14-year-old Jayden Foytlin lives, is about 64 kilometers (40 miles) from the Gulf of Mexico. Flooding is common farther south on the coast since much of the land is at or below sea level.

Jayden hadn’t experienced floods in her hometown until the summer of 2016, when the region was hit by two weeks of storms. Waterways overflowed, causing massive flooding. About 40,000 households in southern Louisiana were swamped, including Jayden’s. “My older sister woke up the whole house when she saw water coming in,” she says.

Scientists say that this type of extreme storm should hit where Jayden lives only once every 500 years. But this one, along with seven other storms that should hit the area only once every 100 years, drenched the region in 2016 alone. The resulting flooding caused billions of dollars in damages. Researchers say that climate change is to blame.

“A warmer atmosphere holds more water vapor, so there’s more precipitation,” says Mahowald, the atmospheric scientist from Cornell. “When it rains, it’s going to rain harder.”

Fourteen-year-old Jayden Foytlin lives Rayne, Louisiana. The town is about 64 kilometers (40 miles) from the Gulf of Mexico. Flooding is common farther south on the coast. That’s because much of the land is at or below sea level.

Jayden hadn’t seen floods in her hometown until the summer of 2016. That’s when two weeks of storms hit the area. Waterways overflowed and caused heavy flooding. About 40,000 homes in southern Louisiana were swamped. Jayden’s was one of them. “My older sister woke up the whole house when she saw water coming in,” she says.

This type of extreme storm is rare. Scientists say such a storm should hit where Jayden lives only once every 500 years. But seven other storms happened that same year, and those types of storms should hit the area only once every 100 years. Flooding from the storms caused billions of dollars in damages. Researchers say that climate change is to blame.

“A warmer atmosphere holds more water vapor, so there’s more precipitation,” says Mahowald, the atmospheric scientist from Cornell. “When it rains, it’s going to rain harder.”

Fairbanks, Alaska, seems like a cold place to live. But in recent years, temperatures there have been warmer than usual. Nathan Baring, a 17-year-old who lives in Fairbanks, says climate change has had major effects on his home. One of the biggest impacts comes from melting permafrost.

Permafrost is a layer of permanently frozen soil. If it thaws, the ground becomes waterlogged. The land becomes unstable and can give way, forming a sinkhole. This can cause roads and buildings to collapse. It’s a huge problem for Alaska, where more than 80 percent of the state is covered by permafrost. “Sinkholes are opening up in many unusual places,” says Nathan.

Nathan also says that instead of the usual snowstorms, the town has been getting rain and strong winds. At night, temperatures drop and the rainwater freezes, coating roads, trees, and power lines in ice. In 2013, Fairbanks declared a state of emergency when heavy ice downed power lines, leaving 15,000 homes without electricity for six days.

Alaska has also had warmer summers that start earlier. That’s causing forestland to dry up sooner, providing kindling for forest fires. In 2015, Alaska suffered one of its worst wildfire seasons. An area about the size of Massachusetts went up in flames. Nathan believes his allergies and asthma have worsened due to smoke from the nearby wildfires.

Fairbanks, Alaska, seems like a cold place to live. But lately, temperatures there have been warmer than usual. Seventeen-year-old Nathan Baring lives in Fairbanks. He says climate change has had major effects on his home. One of the biggest effects comes from melting permafrost.

Permafrost is a layer of soil that always stays frozen. If it thaws, the ground becomes soaked. The land becomes weak and can cave in to form a sinkhole. This can make roads and buildings collapse. It’s a huge problem for Alaska. That’s because permafrost covers more than 80 percent of the state. “Sinkholes are opening up in many unusual places,” says Nathan.

Nathan also says that the town hasn’t been getting its usual snowstorms. Instead, it’s getting rain and strong winds. Temperatures drop at night, and the rainwater freezes. It coats roads, trees, and power lines in ice. In 2013, heavy ice took down power lines. For six days, 15,000 homes didn’t have electricity. Fairbanks declared a state of emergency.

Alaska has also had warmer summers, and they have been starting earlier. As a result, forestland has been drying up sooner. That makes it easier for forest fires to start. In 2015, Alaska had one of its worst wildfire seasons. An area about the size of Massachusetts went up in flames. Nathan believes his allergies and asthma have gotten worse. The reason? Smoke from the nearby wildfires.