To the editor:
After several weeks, and no response to the letter “Climate change makes an Independence Day appearance,” I decided to take the reins. A night of July fog does not confirm climate change. It’s unusual — that’s the most that can be said.
The National Climatic Data Center is a repository for all things weather. The number of days/nights of fog in Boston is recorded. Radiation fog typically occurs in mid-to-late spring, late summer and early-to-mid autumn. Incidence is dependent on humidity and saturation temperature. Calm or light air assists greatly. Radiation fog in July forms at height and slowly works towards the surface as night unfolds.
On the night of July 4, radiation fog was accompanied by ocean fog — conduction; air in contact with cool water.
I mused over the many who attended the fireworks, and those walking in the opposite direction. As it turned out, those who walked away were vindicated.
Perchance the fog ceiling would be high enough to allow a half-decent display, I walked to my site. The only half-show was a semicircle of a red firework at 9:35 p.m. that illuminated the roughly 50-foot, dense ceiling. Unfortunately, my camera shutter was not open!
The delay of 15 minutes amounted to more time for the atmosphere to cool, resulting in even more fog. I consulted the science (InsideClimateNews.org) on fog formation. More carbon dioxide impedes fog… Can you believe it? No wonder all those people attended — I further mused.
I came to my senses — we should not have faith in fireworks with fog. You can get burned. It’s not enough that the 2023 fireworks were propitiation. As I see it, our penance should be a suspension of fireworks in 2024 — fireworks every other year, as the amount of pollution should not be tolerated.
I’m a huge proponent of reducing CO2 emissions. We’ve had eight-consecutive mild winters. The last several summers have been onerous (a weather word not often used).
I’m fed up with the overfertilization of plants. Lush vegetation ensures elevated humidity, provided other effects (sun, cloud cover, etc.) do not change. Fall foliage is disjointed and mostly drab. Norway maples are freakishly green and stubborn to lose their leaves. This spells more pollution from gas leaf blowers in the spring!
I’m sandwiched between a polluting charter school/business, vehicles, and a polluted harbor. I have a regimen of opening and closing my windows. My throat has burned on two occasions.
I encountered an afternoon commute the other day. It was an abomination to a civilized society. More people need to work closer to home to alleviate traffic and pollution.
Fossil fuel, once a blessing, has been trending toward a curse.
Sincerely,
Tom Adams
Marblehead