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Rising climates will make pollen season longer and more severe.
Spring has officially begun, and along with it comes allergy season. The trees are blooming, and that means a metric whoa-ton of pollen and irritants dispersing through the air making your nose run and your eyes water. Studies have shown that allergy seasons have been getting progressively worse over the last few years, lasting longer and dispersing heavier amounts of pollen, but based on a new study, not only is it only going to get even worse in the future, it all has a root cause: climate change.
According to a study released by climate scientists from the University of Michigan, who studied computer simulations of 15 different kinds of plant pollens, global warming is causing the yearly allergy season to start earlier, last far longer, and become much heavier. A combination of increased heat penetrating the weakened ozone layer and more carbon dioxide in the air prompts plants to release their pollen loads earlier, as well as release heavier loads to offset the changed climate. In the next 80 years, if the current climate problem isn’t remedied, allergy season could begin a whole 40 days earlier than usual.
If we keep pumping out carbon emissions, allergy season could start up to 40 days earlier in the spring and last up to 19 days longer. https://t.co/dVEETUSJX6
— Fast Company (@FastCompany) March 21, 2022
The parts of the United States that will be hit the hardest by this escalating allergy season will be the southern states like Texas and Florida, which are home to alder trees and cypress trees, both of which already produce excessive amounts of pollen. The millions of Americans with pollen allergies, and especially those with asthma, will find life much more difficult during these periods, which in turn may impact economic progress and day-to-day life.
