The Ripple Effects of Global Warming

Written by: Nadja, Nafisa and Sreeraam

Illustration by Sreeraam

MALAYSIA - A dramatic shift in the Earth’s climate is taking place as a result of human driven activities with the subsequent rise in emissions of greenhouse gases. Malaysia is facing one of the hottest El-Nino situations with icking sweat during the day and sudden downpours around mid-afternoon. According to "Scientific Reports taken from Nature", the phenomenon hitting the country is expected to extend till the end of June causing lots of annoyance to Malaysian citizens and even animals. Extreme weather patterns like heat waves and El- nino events are among its numerous effects , and they have an impact on human comfort, animal welfare and even aviation safety.

Singapore Airlines Flight 321: Is Climate Change Making Flight Turbulence Worse?

By Nadja Saraya

Following the extreme turbulence that recently afflicted a Singapore Airlines aircraft from London to Singapore, concerns have been raised regarding whether climate change is increasing the risk of air travel. Such severe turbulence is extremely unusual, but new evidence implies that it might be becoming more prevalent due to climate change.

"Clear air" turbulence, which is often caused by changes in the jet stream's wind patterns, is a serious challenge for airplane safety. Turbulence in clear air is harder to forecast and cannot be seen by radar, in contrast to turbulence caused by clouds or storms. Aircrew and passengers are both put in danger by its unpredictability.

According to research from Reading University, this dangerous event is occuring more often. Severe turbulence in the North Atlantic, induced by turbulence in the clear air, increased by 55% from 1979 to 2020, based on a study done last year. Scientists believe that this growth is a direct consequence of greenhouse gas emissions warming the climate. As the air warms, the wind speeds in the jet stream shift, resulting in more frequent and violent turbulence.

The incident involving Singapore Airlines highlights how urgently research and technology is needed to reduce the risks associated with turbulent flight conditions. For safer flight through rough areas, better forecasting models and more advanced sensors on board could give pilots earlier signs.

The need to decrease emissions of greenhouse gasses is growing in importance as we face the consequences of climate change, which include its effect on the security of air travel. 

Will we be able to innovate quickly enough to protect air travel from the effects of climate change or will increased air travel turbulence concerns be sufficiently addressed by global efforts to combat climate change? Only time will tell. 

Kindness to Animals During El Nino: When Climate Change is Cruel to Our Animals

By Nafisa Labib

This summer of 2024 is the hottest in Malaysia since 1998, as reported by Malaysia’s Natural resources and environmental sustainability minister. 

Animal welfare and kindness towards animals is a well-loved topic of discussion, with significant focus on animal cruelty. But how exactly can we help our animals in this hot weather?

This article will look into what taking care of our pets could mean during a heatwave when temperatures give rise to heat strokes and deaths among our furry, feathered and finned friends. 

SUBANGVET Exotic and Companion Centre representatives touch on the details for this piece. 

Birds

Heat stress in birds can potentially change their physiology, prompting them to lose body mass and abandon their nests, while some even die from the unbearable heat. 

Another stress sign in birds is ‘feather picking,’ whereby birds excessively pluck their own feathers, or of their cage-mates, due to unbearable living conditions. Such behaviour is mirrored even during a heat wave.

During this bout of hot weather, one must frequently check on their bird and cage to ensure proper stock of food and water. For outdoor cages or aviaries, a shallow water bowl is recommended for the avians to cool off in.

Dogs

Even man's best companions suffer on hot days. This is even more prominent if the dog is older, has a thick coat, or if it has a short snout or flat face. 

Heat stress in dogs causes a condition called ‘canine hyperthermia,’ where their body temperatures become dangerously high. Owners are recommended to watch for early signs of heat stress, such as frantic movements or excessive panting. These symptoms can possibly escalate, leading to heat strokes or possible deaths. 

Dogs are to be taken on walks when the heat of the day is not as extreme, as felt during midday. Additionally, check the temperature of the road or pavement that your dogs are to walk on, as warmer temperatures make concrete and roads extremely hot, causing burns to the dogs’ sensitive paw pads.

Lastly, refrain from keeping your dogs in unattended vehicles on a hot day; it is recommended to keep dogs indoors on such days, but if you do take them outside, carry a container of fresh water for them. 

Fish

High water temperatures pose physical harm to fish, as it increases their metabolic rate and causes changes such as reduced feeding and slower growth. Hence, for pet fish, owners must invest in, as per budget and aquarium size, a temperature controlling device. However, it is recommended to still keep an eye on the temperature reading on the aquarium monitor.

Leaving an aquarium unattended for days or weeks during the summer is inadvisable due to the dangers that heat waves pose to the fish. And more importantly, make sure the aquarium is not located near a window where it’s exposed to direct sunlight. 

Cats

Like other animals, our feline friends can also overheat during the summer. Symptoms in cats include: heavy panting, a rapid pulse and drooling. For symptoms this severe, take your pet to the nearest vet. 

Advice for cat owners is similar to that for dog owners: ensure availability of ample shade and water and keep the cats indoors, especially during the hottest parts of the day. And during heat waves, only play with your cat during the cooler hours of the day.

For Wildlife

To lend a helping hand to the animals in nature that play a part in keeping our ecosystem healthy, we must remind ourselves to watch out for when an animal looks distressed during hot days. For dogs and cats, check for the stress signs mentioned prior and take action accordingly. 

‘Treatment at the vet, for when heat stroke has occurred,  usually involves providing fluids and stabilising the temperature as well as close monitoring of the animal for any complications after stabilisation,’ SUBANGVET mentions. 

SUBANGVET is a group of veterinarians that specialises in care of exotics and small animals, ranging from reptiles, fish and even cattle to domestic household pets. 

How is it like at Taylor’s University?

Written by: Sreeraam

Students of Taylor’s University are finding it difficult to handle the extreme weather conditions causing mental distress and healthcare issues. 

Taylor’s students find it difficult to combat the dry weather during the mornings feeling limp and sweaty, making them uncomfortable in their daily attire. In addition, students come in fully dressed in style and fashion making it intolerable to tackle the heatwave. Some students find themselves mentally drained even before entering class causing strenuous headaches and elevating stress. Chee Xuen, a student from Taylors University says “Nowadays I come to campus wearing T-shirt and I still have this uncomfortable sweat especially when my classes are all the way at the 8th floor making me exhausted even before I reach my class”. Not to mention, finding a suitable chill place to have lunch can be tough, especially during the peak hours as the campus fooderie is jam-packed with students hiking the overall campus temperature. 

As the day shifts its hours towards the late afternoon, the extreme heat changes to sudden downpours leading to difficulty for students coming and heading back home due to traffic on the campus roads. Chee Xuen says, “ The minute it starts raining I decide not to leave campus because from campus to the traffic light by Sunway will be jammed”. Cars coming in and leaving the campus grounds start jamming the narrow roads near DK Senza and Taylor’s University which is the only exit to the main roads causing heavy traffic in the area. Not only that, the gravel grounds of the parking lots become deep puddles of water bringing about difficulties for students to enter their vehicles and drive off campus grounds without having a bumpy exit. 

This blistering heat and stuffy weather call for proper hydration and a focus on staying cool this summer. While human beings have available resources and shelter to help tackle the scorching heat, the ones less fortunate are our ecosystems. The interconnected effects of climate change, like more turbulent weather in the sky and the effects on both people and animals, show how important it is to quickly come up with comprehensive plans to deal with this global crisis. El Nino is already a sign that the world is changing, and if we do not tackle these adverse weather effects soon, the world will be in an even worse predicament.